© Ascending Technologies GmbH /// www.asctec.de 1 of 2 AscTec Falcon 8 /// Safety data sheet

/// Summary

This safety data sheet contains all relevant 

information about the flight system to apply for 

a take-off permission.

Table of content:

1. Technical data p. 1 

2. Standard safety features p. 2

3. Safe operation p. 2

Contact: 

T +49 89 89556079-0

F +49 89 89556079-19

team@asctec.de /// www.asctec.de

1. Technical data

Technical specifications

Type V-Form Octocopter

Dimensions 770 x 820 x 125mm

Engines 8 electrical, brushless 

(sensorless) motors

Rotor diameter 8" (~20cm)

Number of rotors 8

Rotor weight ~6g

Empty weight 1.1kg

Max. take off weight 2.3kg

Max. payload 0.8kg

Max. Flight time 12–22 min.

Max. range 1km1

Tolerable wind speed 122m/s /// 153m/s

Navigation Sensors

AscTec Trinity (IMU, barometer & compass), 

AscTec High-Performance GPS (GNSS)

~ Max. airspeed

Manual mode

Height mode

GPS mode

15m/s

15m/s

4.5–10m/s

~ Max. climb/sink rate:

Manual mode

Height mode

GPS mode

6–10m/s

3m/s

3m/s

Wireless Communication

2 independent (diversity) control/data links 2.4 GHz FHSS link

(104

 to 63 mW) 5

1 analogue diversity 

video receiver 

5.8 GHz

(254

 or 100 mW)

LiPo battery types [mAh]

PP 6250, 3 Cells 6250 (~426g)

Available payload options 6

Sony Alpha 7R

Sony Alpha 7

Sony Alpha 6000

Panasonic Lumix TZ61

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Sigma DP1 Merrill

Sony Camcorder HDR-PJ810E

Inspection Payload TZ61

FLIR TAU 640 2

NIR Tetracam ADC Micro

NEC F30

Certification

CE 

RoHS

Drawings:

Performance, Precision & Safety!

/// AscTec Falcon 8 + AscTec Trinity available and new standard from 2015.

AscTec Trinity is the first fully adaptive 

control unit (autopilot) with up to 3 levels 

of redundancy for multi-rotor flight 

systems. 

AscTec Trinity makes your AscTec Falcon 8 

even more efficient and safe in daily operation. 

Three IMUs synchronize all sensing data and 

would identify, signal and compensate in case 

of trouble. Advanced algorithms and quaternions for smarter and more reliable data fusion. 

Unmatched position accuracy can even be guaranteed at high speeds in highly dynamic flights.

Further unique safety features:

 Redundant propulsion system. Automatic compensation of defect propellers, 

motors or motor controllers.

 Perfectly predictable flight behavior 

even in weak GPS environment or magnetic fields.

 Unbelievable position accuracy! 

Tiny positional corrections are possible 

with extreme precision.

 Minimal impact energy! Super light weight 

system with micro sized 8“ propellers.

Ascending Technologies is leading developer 

and manufacturer of micro UAS for professional, civil and research use. With over 1,000 

flight systems sold worldwide, we provide unique 

technology solutions. Profit from the expertise 

of the long-standing technology leaders in UAV, 

an extremely high level of production depth and 

experience innovation “Made in Germany”.

Product designation: AscTec Falcon 8

Producer: Ascending Technologies GmbH

Konrad-Zuse-Bogen 4, 82152 Krailling, Germany

EN

/// AscTec Falcon 8 + AscTec Trinity – Safety data sheet. 125 mm 770 mm 

 820 mm 

Mountable, but no longer available payload options: 

Sony Alpha NEX-7, Sony Alpha NEX-5, Panasonic Lumix TZ31/41, 

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3/5, Sony Camcorder PJ780VE, 

Sony Camcorder CX410VE, Sony Camcorder CX730E, 

Inspection Payload CX410/TZ41

1Depending on your link setting; recommended: line of sight 

(~250m) /// 2 GPS mode /// 3Manual mode, Height mode /// 4 Legal limit in Germany. Please pay attention to the local limits at 

the site. /// 5Adjustable /// 6 incl. actively stabilized and dampened 

AscTec Camera Mount.
© Ascending Technologies GmbH /// www.asctec.de 2 of 2 AscTec Falcon 8 /// Safety data sheet

2. Standard safety features 

 All flight data saved in Blackbox:

All relevant parameters of the flight system, 

pilot inputs and external factors like GPS 

satellite constellations are saved to a SD 

card at 10Hz safe from manipulation.

