© 2015 HoneyComb Corporatio n. All rights reserved

.



# OPERATIONS MANUAL

AgDroneTM System

Revision 1.2 0 / February 20151

Notice & Disclaimer

The content is intended for parties with an existing business relationship with HoneyComb Corporation . D istribution

to third

- parties without HoneyComb’s consent is strictly prohibited.

HoneyComb makes no warranties based on the accuracy or completeness o f the contents of this document. In addition, HoneyComb reserves the right to modify product specifications, services , and other offerings without

notice.

Use o f HoneyComb’s products and services, including the AgDroneTM System, HoneyComb Connect, and/or HoneyComb Data Services implies acceptance of warranty, liability, and privacy terms.

Limited Warranty

Honeycomb warrants that, for a period of ninety (90) days after delivery to the original retail purchaser or first user:
(a) the System hardware will be free from manufacturing defects in material and workmanship under normal use and
service; and (b) the software will perform in accordance with documentation prov ided by HoneyComb; however,
HoneyComb does not warrant that the Software will run uninterrupted or be error free.

In the event Honeycomb determines that a System fails to conform to the foregoing warranty, Honeycomb will, at
its option: (a) repair or rep lace any defective Hardware part or parts; and/or (b) use commercially reasonable efforts
to correct any Software error. Replacement parts are warranted for the remainder of the applicable nighty (90) day

o riginal warranty period. The repair or replacement of defective parts under this warranty will be made without
charge for parts or labor for removal, installation and/or actual repair of such defective parts, or shipping.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any non

- warranted electronic component replacements shall be the sole
responsibility of the Customer. The foregoing warranty does not cover: (a) defects caused by operator misuse,
negligence or accident; or (b) nonconformities resulting from repairs or alte rations not authorized by HoneyC omb.
The provisio ns of this warranty do not apply to normal deterioration of soft trim and appearance items (such as
exterior finish) due to wear and exposure, or to aircraft equipment, accessories or service parts sold separately which
have been improperly installed

.

Prod uct Liability

CUSTOMER AGREES TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS HONEYCOMB, ITS OFFICERS,

DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES AND AFFILIATES FROM AND AGAINST ANY

CLAIM FOR PERSONAL INJURY, PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR OTHERWISE ARISING FROM

CUSTOMER’S USE OF THE SYST EM OR USE OF THE SYSTEM BY ANY THIRD PARTY

AUTHORIZED BY CUSTOMER. IN NO EVENT SHALL HONEYCOMB OR ITS LICENSORS BE

LIABLE FOR LOSS OF DATA, SUBSTITUTE GOODS, LOSS OF PROFIT, OR FOR ANY OTHER
SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, HOWEVER CAUSED, WH ETHER

BASED UPON CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY IN TORT, WARRANTY, OR

ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, EVEN IF HONEYCOMB HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE

POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE LIABILITY OR HONEYCOMB

OR ITS LICENSORS EXCEED THE AMOUNT PAI D BY CUSTOMER FOR THE SPECIFIC

PRODUCT INVOLVED.

Contact Information

7929 SW Burns Way STE A Wilsonville, OR 97070 USA

Phone: 503

- 563

- 6382

Email: support@honeycombcorp.com2



## Table of Contents

Introducing th e AgDroneTM System

................................ ................................ ................... 5

Common Terms

................................ ................................ ................................ .......................... 5

Safety Precautions

................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 5

Limitations

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 5

General Safety Practices

................................ ................................ ................................ ............ 6

Flight

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 6

Batteries

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 6

Handling

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 7

Components Overview

................................ ................................ ................................ ............... 8

Theory of Operation

................................ ................................ ................................ ................... 9

Operation Overview

................................ ................................ ................................ ................... 9

Levels of Flight A utomation

................................ ................................ ................................ .... 9

Automatic Mode

................................ ................................ ................................ ....................... 9

Fly

- by

- Wire Mode

................................ ................................ ................................ .................. 10

Mode Selection & Controls

................................ ................................ ................................ .... 10

Return

- to

- Launch Mode

................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 11

Emergency Maneuvers

................................ ................................ ................................ ............ 11

Obstacle Evasion

................................ ................................ ................................ .................... 1 2

Lost

- Link Procedures

................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 12

Emergency Landing

................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 12



### Quick Start Guide

................................ ................................ ................................ ................... 13

Preflight Checks

................................ ................................ ................................ ....................... 13

Prepare for Flight

................................ ................................ ................................ ..................... 13

Power

- on Components

................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 13

Mission Planner

................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 1 4

Launch the AgDrone

................................ ................................ ................................ .............. 14

Recover the AgDrone

................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 14

Download Mission Data

................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 153

Upload Mission Data

................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 15



### Mission Planner

................................ ................................ ................................ ....................... 16

Introduction

................................ ................................ ................................ .............................. 16

Create a Mission

................................ ................................ ................................ ....................... 16

Locate Desired Flight Area

................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 17

Home Location

................................ ................................ ................................ ....................... 17

Prefetch Map Tile s

................................ ................................ ................................ ................... 18

Create Takeoff

................................ ................................ ................................ .......................... 19

Create Loiter Pattern

................................ ................................ ................................ ............... 20

Draw Field Shape

................................ ................................ ................................ ..................... 22

Generate Flight Path

................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 23

Survey (Grid) Window

................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 24

Adjustments for Wind

................................ ................................ ................................ ............ 2 4

Display Options

................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 2 6

Check & Accept

................................ ................................ ................................ ..................... 2 8

Define Descent & Landing

................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 29

Initial Descent

................................ ................................ ................................ ......................... 30

Continue Descent Path

................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 3 1

Landing Waypoin t

................................ ................................ ................................ .................. 3 1

A ltitude Adjustments

................................ ................................ ................................ .............. 3 2

Connect & Write Waypoints

................................ ................................ ................................ ... 3 2

Save Waypoint Files

................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 3 3

Load a Saved Mis s i on

................................ ................................ ................................ ............ 3 3

Best Practices for Mission Planning

................................ ................................ ....................... 3 4

Flight

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 3 4

Landing

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 3 4



### Flight & Preparations

................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 3 5

Pre

- flight Inspection

................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 3 5

Install LiPo Battery

................................ ................................ ................................ .................. 3 5

Launch & Recover y

................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 3 6

Launching

................................ ................................ ................................ ............................... 3 64

Recovery

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 3 6

Failed Launch

................................ ................................ ................................ ......................... 3 6



### HoneyComb Connect

................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 37

Extract SD Cards

................................ ................................ ................................ .................... 37

Download Mission Data

................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 37

Upload Mission Data

................................ ................................ ................................ .............. 37

Online Account

................................ ................................ ................................ ....................... 37

Troubleshooting

................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 37



### Components Guide

................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 38

RC Transmitter

................................ ................................ ................................ ........................ 38

Mission Planning Computer

................................ ................................ ................................ .... 38

LiPo Batteries

................................ ................................ ................................ ........................... 39

Balance Charging

................................ ................................ ................................ ................... 39

Battery Storage

................................ ................................ ................................ ....................... 39

LiPo Battery Charge Station

................................ ................................ ................................ ... 40

Balance Charge Procedure

................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 40

Long

- Term Storage

................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 42



### AgDrone Maintenance & Inspection

................................ ................................ ............... 4 3

Spare Parts

................................ ................................ ................................ ............................... 43

Pre

- flight Inspection

................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 43

50

- h Inspection

................................ ................................ ................................ ......................... 43



### Customer Support

................................ ................................ ................................ ........................... 44

Int roduction

................................ ................................ ................................ .............................. 44

Troubleshooting & Reporting

................................ ................................ ................................ . 44

Contact Information

................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 4 45



## Introducing the AgDroneTM System

HoneyComb’s Agricultural Drone (AgDrone) System has been specifically designed for farm

related purposes including scouting, mapping, and precision agricu lture. This is embodied in the platform design, onboard imaging systems, software, and data processing services. Other applications outside of agriculture including Forestry, Land Surveying, Exploration, and others have also been pursued with the AgDroneTM System; however, if your intended use is outside of agriculture please contact HoneyComb directly prior to operations.



