QUICK START GUIDE

Before you use the Trimble® UX5 launcher, make sure that you have read and 

understood all safety requirements in this guide. 

This guide explains how to:

• Prepare the launcher.

• Use the launcher to launch the Trimble UX5 aerial imaging rover.

• Disassemble the launcher.

TRIMBLE UX5 LAUNCHER

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Before you head out to the 

field, make sure the launcher 

bag contains the following 

items:

• Safety pin.

• Launch dock with lock 

pin.

• V-support.

• Crank.

• Launch slide with 

elastics.

• Trimble UX5 Launcher 

Quick Start Guide (this 

document)
Preparing the launcher

2. Secure each section of the launch 

slide by lifting the appropriate 

handle and hooking it into the next 

section of the launch slide. Close 

the handles. 

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3. Unfold and secure the V-support 

with the lock pin.

4. To attach the V-support to the 

launch slide, make sure the knob is 

pointing to the left and then insert 

the V-support pins in the reserved 

holes, situated approximately 2/3 

of the length of the launch slide. 

Turn the knob to the right to 

tighten.

You are prompted to prepare the launcher during the flight checklist.

Step 1: Assemble the launcher

1. Unfold the launch slide.

C CAUTION – Take care when unfolding the launch slide as there are sharp 

edges that can cause finger cuts.
Step 2: Attach launcher cord and launch dock

1. Pull the ends of the launcher cord out of the launch slide so that the cord lies 

on top of the launcher slide.

Note – If the launcher cord is blocked while the elastics are not tightened, pull 

the release handles upward to unblock them.

C CAUTION – Never push the release handles when there is tension on the 

launcher cord. You will damage the elastics. If there is tension on the launcher 

cord, see step 1 of “Disassembling the launcher.” 

2. Position the launch dock on the end of the launch slide with the arrows 

pointing in the direction of launch.

3. Slide the launch dock over the ends of the launcher cord. 

4. To attach the ends of the launcher cord to the launch dock, remove the lock 

pin from the launch dock and then slide the lock pin through the holes in the 

launch dock, attaching the ends of the launcher cord as you do so. Secure the 

lock pin.

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5. Slide the launch dock over the launch hook at the beginning of the launch 

slide, making sure the launch dock clicks into position. Make sure the trigger 

is not blocked.

6. Insert the safety pin into the launch dock.

C WARNING – Always keep the safety pin inserted in the launch dock. Remove 

the safety pin only just before launch. Early removal of the launch pin can result 

in accidental release of the launcher, causing serious personal injury and damage 

to the UX5 or launcher.

C CAUTION – Never launch without the UX5 sitting on the dock as it will 

damage the launch dock. The design of the launcher takes into account the 

weight of the UX5 sitting on the launch dock.

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Step 3: Tighten the launcher cord elastics

1. Position the launcher at the planned takeoff location, with the launch 

direction pointing into the wind.

2. Make sure the takeoff location is free of obstacles:

• Within the first 50 m (164 ft), there must be a clear area free of obstacles 

within 30° to the left and right of the launch direction.

• No obstacles at all must appear within the first 50 m (164 ft) of the launch 

direction.

• Within 280 m (919 ft) of the launch direction, obstacles must not appear 

above the safety line determined by a 15° safety angle.

3. Insert the crank onto the nut located toward the front end of the launch slide.

4. Stretch the launcher cord using the crank. In normal circumstances, the node 

between the cord and elastic should be in the middle of the hole where 

numbered “4” on the launcher. 

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15° 30°

+ 0m 50m − 280m

C CAUTION – The launcher cord stretches with every launch. When you can 

easily reach the last hole when tightening the cord, replace the launcher cord to 

prevent unsuccessful launches or damage to equipment. For more information, 

refer to the Trimble UX5 Aerial Imaging Solution Maintenance Manual.

5. Remove the crank.
Step 4: Place the UX5 onto the launcher

1. Position the UX5 at the front of the launch dock and use your finger tips to 

guide the launcher slats on the underside of the UX5 onto the lips of the 

launch dock.

C WARNING – Take care to ensure the UX5 is correctly positioned on the 

launch dock. An incorrect position can result in launch failure, causing serious 

personal injury and damage to the rover or launcher. 

2. Use the artificial horizon indicator in the Aerial Imaging software to check 

the pitch and roll of the UX5 on the launch dock. The pitch angle should be 

between 20° and 30° and the roll angle should be between -5° and 5°. The 

horizon should be positioned parallel to the UX5 on the artificial horizon 

indicator. If you need to adjust the horizon, reposition the launcher.

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Launching the UX5

Once you have armed the system, the software prompts you to launch the 

aircraft.

1. To remove the safety pin, position yourself behind the launcher, reach 

carefully under the UX5 and then pull out the safety pin.

C WARNING – Always take care to avoid contact with the propeller blades. If 

the UX5 receives a sudden shock while armed, the motor can unexpectedly start 

causing the propeller blades to move. Contact with moving propeller blades can 

result in serious personal injury.

2. Just before launch, perform the following safety checks:

• Make sure there are no aerial objects inside the zone of operation.

• Make sure you have a clear line of sight to the UX5.

• Make sure there are no obstacles or people near the front of the launcher. 

C WARNING – Make sure you complete each of the safety checks listed at this 

step. Failure to do so could result in serious personal injury and damage to the 

UX5 or launcher.

3. When you have made sure that everything is clear in front of, above, and 

behind the launcher, stand behind the launcher and press the launch handle 

to launch the UX5.

C CAUTION – Never launch without the UX5 sitting on the dock as it will 

damage the launch dock. The design of the launcher takes into account the 

weight of the UX5 sitting on the launch dock.

4. If an obstacle such as a person or animal suddenly appears in the 

obstacle clearance zone during takeoff, tap the FTS button in the 

software. The UX5 immediately powers down and returns to the ground. 

For more information, refer to the Trimble UX5 Aerial Imaging Solution User 

Guide.

After launch, the UX5 flies to the first waypoint, which is highlighted in yellow 

in the Flight screen. If the UX5 is not yet at the flight height when it reaches 

this point, it climbs in circles of 100 m radius until it reaches the desired height.

5. After launch, release the tension on the launcher cord. Leaving tension on the 

launcher cord for extended periods can damage the elastics. See step 1 of 

“Disassembling the launcher.” 

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UX-D00106-01

© 2013, Trimble Navigation Limited. All rights reserved. Trimble and the Globe and Triangle logo are trademarks of Trimble 

Navigation Limited, registered in the United States and in other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their 

respective owners. Revision C (October 2013).

Disassembling the launcher

1. If you have not yet released the tension on the launcher cord, then do so now. 

To release the tension, release the force with the crank very gently while 

pulling the release handles in the front of the launcher upward. This is safest 

done with two people, with one person carefully winding the crank counterclockwise to counteract the force on the elastics. 

2. Remove the lock pin on the launch dock and detach the launcher cord.

3. Using the crank, tighten the launcher cord so that most of the cord is in the 

launch slide but the end remains out. Remove the crank.

4. Slide the launch dock off the front of the launch slide.

5. To detach the V-support, turn the knob upward and then slide the pins out 

of the holes in the launch slide. Remove the lock pin on the V-support to fold 

the legs and then reinsert the lock pin.

C CAUTION – Take care when folding the V-support legs not to jam or cut 

fingers. 

6. Open the handle fixes on the launch slide and fold the launch slide.

7. Return all of the launcher items to the launcher bag.

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