## 1 July 9, 2015

U.S. Department of Transportation

Docket Management System

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

Washington, DC 20590

RE: Exemption Request under § 333 of the FAA Moderniza tion and Reform Act of 2012 of the Federal Aviation

Regulations from 14 CFR Part 21; 14 CFR §§ 45.23(b); 61.113 (a) & (b); 61.315(a) & (c); 91.7(a); 91.9(b);

91.103; 91.109(a); 91.119(c); 91.121; 91.151(a); 91.203; 91 .405(a); 91.407(a)(1); 91.409(a)(2); 91.417(a) & (b).

Dear Sir or Madam,

Pursuant to § 333 of the Fede ral Aviation Administration (“ FAA ”) Modernization and Reform Act of

2012, Pub. L. No. 112-95 (2012), 126 Stat. 11 (the “ Reform Act ”), the FAA’s general exemption authority under

49 USC § 44701(f), and 14 CFR Part 11, Advanced Drone Technologies (hereinafter, the “ Petitioner ”), an owner

and operator of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (“ UAS ”), hereby petitions for ex emptions from 14 CFR Part

21, Subpart H (Airworthiness Certificates), 14 CFR §§ 45. 23(b), 61.113(a) & (b), 61 .315(a) & (c), 91.7(a),

91.9(b)(2), 91.103(b)(1), 91.109(a), 91.119(c), 91.121, 91.151, 91.203(a) & (b), 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1),

91.409(a)(1) & (2), and 91.417(a) & (b). The proposed ex emptions, if granted, would allow Petitioner to conduct

commercial operations of small UAS fo r purposes to include: Aerial Mappi ng, Aerial Surveying, Industrial

Inspections, Telecommunications Inspections, Aerial Vi deography & Photography, En ergy Systems Inspections,

Asset Management, Construction Site Monitoring and Inspections, Wildlife and Forestry Monitoring, UAS

Education & Training, Pipeline Inspections, Volunteer Pa trolling Operations, and Precision Agricultural Services

missions under the conditions outlined herein and as may be established by the FAA in granting the above

requested exemptions.

As described more fully below, based on the sm all size of Petitioner’s UAS, the qualifications and

experience of Petitioner’s pilots, and the limited, cont rolled-access environments within which Petitioner will

operate, the requested exemptions clearly fall within the safety parameters envisioned by Congress as set forth in

§ 333 of the Reform Act. Additionally, the enhanced safety achieved by replacing significantly larger manned

aircraft carrying crew and flammable fuel with sm all UAS weighing less than 55 pounds under the specific

guidelines and procedures proposed by Petitioner gives th e FAA good cause to find that the UAS operations

enabled by this petition are in the public interest. Thus, the requested exemptions should be granted.

T HE NAME AND ADDRESS OF 

## P ETITIONER 

## : C OUNSEL FOR 

## P ETITIONER 

## :

Advanced Drone Technologies Nathanial C. Brown

Attn: Jesse Sanchez Carriere & Little, LLP

9611 Ninas Court 8001 S. Interport Blvd, Ste 310

San Antonio, TX 78254 Englewood, CO 80112

512-757-1448 720-961-5386

jsanchez@advanceddronetech.com nbrown@carrierelittle.com

## 2 B ACKGROUND OF 

## P ETITIONER



## Founded in 2015 by co-founders Gary Cotton and Jesse Sanchez, Petitioner is a service-based company

dedicated to providing a safe, cost effective, and envi ronmentally friendly alternative to traditional, manned

aircraft operations for a variety of clients across multiple industries. Focusing on aerial mapping, aerial surveying,

industrial inspection, and agricultural services, Petitioner will employ the latest in UAS technologies and safety

systems to provide their clients a best-in-class service a nd the critical data needed for operational efficiency and

safety.

As the son of an aerospace executive, Mr. Cotton h as always had a passion for aviation, and he starting

flying his first remote-controlled aircraft when he was only 10 years old, an activity he enjoys to this day. Mr.

Cotton’s passion for aviation has continued into adu lthood, and he has worked extensively in aviation

manufacturing and as a contractor for the United States Ai r Force, experiences which have given him firsthand

understanding of the critical importance of safety in a ll aspects of the aviation industry. Since 2001, Mr. Cotton

has devoted much of his time to the commercial security in dustry, and he is dedicated to bringing a superior level

of operational safety to Petitioner’s UAS operations.

Similarly, with a background in the oil & gas industry as a Field Service Supervisor and Health, Safety

and Environmental Supervisor, Mr. Sanchez has extensiv e experience managing complex operations safely and

in strict compliance with all applicable law and regula tions. Because of his experiences with the often dangerous

work of hydraulic fracturing, Mr. Sanchez appreciates all too well the need for adherence to strict safety standards

and is dedicated to bringing the same level of safet y and regulatory compliance to Petitioner’s UAS operations.

Safety is of the utmost priority in any and all of Petitioner’s UAS operations.

Mr. Sanchez’s and Mr. Cotton’s combined experien ce with UAS, the aviation industry, and industrial

safety & regulatory compliance provide a level of trust that will ensure the integrity and safety of all UAS

operations conducted by Petitioner pursuan t to the requested exemptions. Petitioner seeks to build on Mr. Cotton’s

and Mr. Sanchez’s years of safe and successful industrial operations to offer a range of UAS services in a manner

consistent with the parameters set forth in § 333 of th e Reform Act. Petitioner seeks the requested exemptions to

permit Petitioner to offer commercial UAS services for a variety of industries and applications, including:

 Aerial Mapping

 Aerial Surveying

 Industrial Inspections

 Telecommunications Inspections

 Precision Agricultural Services

 Aerial Videography and Photography

 Energy Systems Inspections

 Asset Management

 Construction Site Monitoring and Inspections

 Wildlife and Forestry Monitoring

 UAS Education and Training

 Pipeline Inspections

 Volunteer Patrolling Operations

D ESIGN AND 

## P ERFORMANCE 

## C HARACTERISTICS OF 

## P ETITIONER 

## ’ S 

## UAS

Petitioner plans to conduct operations pursuant to th e exemptions requested herein using the DJI S900

rotorcraft, 3D Robotics (“ 3DR ”) IRIS+ rotorcraft, and 3DR Aero M fixed wing small UAS. Utilizing a

combination of rotorcraft and fixed wing UAS will allow Pe titioner to provide its clients with the most appropriate

## 3 UAS platform to fit the client’s needs. The DJI S900 a nd the 3DR IRIS+ will be primarily utilized for Industrial

Inspections, Telecommunications Inspections, while the 3D R Aero M will be primarily used for Aerial Mapping,

Surveying, Construction Site Monitoring, a nd Precision Agricultural services, among others.

DJI S900

The S900 is a small (900 mm wheelbase) and lightwe ight (maximum takeoff weight of 8.2Kg or

approximately 18lbs) UAS rotorcraft made of carbon fibe r designed for professional aerial applications. The S900

is a highly reliable and stable aircraft and its integrated GPS and flight control software gives the S900 the ability

to make emergency “return-to-home” and emergency automa tic landing maneuvers that ensure the highest level

of operational safety.

Please refer to Appendix A for further information rega rding the airframe, control system, and electronics.

The FAA has previously reviewed these documents and h as approved exemptions for commercial use of the DJI

S900 in, for example, Exemption Nos. 11769 and 11965.

3DR IRIS+

The IRIS+ is a small (550 mm wheelbase) and ultra-li ghtweight (maximum takeoff weight of 1682g or

approximately 3.7lbs) UAS rotorcraft made from high-stre ngth plastic, and is designed to be highly user-friendly

and extremely safe. Safety features equipped on the IR IS+ ensuring safe operations include: (1) “Geo-fence”

capability that will limit the altitude and horizontal distan ce that the IRIS+ can fly form the operator, all but

ensuring that the IRIS+ will stay within the limited, controlled-access environments within which Petitioner will

operate; (2) Return-to-Launch (“ RTL ”) mode that will automatically return the IRIS+ to the point of takeoff and

land itself in case of a low battery or loss of controller si gnal, and can be activated manually by the operator at

any time during a flight; (3) Land mode that will automati cally land the aircraft at its current location if it

experiences a loss of GPS signal; and (4) Real-time teleme try radio communications that provides the operator

with flight data including altitude, attitude, altitude rate-o f-change, and GPS coordinates.

Please refer to Appendix B for furthe r information regarding the airframe , control system, and electronics.

The FAA has previously reviewed these documents and h as approved exemptions for commercial use of the 3DR

IRIS+ in, for example, Exemption Nos. 11861 and 11961.

3DR Aero M

The Aero M is a small (188cm wingspan) and ultra- lightweight (maximum takeoff weight of 3.5Kg or

approximately 8lbs) fixed wing UAS made from high de nsity foam tailored for regular acquisition of highly

detailed and actionable data for applica tions, such as precision farming, where a rotorcraft would be inefficient.

Featuring many of the same safety features as the IRIS+, the Aero M is highly safe and user-friendly. Safety

features equipped on the Aero M ensuring safe operations include a RTL mode that will command the Aero M to

automatically return to the point from which it was launche d and enter a circle pattern at a predetermined altitude,

and a Loiter mode that commands the aircraft to enter into a circle pattern with a radius of 60 meters at its current

location and altitude.

Please refer to Appendix C for furthe r information regarding the airframe , control system, and electronics.

The FAA has previously reviewed these documents and h as approved exemptions for commercial use of the 3DR

Aero M in, for example, Exemption No. 11769.

## 4 R EQUESTED 

## E XEMPTIONS



## Petitioner requests relief from the following regulations:

 14 CFR Part 21;

 14 CFR § 45.23(b);

 14 CFR § 61.113(a) & (b);

 14 CFR § 61.315(a) & (c);

 14 CFR § 91.7(a);

 14 CFR § 91.9(b)(2);

 14 CFR § 91.103(b)(1);

 14 CFR § 91.109(a);

 14 CFR § 91.119;

 14 CFR § 91.121;

 14 CFR § 91.151(a);

 14 CFR § 91.203;

 14 CFR § 91.405(a);

 14 CFR § 91.407(a)(1);

 14 CFR § 91.409(a)(2);

 14 CFR § 91.417(a) & (b)

E XTENT OF 

## R ELIEF 

## S OUGHT BY 

## P ETITIONER AND 

## R EASONS FOR 

## S EEKING 

## S UCH 

## R ELIEF



## 14 CFR Part 21, Subpart H: Airworthiness Certificates

This section establishes the procedural requirements for the issuance of airworthiness certificates and

other airworthiness approvals. Given the size, weight, speed, and limited operating area associated with the UAS

to be utilized by Petitioner, an exemption from 14 CFR Pa rt 21, Subpart H (Airworthiness Certificates), subject

to certain conditions and limitations, is warranted, and me ets the requirements for an equivalent level of safety

under 14 CFR Part 11 and § 333 of the Reform Act. 49 USC § 44701(f) and § 333 of the Reform Act both

authorize the FAA to exempt aircraft, including UAS, fro m the requirement for an airworthiness certificate upon

consideration of the size, weight, speed, operational cap abilities, proximity to airports and populated areas, and

operation within visual line of sight. The UAS operated without an airworthiness certificate in the restricted

environment and under the conditions and limitations proposed by Petitioner will be at least as safe, or safer, than

a conventional aircraft (fixed wing or rotorcraft) operati ng with an airworthiness certificate issued under 14 CFR

Part 21, Subpart H, and not subject to the proposed limitations and conditions.