## Common Terms

UAS

– Unmanned Aerial System , refers to the system as a whole including the aerial craft, ground

station and other associat ed components.

UAV

– Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

, refers to the actual vehicle excluding ground station and other
supporting devices.

Drone

– Colloquial term for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, referring to the actual flying device.



## Safety Pre cautions

I MPORTANT : Before attempting to operate the AgDrone and any of its components, read through the following safety guidelines to prevent personal injury and damage to property. Do
not power

- on any equipment or attach any batteries until you have r eviewed the material below.

The HoneyComb AgDrone is an autonomous Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) designed to provide aerial imaging for agricultural surveying. To accomplish this task, the AgDrone uses electronically powered components and some potential ly haz ardous materials that must be routinely inspected a nd handled carefully

. The following section covers some general guidelines

for handling and oper ating the AgDrone S ystem safely.

Limitations

- Only operate the AgDrone during daylight hours in clea r weather conditions and always maintain visual

- line

- of

- sight (VLOS) during flights. The AgDrone must be operated primarily by the Pilot

- in

- Command (PIC) and facilitated by a Visual Observer (VO). The AgDrone should never be operated if a discrepancy is id entified during inspection until

corrective action is taken.6



## General Safety Practices

Flight

- The AgDrone system must only be launched, flown, and landed in locations where it is safe to do so. Keep the aircraf t away from obstacles and people when fly ing

- especially while launching and landing.

HoneyComb recommends flying the AgDrone UAV at an altitude of 400 feet (122 meters) above ground level. Lower altitudes increase the risk of collision with ground

- based obstacles and

h igher altitudes violate U. S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations . Do not use the AgDrone in areas where there is a risk of in terference with other aircraft, especially within five miles of any airport.

It is unsafe to fly the AgDrone in winds exceeding 15 knots (1 7mph). Significant winds m ay cause less stable flight trajectories, resulting in reduced image quality and flight duration. Still weather conditions are best for flying.

The AgDrone system is not waterproof. Do not operate in rainy weather ; serious dama ge to the electrical system may result. If rainy conditions develop mid

- flight, land and recover the aircraft

as safely and quickly as possible, and pack up the other components to avoid water damage.

Batteries

- Lithium polymer (LiPo) batteries are ex tremely powerful, but can be unstable if mishandled or damaged. Read all warning and safety information provided with the batteries and charger, and follow these guidelines:

- Always charge (balance) batteries in an isolated plac e away from flammable mater ial

.

- The HoneyComb batteries and charge station must be used exclusively with each other, and never with other brands or styles of battery or charger.

- If storing the b atteries for more than three weeks (over the winter, for example), use the charge st ation to place all ba tteries in Storage condition.

- Always store and transport charged batteries using the included LiPo bag

.7

Handling

- The fully

- loaded carrying case

, including the AgDrone and all of its components

, weighs approximately 70 pounds (32 kg) and comes equipped with wheels for easy transport on

smooth flat surfaces. Observe safe lifting practices while handling the uni t and do not lift the fully

- loaded case alone.

The AgDrone UAV is covered with a Kevlar

- c omposite exoskeleton with narrow edges a long the rear of the wings (elevons) . Be careful when handling the AgDrone and keep all body parts, clothing and other materials clear from the propeller of the AgDrone. Never handle the AgDrone near the motor and propeller when the AgDrone is connected t o a power source

. See figure 1

- 1

b elow for the suggested grip when handling the AgDrone.

Figure 1

- 1 : Demonstrating ideal grip for handling the AgDrone - Carry the AgDrone by gripping the front of the wing as pictured.

- Avoid holding the AgDrone by any of the moving parts such as the elevons, servos, or propeller.

- Always ensure that the AgDrone is powered

- off when performing a

p reflight or 50

- h inspection.

- Use this grip when preparing to launch the AgDrone8



### Components Overview

T he AgDrone s ystem is shipped with the following components inside the protective carrying

case. These components are explained in further detail in the Components Guide chapter. If any of the items listed below are absent upon receipt of your AgD rone system, contact HoneyComb

c ustomer s upport for further assistance b efore a ttempting to operate the system.

Figure 1

- 2: The AgDrone and components included in the carrying case upon shipment (some items are hidden and not pictured ).

1. AgDrone UAS a irframe

- avionics

, camera system, SD cards (inside payl oad bay)

2. RC transmitter

– Spektrum DX6 c ontroller

3. LiPo battery charge s tation

– Hi TEC X4 AC PLUS

4. AC wall adapters

– AA battery cradle, tablet charger, charge station cable

5. Documentation

– operations manual, inspection guide, log sheets (beneath AgDrone)

6. Li Po batteries & protective storage bag

7. LiPo battery cables

– leads, jumper cables

8. Mission planning computer

– Microsoft Surface tablet & keyboard

- case

9. Spare parts

– propellers, lens covers & screws, fasteners , winglets, fuses

10. SD card r eader & telemetry t ran smitter

– USB cable connection

10 1 2 3

6 4

7 8 5

99



### Theory of O peration
The AgDrone system is designed to be easy to operate, with minimal training and basic computer skills. The aircraft can be launched by hand with no special equipment.

The path of the aircraft is guided b y pre

- planned instructions from the operator , with the actual flight behavior controlled by an advanced autopilot system. Launch, flight, and landing require

minimal interaction from the operator

.

Cameras onboard the aircraft capture geo

- tagged photos of the area beneath the flight path.

T hese photos can be in the visible spectrum, or more sensitive to infrared (IR) light. The cameras store the images on SD memory cards inside the aircraft and telemetry information is collected by the autopilot. When th e photos and telemetry are downloaded, they can then be digitally stitched together into a comprehe nsive view of the flight area in both visible and NDVI

views.

The methods and technology used to acquire this imaging have an inherent margin of error and

w ill capture close representations of the actual field or crop being surveyed. Analyzing the results of the survey can give valuable infor mation about vegetation health

- providing insight into issues of water use, fertiliza tion, physical damage, and more. Users are also able to export vector files for use with various farm management software other precision

- agriculture equipment.



### O peration O verview

Levels of Flight Automation

- The AgDrone operate s in three different modes : Primarily it uses

Automati c and Fly

- By

- Wire (FBW A ) and occasionally uses a third mode, Return

- to

- Launch (RTL ).

The AgDrone remains in a utomatic mode during normal operation, but there may be circumstances when user input is necessary to manual ly divert the aircraft from its planne d course using fly

- by

- w ire mode

.

Automatic M ode

– Select this mode by flipping the RC channel selector switch to the up

position (labeled “0” on the controller ) . Heading, altitude, and speed are a ll controlled by the autopilot a s the aircraft performs pre

- set instructions and au tomatically triggers the cameras.

Although the AgDrone can operate without user in put in automatic mode, the operator still has the ability to send commands that are moderated by the autopilot

.

