# Starling Max 2 Sideways Bench Testing

Source: https://forum.modalai.com/topic/5056/starling-max-2-sideways-bench-testing
Category: General Questions (https://forum.modalai.com/category/2/general-questions)
Posted: 2026-02-10 23:14:31 UTC by Myles Levine
Replies: 5 · Views: 440

## Myles Levine · 2026-02-10 23:14:31 UTC

Hello,

I am trying to perform some tests, for which it would be much easier to hold the drone sideways (rather than propellers pointing down). However, I am unable to get the propellers to spin, even in manual mode, when the drone is in this orientation. It makes perfect sense for a drone to throw an AHRS error when like this, but is there a workaround so I can spin the propellers in manual mode?

Thank you!

## Reply by Eric Katzfey (ModalAI staff) · 2026-02-10 23:47:42 UTC

@Myles-Levine Have you tried with the QGroundControl motor (actuator) spin tab?

## Reply by Myles Levine · 2026-02-11 19:26:44 UTC (in reply to Eric Katzfey)

@Eric-Katzfey Thanks, just tried that, but got this error: ![2026-02-11 11_25_32-Clipboard.png](https://forum.modalai.com/assets/uploads/files/1770837964946-2026-02-11-11_25_32-clipboard.png)

## Reply by Eric Katzfey (ModalAI staff) · 2026-02-11 19:41:33 UTC (in reply to Myles Levine)

@Myles-Levine You should see an actuators tab. Do you have our standard VOXL SDK loaded on the drone?

## Reply by Myles Levine · 2026-02-11 20:27:34 UTC (in reply to Eric Katzfey)

@Eric-Katzfey How do I check?

## Reply by Myles Levine · 2026-02-11 22:25:48 UTC (in reply to Myles Levine)

@Myles-Levine Nevermind, I got it working through the voxl interface instead of Qgroundcontrol. Thank you.