Exhibit A Pinnacl X Multirotor Design Safety Improvements

Pinnacl X has teamed up with Central Connecticut State University department of engineering and 

Eversource to develop safe multirotor Unmanned Aircraft System, UAS, called the Chameleon. High 

tension power line flight testing under COAs 2013-ESA-89-COA and 2013-ESA-96-COA has been

performed using a baseline quadrotor aircraft. Several needed areas of improvement has been

identified and incorporated into the design of the aircraft, Chameleon, table 1. 

Table 1, Design Improvements for Flight within Close Proximity of High tension Power Lines and 

Structures

Problem: Pilot and observer interference using the quadrotor transmitter.

Cause: Pilot is unable to operate the camera system and camera positioning while flying in close 

proximity of power lines.

Solution: Use two separate controllers one for the pilot to control the aircraft and an additional 

controller to operate the camera.

Problem: Aircraft susceptible to disturbance during calm wind conditions.

Cause: Unknown updrafts, thermals, wind shear around structures and tree canopies in calm winds.

Solution: Design a low profile/ integrated multirotor airframe that can handle higher wind disturbances 

than conventional multicopter designs. (See AHS publication exhibit J).

Potential Problem: Aircraft vibration in flight followed by loss of control.

Cause: Unable to inspect airframe connections.

Solution: Design a multirotor that exposes the airframe connection points.

Problem: Unable to photograph from underneath structures looking up.

Cause: Camera system hung below aircraft.

Solution: Design a multirotor with an integrated camera platform that has a 180 degree tilt range.

Potential Problem: Aircraft flyaway

Cause: GPS signal loss

Solution: Program autopilot to switch modes, to a non GPS mode, in the event of a GPS signal loss and 

an experienced pilot fly the aircraft

GPS signal loss has also occurred during flight testing with in the proximity of high tension power lines, 

structures, trees and close to the ground resulting in a temporary aircraft flyaway. The aircraft was 

immediately recovered by switching to a non GPS mode and manually flying the aircraft. This has 

identified that a GPS Geo-fence will not always be a solution to keeping a multirotor aircraft within a 

particular zone of space since it always requires a good GPS signal. This has also identified that an 

experience pilot is required to fly the aircraft at all times since manual flight may be required at any 

time. GPS signal loss has not occurred with UAS fixed wing aircraft since they require open areas to fly 

in. CCSU and Pinnacl X are working on a non GPS position holding capability for multirotor aircraft. 

Pinnacl X is also involved with a continuous improvement process involving the design and component 

life estimation. Currently the component life is unknown for the motors, electronics speed controllers, 

autopilot, GPS and sensors. Pinnacl X is working with CCSU to determining the component life by cyclic 

test of components. As a result components, motors, propellers and electronic speed controllers, will be 

replaced during the 100 hour maintenance schedule. In addition the PIC and observer must take the 4 
Exhibit A Pinnacl X Multirotor Design Safety Improvements

hour training course developed by Pinnacl X and have passed the exam with a grade of 80%, table 2. 

Also an instructor must go over the errors on the exams with the PIC and observer.

The Chameleon quadrotor has been used for high tension line and structure inspection since June 26, 

2015. The aircraft has been found to be extremely reliable for flight in the wired environment. Due to 

the reliability of the aircraft it is proposed that it will be used for filming for movies and TV in this 

Section 333 Exemption request. The Chameleon quadrotor will be used for light weight payloads of up 

to 1 pound. The payload include GoPro cameras, and the Canon A2200 series cameras, Sony WX350 

series cameras and the Panasonic Lumix series cameras. Additionally the Chameleon quadrotor is design 

to carry the FLIR Tau thermal imager. For the flight with larger payloads up to 7 pounds the DJI S1000 or 

DJI S900 will be used. The aircraft will be used with the DLSR series cameras. The DJI S1000 and S900 will 

undergo the same maintenance program as the Chameleon quadrotor. 

Table 2. Pinnacl X Required Training Course Topics

 Checklist

 COA Process

 UAS crash investigation

 FAA regulations 

 Flight training

 Principles of Multicopter Flight

 Weather