The left thumb

- stick (throttle) allows the aircraft to increase its cruising speed . It is not recommended to do this except when nec essary due to windy conditions as it significantly reduces battery life and may result in lower

- quality image output.10

The right thum b stick (directional control) allow s you to “nu dge” the aircraft off of its planned path. Once the stick is released, the aircraft will immediately return to its previous path and continue on to the next waypoint. This should be done in the event that a previously unseen

obst acle (trees, po wer lines, other aircraft, etc.) is identified.

Fly

- By

- Wire M ode

- Fly

- by

- w ire (FBWA) is a semi

- automatic mode that allows the pilot to send commands altering the AgDrone’s path. The autopilot still enforces some parameters to
stabilize f light behavior, but less so than automatic mode. Select FBWA by flipping the RC

chan nel selector switch to the down

- position (labeled “2” on the RC transmitter ).

I MPORTANT : In fly

- by

- wire mode, the autopilot does not enforce any limits on altitude so it i s possible to crash the aircraft if directed down to ward the ground.

Fly

- by

- w ire is typically used only if a flight plan has been altered unexpectedly. Some situations

that call for this mode include but are not limited to:

- A new obstacle appearing in the aircraft’s path and requires redirection

- Flying conditions have become unsafe and the aircraft needs to be landed abruptly

- A strong tailwind causes the aircraft to miss its landing pass

- The aircraft has enter ed return

- to

- l aunch mode and must be recove red

* There is no fully manual mode available on the AgDrone system.

Mode S election & C ontrols

– The pilot in command only needs to manipula te the controls explained in this section; the various other knobs, buttons, and switches are deactivated and

shoul d be left al one (see figure 1

- 2 below).

Channel selector switch: this determine s the AgDrone’s mode of flight.

I MPORTANT : The controller sh ould always remain in fly

- by

- w ire mode with the throttle down (0%) until the aircraft is prepared for takeoff and r eady to utilize a utomatic mode . Keep the area near the motor and propeller clear when the system is powered

- on.

Control sticks : these allow the user to manipulate the d irection and throttle. The operator can direct the aircraft in fly

- by

- w ire mode, and “nudge” the aircraf t in a utomatic mode.

I MPORTANT : Keep throttle at 0% in fly

- by

- wire mode when handling the AgDrone. Throttle should be at approximately 60% to maintain altitude in fly

- by

- w ire mode

.11

Figur e 1

- 3 : The RC t ransmitter controls used with the AgDrone

Return

- to

- Launch

- The AgDrone is prog rammed with a Return

- to

- Launch mode that will
guide the aircraft back to its home location and loiter above until further instruction is given.
You may never e ncounter this mode during normal operation, but it is in place to prevent
damage to the AgDrone and any people nearby in the event of a lost

- link or low

- battery scenario.

Some s ituations that can initiate RTL mode include but are not limited to :

- AgDrone lo ses c ommunication with the RC transmitter

- Battery reaches approximately 20% charge during flight

- User command (flipping channel selector switch to middle position )

- Requesting an RTL command in Mission Planner

Once RTL has caused the AgDrone to enter a loit er pattern , you will need to plan a l anding sequence or manually bring the aircraft down using fly

- by

- w ire mode (see Mission Planner

section ).



### Emergency Maneuvers If dangerous con ditions emerge during a mission, the operator must do whatever is necessary to mitigate the danger to nearby people or property, even at the expense of the AgDrone itself

. Below are some possible situations that may require emergency maneuvering. (1) RC channel selector switch: Up

- a utomatic mode

Down

- fly

- by

- w ire mode

Middle

- return

- to

- l aunch mode

(2) Throttle stick:

Fo rward

- increase throttle

Back

- decrease throttle

(3) Directional stick:

Back

- cli mb altitude

Forward

- dive altitude Left/right

- bank left/right

(4) Power switch: Right

- power on Left

- power off 1

3 2

412

Obstacle Evasion

- If you must evade an obstacle mid

- flight, use FBWA mode as a last resort. The first best practice for evading an obstacle is to “nudge” the aircraft in automatic mode, as

this is a more stable maneuver. The next best practice would be to manually initiate RTL mode by flipping the channel selector switch to the mi ddle position.

Once RTL mode has guided the AgDrone to loiter above the home location, you can plan a landing sequence to bring the aircraft down or continue the mission by specifying the next waypoint to follow.

Lost

- Link Procedures

– If the AgDrone lo ses communication with the RC transmitter, there are a series of failsafe behaviors depending on the duration of the lost

- link.

- Initial Lost

- Link: Mission Planner will immediately alarm the operator of a lost

- link status and will continue flying t he plan ned path for up to 10 seconds while trying to

reestablish communications.

- 10 Second Lost

- Link: Mission Planner will continue to alarm the operator and the AgDrone will begin a circular loiter pattern at the approximate location where the lost

link occurr ed for up to 30 seconds while trying to reestablish communications.

- 30 second Lost

- Link: Mission Planner will continue to alarm the operator and the AgDrone will automatically initiate RTL mode and loiter above the home location. At this proximity, the AgDrone should be able to reestablish communications.

- No Communications: If lost

- link status continues and the aircraft cannot reestablish connection with the RC transmitter, the AgDrone will remain loitering above the home

location until connections are restored or the battery power is depleted.

- Depleted Battery: In the event that battery power is depleted mid

- flight, t he first component to lose power is the motor. With no propulsion, the AgDrone will rely on the autopilot and control surfaces to grad ually descend in the circular (spiral) patte rn. Keep

clear of the landing zone as the AgDrone will have minimal flight control and may approach the ground at high speeds.

Emergency Landing

– The worst

- case scenario for emergency maneuvers is the event o f a crash landing. This is an absolute last resort and should only be executed after exhausting all other options. If there is no better alternative for evading an obstacle, then the safety of people nearby is the top priority.

If an emergency landing i s necessary, use fly

- by

- wire mode to guide the AgDrone away from potential dangers for people nearby and seek out the most reachable but isolated area to bring

down the AgDrone. Attempt the crash landing with the lowest possible airspeed and gradient

perc entage to minimize damage to the AgDrone and property nearby.13



## Quick Start Guide

Pre flight Checks

- Co mplete this checklist to ensure safe flying conditions and airwo rthiness of the AgDrone UAV . Take note of any discrepancies and correct them before operati on.

1. Prefetch map data of the flight area

2. Download previously collected mission data

3. Ensure that batteries and powered components are fully charged

4. Clean lens covers and clear airframe of debris

5. Ensure that motor bracket is securely fastened to airframe

6. Ins pect pr opeller for smooth operation , chips and dents, and remove debris

7. Check elevons and servos for structural defects or obstructions

8. Ensure that winglets and lid cover are securely fastened to the airframe

9. Check the following values in the FLIGHT DATA tab of Mission Planner before launch:

- Sat Count is 7 or more

- Dist ToMAV is 50 or les s

- Altitude is 5 or less

- Heading (red line) is holding steady and not drifting

10. Clear launch zone of debris and unnecessary personnel

11. Check surrounding airspace for obstacles and adverse weather conditions

Prepare for Flight

– After reviewing the operation manual, follow this guide for regular flight

pro cedure after completing the pre flight checklist. Refer to the respective chapters for further detail on the steps below.

