X8+

Operation Manual

Read before 

flying!

IMPORTANT
Meet the X8+

Thank you for purchasing an X8+! 

The X8 is a powerful octocopter platform for aerial video. 

Review this manual in its entirety before your first flight. 

Additional instructions can be found in the X8 information 

portal at 3DR.com/X8/info. 

Happy flying!
Contents

Parts 2

Setup 4

Assembly 4

Ground Station 5

Power Management 7

Charging 8

Safety 8

Controller Battery 9

Powering the X8 10

Connecting to a Ground Station 11

Flight Basics 12

Safety 12

Operating Limits 13

Controls 14

Modes 17

Return to Launch 19

Failsafes 20

Status Indicators 22

Flight Procedures 24

Takeoff 24

Landing 26

Monitoring 27

Missions 28

Planning 29

Saving 30

Initiating 31

Ending 31

Appendix 32

Troubleshooting 32

Maintenance 32

Specs 33

Resources 34
2

Parts

USB adapter

Ground Station Radio

Propeller wrench

Android adapter

SF propellers (4)

SFP propellers (4)

Charger and accessories

Guard bag

Pixhawk micro-SD card 

adapter

RC Controller Propellers Battery Kit Tool Kit Flight Checklist

Flight battery Radio

Flight Checklist

LED

Motors inactive, safe to 

handle

Low battery, automatic landing

Loss of RC signal, automatic landing

Pre-arm safety check failure

Loss of GPS signal, switch to manual

Initializing, hold the X8 level

Acquiring GPS, please wait

Autopilot ready, GPS locked

Armed

Safety Button

Motors active, deactivate before 

handling (see reverse)

Flight Modes

Return to launch

RTL

land at the launch point

Standard position 

(altitude hold mode)

STD

fly manually

Loiter mode

LTR

hover

!

Stand back!

4 6

The motors are 

now active.

Hold left stick downright until motors spin.

1 2 Power on controller;

set to STD and RTL OFF.

Arm 

motors.

Press and hold safety 

button until solid red.

Connect 

charged battery.

Choose a clear launch 

point, and face the X8 

away from you. 

5 Check 3 LED.

Place the X8 at 

launch point.

Go outside to 

an open area!

Auto mode

AUTO

fly a mission

©2014 3D Robotics. vA. All rights reserved.

Control gimbal

TILT

tilt the camera down and up

Land

CH7

land at the current position

X8+

Hold the X8 still 

and level while 

powering on.
3

Micro-USB port (not pictured, side 

of Pixhawk)

X8+

Front arms (blue)

Rear arms (black)

GPS mast

Pixhawk autopilot

Safety button

Status LED

Antenna
4

Setup: Assembly

The X8 arrives in travel configuration. Complete 

these steps to prepare the X8 for flight.

1 Unfold Arms

Remove the bolts and thumbnuts outside the two folded black arms (1). 

Unfold the black arms, re-insert the bolts, and secure with the thumbnuts (2).

1

2

X8 Assembly: Unfold Arms
5

2 Unfold Legs

Remove the bolts and nuts to the inside of the folded legs (1), 

unfold the legs, re-insert the bolts, and secure with the nuts (2).

3 Attach Propellers

The X8 uses SF and SFP propellers. These labels can be found on the 

individual propeller packages and on the propellers themselves. See 

the diagram below for which motors require SF or SFP propellers. The 

accuracy of this assembly is critical for the X8 to fly correctly. 

To attach each propeller, remove the nut and washer from the motor, 

and add the correct type of propeller with the writing on the propeller facing 

the sky. (This will be a tight fit; apply pressure and twist the propeller 

onto the motor.) Replace the washer over the propeller, and tighten the 

nut on top using the propeller wrench.

1

2

X8 Assembly: Unfold Legs

top motor: SF

bottom motor: SFP

bottom motor: SF

top motor: SFP

X8 Propeller Order

top motor: SF

bottom motor: SFP

top motor: SFP

bottom motor: SF

X8 Propeller Assembly

!