The UAS to be operated by Petitioner all weigh much less than 55 lbs. fully loaded, will be operated at a

speed of no more than 50 knots, will carry neither a p ilot nor passengers, will carry no explosive or flammable

materials or fuel, and will be opera ted exclusively in predetermined, c ontrolled-access environments. Petitioner’s

UAS will use a radio frequency spectru m for operation and control that complies with Federal Communications

Commission (“ FCC ”) requirements, and will be operated only in accordance with the pro cedures proposed herein

and as may be established by the FAA.

Petitioner’s UAS will be equipped with redundant safety mechanisms allowing safe operation after

experiencing certain in-flight failures. If a lost-li nk event occurs, including loss of ground communications or

loss of GPS signal, Petitioner’s UAS will have the ability to perform a pre-coordinated, predictable, automated

flight maneuver and return to a predetermined location within a designated security perimeter for landing.

## 5 Unlike operations of other civil aircraft, operations under the requested exemptions will be tightly

controlled and monitored by both the pilot in command (“ PIC ”) and a Visual Observer (“ VO ”) in order to ensure

the Petitioner’s UAS remain within operational limitati ons and to ensure the safety of operations. These

enhancements to current safety prac tices and regulations provide a greater degree of safety to the public and

property owners than conventional aircraft operations c onducted by aircraft with an airworthiness certificate.

Lastly, there is no intrinsic credible threat to national security posed by UAS due to the size, speed, restricted

operational environments, lack of explosive materials and flammable fuels or other liquids, and inability to carry

passengers or a substantial external load.

14 CFR § 45.23(b): Display of Marks

This section requires that “[w]hen marks include only the Roman capital letter “N” and the registration

number is displayed on limited, restricted, or light-spor t category aircraft or experimental or provisionally

certificated aircraft, the operator must also display on that ai rcraft near each entrance to the cabin, cockpit, or pilot

station, in letters not less than 2 inches nor more than 6 inches high, the words “limited,” “restricted,” “lightsport,” “experimental,” or “provisional,” as applicable.”

Even though the Petitioner’s UAS will have no airwor thiness certificate, an ex emption may be necessary

as the UAS will have no entrance to the cabin, cockpit, or pilot station on which the word “experimental,” etc.,

can be placed. Also, given the size of Petitioner’s UAS, two-inch lettering will be impossible. Petitioner

understands the need for markings and will mark all of its UAS in the largest possible lettering on the UAS

fuselages so that anyone observing Petitione r’s UAS will be able to see the markings.

14 CFR § 61.113(a) & (b): Private Pilot Privileges and Limitations: Pilot in Command (PIC) and 14 CFR

§ 61.315(a) & (c): Sport Pilot Privileges and Limitations

These sections limit private pilots and sport pilo ts to non-commercial operations. Because Petitioner’s

UAS will not carry a pilot or passengers, the proposed opera tions can achieve the equivalent level of safety of

current operations by requiring the PIC operating Petitioner’s UAS to have a private pilot’s or sport pilot’s license

rather than a commercial pilot’s licen se to operate Petitioner’s small UAS. Unlike a conventional aircraft that

carries the pilot and passengers, Petitioner’s UAS are remo tely controlled with no persons onboard. The area of

operation will be controlled and restricted, and all flights will be planned and coordinated in advance. The risks

associated with the operation of Petitioner’s UAS are so diminished from the level of risk associated with

commercial operations contemplated by 14 CFR Part 61 wh en drafted, that allowing operations of Petitioner’s

UAS as requested with a private pilot or sport pilot as the PIC exceeds the present level of safety achieved by 14

CFR §§ 61.113(a) & (b) and 61.315(a) & (c).

14 CFR § 91.7(a): Civil Aircraft Airworthiness

This section prohibits any person fro m operating a civil aircraft unless it is in an airworthy condition. As

there will be no airworthiness certificate issued for Petitioner’s UAS, should this exemption be granted, no FAA

regulatory standard will exist for determining airworthiness. Given the size of the aircraft and the requirements

contained in the UAS manufacturer’s manuals 1 

## and use of safety checklists 2 

## prior to each flight, an equivalent

level of safety will be provided. In acco rdance with the pertinent part of 14 CFR § 91.7(b), the PIC for all of

1 

### See Appendix A, Appendix B, and Appendix C

2 

### See Appendix G and Appendix H

## 6 Petitioner’s UAS operations shall be res ponsible for determining whether the aircraft is in a safe condition for

flight, including the use of pre-flight safety checklists. 3



## 14 CFR § 91.9(b)(2): Civil Aircraft Flight Ma nual, Marking, and Placard Requirements

This sections provides in pertinent part that “[n]o person may operate a U.S.-registered civil aircraft ...

For which an Airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual is not required by § 21.5 of this chapter, unless there is

available in the aircraft a current approved Airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual, approved manual material,

markings, and placards, or any combination thereof.” Pe titioner’s UAS, given their size and configuration, have

no ability to carry a physical flight manual on the aircraft. The equivalent level of safety will be maintained by

keeping the flight manual at the ground control po int where the PIC operating Petitioner’s UAS will have

immediate access to it.

14 CFR § 91.103(b)(1): Preflight Action

This regulation requires each PIC to take certain actions before flight to insure the safety of each flight.

As FAA approved flight manuals will not be provided for the aircraft, an exemption will be needed. Petitioner

will comply with the other applicable procedures and requirements stated in § 91.103(a) & (b). Specifically, the

PIC will take all action including reviewing weather, fli ght battery requirements, aircraft performance data, and

landing and takeoff distances before initiating a flight. The PIC will also account for all relevant site-specific

conditions in their preflight procedures. 4 

## Risks presented by sun glare will be mitigated by the PIC’s and VO’s

ability to see other air traffic and initiate a return-to-home sequence if needed.

14 CFR § 91.109(a): Flight Instruction

This section provides in pertinent part that “[n]o pe rson may operate a civil aircraft (except a manned free

balloon) that is being used for flight instruction unless that aircraft has fully functioning dual controls.” UAS, by

their design, do not have functional dual controls. Flight control is accomplished through the use of a control box

that communicates with the aircraft via radio communica tions. Given the size and speed of Petitioner’s UAS, an

equivalent level of safe training can be achieved without dual controls because no pilot or passengers are aboard

the UAS and all persons will be a safe distance away in the event that the UAS expe riences any difficulties during

flight instruction. The FAA has approved exemptions for flight training without fully functional dual controls for

a number of aircraft and for flight instruction in experimental aircraft. See e.g. Exemptions Nos. 5778K and

9862A.

14 CFR § 91.119: Minimum Safe Altitudes

This section establishes minimum safe altitudes for oper ation of civil aircraft and provides that, over other

than congested areas, no person may operate an aircraft below an altitude of 500 AGL, except over open water or

sparely populated areas, and that over sparely populated ar eas the aircraft cannot be operated closer than 500 feet

to any person, vessel, or structure. As this exemption re quests authority to operate at altitudes no higher than 400

feet AGL, an exemption may be n eeded to allow such operations.

As set forth herein, Petitioner’s UAS will never operat e at higher than 400 feet AGL, nor beyond visual

line of sight (“ VLOS ”) of the PIC and VO, whichever is closer. It will, however, be operated in a restricted area

3 

### Id.

4 

### Id

.

## 7 with individuals tasked with ensuri ng public safety, and where buildings and people will not be exposed to

operations without their pre-obtained consent and training.

The equivalent level of safety will be achieved give n the size, weight, and speed of Petitioner’s UAS as

well as the restricted environments wi thin which they will be operated. No flight will be taken without the

permission of the property owner. Because of the advance notice to the property owner and the participants in the

UAS operation, all affected individuals will be aware of the planned flight operations. Compared to flight

operations with manned aircraft or rotorcraft weighing far more than Petitioner’s UAS and the lack of flammable

fuels onboard, any risk associated with Petitioner’s opera tions is far less than that presently presented by

conventional aircraft operating at or below 500 feet AGL. In addition, the low-altitude operations of Petitioner’s

UAS will ensure separation between Petitioner’s UAS operations and the operations of conventional aircraft that

must comply with § 91.119. Furthermore, Petitioner’s UAS will not be operated over c ongested areas nor over

any open-air assembly of persons. Petitione r’s UAS will be operated at an altitude allowing, if a power unit fails,

an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface.

14 CFR § 91.121: Altimeter Settings

In pertinent part, this section requires each person operating an aircraft to maintain cruising altitude by

reference to an altimeter that is set to “...the elevation of the departure airport or an appropriate altimeter setting

available before departure.” As Petitioner’s UAS may not have a barometric altimeter, but instead a GPS altitude

readout, an exemption may be needed. An equivalent le vel of safety will be achieved by the PIC confirming the

altitude of the launch site shown on the GPS altitude indicator, and prio r to each flight, a zero altitude initiation

point will be established and confirmed for accuracy by the PIC. The PIC will also ensure effective pairing with

multiple GPS sources to guarantee accurate detection of altitude.

14 CFR § 91.151(a): Fuel Requirements for Flight in VFR Conditions

This section prohibits a person from beginning “a f light in an airplane under VFR conditions unless

(considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is e nough fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing,

and, assuming normal cruising speed—(1) during the day, to fly after that for at least 30 minutes; or (2) at night,

to fly after that for at least 45 minutes.”

Given the limited area of operation of Petitioner’s UAS , Petitioner believes that an equivalent level of

safety is already achieved by the various failsafe proce dures built in to Petitioner’s UAS that will perform a RTL

maneuver or automatically land the aircraft in the case of a low battery while in flight. Operating Petitioner’s

UAS in a tightly controlled area where only people or prope rty owners or official re presentatives who have signed

waivers will be allowed, with less th an 30 minutes of reserve power, does no t engender the type of dangers that §

91.151(a) was intended to alleviate given the size and speed of Petitioner’s UAS. Petitioner believes that an

equivalent level of safety can be achieved by prohi biting Petitioner’s PIC from beginning any flights unless,

considering the wind and forecast weather conditions, th ere is enough available power for Petitioner’s UAS to

conduct the intended operation and to opera te after that for at least five minutes or with the reserve power

recommended by the manufacturer, whichever is greater. This restriction would be more than adequate to return

the Petitioner’s UAS to its planned landing zone from an ywhere in its limited operating area. FAA has granted

similar exemptions in, for example, Exemption Nos. 2689F, 5745, 10673, 10808, 11864, and 11769.