1. Power

- on Components

– Boot the system in the order listed below and ensure that the SD cards are inserted in the front payload bay before powering

- up the AgDrone.

a) Power

- on RC transmitter in fly

- by

- wire mode with throttle at 0%

b) Power

- on mission planning compu ter (telemetry antenna attached)

c) Connect battery to the AgDrone (disarmed

– blinking red light)

d) Listen for start

- up beeps (multiple tones), wait for readiness beep (long tone)

I MPORTANT : Boot the AgDrone UAV facing north for best orientation accuracy

.14

2. Mission Pl anner

a) Open Mission Planner and create or load a mission

b) Adjust flight path for landscape and weather conditions

c) Click CONNECT and wait for Mission Planner to connect to the AgDrone

d) C lick Write WPs to load the mission onto the AgDrone

I MPORTANT : Select the FLIGHT DATA tab in Mission Planner and check the foll owing values before launching: SatCount is 7 or more, DistToMAV is 50 or less, and Altitude is 5 or less.

3. Launch the AgDrone

I MPORTANT : Carry the AgDrone so that it i s facing forward for best orientation accuracy.

a) Approach the launch zone (AgDrone should remain disarmed)

b) Arm the AgDrone (push and hold arming button until light is solid

- red)

c) Test elevon function (move directional stick on RC transmitter)

d) Grip the front of the AgDrone wing (see figure 1

- 1 )

e) Sel ect a uto mode from the RC transmitter and wait for the propeller to spin up

f) Hand

- launc h into the wind, travelling a f lat and level path towards the Loiter WP

g) Observe mission , maintaining visual line

- of

- sight (VLOS) of the AgDrone UAV

h) Adjust flight path and assist with controls as needed for obstacles and landing

I MPORTANT : Observ e the flight path at tak eoff an d prepare to cut the throttle i f the launch appears to be unsuccessful

.

Failed Launch

– If the Ag Drone fail s to takeoff, prevent damage to the motor by selecting fly

by

- wire mode with the throttl e at 0% while still airborne. If the propeller spins against the ground, the motor fuse will fail and will need to be replaced. Access and replace the fuse under the payload bay while the AgDrone UAV is po wered

- off

.

4. Recover the AgDrone

a) Disarm the AgDrone (push and hold arming button until light is blinking red)

b) Carry the AgDrone t o the ground station and disconnect the battery

c) Download mission data if applicable (see next section, below)

d) Perform preflight inspection to ensure airworthiness before the next mission

e) Click CONNECT and re

- write the waypoints before reattempting a missio n

I MPORTANT : Leave the RC transmitter powered

- on when recove ring and rebooting the AgDrone UAV

. Powering

- off RC transmitter while the AgDrone UAV is armed will initiate

RTL mode.15

5. Download Mission Data

I MPORTANT : Power

- off the AgDrone immediately after recovering from landing or a failed

launch by disc onnecting the battery. Reconnec ting the b attery will temporarily enable Wi

- Fi capability on the telemetry card for use with HoneyComb Connect.

a) Power

- o ff the AgDrone UAV (only remove SD cards when powered

- off)

b) Extract SD cards (imagery) and load them into the card reader

c) Power

- on the AgDrone UAV (remain disarmed

– light blinking red)

d) Power

- on the mission planning co mputer and open HoneyComb Connect

e) Attach the loaded card reader to the mission planning computer

f) Wait for HoneyComb Connect to recognize telemetry and imagery data

g) Click Download

– do not close HoneyComb Connect until transfer is complete

h) Click Clear Scre en and close HoneyComb Connect

i) Eject the card reader and r e

- insert the SD cards into the AgDrone

6. Upload Mission Data

I MPORTANT : HoneyComb Connect r equires internet access to upload mission data to the online

user account.

a) Power

- on the mission plannin g computer

b) Open HoneyComb Connect and select the Upload tab

c) Click the Upload button, a pop

- up window for authentication will appear

d) Enter credentials for the online user account and click Login

e) Do not close HoneyComb Connect until transfer is complete

f) Acce ss online user account at farm.honeycombcorp.com to view mission data

N OTE : Uploading may take several minutes depending on the amount of mission data collected. If files are corrupted or missing, they will not process correctly and may not be displayed on the

online user account. Larger missions will take longer to process.16



## Mission P lanner

Introduction

The HoneyComb s ystem uses open

- source software called Mission Planner to pair the AgDrone with Google Maps a nd guide the aircraft

. Mission Planner al lows you to create missions for the AgDrone that can conveniently be saved and load ed for future use.

The HoneyComb s ystem is designed to work with Mission Planner under the factory default settings provided by HoneyComb

– do not alter these default set tings to ensure safe operation of the AgDrone.

N OTE : Do not update Mission Planner unless instructed to do so by HoneyComb

. The software version installed on the provided computer is set for HoneyComb ’s operation and updating it

may change factory def

ault settings, altering flight behavior.

I MPORTANT : If Mission Planner becomes slow or unresponsive, close the program and disconnect the telemetry antenna; then re

- connect the antenna and reboot Mission Planner. If problems persist, reboot the mission pl anning computer and software.



### Create a M ission
Use Mission Planner to locate your fie ld and specify the flight path for the AgDrone to follow. It is important to check that the map on mission planner is cons istent with the actual field since the

satellit e photos may be outdated. O bserve any unforeseen obstacles (buildings, power lines, trees, etc.) before accepting your flight plan.17



### Locate Desired Flight A rea

When you open Mission Planner, the first map displayed will be of the area in which the aircraft was last flown. For this procedure, assume that the next mission will be in a different area, so you’ll need to move to a different part of the map.

Home Location

- Define your H ome L ocation at roughly the area where you plan to lau nch and recover the aircraft for this mission. Locations with no nearby obstacles and easy access are

recommended.

1) In the top tool bar, click on the FLIGHT PLAN tab

. (S ee figure 3

- 1 ).

2) Navigate to the desired area. This can be done by either:

a. Click ing, dragging and zooming on the map until the area is in view.

- OR

b. Manually entering the latitude and long itude of the desired location. (See figure 3

- 1 )

.

3) Click on the Lat textbox (2). Mission Planner will prompt you to click on the map to set

the home location at that point. You may click

- drag Home Location elsewhere or enter specific latitude and longitude coordinates. When you boot up the AgDrone in the field, it will automatically set the home l ocation based on that position.

4) If asked to “Reset ho me location?”

- Click No to use the current position of the AgDrone UAV.

Figure 3

- 1 : Mission Planner flight plan screen. Access this screen by clicking the FLIGHT PLAN tab (1). Enter specific lat itude and long itude coordinates for your mission using Home Location (2). 1

218



### Pref etch ing Map T iles

If you are planning a mission in an area where you may not have internet access, HoneyComb

recommends p refetch ing the map data for the area before heading into the field. Failure to do so may prevent the map from bei ng displayed, or cause the map to be blurry, making it harder to plan a mission.

Holding the a lt key, left

- click an d drag a portion of the map to outline the area where you’ll be operating. Give yourself some space on all sides of the field. Mission Planner draws a blue rectangle around the highlighted area. (S ee figure 3

- 2 )

.

Figure 3

- 2 : Prefe tching map tiles for the area of operation

.

Right

- click on the map to bring up the menu shown in figur e 3

- 2 . Select Map Tool , and click

Prefetch . A status bar will report progress as Mission Planner stores the map of the area

selected. If you select Prefetch without clicking and dragging to select an area first, the softwa re will fetch the map data for the entire area in view.

The p refetch process will save tiles at increasingly granular detail of the map, with each successive zoom level taking lo nger than the previous one. HoneyComb recommends letting the

process reach at least zoom level 18 for adequate clarity on the map.