Ensure that the writing on all 

propellers faces the sky.
6

Ground Station

A ground station is a laptop or tablet running an ArduPilot-compatible mission control application. 

In the field, a ground station helps you monitor the X8 during flight, plan missions, and troubleshoot issues. We recommend using a ground station at all times with the X8. 

To set up a ground station, choose a platform below and visit 3DR.com/download_software to install 

the application.

Windows

Mission Planner

OS X

APM Planner

Android

DroidPlanner 2

Important Note About Vehicle Setup in Mission Planner and APM Planner:

Your X8 has been pre-configured at the factory and is ready to fly. Re-performing the 

calibrations on the Initial Setup screen, including the mandatory hardware configurations 

and setup wizard, can adversely affect the performance of your aircraft.

iOS? There are currently no ground station applications available for iOS.
7

Power Management

The X8 is powered by a rechargeable lithium polymer (LiPo) battery. When fully 

charged, the battery provides up to 15 minutes of flight time depending on payload, 

environmental conditions, and flying style. Flying with a gimbal, GoPro, and FPV 

system can reduce flight time by up to 5 minutes. Flying aggressively or in high winds 

can affect power consumption and reduce flight time. Monitor power consumption 

using the flight data display on the controller (press and hold the DN button).

When the battery reaches the low voltage limit, the X8 will initiate a low battery failsafe 

and land automatically at the current position. (See page 20 for more information about 

failsafes.) To avoid a low battery failsafe, monitor battery voltage during flight on the 

controller’s flight data display, and end your flight before the battery reaches the low 

voltage limit.

Controller

Press and hold the DN

button to view flight data.

flight battery mAh consumed since armed

Another way to monitor power consumption is by using milliamp-hours (mAh). 

Monitor the mAh on the controller, and ensure that it does not exceed 8,000 

mAh (80% of the battery’s available capacity). Exceeding 8,000 mAh can 

render the battery permanently unusable.

Do not exceed 8,000 mAh for a fully charged X8+ battery.

flight battery level 

Full battery: 16.8 V

Low battery limit: 14 V

End your flight at 14.1 V.

!

Controller Flight Data Display: Screen 1

!
8

Charging

Charge the battery before your first flight!

1 

Connect the charger to the power adapter cable 

and a wall outlet. Connect the red cable to the + 

port and the black cable to the - port.

+

–

2 

Set the charger to LiPo and 3A.

LiPo 3A

3 

Connect the white connector to the 4S port, and 

join the two yellow connectors together. 

4S

4 

Secure the battery inside the guard bag, 

and charge until the status indicator 

displays green.

Charging

Complete

Charger with power cable and 

split-wire charging cable

Charger settings

Flight battery charging wiring Charging in process

!

Flying with a low battery is a safety 

risk and can render the battery 

permanently unusable. Always fly 

with a fully charged battery. 

Charge the battery using a designated 

LiPo balance charger only. Always 

monitor the battery while charging. 

Protect the battery from extreme 

heat, extreme cold, puncturing, and 

flammable surfaces. Always transport, 

charge, and store the battery in the 

guard bag.

Inspect the battery for damage before 

and after flying. If you observe any 

swelling of the package or the battery 

ceases to function, do not use the 

battery; locate your local battery 

recycling center, and dispose of the 

battery. In the US and Canada, visit 

call2recycle.org to find a location. 

Do not dispose of the battery in the 

trash.

Safety
9

Controller Battery

The controller is powered by 8 AA batteries (included). The controller’s 

flight data display allows you to monitor the voltage of the controller. 

When fully charged, the controller will display 12 V; when completely 

out of charge, the controller will display 9 V. Replace the batteries when 

the controller displays 9.1 V.