14 CFR § 91.203(a) & (b): Civil Aircraft: Certifications Required

This regulation provides in pertinent part that “( a)...no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it has

within it the following: (1) an appr opriate and current airworthiness certificate... (b) No person may operate a

## 8 civil aircraft unless the airworthiness certificate required by paragraph (a) of this section ... is displayed at the

cabin or cockpit entrance so that it is legible to passengers or crew.”

Petitioner’s UAS fully loaded weigh less than 55 pounds and are operated without a pilot, passengers, or

crew onboard. As such, there is no is ability or place to ca rry certification and registrati on documents or to display

them on Petitioner’s UAS. An equivalent level of safe ty will be achieved by keeping these documents at the

ground control station where the PIC will have immediate ac cess to them, to the extent they are applicable to

Petitioner’s UAS. FAA has issued numer ous exemptions to this section; see e.g. Exemption Nos. 9565, 9665,

9789, 9789A, 9797, and 10700.

14 CFR §§ 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (2), a nd 91.417(a) & (b): Maintenance Inspections

These regulations require that an aircraft operator or owner “shall have that aircraft inspected as prescribed

in subpart E of this part and shall between required insp ections, except as provided in pa ragraph (c) of this section,

have discrepancies repaired as prescribed in part 43 of th is Chapter...;” and others shall inspect or maintain the

aircraft in compliance with Part 43.

Given that these sections and Part 43 apply only to aircraft with an airw orthiness certificate, these sections

will not apply to Petitioner. Petitioner will strictly adhere to the safety a nd maintenance procedures included in

all applicable UAS manufacturers’ instructions and operating manuals. 5 

## To the extent such information is not

included in the guidelines as developed by the manufactur ers, Petitioner will undertake to develop and document

maintenance, overhaul, replacement, and inspection requirements, and pr ocedures to document and maintain

maintenance records with regards to Petitioner’s UAS. 6 

## An equivalent level of safety will be achieved because

Petitioner’s UAS are very limited in size and will carry sm all payloads and operate only in restricted areas for

limited periods of time. If mechanical issues arise, Petitioner’s UAS can land immediately and will be operating

from no higher than 400 AGL. The Petitioner will ensure th at its UAS are in working order prior to initiating

each flight, perform regular maintenance, and keep a l og of any maintenance perform ed. Moreover, Petitioner is

the person most familiar with the aircraft and is best suite d to maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition in

order to ensure safe operations.

E QUIVALENT 

## L EVEL OF 

## S AFETY



## Petitioner believes that the exemptions requested herein apply to civil aircraft that have the characteristics

and that operate within the limitations listed herein. Petitioner’s requested ex emptions will not adversely affect

safety, and Petitioner’s proposed operational limits will provide for at least an equivalent or even greater degree

of safety than for similar operations conducted using c onventional, manned aircraft, due to the size, speed, and

limited operating area of Petitioner’s UAS.

The UAS Petitioner plans to operate are small in size with each weighing much less than 55 pounds

including their payload. They will operate, under norma l conditions, at a speed of no more than 50 knots.

Operations will be performed by a fu lly qualified and trained UAS PIC, as outlined below, to ensure that

Petitioner’s UAS will “not create a hazard to users of the na tional airspace system or the public.” Given the small

size of Petitioner’s UAS and the pre-planned, controlle d-access environment within which they will operate,

Petitioner believes that these operations fall squarely within that zone of safety in wh ich Congress envisioned that

the FAA must, by exemption, allow commercial operations of UAS to commence immediately. Also, operation

in a secured, pre-defined area will prevent the possibility of a national security issue. The operation of Petitioner’s

UAS by knowledgeable aviation professionals with experience in the national airspace system (“ NAS ”) will serve

5 

### See Appendix A, Appendix B, and Appendix C

6 

### See Appendix D, Appendix E, and Appendix F

## 9 to enhance safety, add to the public benefit, and reduce e nvironmental impacts related to current methods of aerial

operations of the kind proposed by Petitioner.

The limitations and conditions to which Petiti oner agrees to be bound when conducting commercial

operations under this petition include but are not limited to the following, at a minimum:

1. Safety will be the first and foremost consid eration for all of Petitioner’s UAS operations.

2. Petitioner will conduct operations using only the DJI S 900, 3DR IRIS+, and 3DR Aero M UAS platforms,

each of which weighs much less than 55 pounds fully loaded.

3. Petitioner’s UAS PIC will be required to be an FAA licen sed airman with at least a Sport Pilot certificate

and hold at least an FAA Third Class Medical certificate or valid driver’s license.

4. Petitioner’s UAS PIC will be responsible at all tim es for the safe operation of each flight conducted

pursuant to the requested exemptions.

5. All flights will be operated within VLOS of the PIC at all times.

6. All operations will utilize a visual observer (“ VO ”). The VO will be used to maintain VLOS with the

UAS so long as the PIC also always maintains VL OS capability, and the PIC and VO will at all times

remain close enough to be able to communicate verb ally during flight operations. The PIC will be

responsible for ensuring that the VO can perform the duties required by the VO.

7. The UAS will operate at no more than 50 knots, and in no case will UAS be operated at airspeeds greater

than the maximum operating airspeed recommended by the UAS manufacturer.

8. This exemption, if granted, and all other documen ts needed to operate Petitioner’s UAS and conduct

operations in accordance with the lim itations and conditions as set forth herein and as established by the

FAA will at all times be kept with the PIC at the grou nd control station and will be immediately available

upon request.

9. Petitioner’s UAS will utilize GPS navigation, failsafe, retu rn-to-launch, and/or flight abort safety features.

10. The PIC will be prohibited from beginning a fli ght unless, considering the wind and forecast weather

conditions, there is enough available power for Petiti oner’s UAS to conduct the intended operation and

to operate after that for at least five minutes or with the reserve power recommended by the manufacturer,

whichever is greater.

11. Flights will be operated at an altitude at or below 200 feet above ground level (“ AGL ”) under normal

conditions, and will never exceed 400 feet AGL.

12. Petitioner will not allow its PIC to operate unless th e PIC demonstrates the ability to safely operate

Petitioner’s UAS in a manner consistent with how th e UAS will be operated as proposed herein, including

evasive and emergency maneuvers a nd maintaining appropriate distan ces from persons and property, and

including familiarization with applicable airsp ace restrictions and the UAS operations manuals.

13. Operations will never be conducted at night. Day time operations will only be conducted under Visual

Flight Rules (“ VFR ”) conditions.

14. Petitioner’s UAS will only be operated within a pre-planned, controlled-access flight perimeter sized so

as to allow the PIC and VO to maintain VLOS with the UAS at all times during flight operations.

15. A briefing will be conducted in regard to each planne d UAS operation, and the safety thereof, prior to

operation at each new location.

16. All persons not directly involved with UAS flight op erations will be prohibited from entering the flight

perimeter unless there exists therein barriers or stru ctures sufficiently robust to protect nonparticipating

persons from the UAS and/or debris in the event of an accident.

17. All UAS operations will be conducted over private or controlled-access property with permission from

the property owner or property controller or their re spective authorized representative. Permission from

the property owner or controller or their authorized re presentative will be obtained prior to each operation.

## 10 18. If the UAS loses communications or loses its GPS signal, they will have the capability to return to a predetermined location within the flight perimeter.

19. The PIC will have the power, and the duty, to abort all flight operations in the event of unpredicted

obstacles or emergencies.

The Requested Exemptions Promote the Public Interest

The enhanced safety achieved by replacing significan tly larger manned aircraft carrying crew, passengers,

and flammable fuel with small UAS carrying no passengers , crew, or flammable fuel under the specific guidelines

and procedures proposed by Petitioner gives FAA good cause to find that the UAS operations enabled by this

petition are in the public interest. Specifically, the potentia l for damage or harm to the public as a result of a UAS

accident under the conditions and limitati ons proposed herein utilizing Petitioner’s small, ultra-lightweight UAS

carrying no passengers, crew, or flammable fuel or other da ngerous materials is far less than the threat posed to

the public by normal manned aircraft operations.

Moreover, by replacing the manned aircraft traditiona lly used for the kinds of operations proposed by

Petitioner with small UAS, Petitioner will be able to provide aerial operations services at a greatly reduced cost,

making these kinds of services available to a greater range of businesses and consumers, thereby enhancing the

utility of aerial operations and benef itting the economy as a whole. Simila rly, the small, battery-powered UAS

utilized by Petitioner will benefit the public as a whole by greatly reducing the pollu tion and ecological impact

associated with traditional aircraft and rotorcraft operations, and utilizing Petiti oner’s UAS for precision

agriculture will allow for a more efficient application of fertilizers and pesticides, which will ultimately reduce

the negative effects on the environment and consumers as sociated with these practices, which will benefit the

public as a whole.

Congress and the FAA, through passage of th e Reform Act and in numerous Exemptions ( see e.g.

Exemption No. 11062), have already recognized that UAS provide a greater degree of flexibility and safety than

traditional manned aircraft when used within certain opera tional limits and for the kinds of operations proposed

herein by Petitioner. Granting Petitioner exemption to ope rate its UAS commercially furthers economic growth

and public safety while limiting the ecological impacts of aerial operations. Thus, FAA has good cause to grant

this petition.

Conclusion

For the forgoing reasons, the exemptions requested by Petitioner herein should be granted and Petitioner should

be permitted to conduct commercial UAS operations in accordance with the lim itations and conditions proposed

herein and as established by the FAA.

Respectfully submitted,

Carriere & Little, LLP

By:

Nathanial C. Brown

Counsel for Petitioner

Advanced Drone Technologies

# APPENDIX A

DJI S900

– Operations Documents

# Spreading Wings 5900

User Manual CYJ]J

201412

# Disclaimer

Than k yo u fo r purchasin g th e S900

. Pleas e visi t th e Spreadin g Wing s S90 0 pag e o n www.dji.co m regularly

t o kee p u p t o dat e wit h produc t information

, technica l update s an d manua l corrections

. Informatio n i n this

manua l i s subjec t t o chang e withou t notice.

I n usin g thi s product

, yo u hereb y agre e t o thi s disclaime r an d signif y tha t yo u hav e understoo d al l points

completely. When assembling this product, follow all instructions carefully. The manufacturer and seller

assum e n o liabilit y fo r an y damag e o r injur y arisin g fro m th e us e o f thi s product.

T h i s i s a c l a s s A produc t o f th e FC C ce r ti f i ca t i on

. I n a d o m es t i c e n v i r on m e n t t h i s produc t ma y caus e r a di o

interference

, i n whic h cas e th e use r ma y b e require d t o tak e adequat e measures.

DJ I i s a registere d trademar k o f DJI

. Name s o f product

, brand

, etc.

, appearin g i n thi s manua l ar e trademarks

o r registere d trademark s o f thei r respectiv e owne r companies

. Thi s produc t an d manua l ar e copyrighte d by

DJ I wit h al l right s reserved

. N o par t o f thi s produc t o r manua l shal l b e reproduce d i n an y for m withou t th e prior

writte n consen t o r authorizatio n o f DJI.