Levels beyond 18 will be unnecessary for the user; repeatedly press the esc (escape) key to

cancel fet ching of the other zo om levels until the process has completed. The fetched data will be available on Mission Planner when you view that area of the map, even if you’re in the field

without internet access.19

Figure 3

- 3 : S howing prefetch ing progress. Press (esc) to cancel z oom levels beyond 18.

N OTE : Skipping this step will only affect visibil ity on the Mission Planner map. You will still be capable of planning a mi ssion

, but with less precision. Do not plan a mission blindly as this can be dangerous for people and property nearby.



### Create T akeoff

Mission Planner stores the correct parameters for a takeoff, but it is recommended to verify the

va lues at this time

. Right

- click on the map to bring up the menu shown in f igure 3

- 4

.

Figure 3

- 4 : Mis sion Planner flight p lan sc reen showing the right

- click menu.20

- Click Takeoff

. This will open a n ew window, as seen in figure 3

- 5

.

- Set takeoff altit ude to “ 30 ” (meters), and click OK

.

- Set takeoff pitch to “ 12 ” (degrees), and click OK

.

Figure 3

- 5 : Showing corre ct parameters for t akeoff

.



### Create Loiter P atter n

Loiter is a pattern that the aircraft will fo llow as it climbs to altitude and is where the AgDrone will go in an RTL situation. R ight

- click on the map to bring up the menu. Select Loiter and

click Circles

. ( See figure 3

- 6 below )

.

Figure 3

- 6 : Create a circular loiter pattern.

N OTE : The Waypoints table on the bottom of figure 3

- 6 (1) shows the pitch and altitude for the

“TAKEOFF” command. As you create more way points, they will be detailed in this table. Click and drag the green bar if the table is not viewable (2). 1 221

A pop

- up window will open, as seen in figure 3

- 7 . Make sure the value for Loiter Turns is set to

“ 1 ” and click OK

.

F igure 3

- 7 : Make sure that t he number of turns is set to “1”

.

The l oiter pattern will be automatically generated at the map position where you right

- clicked to open the menu. The center of the pattern will be denoted by a green marker identical to the home position marker and labe led “2” (See figure 3

- 8)

. C lick and drag the marker t o reposition the loiter waypoint.

Figure 3

- 8 : Loiter area ( waypoint 2) shown adjacent to home l ocation. Notice the addition to the

w aypoints T able.

Loiter is the first destination that the AgDrone will navigate to upon launching. It is best to launch the AgDrone into the wind, so position the Loiter waypoint in the same direction that you plan to launch the AgDrone.

I MPORTANT : The loiter area is where the aircraft will be climbing to altitude, so it is especi ally important that this point is far away from trees, structures, power lines, and other potential

obstacles.22



### Draw F ield Shape

Once home location and l oiter have been set in the desired field, draw the shape of the field on

the Mission P lanner map. After specifying the shape of the field, Mission Planner will automatically generate the most efficient flight path within that shape.

To begin defining the flight area, r ight

- click on the map, select Draw Polygon

, and then click Add Polygon Point . (See figure 3

- 9 )

.

Figure 3

- 9 : S elect Add Polygon Point to begin defining the shape of your flight area

.

The location where you right

- click will be the first position of the p olygon. If you wish to place it elsewhere, click

- drag the p olygon marker to a corner of the desired flight area.

N OTE : Mission Planner will remain in p olygon mode until you enter the next step, which is to map the actual flight pattern of the aircraft (or grid ). While in p olygon mode, clicking anywher e on the map wil l create a new corne r for the p olygon shape.

For example, in figure 3

- 10 , two points have been mapped along the upper region of the flight

area

. A line is automatically drawn to connect the points . Continue left

- clicking on the map to

add p olygon point s.23

A rectangular shape will suffice fo r most fields, but adjust your p olygon as n eeded to cover the flight area completely. HoneyComb recommends making the p olygon slightly larger than t he desired field on all sides (unless obstacles restrict this)

. Click and drag the points to adjust the

p olygon shape as desired.

Figure 3

- 10 : Two p olygon points have been connected. Continue left

- clicking to add p olygon points and define the shape of your flight area.



### Generate Flight Path

R ight cl ick the map, selecting Auto WP from the menu, and click Survey (Grid)

. Mission Planner will be able to automatically generate a proposed flight path in the s pecified p olygon (see figure 3

- 11 ).

Figure 3

- 11 : After completing the p olygon , select Auto WP and click Survey (Grid)

.24

Survey (Grid) Window

– The Survey (Grid) window displays the proposed flight path and

parameters

. The path is shown as a series of yellow lines connecting green waypoint s numbered

in the order that the aircraft will fly.

Mission Planner generates the most efficient flight path for the specified p olygon shape, but adjustments should be considered for unique geography, obstacles, or wind conditions at your field (discussed in next section).

Figure 3

- 12 : Survey (Gr id) window shows the proposed fli ght path (1). Set altitude to “ 122 ” (2) and

select Canon A2300 camera (3).

Adjusting for W ind

- You can adjust the direction of you r flight path to combat adverse wind conditions and increase the quality of imag ery collected. It’s best to fly perpendicular to the wind

and mak e up

- wind turns af ter ea ch lap. For example, in a north or s outh wind scenario , adjust the angle to fly east

- west (s ee figure 3

- 13 below).

The example below assume s a moderate wind blowing f rom n orth to south. To achieve a flight path that sends th e AgDrone perpendicular to the wind, adjust the Angle (deg) field by clicking on the arrows or manually typing a value between “ 0 ” and “ 360 ” (degrees). At 90 degrees, the AgDrone will fly east

- west laps instead of north

- s outh laps (see figure 3

- 13 below )

.

1 2 3

Canon A230025

Figure 3

- 13: Adjust the angle of the flight path to make lap s perpendicular to the wind (1). It is best to
have the AgDrone make up

- wind turns (2). Check Advanced Options to make other mod ifications to
your mission (3).

Currently, the mission begins at waypoint 1 near the home l ocation in the s outheast corner of the field. In addition to making passes perpendicular to the wind, it’s best to also have the AgDrone turn against the wind at t he end of each pass. This aid s in maintaining a stable f light pa th, yielding better image quality

. Figure 3

- 13 (above) shows the mission flying correctly given the wind conditions, and the turns (waypoints 2 to 3, for example) are going upwind.

Still in the Survey (Grid) window, select the Grid Options tab ( Advanced Options must be

checked to acce ss this tab as shown in figure 3

- 13 ). Under Grid Options you can change the

StartFrom value which determines where the AgDrone begins collecting data.

I n the example below, StartFrom is set to BottomRight which is ideal for the given wind conditions. If the AgDrone w ere to start from TopLeft or TopRigh t , it would be making down

wind turns which are less stable, thus problematic for imaging. It would be a cceptab le for the AgDrone to start at BottomLeft, but would be slightly less efficient given the position of the

home l ocation

. 1

2

3 Canon A230026

F igure 3

- 1 4: Adjust the StartFrom position to ensure the AgDrone flies the most efficient path

.

Once you are satisfied with the fli ght path, return to the Simple tab to confirm the flight parameters and accept the mission. The next section explains some other tools you can use to analyze your flight path before accepting the mission.

Display Options

- V iewing the Surv ey (Grid) window, with the Simple t ab selected, check the

various d isplay options to view the camera coverag e of the mission (see figures 3

- 15 and 3

- 16 below).

Figure 3

- 15: Survey (Grid) window with the Internals display option checked. 1

2

Canon A230027

Figure 3

- 16: Survey (Grid) window with the Footprints display option checked

.