Controller

Press and hold the DN

button to view flight data.

controller battery level (9-12 V)

Controller Flight Data Display: Screen 1 Replace controller batteries at 9.1 V. !
10

initialization and you can move the X8.LED; when it displays blinking blue, the sensors have completed while it powers on and initializes the sensors. Check the status on the X8; this will power on the X8. Keep the X8 still and level Join the yellow connector on the battery with the yellow connector 2

Follow these steps to power the X8.Powering the X8

turning off the controller.X8, disconnect the battery before battery. When powering off the controller before connecting the on the X8. Always turn on the communication before powering It is important to establish 

X8: Connect battery, keep level while initializing

RC controllerare set to CH 7 OFF, STD, and RTL OFF.Turn on the controller. Ensure that the switches 1

CH 7 switch Mode switch RTL switch

Initializing completeInitializing, keep still and level

Status LED indicators:

X8: Secure batteryvehicle using the velcro straps.the X8 and secure the battery to the underside of the When the initialization process is complete, turn over 3

!
11

Tablet (DroidPlanner)

Select 3

Mission Planner or APM Planner.laptop using the USB adapter. Open Connect the ground station radio to your 1 

your laptop or tablet, and power the X8.To connect the X8 to a ground station, connect the ground station radio to 

Connecting to a Ground Station

Flight Data to view live data from the X8.

Select 2

57600 and AUTO, then select CONNECT. 

micro-USB port, set the rate to 115200.)(When connecting directly to Pixhawk’s 

Ground station laptop with radio connected

Mission Planner Connect tool (top-right corner)

Mission Planner Flight Data tab: connected to aircraft

to your device and the black end to the radio.Connect the blue end of the Android adapter 1

Laptop (Mission Planner/APM Planner)

Select 2

Connect.

Ground station tablet with radio connected DroidPlanner: Connect icon
12

Flight Basics: Safety

To ensure safe and successful flying, always fly in accordance 

with your location regulations and these best operating practices.

Before you fly, determine the boundaries of your safe flying area. 

If the X8 moves outside the designated area or exhibits instability 

in flight, switch to standard mode and land the X8 manually.

The X8 will not avoid obstacles on its own, including during 

missions. As the operator, it’s your job to recognize and avoid 

obstructions while flying. Always be ready to regain manual 

control of the X8 in the event of an unsafe situation. 

100 ft (30 m)

Always fly at least 100 feet (30 m) 

away from people, vehicles, and 

buildings. Make the safety of people 

and property your first priority!

Always fly below 400 ft (120 m) and within your 

visual line of sight. Don’t let the X8 get too far 

away from you; make sure you can always see its 

orientation. Don’t fly in low light, heavy wind, rain, 

or other conditions that might impede visibility.

Always fly at least 5 miles (8 km) 

away from airports and other areas 

5 miles (8 km) where pilots operate manned aircraft.

400 ft

(120 m)

Spinning propellers can cause serious injury. The safety 

button indicates the status of the motors to help you 

prevent hazardous contact with the X8’s high-speed 

propellers.

• When the X8 is powered on, the safety 

 button will blink red, indicating that the 

 motors are inactive and the propellers are 

 safe to handle.

• When you’re ready to fly, press and hold the 

safety button until it shows solid red. This 

 indicates that the motors are active and the 

 propellers can spin if armed. To make the 

 propellers safe to handle again, press and 

 hold the safety button until it blinks red.

visual line 

of sight

Location

Propellers
13

Operating Limits

Always fly within the X8’s operating limits.

Maximum Altitude* 100 m (328 ft)

Range* 300 m (984 ft) from launch point

GPS Lock GPS lock required at all times

Maximum estimated flight time 15 min

Payload capacity 800 g (1.7 lbs)

X8+ Operating Limits

*While geofence enabled (default)
14

controller’s two joysticks.Maneuver the X8 in flight using the 

& yawthrottleleft stick:

& rollpitchright stick:

decrease altitude. stick below center to Lower the throttle 

the current altitude.to center to maintain Set the throttle stick 

left stick

ground.inches above the once the X8 is a few fully down to land Set the throttle stick 

gain altitude, raise the To take off and to 

Move the left stick vertically to control altitude.

above center position. throttle stick slightly 

Throttle

Controls
15

vertical position.When adjusting orientation, move the left stick horizontally without changing its Flight Tip

rotate clockwise.to the right to Move the stick 

counterclockwise.the left to rotate Move the stick to 

left stick

orientation.maintain the current stop rotating and Release the stick to 

a faster rotation.in either direction. Moving the stick farther from the center creates For a slow rotation, move the stick slightly away from the centerMove the left stick horizontally to rotate the X8 and change orientation. 