# About

The S900 is designed for professional aerial photography and cinematography. It is user friendly, safe,

stabilize d an d eas y t o fl y whil e it s integrate d desig n make s assembl y an d configuratio n simpl e an d fast.

Retractabl e landin g gear

, vibratio n dampers

, slightl y angle d arm s an d a minimalize d gimba l moun t allo w for

a clea r 36 0 degre e vie w fro m th e camera

. A patente d powe r distributio n board

, built

- i n high

- spee d ESCs

an d motor s wit

h hig h efficienc y propeller s ensur e dynami c stabilit y an d maximize d powe r efficiency

. Used

wit h a professiona l DJ I multi

- roto r autopilo t system

, th e S90 0 ca n hove r an d fl y reliabl y makin g i t idea l for

photograph y an d cinematography.

1 2 6 m m

305 m m

4 33 m m

2 © 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved.

# Contents

Disclaimer 2



### About 2



### Contents 3



### Cautions 4



### Legend 4



### In The Box 5



### Mounting the Landing Gear 6



### Mounting Frame Arms 7



### Mounting Electronics and Wiring 11



### Connecting XT60 Ports on the Center Frame 16



### Installing Battery 16



### Setting Up the Landing Gear 18



### Mounting the Gimbal 20



### Appendix 22

ESC Sound 22

ESC LED 22

Specifications 22

Gain Value Settings 23



### F AQ 24

Soldering the ESC 24

Remounting the Propellers 24

Propeller Precautions 24

Using the Propeller Holder 25

Assembling Motor Vibration Absorbers 25

Remounting the Landing Gear Servo 26

Recalibrating Servo Travel 26



### Part List 27



### FCC Statements 31

© 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 3Cautions 

# Cautions

Whe n flying

, th e rotatin g propeller s ma y caus e seriou s damag e an d injury

. Pleas e fl y saf e a t al l times.



### Assembl y Cautions

1

. Us e a bracke t t o moun t th e GP S modul e o n th e cente r fram e t o avoi d interferenc e wit h th e powe r board.

2

. Ensur e th e IM U i s mounte d wit h th e arro w pointin g towar d th e nos e o f th e aircraft.

3

. I f usin g a receiver

, attac h i t unde r th e botto m boar d o f th e cente r fram e wit h th e en d o f th e antenna

facin g downward s an d awa y fro m obstruction s t o avoi d signa l loss.

4

. Ensur e fram e arm s ar e mounte d correctly.

a ) Moto r mount s wit h CC W mark s shoul d b e mounte d t o th e cente r fram e position s wit h th e following

marks : M1

, M 3 an d M5.

b ) Moto r mount s wit h C W mark s shoul d b e mounte d t o th e cente r fram e position s wit h th e following

marks : M2

, M4

, an d M6.

5

. D o no t remov e an y glued

- i n screws.

6

. Screw s tha t alread y hav e blu e glu e ca n b e use d onc e withou t threa d locker

. O n othe r occasions

, apply

appropriat e threa d locke r first.

7

. Th e S90 0 shoul d b e lifte d of f th e groun d whe n testin g landin g gea r o r recalibratin g serv o travel.



### Fligh t Cautions

1

. ESC s ar e no t water

- proof

, pleas e d o no t fl y i n rai n o r snow.

2. Ensure all soft dampers and vibration absorbers are in good condition before every flight. If not, replace

immediatel y

. Otherwise, the flight performance of your aircraft will be adversely a f fected.

3

. Ensur e al l part s ar e i n goo d conditio n befor e eac h flight

. D o no t fl y wit h wor n o r broke n parts.

4

. Ensur e propeller s an d motor s ar e installe d correctl y an d propeller s ar e unfolde d befor e flying.

5

. Ensur e ES C signa l connector s an d powe r cabl e connector s ar e tigh t befor e ever y flight.

6

. Whe n flying

, maintai n a saf e distanc e awa y fro m people

, buildings

, high

- voltag e lines

, tal l trees

, water

an d othe r hazards.

7

. Us e onl y 6 S LiP o batterie s fo r th e powe r supply.

8

. Ensur e al l outpu t signal s fro m M 1 t o M 6 ar e i n prope r workin g orde r whe n usin g th e DJ I A 2 fligh t control

syste m t o avoi d damag e o r injury.

9

. D o no t overloa d th e system.

10

. D o no t ge t clos e t o o r touc h motor s o r propeller s whe n the y ar e spinnin g a s thi s ca n caus e seriou s injury.

11

. Disconnec t th e batter y an d remov e th e camer a durin g transportatio n t o avoi d damag e o r injury.

12

. W e strongl y recommen d usin g a s man y DJ I manufacture d part s a s possible.



### Others

I f yo u hav e an y problem s yo u canno t resolve

, contac t you r deale r o r DJ I custome r service.



# Legend

Importan t Hint s an d Tips

4 © 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved.I n Th

e Box 

# In The Box

Cente r Fram e × 1 Fram e Arm s ×6

Landin g Ski d T ube s ×2

(wit h Silicon e Rubbe r Dampers) Landin g Gea r Leg s ×2

GP S Collapsibl e Moun t × 1 Spring s ×2

Connectio n Cabl e Accessorie s Packag e ×1

Connecto r Se t ×1



### or C W propeller s ×2

CC W propeller s ×2

Magi c tape s ×4

Th e re d knob s ×6

3

- PI N Connectio n Cable s ×8 Landin g gea r le g ring s ×4

Sof t damper s ×50



### 3

- PI N Serv o Cabl e × 1 Scre w Packag e ×1

Fo r fram e arm s mount : M4×35

Fo r landin g gea r mount : M3×8,

M2.5× 8 (socke t cap)

, M3×2 2 (socke t cap)



### T ool s Required

T ool s Usage

2.0m m He x Wrench

, 2.5m m He x Wrenc h Mountin g screws.

Threa d Locke r Fastenin g screws.

Nylo n Cabl e Tie

, Scissors

, Cuttin g Pliers/Dyke s Bindin g device s an d wires.

Foa m Doubl e Side d Adhesiv e Tap e Mountin g receiver

, controlle r an d othe r modules.

© 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 5Mountin

g

th

e Landin

g Gear 

# Mounting the Landing Gear

Instructions

1

. Pu t on e landin g gea r le g rin g ont o eac h landin g gea r leg.

2

. Inser t on e landin g gea r le g int o eac h landin g ski d tub e an d secur e i t i n plac e b y tightenin g th e M2.5×8

(socke t cap ) screw

. Ensur e silicon e rubbe r damper s ar e attache d t o eac h end.

3

. Inser t th e landin g gea r le g int o connectio n poin t o n th e cente r frame

. Affi x i n plac e wit h M3× 8 screws.

4

. Connec t bot h spring s o n th e leg s t o th e cente r frame.

M2.5×8

(socket cap)

Not e th e spring s ar e 58.5m m befor e connectin g t o th e cente r frame

, an d ar e stretche d t o 70mm

whe n mountin g i s completed.

I t i s recommende d tha

t th e landin g gea r le g rin g b e place d abou t 30m m abov e th e landin g ski d tube.

70mm

30mm

6 © 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved.Mountin

g Fram

e Arms 

# Mounting Frame Arms

Instructions

1

. Prepar e th e arms.

(1 ) Chec k al l propeller s fo r cracks

, the n instal l an d scre w eac h propelle r cove r o n tightly.

(2 ) Ensur e al l motor s ar e mounte d firml y an d rotat e freely.

(3 ) Moun t al l arm s wit h re d propelle r cover s t o M 1 an d M 2 t o indicat e th e nos e o f th e S900.

(4 ) Identif y th e C W an d CC W mark s o n th e arms

. Moun t th e arm s wit h th e CC W mar k t o th e M1

, M 3 and

M 5 position s o f th e cente r frame

. Th e arm s wit h th e C W mar k shoul d b e mounte d t o th e M2

, M 4 and

M 6 position s o f th e cente r frame.

Cover Propeller

Screw Mount Power Cable

Screw

Motor

ESC CW or CCW Mark

LED* ESC Signal Cable

*LED is on after motor started.

2

. Inser t eac h fram e ar m verticall y int o th e mounting

are a o n th e cente r frame.

3

. Lin e u p th e scre w hole s o f th e fram e ar m and

cente r frame.

4

. Inser t th e M4×3 5 scre w fro m th e righ t o f the

fram e ar m (th e threa d i s locate d o n th e lef t o f the

scre w mount)

. Tighte n eac h scre w correctly

. Over

tightenin g ma y lea d t o connecto r abrasion.

© 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 7Mountin

g Fram

e Arms Spreadin g W ing s S90 0 Use r Manual

5

. Gentl y lif t th e fram e arm.

6

. Twis t th e re d kno b t o loc k eac h ar m i n place

. B e sur e ther e i s a n audibl e click

, whic h indicate s a proper

lock

. Chec k th e ar m fo r movement

. T o store

, untwis t th e kno b an d lowe r th e fram e arm.

7

. No w unscre w 6 screw s (M2.5× 8 cheese ) o n th e uppe r plat e o f th e cente r fram e an d remov e th e upper

plate

. The n unscre w th e 4 screw s (M3× 8 self

- tapping

, foun d unde r th e cente r frame ) o f th e roun d cover

an d remov e i t t o gai n acces s t o th e ES C an d powe r cabl e installatio n area.

8

. Plu g eac h ES C signa l cabl e int o th e slo t nea r eac h ar m o n th e cente r frame.

8 © 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved.Mountin

g Fram

e Arms Spreadin g W ing s S90 0 Use r Manual

9

. Connec t th e powe r cable s t o th e c ente r frame

. Eac h cabl e mus t b e screwe d int o a positiv e (+ ) o r negativ e (

- )

gol d bracket

. Eac h bracke t wil l hav e tw o cable s o f th e sam e colo r screwe d int o it

. Re d cable s ar e positive

an d blac k cable s ar e negative.

10

. T o ensur e a reliabl e connection

, rotat e th e scre w unti l i t i s bot h tigh t an d paralle l t o th e connecting

bracket.

11

. Ensur e al l ES C cables

, an d powe r cable s ar e correctl y installe d ont o th e cente r frame.

ESC cables

power cables

© 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 9Spreadin g W ing s S90 0 Use r Manual

12

. Replac e th e roun d cove r o f th e cente r plate

, an d re

- tighte n th e 4 screw s (M3× 8 self

- tapping)

. Then

replac e th e uppe r plat e o f th e cente r frame

, an d re

- tighte n th e 6 screw s (M2.5× 8 cheese).

13

. Doubl e chec k al l fram e arms

. Arm s M 1 an d M 2 ar e th e forwar d facin g (nose)

, arm s M 4 an d M 5 ar e the

tail

. See n fro m th e top

, motor s o n arm s M1

, M 3 an d M 5 rotat e counte r clockwis e whil e thos e o n arm s M2,

M 4 an d M 6 rotat e clockwise.