The default flight parameters from HoneyComb should allow for plenty of coverage, but use

these tools to verify that you ’re gathering data from the intended area.

Make sure Camera top facing forward is checked and Add Takeoff and Land WP’s is

unchecked

. Also check that the D istance value under the Stats table does not exceed 40km to ensure plenty of battery power left to safely land ( s ee figure 3

- 17 below).

Figure 3

- 17: Double check these values in the Survey (Grid) window before clicking Accept

. Check Camera top facing forward (1). Uncheck Add Takeoff and Land WP’s (2). Distance less than 40Km (3). 1

2

3 Canon A2300

Canon A230028

Check & Accept

- If you are satisfied with your flight plan, click Accept to confirm and c lose the Survey (Grid) window. After accepting the flight plan, the Survey (Grid) window will cl ose and return to the FLIGHT PLAN tab view of Mission Planner

– showing the previously created polygon and the newly created waypoint path on the map. The next section explains how to set a descent and landing path for the AgDrone.

Accepting your fli ght path and closing the Survey (Grid) window will return you to FLIGHT

PLAN view. The waypoints (including h ome and l oiter locations) will be displayed over the

p olygon and a complete list of the waypoints and commands are listed in th e waypoints t able ( see figure 3

- 18 below).

Figure 3

- 18: The f

light path and p olygon are shown on th e map along with the Waypoints T able list

.

Notice that the waypoints go from “Home” to “2” to “4” . This may seem oddly numbered, bu t if you look in the Waypoints t able y ou’ll see that “3” is actually a command for the ca mera system
to initiate and not a geo

- tagged waypoint.

This happens again where the mission has been completed at waypoint “19” but “20” is a

command to shut down the camera. Do not be alarmed that the camera c ommands show an altitude of “0”; t his is normal and will not be reflected in flight behavior.

N OTE : If you need to edit the mission for any reason, it may be best to c lear the mission and start

over (right click and select Clear Mission ).29



### Define the Descent & L anding
Once the flight path has be en created, the last step of mission planning is to create a L anding . If

no L anding is defined, the aircraft will simply re turn to the home l ocation in a l oiter pattern after completing the mission

.

This process will involve manually creating a few waypoints to add to your flight path, and decreasing the altitude gradually so that the plane will come to rest in the desired area.

Clicking on the map at this point will add a new point to the p olygon , so you must first get out of

p olygon mode. Right

- click on the map, select Draw Polygon , and click Clear Polygon (see figure 3

- 19 ). This will delete the p olygon, which is no longer necessary once the waypoints have

been created.

Figure 3

- 19 : Clear the p olygon and begin creating new waypoints for d escent and l anding

.30

Initial Descent

- With the p olygon cleared, you can begin adding waypoints for D escent and

L anding . Take note of where the AgDrone is ending its mission and how it can get to you r desired l anding area. L eft

- click where you want to place the next waypoint to create it. Y ou can edit the altitude from t he Waypoints t able and click

- drag the waypoint to reposition it.

Figure 3

- 20: Waypoint 21 has been added, with a default altitude of 122m.

Figure 3

- 21: Waypoint 22 is created near 21 and will be set to a lower altitude.31

Continue Descent Path

- Set as many waypoint s as necessary to facilitate a l anding sequence that descends gradually and leaves a clear path for the AgDrone to tou ch down. Most l andings can be accomplished with 3 waypoints (including the final landing waypoint discussed later). Avoid making sharp turns during this sequence

– the straighter the landing path the better.

It is best to plan descent against the wind w hen availab le. If you must plan descent at a

cross wind or tailwind, allow extra space assuming the AgDro ne will drift with the wind

. In the following example the AgDrone is landing in the same field that it was imaging. I n other missions you may plan your l anding away from the flown field pendin g your surroundings.

Landing Waypoint

- After creating some waypoints for the l anding sequence, locate where you want the AgDrone to touch down. At tha t spot, right click, and click Land from the menu. This

will create a fina l waypoint (23) under the “LAND” command which will cut power to the motor

and have a default altit ude of 1 (meter ) as shown in figure 3

- 22 below.

Figure 3

- 22: Landing waypoint (23) is added with extra space provided in case the AgDrone UAV dr ift s

with the wind

.

N OTE : This process may take some trial and error. Remember that it is always possible to click

and

- drag or delete waypoints to get your desired landing path.32

Adjust ing Altitude

- Starting at the first waypoint after the “ DO_SET_CAM_TRIGG_DIST ” command, reduce the altitude of each waypoint in succession. A good landing wil l be achieved when gradient percentages are all less steep than

- 15% (see figure 3

- 23 below).

Figure 3

- 23: Adjust altitude for the appropriate Grad % in the Waypoints T able (highlighted in blue).

In the figure above, notice the altitude adjustments during d escent. At these positions, the AgDrone will s uccessfully descend and land. Grad % should never exceed “ 15.0 ” during the

l anding sequence; the final (land) Grad % should be closer to “ 10.0 ” to ensure a safe landing without damaging the AgDrone.

If you ar e unable to achieve the proper Grad % values with altitude adjustme nts, you can click

dra g the way points to different positions, providing more space to make the d escent. You can

also create additional wayp oints to alter the path of the d escent as needed, but maintain a straight path (no spirali ng down or zig zag paths).



### Connect & Write Way points
After completing the mission plan, Click C ONNECT (top right of screen) and await

c onfirmation of the connection between Mission Planner and the AgDrone. Next, click Write

WP’s (green menu buttons on right of screen) to send the mission to the auto pilot.

I MPORTANT : After connecting, click the FLIGHT DATA tab and look at the SatCount (satellite count) value. Do not launch the AgDrone if SatCount is less than “ 7 ”

. Also check that

DistToMAV is less than “ 50 ” a nd Altitude is less than “ 5 ”

.33



### Saving Waypoint Files
To save a set of mission waypoints, right

- click on the map, se lect File Load/Save , and click

Save WP File (or use green menu buttons on right of screen). It is recommended to name your waypoint file with a name that describes the location, wind direction and date of the mission.

Figure 3

- 24 : Save the waypoint f ile using a descriptive name.

Loading a Saved Mission

– Some circumstances may call for fly ing the same mission pattern

throu ghout the season (assuming like

- weather conditions exist). Rather than planning a new mission for the same field, loading an alrea dy saved mission is more efficient.

Within the FLIGHT PLAN tab, right

- click on the Mission Planner map to bring up the menu,

select File Load/Save , and click Load WP File ( or use green menu buttons on right of screen).

N OTE : You may want to save alternat e versions of the same mission area to account for different wind conditions. Consider this variation when naming your saved missions . For example: “field_C1142_May13_EAS T”, or “field_C1142_May13_North”

.34



### Best Practices for Mission Planning

Follow the se general guidelines to ensure a safe, effective mission and high

- quality data output.

Flight

- HoneyComb recommends only flying the AgDrone at an altitude of 400 feet (122 meters) above ground level. Lower altitudes increase the risk of collision wit h ground

- based obstacles. Higher altitudes violate regulations of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The AgDrone must maintain a minimum airspeed in order to stay airborne. It bank s to turn (no “turning on a dime”), and climb s and descend s gradually to get where it needs to go (no hovering or dropping). Be mindful of the se limitations when designing missions.

GPS technology has an inherent margin of error. The waypoints programmed by the Mission Planner may be off by a few feet in a ny direction. I t is not recommended to fly the aircraft into any tight spaces, near obstacles, or on routes that r equire extremely high precision maneuvering.