Yaw
16

to fly forward.stick forward Move the right 

right stick

right.stick right to fly Move the right left.stick left to fly Move the right backward.stick back to fly Move the right 

the center before releasing it tells the X8 how fast to move. left (toward the left arms), or right (towards the right arms). How far you move the stick from X8 to move in that direction: forward (toward the blue arms), back (toward the black arms), The right stick allows you to control the X8’s position in the air. Move the right stick to tell the 

outward orientationarms face backward. Before using the right stick, use yaw to keep the X8 facing in The X8 moves according to its orientation. The blue arms face forward, and the black Flight Tip

 so that the black arms face towards you and the blue arms and face 

away from you.

Pitch and Roll
17

!

If you’re new to flying, start your first flight in loiter instead of standard.that position. Loiter is a great way for beginners to learn how to fly! to adjust the X8’s position then release the sticks to hold Select loiter to hover in place automatically. Use the controller 

hoverLTRLoiter mode

and fly manually using the controller.Start your flight in standard to select altitude hold mode, 

fly manuallySTDStandard (altitude hold mode)

mode switch

right side of the controller to select a flight mode.mission flight (AUTO). Use the switch on the (STD-altitude hold), hover mode (LTR-loiter), and The X8 includes three flight modes: manual flight 

for more information about failsafes.including in the event of a GPS failsafe. See page 20 stick to center position before switching modes, To avoid sudden changes in altitude, set the throttle 

Modes
18

Once you activate land, set the throttle stick fully down, and the X8 will autoSet the CH 7 switch to ON to end your flight and land at the current position. 

land at the current positionCH 7Land

angle of the camera in flight. Visit 3DR.com/X8/info for instructions.Connect a Tarot Gimbal (sold separately), and use the TILT knob to control the 

tilt the camera up and downTILTGimbal control

See the Missions section on page 28 for instructions on planning and flying missions.automatically fly the series of waypoints saved to the autopilot. Select auto mode to fly an autonomous mission. The X8 will 

fly a missionAUTOAuto mode

-

stick on the controller to adjust the X8’s position.Reposition during landing: During landing, use the right 

throttle stick is set fully down.matically disarm after landing. The X8 will not disarm automatically unless the 

! a mission to the X8 using a ground station application. Do not activate auto mode unless you have saved 
19

1When commanded to RTL, the X8 will:

before takeoff.stick is set fully down. Ensure that the RTL switch is set to OFF landing. The X8 will not disarm automatically unless the throttle throttle stick fully down, and the X8 will automatically disarm after the launch point automatically. Once you activate RTL, set the Set the RTL switch to ON to end your flight and return the X8 to 

land at the launch point

 Achieve minimum altitude of 15 m (50 ft) or maintain current altitude if 

3 Land at launch point. Wait a few seconds and disarm automatically.2 Move to launch point and loiter for 5 seconds. above 15 m.

launch point

15 meters 1

32 hover 5 seconds

stick on the controller to adjust the X8’s position.Reposition during landing: During landing, use the right 

Return to Launch

! Always arm the X8 at a safe, unobstructed launch point. RTL returns the X8 to the location where it was armed. 
20

repeating tone.current position, indicated by a blinking yellow status LED and a quick If the battery reaches 14 V, the X8 will land automatically at the voltage of the battery during flight.consumption. Use the controller’s flight data display to monitor the Environmental conditions, payload, and flying style can affect power Low Battery Failsafe