1 0 © 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved.Mountin

g Electronic

s an

d Wiring

CAN

1 CAN

2 C A N

1 C A N

2 AN T

AN T 

# Mounting Electronics and W iring

Eigh t position s ar e reserve d fo r mountin g a fligh t contro l system

, wireles s vide o transm issio n mo d ule

,

receiver

, an d othe r accessories

. Th e DJ I A 2 fligh t contro l syste m ha s bee n use d her e a s a n example

. I f using

a n A2

, follo w mountin g an d wirin g instruction s foun d i n th e A 2 fligh t contro l syste m use r manual

. I f using

th e DJ I WK

- M fligh t contro l system

, pleas e refe r t o th e WK

- M use r manua l fo r connections

. Als o b e sur e the

firmwar e o n you r DJ I fligh t controlle r ha s bee n update d t o th e lates t version.



### Instructions

1

. Attac h IM U modul e t o th e IM U are a o f th e cente r frame

. Ensur e tha t i t point s towar

d th e nose.

2

. Attac h th e PM U modul e t o th e cente r frame.

IMU

Onl y moun t th e IM U i n th e IM U positio n o f th e cente r frame.

3

. Moun t th e fligh t controlle r i n th e reserve d positio n nea r th e PM U module.

M 1 F 4

M 2 LINK LED F 3

M 3 F 2

M 4 F 1

M 5 X 3

M 6 X 2

M 7 X 1

M 8 C O N TR O LLE R UNI T

S 2

S 1

Reserved Position M 1

M 2 LIN K

M 3

M 4

M 5

M 6

M 7

M 8 CONTROLLER UNI T F 4

LED F 3

F 2

F 1

X 3

X 2

X 1

S 2

S 1

A2 Flight Controller

© 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 11Mountin

g Electronic

s an

d Wiring Spreadin g W ing s S90 0 Use r Manual

4

. Attac h th e GP S collapsibl e moun t t o th e cente r fram e usin g M2.5× 8 screws.

5

. Moun t a GP S modul e t o th e GP S moun t wit h a bracket

. Ensur e th e arro w point s towar d th e nos e an d avoid

catchin g you r finger s i n th e bracke t whe n foldin g fo r transporta tion.

M1

M 2

6

. Th e othe r reserve d position s ar e indicate d i n th e diagra m belo w an d ca n b e use d fo r mountin g a receiver,

LE D fligh t indicator

, iOS D modul e an d wireles s vide o transmissio n module.

1 2 © 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved.Mountin

g Electronic

s an

d Wiring Spreadin g W ing s S90 0 Use r Manual

7

. Chec k tha t ever y anti

- dro p scre w ha s bee n firml y installe d i n th e reserve d positions

. Threa d locke r is

recommended.

(1 ) Remov e th e anti

- dro p screw s t o appl y appropriat e threa d locker.

(2 ) Replac e an d tighten.

8

. Not e tha t th e damper s ar e 30 ° silico n rubber

. I f yo u us e othe r damper s o r vibratio n absorbin g balls

, the

qualit y o f you r aeria l photograph y ma y b e affected.

dampers

Moun t th e GP S wit h a bracke t t o avoi d interferenc e fro m th e cente r fram e powe r board.

Us e glu e t o instal l th e GP S bracket

. Ensur e i t i s fir m an d stabl e befor e ever y flight.

Alway s tes t motor s usin g th e Assistan t Softwar e afte r installation

. Refe r t o you r fligh t contro l system

use r manua l fo r details.

© 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 132

M

M CAN

1 CAN

2 CAN

1 CAN

2 Mountin

g Electronic

s an

d Wiring AN T

AN T M 2 M4

M 5

M 6

6 Spreadin g W ing s S90 0 Use r Manual



### Connecting the flight controller to the center frame

1

. Connec t th e fligh t contro l syste m accordin g t o you r fligh t contro l syste m use r manual.

2

. Connec t th e fligh t controlle r t o th e cente r fram e wit h th e connectio n cables.

Ther e ar e tw

o kind s o f connectio n cables

. Choos e th e correspondin g connectio n mod e accordin g t o the

connectio n cabl e i n th e box.

Usin g th e connecto r set:

Plu g i n th e connecto r se t t o th e ES C signa l outle t o n th e cente r frame

. The n plu g i n th e connecto r se t to

fligh t controlle r a s show n below.

(1 ) Yello w 4

- pi n cable s ar e fo r M1

~ M 4 connections

. Th e yello w cabl e shoul d b e connecte d t o M1.

(2 ) Brow n 4

- pi n cable s ar e fo r M5

~ M 6 connections

. Th e brow n cabl e shoul d b e connecte d t o M5.

(3 ) Blac k 4

- pi n cable s ar e fo r fou r continuou s groun d pin s connections

. M1~M 4 ar e connecte d a s the

followin g diagra m shows.

y e ll o w

M 1

M2

M3

M4 M 1

M 2 LINK

M 3

M 4

M 5

M 6

M 7

M 8

1 CONTROLLER UN IT F 4

LED F 3

F 2

F 1

X 3

X 2

X 1

S 2

S 1

3 

### 3 1

M1

M2

M3

M4

M5 

### 2 y e ll o w

M 1

M 2

M 3

M 4

M 5

M 6 b r o w n

M5 brow n 2 

### M6

M6

A2 Flight Controller

Usin g th e 3

- pi n connectio n cable:

M 1 throug h M 6 correspon d t o eac h moto r number. the ESC Signal Outlet

M1

M M 1 1 M2 M M 2

M 3 M3 M M 3 4

M 1 M 5

M 3 4

M 4 M 6 M M 5 7

M5 M 8

M6 LINK

CONTROLLER UNIT F 4

LED F 3

F 2

F 1

X 3

X 2

X 1

S 2

S 1

the ESC Signal Outlet A2 Flight Controller

1 4 © 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved.R I N Mountin

g Electronic

s an

d Wiring

C AN

1 CAN

2 AN T M4 Spreadin g W ing s S90 0 Use r Manual

I f usin g a DJ I WK

- M fligh t controller

, yo u mus t us e th e wire s tha t cam e wit

h th e WK

- M

. M 1 through

M 6 correspon d t o eac h moto r number.

M1

M2

M3

M 1

M 2

M 3

M 4

M 5

M 6 M5

M6

WKM Flight Controller the ESC Signal Outlet



### Connecting the flight controller and landing gear

1

. Connec t th e lef t serv o (betwee n M 3 an d M4 ) cabl e t o th e “L ” por t o f th e landin g gea r contro l board.

2

. Connec t th e righ t serv o (betwee n M 5 an d M6 ) cabl e t o th e “R ” por t o f th e landin g gea r contro l board.

3

. Fo r th e A 2 fligh t contro l system

, connec t th e F 1 por t o f th e fligh t controlle r t o th e “IN ” por t o f th e landing

gea r contro l board

. Othe r fligh t contro l system s connec t a 2

- positio n channe l receive r t o th e “IN ” port.

R L I N

M 1

M 2 LI N K

M 3

M 4

M 5

M 6

M 7

M 8 CONTROLLER UNIT LED F 4

F 3

F 2 F F F

1 1

X 3

X 2

X 1

S 2

S 1

Right Servo Connector Left Servo Connector

I f righ t an d lef t serv o cable s ar e reversed

, th e landin g gea r wil l no t functio n properly.

Connec t al l wire s carefull y an d neatl y t o avoi d cabl e damag e cause d b y fram e edges.

© 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 15Connectin

g XT6

0 Port

s

o

n th

e Cente

r Fram

e

/ Installin

g Battery 

# Connecting XT60 Ports on the Center Frame

Th e botto m boar d i s a powe r distributio n boar d wit h thre e XT6 0 connector s fo r batter y power.



### Instructions

1

. Connec t th e PM U powe r cabl e t o th e XT6 0 connecto r o n to p o f th e botto m board.

2

. Connec t th e landin g gea r contro l boar d cabl e t o th e XT6 0 connecto r o n th e botto m o f th e botto m board.

3

. Othe r connector s ca n suppl y powe r fo r othe r DJ I devices

, a s required.

2 S V

- S E N

6S

P M U 3 V @ 5V X 1

P W

(2 V @ 6V )



# Installing Battery

Solderin g batter y connectors

AS15 0 spark

- proo f connector s ar e used

. The y mus t b e soldere d t o you r batter y powe r cables.

1

. Remov e th e origina l batter y connectors

. Avoi d cuttin g th e powe r an d groun d cable s a t th e sam e time

, as

thi s ca n caus e a shor

t circuit

. W e recommen d wrappin g unsoldere d cable s wit h insulatin g tap e t o prevent

accidenta l connections.

2

. Pas s th e blac k groun d wir e throug h th e blac k housing

. Afte r passin g th e wir e through

, solde r th e female

bulle t connecto r t o th e groun d wire

. Wai t fo r th e soldere d connectio n t o cool

, the n pul l th e housin g back

ove r th e bulle t connector.

3

. Scre w an d pas s th e re d powe r wir e throug h th e re d housing

. Afte r passin g th e wir e through

, solde r the

mal e bulle t connecto r t o th e powe r wire

. Wai t fo r th e soldere d connectio n t o cool

, an d the n scre w an d pull

th e housin g bac k ove r th e bulle t connector.

1 6 © 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved. Connectors soldering diagramInstallin

g Battery Spreadin g W ing s S90 0 Use r Manual

Connectors are soldered



### Installin g an d connectin g battery

1

. Attac h batter

y t o batter

y tray

. D o no t us e a n oversize d battery

. Maximu m installatio n dimensio n i s 80m m X

120m m X 200mm.

2

. Connec t th e blac k connecto r an d the n th e re d connecto r t o powe r on

. Disconnec t th e re d connecto r then

blac k connecto r t o powe r off.

© 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 17Settin

g

U

p

th

e Landin

g Gear 

# Setting Up the Landing Gear

Usin g a 2

- positio n R C transmitte r switch

, landin g gea r retractio n ca n b e carrie d ou t remotely.

Settin g u p th e transmitter

Selec t a 2

- positio n switc h (defaul t settin g i s OK ) a s th e contro l inpu t fo r th e landin g gear

. Ensur e the

corresponding receiver port is connected to the “IN” port on control board. For the A2 flight control

system

, connec t th e fligh t controller’ s F 1 por t t o “IN ” por

t o n contro l board.

Upper : Toggl e th e switc h t o thi s positio n t o rais e th e landin g gear.

Lower : Toggl e th e switc h t o thi s positio n t o lowe r th e landin g gear.

I f th e transmitte r switc h ha s a FailSaf e function

, se t th e FailSaf e valu e t o th e [Lower ] position

. This

ensure s tha t th e landin g gea r wil l lowe r automaticall y whe n th e receive r enter s FailSaf e mode.

T o avoi d accidenta l switc h triggering

, slid e lever s o r othe r control s ca n b e use d fo r landin g gear

control.