I t is be st to fly when there is no wind; however, it is sometimes necessary to fly in breezy

co nditions. In relation to the wind, there are a few best practices to keep in mind. When possible, start your mission on the downwind side of the field; if the wind is blowing from

northeast to southwest, start the mi ssion in the southwest corner.

It is recommended to fly the main legs of the mission perpendicular to the wind. There is a parameter available on the Survey (Grid) screen, which allows you to alter the angle of the flight path. Use the arrow buttons in this field to raise or lower the angl e, and change the orientation of the flight path. If the wind is blowing from northeast to southwest, for example, the flight path

should be oriente d from northwest to southeast.

Landing

- T he last leg of the landing path should have a gradient of no mo re than ten percent downward (

- 10%). This is to prevent the aircraft from coming in too steeply and damaging the equipment onboard. Plan the altitudes of your landing waypoints carefully.

It may be easier to achieve a shallow gradient using the longer dimension of the field. One way to reduce the gradient of a flight leg is to make the leg longer without changing the altitude drop.

If there is significant wind in the field, try to face the aircraft into the wind on the final leg. Try to avoid ma king sharp turns (turns tighter than 90 degrees) with the aircraft at altitudes lower than 100 feet (30 meters).35



## Flight & Preparations

Before heading out to the field , check that all components are loaded into the carrying case and

batteries are fu lly charged (balanced). Visually assess the components on the AgDrone for

excessive wear or structural defects that may inhibit safe operation and good image quality.



### Pre

- flight Inspection
Always visually inspect the AgDrone and components before flight. Propellers should be free of any chipping and debris, and lens covers should be free of blemishes. I n general

, look out for any loose or stuck equipment and cosmetic flaws that may affect normal flight behavior. Refer to the Maintenance & Inspection cha pt er for more information

.



### Installing LiPo Battery
When the AgDrone is ready for a mission, open the lid cover to expose the front payload bay and connect a fully balance

- charged LiPo battery via the yellow male XT60 connector i nside the AgDrone.

An au dible beep ing pattern will emit from the autopilot module to notify that power has been

connected. The arming button

- light will flash intermittently to notify that it is powered

- on, but disarmed. It will remain so until being push

- held for 3 seconds which will arm the AgDrone.

Another beeping tone will be emitted when the AgDrone is ready for radio communications. If communications are not acknowledged, then reboot the AgDrone and check that the RC transmitter is on and the telemetry antenna is connected t o Mission Planner.

I MPORTANT : Boot

- up the AgDrone with the front facing north and carry the aircraft facing

forward for the best orientation accuracy.

N OTE : The XT60 connection between the battery lead and the AgDrone lead can be very snug and m ay be re sistant when being pulled apart. To disconnect, grip both X T60 connecters with finger tips and press knuckles to gether for extra stability while pulling the XT60 connectors apart from one another; this prevents excessive force on the cables.36



### Launc hing & Recovery
The HoneyComb training program instructs operators on safe practices for handling and launching the AgDrone, which can be done by hand without any special equipment. Refer to figure 1

- 1 for proper grip when handling and launching the AgDro ne UAS.

Launching

- C lear the launch zone of any obstacles and debris. Stable footing on solid flat ground is important for a safe launching technique. Move the directional control (right thumb

stick ) to test elevon function.

A rm the AgDrone and quick ly return hands to the suggested grip on the front of the wing. Hold

the aircraft away from your b ody. Move the RC channel switch up to a utomatic mode (position “0”) on the RC t ransmitter, and the propeller will spin up after a couple seconds.

You should feel the forward

- force from the AgDrone when the propeller is spinning . When ready, throw the AgDrone outward so that it travels a flat (or very slightly elevated) path and avoid putting any lateral rotation about its center axis (yaw) or banking angle on the throw. Once released, the AgDrone will progress to ward the loitering waypoint.

N OTE : The AgDrone performs best when booted facing north and carried in a front

- facing

orie ntat ion and launched into the prevailing winds.

Recovery

– Always disarm the A gDrone immediately when recovering it from a landing or failed launch. Use proper grip when carrying the AgDrone back to the launch zone and visually

asses s the system for discrepancies before attempting another flight.

Failed Launch

– If a launch appear s to be unsuccessful, quickly move the channel switch to
FBWA (backward position) and lower the throttle to 0% to avoid running the propeller into the
ground. In the event that the propeller runs against the ground, the internal 40

- amp fuse w ill

blow to sa ve the motor from burning up. Recover the AgDrone and check the system again
before attempting another launch.37



## HoneyComb Connect

U se the H

oneyCom b Connect application installed on the mission planning c omputer to download from the AgDrone and uploa d to Hon eyComb’s servers for processing. HoneyComb

Connect can store several downloads before uploading, but it cannot do wnload multiple missions

at once

.

Extract ing SD Cards

- Access the SD cards (imagery) and load them into the card r eader. The

third SD card that stores telemetry data stays inside the AgDrone and will m ake a wireless

connection to HoneyComb Connect when the AgDrone is powered

- on.

Download Mission Data

– Open HoneyCom b Connect from the mission planning c omputer ), and p lug the loade d c ard

- reader into the USB port. Await recognition of the data (two imagery cards and one telemetry card). Select the Download tab, and then click the Download button

.

If experiencing an error during the download, reboot the application. Downloading the dat a will also clear the memory of the SD cards so they wil l be ready for the next flight, but the data will be retained within the Connect application.

Upload Flight Data

– Select the Upload tab to view the files that have been downloaded. Click

the Upload button and an authentication window will pop up. Enter credentials for the online user account and files will begin transferring after authenticating.

Online User Account

– Log

- in to your HoneyComb a ccount at farm.honeycombcorp.com to view your mission data. If you haven’t crea ted a HoneyComb account, click Register and fill out the necessary information to sign

- up.

Troubleshooting

– If data is missing or corrupt, an error message will appear to explain the problem

. If you encounter problems handli ng your flight data, r eport the problem to HoneyComb

c ustomer s upport to begin troubleshooting.38



## Components Guide

This section explains the c ommon use of the AgDrone’s primary components. These

components a re modified from their factory settings t o HoneyComb’s special configurations. Do

not attempt to alter these settings.

Figure 6

- 1 : Pri mary components of the AgDrone s ystem include the RC transmitter , mission planning

computer, LiPo batteries and charge station (some accessories are not pict ured).



### RC Transmitter
The Spektrum DX6 operates at 2.4GHz on a DSMX channel and requires four AA batteries for power. HoneyComb includes these batteries and a wall

- charger cradle to keep them fresh for every flight (battery status r eported on controlle r display). Refer to the Operation Overview chapter for more informatio n on flight modes and controls.



### Mission Planning Computer

The Microsoft Surface tablet includes Mission Planner

, HoneyComb Connect , instructional guides and tutorials, and various ot her factory

- installed programs. Also included with the tablet is a SD card reader, AC power adapter, and rubberized case with a keyboard. A 915MHz telemetry antenna attaches to the tablet via USB connection during mission planning and flight.39



### LiPo Batteries
A single lithium

- polymer battery pack supplies power to the autopilot, motor, camera system, and other components onboard the AgDrone with extra batteries included with the system for continuous flying. The LiPo battery pack includes a wire har ness for the balance plu g and lead cables (see figure 6 .2 below). It is critical to handle these batteries carefully and revi ew the following procedures for properly using, charging and storing them.

Figure 6

- 2 : LiPo battery pack and wiring harness . The white balance plug (1) is only used with the charge station. The lead cables wit h a yellow female XT60 connector (2) are used with both th e charge station and the AgDron e.