If the X8 loses contact with the controller, it will return to the launch point autothe X8’s connection with the controller. Physical obstructions and interference from nearby wireless signals can affect RC Controller Signal Failsafe

standard mode and regain manual control. will activate. To override the failsafe behavior, use the controller to switch to station for failsafe indications. If a failsafe is triggered, the assigned behavior unlikely that you will be able to see these at a distance. Monitor the ground flight. Although certain failsafes have assigned LED indicators and tones, it is the event of a loss of one of the data or communication channels required for The X8 is programmed with a set of failsafe behaviors to prevent a crash in 

Failsafes

-

matically and land, indicated by a blinking yellow status LED.
21

The X8 GPS Failsafe

requires GPS lock before takeoff. Enclosed areas, physical 

obstructions, and lack of available satellites can affect GPS strength. If geofence is breached, the X8 will automatically RTL.The X8 has a 100 m (328 ft) altitude geofence enabled by default. If the Altitude FailsafeGPS failsafe.)land. (Visit 3DR.com/X8/info for more information about configuring the flying a mission, we recommended changing the GPS failsafe behavior to choose an unobstructed flying area to improve GPS signal strength. When Always be prepared to regain manual control at any time while flying and automatically switch to manual control (standard - altitude hold mode). a blinking blue and yellow LED with a high-high-high-low tone, and the X8 loses GPS lock in flight, it will trigger a GPS failsafe, indicated by 

400 ft

(120 m)

control

manual 

(328 ft)

100 m

horizontal geofence. (Visit 3DR.com/X8/info for instructions.) fly a mission that exceeds this range, you will need to disable the will automatically return to the launch point and land. If you plan to default. If the X8 travels farther than 300 m from the launch point, it The X8 has a 300 m (984 ft) horizontal geofence enabled by Range Failsafe

The 

range failsafe will be disabled in the event of a GPS failsafe.
22

Status Indicators

and Pre-arm safety check failure. Connect to a ground station 

Low battery, automatic landingLoss of RC signal, automatic landing

see the troubleshooting section.

Loss of GPS signal, switch to standard mode (altitude hold)

Initializing, hold the X8 still and levelArmedAutopilot ready, GPS lockedAcquiring GPS, please wait

Status LED

X8 Status LED

X8. Visit 3DR.com/X8/info to listen to Pixhawk’s status tones.be visible, so you will need to use a ground station to view the status of the The Pixhawk LED indicates the status of the X8. During flight, the LED won’t 

LED
23

to allow you to arm and disarm the X8 safely.The safety button indicates the status of the motors 

Safety Button

Safety button

X8 Safety Button

Motors active, deactivate before handling

Motors inactive, safe to handle
24

Flight Procedures: TakeoffFollow these steps to take off.

» Propellers are attached tightly to the motors in the correct order and » the GPS mast is oriented vertically.

The X8 is powered with the battery secured to the underside of the 

» initialize.) vehicle. (Remember to hold the X8 still and level while the sensors 

The controller is set to CH 7 OFF, standard (STD) mode (loiter mode for 

» beginners), and RTL OFF.

The status LED displays blinking green, indicating that the X8 has 

» flying location.  acquired GPS lock. This can take a few minutes depending on your 

The X8 is situated at a safe, unobstructed launch point, facing away 

 from you.

Checklist
25

X8 is now active. displays solid red. This indicates that the Press and hold the safety button until it 1There are two steps to arming the X8: the safety button and the controller.important steps that must be completed before takeoff and after landing. After completing the checklist, you’re ready to fly! Arming and disarming are Arm

Stand back!

handlingMotors active, deactivate before 

Motors inactive, safe to handle

Controller left stick: arming positiondown/right until the motors spin.To arm the motors, hold the left stick 2Safety button indicators

!

is active (solid red).arming. Do not handle the propellers or pick up the X8 while the safety button sure the propellers are clear of any obstructions, including your hands, before stop motors without risk of injury. The X8’s motors will spin when armed! Make The arming and disarming procedures ensure that you can safety start and 
26

Landing

1

Press and hold the safety button until it 

blinks red. The motors are now inactive, 

and the X8 is safe to handle.

2

To disarm the motors, hold the left stick down/left 

until the motors stop.