### Usag e procedures

1

. Ensur e transmitte r an d receive r batterie s ar e full y charged.

2

. Toggl e th e switc h t o th e [Lower ] position

, an d the n tur n o n th e transmitter.

3

. Ensur e th e “R”

, “L ” an d “IN ” connection s ar e correct.

4

. Ensur e th e landin g gea r i s i n th e [Lower ] position

, the n powe r o n th e system

. I f a soli d gree n LE D o n the

landin g gea

r contro l boar d light s up

, everythin g i s normal

. I f i t flashe s gree n slowly

, re

- calibrat e th e system

accordin g t o instruction s i n “Recalibratin g Serv o Travel”.

5

. Toggl e th e switc h t o th e [Upper ] positio n ONL Y AFTE R takeoff.

6

. Toggl e th e switc h t o th e [Lower ] positio n fo r landing.

1 8 © 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved.Settin

g

U

p

th

e Landin

g Gear Spreadin g W ing s S90 0 Use r Manual

Serv o powe r wil l shu t of f 3 second s afte r th e landin g gea r ha s reache d it s targe t position.

Whe n powerin g o n th e system

, i f th e transmitte r switc h i s i n th e [Upper ] position

, th e LE D wil l flash

re d quickl y a s a warning

. Toggl e th e switc h t o th e [Lower ] positio n t o continue.

I f ther e i s a

n abnorma l signa l o r n o signa l inpu t int o th e “IN ” port

, th e LE D wil l slowl y flas h red.

Chec k receive r an d connection s fo r problems.

I f serv o powe r consumptio n i s to o high

, th e LE D wil l ligh t u p red

. I f thi s last s mor e tha n 4 seconds,

th e la n d i n g gea r wil l l o w e r an d th e LE D wil l f l a s h gree n s low l y

. R e

- c a li b ra t i o n i s neede d b ef

o r e

flying.

A 2 fligh t contro l syste m user s ca n us e th e A 2 Assistan t t o se t intelligen t gea r o n th e “Advanced”

page

. Refe r t o th e “A 2 use r manual ” fo r details.



### LE D Contro l Boar d Indicator

Syste m norma l

— Soli d green.

Calibratio n require d Blink s rapi d green.

Recalibratio n require d Blink s slo w green.

Calibratio n faile d

— Soli d yellow.

Ente r calibratio n mod e Blink s rapi d yellow.

Syste m calibratin g Blink s slo w yellow.

Moto r stalle d

— Soli d red.

Unsaf e startu p aler

t Blink s rapi d red.

Inpu t signa l abnorma l Blink s slo w green.



### Landing Gear Specifications

Paramete r Rang e Paramete r Range

Workin g Voltag e 3S~6 S (LiPo ) Inpu t Signa l PW M (High

- Puls e Widt h 800us~2200us)

Workin g Curren t Ma x 1A@6 S Outpu t Signa l PW M (Mi d Positio n i s 1520us ) i n 90Hz

Workin g Temperatur e

- 20~70 ° C Outpu t Voltag e 6V

Tota l Weigh t 875 g Serv o Trave l 150 ° (Minimu m 120 ° )

© 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 19Mountin

g

th

e Gimbal 

# Mounting the Gimbal

Befor e assemblin g th e gimbal

, instal l th e GC U a s show n below

. B e sur e t o instal l o n th e sid e a s show n below.

A DJ I Z15

- GH

4 (HD ) gimba l ha s bee n use d a s a n exampl e i n th e followin g diagrams.

Th e connector s o n gimba l shoul d b e remove d fo r bette r performance

, the n th e gimba l ca n b e mounte d to

th e lowe r connectio n points

. User s o f DJ I Z15

- 5 N / 7 N gimbal

, refe r t o th e DJI Z15

- 5N / 7N Gimbal Mounting

Notes (Page 21 ) fo r details.

2 0 © 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved.Mountin

g

th

e Gimbal Spreadin g W ing s S90 0 Use r Manual

Chec k tha

t th e system’ s cente r o f gravit y i s o n th e lin e a s show n i n th e diagra m below.



### DJ I Z15

- 5 N / 7 N Gimba l Mountin g Notes

Du e t o th e siz e restrictio n o f th e Z15

- 5 N / 7 N gimbal

, user s shoul d purchas e extende d landin g gear

leg s (use d wit h Z15

- 5 N / 7 N gimbal ) t o avoi d damag e and/o r failur e durin g th e self

- test

. Refe r t o th e

Part List Packag e No.3 4 (Page 31 ) fo r details.

Follo w th e Mounting the Landing Gear (Page 6 ) instruction s t o moun t extende d landin g gea r legs.

The n th e gimba l ca n b e mounte d a s show n below.

Packag e No.3 4 i s fo r user s whos e landin g gea r leg s ar e 300mm

. User s whos e landin g gea r leg s are

350m m hav e n o nee d t o purchas e thi s part.

© 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 21Appendix 

# Appendix

ESC Sound

ES C Stat e Sound

Read y 1234567

-- B

-- B

Throttl e stic k i s no t a t botto m BBBBBB...

Inpu t signa l abnorma l B

------- - B

------- - B...

Inpu t voltag e abnorma l BB

- - - BB

- - - BB

- - - BB...



### ESC LED

ES C Stat e LED

Standb y Off

Moto r rotatin g Soli d Re d o r Gree n On

Moto r rotatin g a t ful l throttl e positio n Soli d Yello w On

DJ I ESC s ar e specificall y designe d fo r multi

- r otors

. Whe n use d wit h DJ I autopilo t system s

parameter

s an d trave l range s d o no t hav e t o b e calibrated.



### Specifications

Frame

Diagona l Wheelbas e 900mm

Fram e Ar m Lengt h 358mm

Fram e Ar m Weight

(wit h Motor

, ESC

, Propelle r ) 316g

Cente r Fram e Diamete r 272mm

Cente r Fram e Weigh t (wit h Landin g Gear

Mountin g Base

, Servos) 1185g

Landin g Gea r Siz e 460mm(Length)×450mm(Width)×360mm(Height)



### Motor

Stato r Siz e 41×14mm

K V 400rpm/V

Ma x Powe r 500W

2 2 © 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved.Appendix Spreadin g W ing s S90 0 Use r Manual

Weigh t (wit h Coolin g Fan ) 158g



### ESC

Workin g Curren t 40A

Workin g Voltag e 6 S LiPo

Signa l Frequenc y 30H z ~ 450Hz

Driv e PW M Frequenc y 8KHz

Weigh t (wit h Radiators ) 35g



### Foldabl e Propelle r (1552/1552R)

Materia l Hig h strengt h performanc e engineere d plastics

Siz e 15×5. 2 inch

Weigh t 13g



### Fligh t Parameters

Takeof f Weigh t 4.7K g

~ 8.2Kg

Tota l Weigh t 3.3Kg

Powe r Batter

y LiP o (6S,10000mAh~15000mAh,15C(Min))

Ma x Powe r Consumptio n 3000W

Hoverin g Powe r Consumptio n 1000 W (@6.8K g Takeof f Weight)

Hoverin g Tim e 18mi n (@12000mA h & 6.8K g Takeof f Weight)

Workin g Environmen t Temperatur e

- 1 0 ° C

~ 4 0 ° C



### Gain V alue Settings

Fligh t Control Basi c Attitude

Pitc h Rol l Y a w Pitc h Rol l V ertical

A 2 110 % 110 % 120 % 220 % 220 % 120%

W ooKong

- M 160 % 160 % 160 % 190 % 190 % 100%

© 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 23G

V G

P G

G

P

V

FAQ 

# F AQ

Soldering the ESC

B e sur e t o solde r th e thic k wire s an d fin e wire s correctl y whe n solderin g a n ES C t o th e fram e arm.

Clockwis e (CW ) an d counte r clockwis e (CCW ) motor s hav e a differen t arrangemen t o f th e colore d wires.

Red

Bl ack

Bl ue

Thic k wire

Fin e w ire

Fin e w ire Solde r pad

Blue

Bl ack

Red

Thic k wire

CCW arms CW arms



### Remounting the Propellers

Instructions

1

. Us e tw o M3×12. 3 screw s an d fou r washer s t o remoun t propellers.

2

. Appl y threa d locke r t o th e threa d o f th e propeller s moun t first.

3

. Affi x screw s wit

h 4K g ∙ c m (0.4 N

∙ m ) torque.

Refe r t o origina l scre w tension s i f yo u ar e unfamilia r wit h torqu e measurements

. Applyin g thread

locke r t o th e propelle r moun t firs t avoid s gettin g threa d locke r int o th e hole s o f th e plasti c propeller.

Loos e screw

s canno t b e securel y locke d wit h threa d locker.



### Propeller Precautions

Torqu e marker s o n th e screw s an d propelle r cover s wil l giv e yo u a visua l cu e t o chec k whethe r th e propellers

ar e loose

. Chec k th e torqu e marker s befor e ever y flight.

2 4 © 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved.FAQ Spreadin g W ing s S90 0 Use r Manual



### Using the Propeller Holder

Instructions

1

. Inser t th e propelle r blade s int o th e propelle r holder

. 2

. Attac h th e propelle r holde r t o th e fram e arm.



### Assembling Motor V ibration Absorbers

A sof t dampe r i s par

t o f th e vibratio n absorber

. Assembl e sof t damper s a s show n below

. Assembl y i s the

sam e fo r CC W an d C W propellers.

Ensur e al l sof

t damper s an d vibratio n absorber s ar e i n goo d conditio n befor e ever y flight

. I f not,

replac e immediately

. Otherwise

, th e fligh t performanc e o f you r aircraf t wil l b e adversel y affected.

Befor e installin g th e sof t dampers

, pu t th e coppe r gasket s ont o th e fou r mountin g hole s o n the

carbo n plate

. The n pu t th e sof t damper s int o th e mountin g holes.

Afte r tightenin g th e screws

, th e vibratio n absorber s ma y b e twisted

. I f thi s i s th e case

, hol d th e

moto r wit h you r thumb s unde r th e bas e plat e an d finger s o n th e to p carbo n plate

, an d squeez e the

plate s togethe r t o mak

e th e vibratio n absorber s fla t an d paralle l wit

h th e plates.

© 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 25Spreadin g W ing s S90 0 Use r Manual



### Remounting the Landing Gear Servo

Remountin g servo s i s no t recommende d a s the y ar e pre

- installed.



### Instructions

1

. Connec t th e lef t serv o cabl e t o th e “L ” por t o f th e landin g gea r contro l board.

2

. Connec t th e righ t serv o cabl e t o th e “R ” por t o f th e landin g gea r contro l board.

3

. Pres s an d hol d th e SE T butto n usin g a pi n the n powe r on

. Yo u wil l se e a yello w LE D besid e th e SE T button

flashin g quickly

. Wai t a s servo s complet e positio n initializatio n.

4

. Mak e sur e th e ar m connectin g t o th e serv o i s paralle l t o th e lin k a s show n i n th e followin g diagram.