 3 Safety modes if data link is lost: 

“Direct landing”, “Comehome straight” 

(at its current height) or “Comehome 

high” (at max. mission height).

 Redundant control link: Two completely 

independent digital data links are responsible for the transmission of all commands 

and telemetry data. The failure of one of 

these links has no influence on the control 

of the flight system. This leads to a very 

robust communication between the RC and 

the UAV, even in industrial or urban areas 

with sources of disturbance or multi-path 

effects. 

 Triple redundant sensor data verification: All important sensor and system 

parameter values from the AscTec Falcon 

8 are assessed permanently.

 Automated pre-flight check: The 

system automatically checks itself in the 

moment it is switched on. So you can’t 

take off with any critical malfunctions.

3. Safe operation

/// The AscTec Falcon 8 is remotely 

controlled with the Mobile Ground Station. 

All relevant flight data is displayed live on the 

MGS. The pilot can fly the system with GPS 

aided position and barometric pressure aided 

height control, but can also deactivate these 

functions anytime and fly manually. A single 

motor failure, bend-, broken- or lost-propeller 

is automatically compensated by the autopilot, 

to allow for a safe landing. For independent 

camera control from a second camera man 

the Mobile Ground Station can be equipped 

with gamepad and video goggles. Software 

updates can be loaded onto the AscTec 

Falcon 8 via an USB interface. In preprogrammed waypoint flights the pilot can 

overtake control at anytime and will overwrite 

these commands by manual control input.

/// The Mobile Ground Station consists of:

 Remote Control via Diversity Datalink: 

The Futaba FX-22 remote control is only 

used as a control input device and for 

powering the Diversity Datalink and Status 

Display. The wireless transmission is done 

via the Diversity Datalink implemented by 

Ascending Technologies.

 Status Display: The pilot receives all 

telemetry data like GPS position, flight 

altitude and airspeed, battery voltage, 

data link or GPS quality and information 

about external factors like strong wind. It 

is displayed on the Status Display of the 

Mobile Ground Station.

Critical situations will clearly be 

indicated to the pilot from the Mobile 

Ground Station with visual (German/

English) and acoustic warnings.

 Video receiver: Used to receive the 

5.8Ghz analogue video signal from the 

AscTec Falcon 8.

 HD video monitor: Shows the camera 

view from the AscTec Falcon 8.

Mobile Ground 

Station, video 

goggles, high 

quality preview 

monitor & 

Independent 

Camera Control.

Security advice and disclaimer: Products from Ascending Technologies (AscTec Falcon, AscTec Firefly, AscTec Hummingbird, AscTec Pelican) are very easy to operate. High quality standards are held during the 

production process, to ensure our products are reliable and safe. However, situations in which the skills of the pilot are required can arise at any time (e.g.: sudden fresh wind in excess of 12 m/s; magnet fields by intentional or accidental take-off close to a strong magnetic field; masking of or disruption to GPS signals). These situations can occur and require the appropriate reaction of the operator to the warnings of the system. 

Ascending Technologies GmbH does not accept any liability for damages resulting from pilot errors. The correct operation of the system can be learned in training sessions, which are expressly recommended for 

every customer. The customer is always responsible for operating the system. Please see our General Terms and Conditions of Business and the safety instructions for further details. Note: At the time of publication 

of this safety information, all other previous safety information thereby become invalid. All texts, images, and graphics published in this flyer are exemplary illustrations and protected by copyright. Reproduction 

or the use of these texts, images and graphics in other digital or printed publications are not permitted with¬out the express permission of the author. © 2015 Ascending Technologies GmbH. All rights reserved. 

Indoor & 

outdoor operation: 

Possible thanks to 

precision control 

even in GPS-denied 

environment.

A new era 

of flight control & 

a new safety level: 

AscTec Falcon 8 + 

AscTec Trinity.