Disarm

For manual landing in standard or loiter mode:

Motors inactive, safe to handle

Motors active, deactivate before 

handling

Safety button indicators Controller left stick: disarming position

! Do not handle the propellers or pick up the copter while the safety button is 

active (solid red). Remember to disconnect the battery before turning off the 

controller when powering off.

If you end your flight using the Ch 7 land command or RTL, the X8 will 

disarm automatically; wait for the motors to stop, and proceed to powering 

off. Attempting to disarm the X8 in either land or RTL can cause the cause 

the copter to flip.
27

Monitoring

Press and hold the DN button to access the flight data screens. 

Press DN again to toggle between screens.

current flight mode

controller battery level (9-12 V)

GPS signal strength in # of satellites

meters from launch point

flight battery level (14-16.8 V)

connection strength

current latitude

current longitude

altitude in meters

flight time

altitude in meters

GPS status

speed in m/s

flight battery mAh 

consumed since armed

End your flight at 14.1 V.

Do not exceed 8000 mAh for a 

fully charged X8+ battery (80% of 

available capacity).

!

Monitor the X8 in flight using the controller’s flight data screens.

Controller
28

Missions

The X8’s Pixhawk autopilot is capable of flying an autonomous mission 

without operator input. Ensure that you feel comfortable operating the X8 

manually before attempting an autonomous mission.

Environmental Awareness

Before you fly, assess the features of your flying area. Determine the boundaries of the safe flying area, and be prepared to recover the copter manually 

if it goes outside this area. Be aware of any risks at your location, including 

bodies of water, structures, trees, etc. Designate a few areas as safety zones 

where you can safely land the copter in case of an unsafe situation.

Radio Signal Conditions

Flying behind solid objects, like buildings and trees, will block radio signals. 

Always maintain visual contact with the copter to ensure that the radio signal 

is unobstructed. Radio towers, cell phone towers, and nearby WiFi signals 

can also cause interference with the radio system and decrease its range. 

Avoid flying in populated areas to avoid sources of interference. 

Altitude

Select an appropriate altitude for your flying location and local regulations. 

Remember the X8 will not avoid obstacles during a mission; it will complete 

the mission as planned. Select altitudes that avoid any obstacles, such as 

trees, and comply with the safety information in this manual.

Speed

By default, the X8 will travel at 6.5 m/s (14.5 mph) during a mission. 

Power

As the operator, it is your responsibility to ensure that all missions comply 

with the X8’s operating limits, including flight time. Don’t forget to take into 

account the effect of current wind conditions on power consumption.

Regaining Manual Control

During a mission, keep the controller easily accessible, and be prepared to 

regain manual control at any time. To regain manual control during the 

mission, switch to standard mode using the controller. If you observe 

instability in the X8’s flight behavior or it the copter moves outside your 

designated safe flying area, switch to RTL. Turning off the controller will 

automatically trigger an RTL and can be used in an emergency situation 

as a hard recall command.

Failsafes

The X8’s default failsafe behaviors are optimized for manual flight. For 

autonomous missions, we recommend re-configuring the failsafe settings 

for your flying location. For instructions, visit 3DR.com/X8/info.
29

Planning

Select the DroidPlanner icon, select Editor. Tap to add 

waypoints, or select the brush tool and draw a path 

for the X8 to follow.

Select Flight Plan, and click to add waypoints. Select the green arrows at 

the bottom of the screen to configure altitude and change waypoint types.

To plan a mission, power the X8 and connect to your ground station. Ground 

station applications require an Internet connection to access maps.

Tablet (DroidPlanner) Laptop (Mission Planner, APM Planner)

DroidPlanner: Edit waypoints Mission Planner: Flight Plan

Takeoff and Landing

Both ground station options provide the choice to configure automatic takeoff 

and landing into the mission. Missions without automatic takeoff and landing 

must be initiated and ended in flight.
30

Saving

Select the option menu in the top-right corner, and 

select Send Mission. This will save the mission to the X8.

On the Flight Plan screen, select Write WPs to save the mission to the X8. 

Select Save WP File to save the mission to your computer for future use.