5

. Assembl e th e lef t an d righ t servo s t o th e lef t (betwee n M3

, M4 ) an d th e righ t (betwee n M5

, M6 ) part s o f the

landin g gear

. Powe r off.

R L I N

T o righ t serv o

T o lef t s erv o

T o receive r channe l

(T o F 1 por t i f us e A2 )

SE T B u tt o n

L ED Servo

Connecting arm

Link

After Installation



### Recalibrating Servo T ravel

Instructions

1

. Kee p you r hand s awa y fro m al l movin g parts.

2

. Ensur e th e “R”

, “L ” an d “IN ” connection s ar e correct.

3

. Kee p th e whol e aircraf t of f o f th e groun d durin g calibration

, a s landin g gea r wil l move.

4

. Pres s an d hol d th e SE T butto n usin g a pi n whil e powerin g on

, the n release

. A n LE D wil l flas h yellow

quickly

. Pres s th e SE T butto n again

. Aut o calibratio n wil l begi n an d th e LE D wil l flas h yello w slowly

. DO

NO T obstruc t an y movin g part s durin g aut o calibration.

5

. Durin g calibration

, th e lef t landin g gea r wil l rais e an d lower

, followe d b y th e righ t landin g gear.

6

. Afte r calibration

, bot h th e lef t an d righ t landin g gear s wil l b e lowere d an d th e LE D wil l displa y a soli d green

light

. Thi s indicate s tha t th e landin g gea r i s workin g properly.

I f th e LE D i s soli d yello w afte r calibration

, a proble m ha s occurred

. Carr y ou t th e instruction s in

“Remountin g th e Landin g Gea r Servo ” the n tr y again.

Avoid obstructions during calibration. If the landing gear was obstructed, recalibration will be

required

, pe r th e abov e steps.

I f th e “R ” an d “L ” serv o cable s ar e reversed

, trave l wil l no t b e measure d correctly

. Fi x the

connection s an d recalibrat e th e landin g gea r usin g th e abov e steps.

Landing gear travel has been pre

- calibrated. Mechanical adjustment of the gear travel is not

recommended.

2 6 © 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved.Par

t List 

# Part List

I f yo u requir e a replacemen t part

, locat e th e par t tha t yo u wis h t o replac e i n th e followin g tables

. The n order

th e packag e tha

t come s wit h th e specifie d part

. Th e numberin g o f th e par t i s define d a s follow:

S 9 0 0 

## S 9 0 2 010 1 CC W

C W a s c l o ck w i s e ; CC W a s c o un t e r c l o c k

w i se ; B a s B alc k

; R a s R e d

; G a s G r ee n

0 1

- F rame A r m ; 0 2

- C en t e r F r a m e ;

0 3

- L a n d ing G e a r Pac k age N o

. P ackage P art N o

.



### Fram e Arm

M3x12.3 (hexagan)

S9012501CCW/

S9012502CW S9012102B/

S9012202R/

S9013701R/

S9013801B

S9012503

S9012101B/

S9012201R M3x10.3

S9010801/

S9013501

S9010802

S90 1 1001

M3x4.5

S9012902/

S9013002/

S9013102/

S9013202

S9012901/

S9013001/

S9013101/

S9013201

S9012301R/

S9012401G S9012903/

S9013003/

S9013103/

S9013203

S9010401CCWB/

S9010501CCWR/

S9010601CWB/

S9010701CWR

S9012302/

S9012402

M3x12.3 (cheese) S9010402/

S9010502/

S9010602/

S9010702 S9010403/

S9010503/

S9010603/

S9010703

S9010404/

S9010504/

S9010604/

S9010704



### Packag e No. Name Par t No.

4 S90 0 Fram e Ar m CC W

- Black S9010401CCWB

, S9010402

, S9010403,

S9010404

, M3×12. 3 (cheese)

5 S90 0 Fram e Ar m CC W

- Red S9010501CCWR

, S9010502

, S9010503,

S9010504

, M3×12. 3 (cheese)

6 S90 0 Fram e Ar m C W

- Black S9010601CWB

, S9010602

, S9010603,

S9010604

, M3×12. 3 (cheese)

7 S90 0 Fram e Ar m C W

- Red S9010701CWR

, S9010702

, S9010703,

S9010704

, M3×12. 3 (cheese)

8 S90 0 Moto r Dampin g Unit S9010801

, S9010802

, M3×10.3

10 S90 0 Moto r Moun t Carbo n Board S9011001

, M3×4.5

© 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 27Par

t List Spreadin g W ing s S90 0 Use r Manual

21 S90 0 411 4 Moto r wit h blac k Pro p cover S9012101B

, S9012102B

, M3×4.5

22 S90 0 411 4 Moto r wit h re d Pro p cover S9012201R

, S9012202R

, M3×4.5

23 S90 0 ES C wit h Re d LED S9012301R

, S9012302

, M3×12.3

(cheese)

24 S90 0 ES C wit h Gree n LED S9012401G

, S9012402

, M3×12.3

(cheese)

25 S90 0 Propelle r Pack S9012501CCW

, S9012502CW,

S9012503

, M3×12. 3 (hexagan)



### Cente r Frame

S9020301

M2.5x8 (cheese)

S9021502

S9021503/

S9032703

M3x6.5

S9021501

S9020901 S9020302

M3x8 (self

- tapping)

S9021201L

S9021202R

S9021203/

S902 1 101

S9021401 M2.5x8 (cheese)

M3x6.5

2 8 © 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved.Par

t List Spreadin g W ing s S90 0 Use r Manual



### Packag e No. Name Par t No.

3 S90 0 Loc k Knob S9020301

, S9020302

, M3× 8 (self

- tapping)

9 S90 0 Cente r Fram e Suppor t Pillar S9020901

, M2.5× 8 (cheese)

12 S90 0 Ar m Mountin g Bracket S9021201L

, S9021202R

, S9021203,

M3×6.5

14 S90 0 Cente r Fram e Botto m Board S9021401

, M3×4. 5 (cheese)

, M3× 8 (self

tapping)

, M3×6.5

, M3×5.5

15 S90 0 Cente r Fram e To p Board S9021501

, S9021502

, S9021503

, M3×6.5,

M2.5× 8 (cheese)

11 S90 0 Fram e Ar m Mountin g Stee l Shaft S9021101



### Landin g Gear

M3x4.5

S9031902

S9031814

S9031815

M3x6.5

S9031901

M2.5x13

S9031604/

S9033306

S9031602/

S9033303

S9033301

S9033302

S9031603/

S9033305

S9031601/

S9033304

S9031605/

S9033307

M2.5x5

M2.5x8 (cheese)

S9033308

S9033309 M2.5x10 (socket cap) S9031812

S9031712

S9031903

M3x6.5

S9031904

S9031905

S9031701

S9030201

S9033313

S9033314

S9031801

M3x8

S9033310

S90333 1 1

S9033312 S9032605 S9031808

S9031809

M1.6x5

S9031810

S90318 1 1 S9031802

S9031803

S9031804

S9031805

M2.5x8(cheese)

S9031806

S9031713/

S9031813 M2.5x8 (socket cap) S9031807 (1)

M2.5x8 (socket cap)

S9032601

S9032602

S9032603

S9032606

M3x22 (socket cap)

S9032604 M3x6.8

S9032001

S9032002

Caution !Z (1) Parts within the dotted box are mirrored against each othe r

.

Except for S9031814 and S9031815.

© 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 29Par

t List Spreadin g W ing s S90 0 Use r Manual



### Packag e No

. Nam e Par t No.

1 6 S90 0 Gimbal

Dampin g Bracket S9031601

, S9031602

, S9031603

, S9031604

, S9031605,

M2.5×5

, M2.5×13

1 7 S90 0 Retractable

Modul e (Right) S9031701

, S9031702

, S9031703

, S9031704

, S9031705,

S9031706

, S9031707

, S9031708

, S9031709

, S9031710,

S9031711

, S9031712

, S0031713

, M1.6×5

, M2.5×1 0 (socket

cap)

, M2.5× 8 (cheese)

, M2.5×5

, M3×8

, M3×4.5

, M3×6.8

1 8 S90 0 Retractable

Modul e (Left) S9031801

, S9031802

, S9031803

, S9031804

, S9031805,

S9031806

, S9031807

, S9031808

, S9031809

, S9031810,

S9031811

, S9031812

, S9031813

, S9031814

, S9031815,

M1.6×5

, M2.5×1 0 (socke t cap)

, M2.5× 8 (cheese)

, M2.5×5,

M3×8

, M3×4.5

, M3×6.8

1 9 S90 0 Gimbal

Damping

Connecting

Brackets S9031901

, S9031902

, S9031903

, S9031904

, S9031905,

M2.5×5

, M3×6.5

2 0 S90 0 Landin g Ski d S9032001

, S9032002

2 6 S90 0 Landin g Gear

Leg S9032601

, S9032602

, S9032603

, S9032604

, S9032605,

S9032606

, M2.5× 8 (socke t cap)

, M3×2 2 (socke t cap)

2 S90 0 Batter y Tra y S9030201

3 3 S90 0 Gimbal

Mounting

Accessories S9033301

, S9033302

, S9033303

, S9033304

, S9033305,

S9033306

, S9033307

, S9033308

, S9033309

, S9033310,

S9033311

, S9033312

, S9033313

, S9033314

, M2.5×5,

M2.5×13

, M2.5× 8 (cheese)



### Miscellaneous

S9032701

S9032702 S9013601 S902020 1 S9020202

S902010 3 S9020104

S9033401

Caution: This part is used with Z15

- 5N / 7N gimbal.

3 0 © 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved.FC

C Statements Spreadin g W ing s S90 0 Use r Manual



### Packag e No. Name Par t No.

13 S90 0 Cente r Frame Packag e 3

, 9

, 12

, 14

, 15

29 S90 0 Complet e Ar m [CW

- RED] Packag e 7

, 8

, 10

, 11

, 22

, 23

, 25

, S9012901,

S9012902

, S9012903

30 S90 0 Complet e Ar m [CW

- Green] Packag e 6

, 8

, 10

, 11

, 21

, 24

, 25

, S9013001,

S9013002

, S9013003

31 S90 0 Complet e Ar m [CCW

- RED] Packag e 5

, 8

, 10

, 11

, 22

, 23

, 25

, S9013101,

S9013102

, S9013103

32 S90 0 Complet e Ar m [CCW

- Green] Packag e 4

, 8

, 10

, 11

, 21

, 24

, 25

, S9013201,

S9013202

, S9013203

27 S90 0 GP S Holder S9032701

, S9032702

, S9032703

, M2.5× 8 ( c heese )

28 S90 0 Scre w Pack Assorte d screws

1 S90 0 Powe r Cor d Plug S9020101

, S9020102

, S9020103

, S9020104

34 S90 0 Extende d Landin g Gea r Leg S9033401

35 S90 0 Rubbe r Dampe r fo r 411 4 Motor S9013501

, M3×10.3

36 S90 0 Propelle r Holder S9013601

37 S90 0 411 4 Motor

- Re d Pro p Cover S9013701R

, M3× 12. 3 (hexagan)

38 S90 0 411 4 Motor

- Blac k Pro p Cover S9013801B

, M3× 12. 3 (hexagan)



# FCC Statements

Thi s equipmen t ha s bee n teste d an d foun d t o compl y wit h th e limit s fo r a Clas s A digita l device

, pursuant

t o par t 1 5 o f th e FC C Rules

. Thes e limit s ar e designe d t o provid e reasonabl e protectio n agains t harmful

interferenc e whe n th e equipmen t i s operate d i n a commercia l environment

. Thi s equipmen t generates

, uses,

an d ca n radiat e radi o frequenc y energ y and

, i f no t installe d an d use d i n accordanc e wit h th e instruction

manual

, ma y caus e harmfu l interferenc e t o radi o communications

. Operatio n o f thi s equipmen t i n a residential

are a i s likel y t o caus e harmfu l interferenc e i n whic h cas e th e use r wil l b e require d t o correc t th e interference

a t hi s ow n expense.