Balance C harging

– The HoneyComb LiPo battery pack s each contain three cel ls and should be charged using the Balance charging method to preserve their output and longevity. Other charging methods will top

- load and bias some ce lls over others, so balance

- charging is necessary. See the Charge Station sec tion below for more inform ation on proper setup.

Battery Storage

– When storing these batteries for a long period of time (more than 3 weeks), it is critical that they are charged to a proper level to avoid bloating and depletion.

The LiPo battery charge station has several p reset programs, including one for long

- term storage. This mode will charge the battery to proper level to ensure longevity. Be sure to keep batteries stored in the included LiPo battery bag regardless of how long they are being kept unused.

I MPORTANT : If the outer casing of the battery pack is cracked or misshapen, or if the wiring harness becomes loose or disconnected, discontinue use of the battery and contact HoneyComb

Customer Support to have it replaced and receive instructions on proper disposal o f the battery. 1

240



### LiPo Battery Charge Station
This charge station is capable of charging many varieties of batteries but HoneyComb LiPo batteries should be used exclusively with this charge station and only under the settings designated in the follow ing procedures.

Balance Charge Procedure

– Follow the procedure below to properly charge LiPo batteries before flying a mission. The AgDrone UAS will not function properly if charg ing procedures are not followed correctly.

I MPORTANT : Do not connect LiPo batteries to the charge station until you’ve reviewed the steps below. Mishandling the batteries and charger may shock the user and damage the equipment

. Be sure to use the LiPo charge station in a well ventilated area and keep the cooling fan clear of any obstructions.

1. Connect the AC Input Port of the charge station to a power source and check that the
settings o n the LCD screen match figure 6

- 3 below.

Figure 6

- 3: Showing the proper settings

- readout from the LCD scre en

I MPORTANT : If the LCD readout sho ws settings other than figure 6

- 3 above, use the following
procedure to ensure that the settings are appropriate for t he HoneyComb battery.

a. Press STOP repeatedly until the program LiPo BATT is on the screen.

Press ENTER to confirm.

b. Press STATUS (left or right) until BALANCE is on the screen.

Press ENTER to confirm (this will cause the Amp value to start blinking).

c. Press STATUS (left or right) unti l 6.0A is blinking on the screen.

Press ENTER to confirm (this will cause the Volt value to start blinking).

d. Press STATUS (left or right) until 11.1V is blinking on the screen.

Press ENTER to confirm.

*Contact HoneyComb customer s upport if you encounter problems setting up the charge

station.41

2. Attach the battery balance plug to the universal balancing p ort with the negative side (black wire) lining up with the negative (

- ) symbol below the port as seen in figure 6

- 4

below.

Figure 6

- 4: Showing proper attachment of the balance plug to the LiPo battery charge station

3. Connect the positive and n egative ends of the l ead cable to the corresponding battery

s ockets. It is important to do this before attaching the battery t o the lead cable. See figure 6

- 5 below.

Figure 6

- 5: Showing proper placement of the lead cables into the LiPo battery charge station

4. Attach the XT60 connector to the l ead cable as shown in figure 6

- 6 below.

Figure 6

- 6: Attach the female (battery) XT60 end and male (lead cable) XT60 end after lead cable is plugged into LiPo battery charge station

W ARNING : Do not let the ends of the lead cables make contact with themselves or any other conductive surface when attached to a LiPo battery; serious personal injury or damage to equipment may result from shock. Disconnect the cables in reverse

- order from the steps above (disconnect leads from battery before disconnect ing leads from the charge station).42

5. Press

- hold the START/ENTER button to bring up the foll owing readout on the LCD
screen (see figure 6

- 7 below):

Figure 6

- 7: Showing proper LCD readout when prompting for bala nce charging

6. Press the START/ENTER button once more to confirm and begin charging and
progress will be reported on the LCD screen (see figure 6

- 8 below) :

Figure 6

- 8 : Showing proper LCD readout when prompting for balance charging

7. When the battery is d one charging, disconnect the battery in reverse order from how it
was connected (see steps 2, 3, and 4).

Long

- term Storage

– To prepare the LiPo battery pack for long

- term storage, select the LiPo Storage program (see previous steps 1.a and 1.b) instead o f the Balance program. The default setting is to charge the battery slowly at low amperage to ensure stability during storage.

I MPORTANT : Never completely drain the battery packs unless discharging them for safe disposal. Con tact HoneyComb customer s up port for more information on safe handling and disposal practices.43



## AgDrone Maintenance & Inspection

Follow maintenance and inspection schedules to ensure that the AgDrone and its components are in top

- running form and operate as intended. The AgDrone system includes spares for replaceable part s that will wear out over time. Complete the provided inspection checklists to identify discrepancies in the system.

Do no t access the rear payload bay except to visually inspect the components inside (except

wh en replacing the 40

- amp fuse) . No tampering of these components is allowed and should only be serviced by HoneyComb or other HoneyCom b

- approved facilities.



### Spare Parts
Included with the AgDrone System are spares for the following components:

- Winglets

- Pro pellers

- 40 amp fuses

- Lens covers

- Lens screws

- Motor mount screws

- Plastic Phillips fasteners (long and short)

- Plastic thumb fasteners



### Pre

- flight Inspection
Review the preflight checklist in the Quick Start Guide

. Always perform a visual inspection of

the ai rcraft and components before going out for a mission. Clean all surfaces t ake note of any corrosion, structural defects, misalignments, or other cosmetic blemishes that may affect the functionality of the AgDrone.

Light scratches and dents are acceptable for maintaining ideal operation of the AgDrone; but further damage should be thoroughly inspected and repaired before being cleared for use. In general, ensure that moving parts achieve the proper range of motion with minimal effort and operate smoothly. Non

- moving parts should be securely fastened

– not loose or over

- tightened. As always, check your surroundings before operating the AgDrone in the field.



### 50

- h Inspection

Find the 50

- h inspection checklist included with the AgDrone System ( separate from the operations manual) and contact HoneyComb for additional checklists as needed. The purpose of

this 50

- h inspection is to visually assess the aircraft and other components for discrepancies and identify performance flaws or alterations that have occurre d throughout the AgDrone’s lifetime. No alterations or electronic calibrations should be performed during this inspection.44



## Customer Support

Introduction

– HoneyComb is committed to helping their customers get the most out of their AgDrone system by trai ning new users, troubleshooting tec hnical issues, handling equipment replacement s or repairs , and addres sing legal and safety concerns regarding AgDrone use.

Troubleshooting & Reporting

– If you encounter a problem with either the hardware or

software of the AgDrone system , HoneyComb customer s upport will promptly respond and carry out the necessary action to solve the problem.

In the event that you need to overhaul or completely replace your AgDrone system, HoneyComb requires the following material s to analyze the problem and initiat e the service needed to get the system back up and running:

1. Photo or video evidence of the problem

– this includes visible evidence of the damage and any footage capturing the events leading up to the problem. This also inclu des screen shots of Mission Planner (if applicable to the problem).

2. Witness summary

– written account of the events and description of the problem that

has occurred.

3. Telemetry data

– information gathered from analyzing the autopilot telemetry will

reveal any faulty equipment onboard the aircraft and can be used to retrace the AgDrone ’s path leading up to the incident.

Contact Information

- Call the following phone number for any q uestions or concerns regarding y our AgDrone system or visit www.honeycombcorp.com for more information.

HoneyComb customer s upport line: (503) 563

- 6097