After planning the mission, save the mission to the X8. The Pixhawk autopilot 

can store one mission at a time. When you initiate the mission, the X8 will 

start the mission stored to the autopilot at the time. 

Tablet (DroidPlanner) Laptop (Mission Planner, APM Planner)

DroidPlanner: Send Mission (option menu)

Mission Planner: Flight Plan
31

Initiating

For auto-takeoff, raise 

throttle to start mission.

Once you’ve saved the mission to the X8, follow these steps to fly the mission.

1 Perform a pre-mission test flight.

Follow the standard takeoff procedure, and fly a 

brief test flight to verify that all controls (throttle, 

yaw, roll, and pitch) are responding normally.

2 Arm in standard mode.

When you’re ready to start the mission, 

arm the X8 in standard (STD) mode.

3 Switch to auto mode.

For automatic takeoff, arm the X8 in standard 

mode. Then switch to auto mode, and raise the 

throttle to initiate the mission.

For manual takeoff, initiate the mission in flight by 

switching to auto mode.

Controller: mode switch Controller: mode switch Controller: left stick

Automatic Landing

For missions configured with a land 

waypoint, the X8 will disarm automatically 

after landing. Ensure that the throttle 

stick is set fully down during landing; the 

X8 will not disarm automatically unless 

the throttle stick is set fully down.

Manual Landing

For missions without a land waypoint, 

switch to standard or loiter mode in flight 

then land manually.

Ending

! To avoid sudden changes 

in altitude when switching 

from auto mode to standard 

mode, ensure that the left 

stick is set to the center 

position.

End the mission according to the type of 

landing configured in the mission.
32

Appendix: Troubleshooting

Maintenance

Pre-Arm Safety Check Failure

`

If the status LED displays blinking yellow, the X8 is failing one the pre-arm safety checks. To determine the specific failure, check the 

heads-up display on the ground station. There will be an error message specifying the failed check.

Radio Calibration Failure: Perform Radio Calibration or RC controller re-binding

Accelerometer Calibration Failure: Perform Accelerometer Calibration

Compass Calibration Failure: Perform Compass Calibration 

GPS Failure: Wait for improved GPS signal or move to a more open area

Video tutorials for performing calibrations can be found at 3DR.com/X8/info.

Replacement parts for the X8 can be purchased at store.3DR.com.

Instructions for replacing the wiring, plates, motors, and legs of the X8 can be 

found at 3DR.com/X8/info.
33

Specs

Battery: 4S 14.8V 10,000 mAh 10C

Battery Dimensions: 6.6 in x 2.6 in x 1.4 in (16.7 cm x 6.5 cm x 3.5 cm)

Battery Weight: 803 g

Autopilot hardware: Pixhawk v2.4.5

Autopilot firmware: ArduCopter 3.2

GPS: 3DR u-blox GPS with Compass (LEA-6H module, 5 Hz update)

Ground Station Radio: 3DR Radio v2 (915 MHz or 433 MHz)

Motors: SunnySky V2216-12 KV800 II

Frame Type: X

Propellers: APC Propeller 11x4.7 SF (4)

 APC Propeller 11x4.7 SFP (4)

Vehicle Dimensions: 13.7 in x 20.1 in x 11.8 in (35 cm x 51 cm x 20 cm)

Payload Capacity: 800 g (1.7 lbs)

Vehicle Weight with Battery: 2.56 kg (5.6 lbs)

Maximum Altitude*: 100 m 

Range*: 300 m from launch point (1 km when geofence disabled)

Maximum Estimated Flight Time: 15 min

*While geofence enabled (default)
Resources

Thank you for being a responsible drone operator. For more information about the X8, 

visit the pages below.

Online information portal: 3DR.com/X8/info

3DR Support: help@3DR.com

Terms and Conditions: 3DR.com/terms

Happy flying!

3D Robotics

1608 4th Street, Suite 410

Berkeley, CA 94710

3DR.com

X8+ Operation Manual

DCT0004

v.A

2014 ©3D Robotics