© 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 31Use r manua l i s subjec t t o chang e withou t prio r notice.

Yo u ma y visi t DJ I offica l websit e t o obtai n th e lates t versio n o f use r manual.



### http://www.dji.com/product/spreading

- wings

- s900

© 2014 DJI. All Rights Reserved.

# S 9 0 0 Pro d u c t R e l e a s e No t e s

D a t e : A u g u st 4

, 2 0 1 4

S 9 0 0 U se r M anua l V er s i on : 1. 0 0

S 9 0 0 E S C F i rm w ar e V er s i o n : 3

. 6



## A ugust 4, 2014 D J I S preading W in g s S 900

S 900 O v er vi e w

1. S a f e an d s t a b le

( 1) T h e S 9 0 0 ’s V

- t y p e m i xe r de s ig n pr o vi de s l ar g e a m o un t s of pr o pu ls i on w h i le i m pr o v i n g p ow e r e ff i c i en c y

.

C o m b i ne d w i t h D J I fl i g h t co ntr oll er s l i ke th e A 2, i t i s g u a r a n t ee d t o re m a i n s t a b le e v e n w i t h th e lo s s of a

r o t o r

. ( 2) A m o r e r e l i a b l e

, s a f e

, an d s i m p l i f i e d p ow e r w i r i n g s y s te m i s ea s y t o s e t u p

, a n d e l i m i n a t e s th e nee d for

sol d e r i n g

. T h e m a i n p o w e r co r d u s e s a n A S 1 5 0 s par k

- pr oof p l u g an d a n XT1 5 0 p l u g

, pre v ent i n g c r e a t o r s f r o m

mi x i n g up p ol ar i t y w he n p l u g g i n g i n th e b a tt e r y

, an d a lso he l p i n g pre v en t s h o r t c i r c u i t s.

(3) A ll f r a m e ar m s an d th e ret r a c tab le l and i n g g ea r ar e mad e f r om c arb on f i b e r

, en s ur i n g l i g h t w ei g h t an d hi g h

s tru c tura l s t a b i l i t y

.

2. P r of e ss i o na l hexa co pte r

( 1) We i g h i n g a pp r o x i m a t e ly 3

. 3 kg w i t h a m a x i m u m ta k e off w ei g h t of ab o u t 8

. 2 k g

, th e S 9 0 0 c a n ea s i l y c arr y

e q u i p m en t s u ch a s th e Z en m u se gi m ba l s y s te m s an d a s e t of s h oo t i n g e q u i p m en t

. U se d wi t h a 6S 1 5 0 0 0 m A h

batter y i t c a n fly for up t o 1 8 m i nu t e s.

( 2) T h e gi m ba l i s m o unte d l o w on th e f ra m e on a s pe c i f i c a lly de s i g ne d b r a cke t

. Wh e n c o m b i ne d w i t h o u r

retra c t a b le l and i n g g e a r

, y o u h a v e v e r y w i d e ran g e of p oss i b le s h oo t i n g a n g le s

. (3 ) T h e g i m ba l an d bat t er y a r e m o u n t e d t o th e s a m e b r a c ke t

, w i t h da m per s p l a c e d b e t w e e n th e bra cket an d th e

f r a m e

. T h i s s i g n i f i c a n t ly re d u c e s h ig h

- f re q uen cy v i b r a t i o n s an d m a kes s h o t s cl eare r an d s h a r p e r

. T h e ba t ter y

t r a y ' s p os i t i on a lso m a kes i t m o r e s tab le an d co n v e n i en t for m o u n t i n g an d d i s m o u n t i n g

. ( 4) T h e S 9 0 0 s u pp o r t s m ost o f th e Z en m u se s er i e s of g i m b a l s

. ( T h e Z 1 5

- 5D gi m ba l i s n ot c urrent ly s upp o rte d b y

th e S 9 0 0

. Pl ea se use th e S 1 0 0 0 p l at fo r m w he n usi n g t h e Z1 5

- 5D

. )

3. Po r t a b le an d e a sy t o use

( 1) A ll s i x ar m s c a n b e f ol de d d ow n

, an d th e 1 5 52 fol d i n g pr o pe ll e r s c a n b e tu cked a w a y

, m i n i m i z i n g th e S 9 0 0 ’ s

s i ze du r i n g t r a n s p o r t

. ( 2) To fl y

, s i m p l y l i ft th e f ram e ar m s u p

, lock the m i n p l a ce w i t h th e re d cl i p s

, an d p ow e r u p th e s y s t e m

. T h i s

g reat ly s a v e s on pr e

- fl i g h t p re p t im e an d y ou c a n b e read y t o f l y i n less t h a n 5 m i nu t e s

. (3 ) T h e uppe r c ente r p l at e c a n b e re m o v e d q u i ck l y

, m a ki n g i t c o n v en i en t an d e f f i c i e n t t o arran g e or c han g e th e

p ow e r s y s t e m

, c o ntr ol s y s t e m

, an d o the r a cc e sso r i e s

.

4. E a sy t o co ntr ol an d f l y

( 1) E a ch f ra m e ar m i s de s ig n e d w i t h a n 8 ° i n v er s i on an d a 3 ° i n c l i n a t i o n

, m a k i n g th e a i r c ra ft m o r e s tab le w he n

r oll i n g an d p i t c h i n g

, an d m o r e fle x i b le w he n ro t a t i n g

. ( 2) E a ch fr a m e ar m h a s a bu i l t

- i n 4 0 A el e c tr o n i c s pee d co n tr o ll e r (ESC). W he n c o m b i ne d w i t h th e 4114 pr o m o t or

an d hi g h per fo r m an ce 1 5 52 fol d i n g p r o p e ll e r s, th e S 9 0 0 i s c apab le of a m a x im u m thru st of 2

. 5 K g

.

© 2 0 1 4 D J I I nn o v a t i on s

. A ll R i g h t s R e s e r v e d

.

## N e w P r o du c t S p e c i f ic a t i o n 

# S 9 0 0 Pro d u c t R e l e a s e No t e s

F ra m e

D i ag o na l Wh ee l ba se 9 0 0 mm

F ra m e A r m L en g t h 3 58 m m

F ra m e A r m We i g h t 3 16g ( w i t h M o t o r

, E S C, P r o pe ll e r )

Ce nt e r Fr a m e D i a m ete r 27 2 m m

Ce nt e r F ra m e We i g h t ( w i t h Land i n g Gea r 118 5 g M o unt i n g Ba se

, S e r v o s )

L a nd i n g G ea r S i ze 46 0m m ( Len g th) ×4 5 0m m (W i dth) ×3 6 0 mm ( H ei g ht )

M o t or

S t a t or Si ze 41 × 1 4 m m

k V 4 0 0 r p m / V

M a x Pow e r 5 0 0 W

We i g h t ( w i t h C o ol i n g Fa n ) 1 5 8 g

ESC

Wor k i n g Cu rre n t 4 0 A

Wor k i n g Vol ta g e 6S L i Po

S i g na l Fr e q uen cy 3 0 H z

~ 4 5 0 H z

Dri v e PW M Fr e q uen cy 8 K Hz

We i g h t (w i t h R a d i at o r s) 3 5g

Fol dab le P r o pe ll e r (1 5 52/1 5 52 R )

M ater i a l H i g h s tren g t h per fo r m a n ce en gi neere d p l a s t i cs

S i z e 1 5 ×5.2 i n ch

We i g h t 1 3 g

Fl i g h t P a r a m e t e r s

T a keoff We i g h t 4

. 7 K g

~ 8

. 2 K g

To ta l We i g h t 3 .3 Kg

Po we r Ba t t e r y L i Po ( 6 S

, 1 000 0 m A h

~ 1 5 00 0 m A h

, 1 5 C ( M i n ) )

M a x Pow e r C o n s u m pt i on 3 0 0 0 W

Ho v er i n g P o w e r C o n s u m pti on 1 0 0 0 W ( @ 6

. 8 K g T a keoff We i g ht )

Ho v er i n g T i m e 1 8 mi n ( @ 1 2 0 0 0 m A h & 6 .8 K g T a keoff W e ig ht )

Wor k i n g E n v i r o n m en t T e mp e rat u r e - 1 0 ° C

~ 4 0 ° C

© 2 0 1 4 D J I I nn o v a t i on s

. A ll R i g h t s R e s e r v e d

.

# APPENDIX B

3D Robotics IRI S +

– Operations Docu m e ntsIMPO R T ANT



# R ead be f o r e flying!



# Ope r atio n Manual

# C on t ents

0 1 Mee t IRIS

03 P a r ts

0 4 C ha r gin g th e Bat t ery

0 6 A ttachin g P r opelle r s

0 7 Sa f e ty an d F ailsa f es

0 8 L ear n t o F ly

1 1 F ligh t Modes

1 3 R etur n t o Launch

1 3 Geo f en ce

1 4 F i r s t F light

1 9 Plannin g Mi s sions

2 0 F lyin g Mi s sions

2 1 Specification s an d R esou r c es

22 L ear n Mo r e an d Suppo r t

# Mee t IRIS +



# .

T han k y o u f o r pu r chasin g IRIS +



### .

IRI S i s a pe r sona l aeria l imagin g pla t f or m p o w e r e d by open

- sou r ce

ha r d w a r e

, so f t w a r e

, an d fir m w a r e

. Pleas e r ea d thi s manua l ca r efully

be f o r e y ou r fi r s t fligh t an d p ay clos e at t entio n t o sa f e ty in f ormation.

Hap py flying!

Impo r tan t no t e : Whe n usin g a Go P r o wit h IRIS

, al ways

ensu r e tha t th e W i F i o n th e Go P r o i s turne d OFF

.

01

# F r ont

an t enna

sa f e ty but t on

f r on t arm s (blue)



# R ear

US B po r t

statu s LED

bat t ery

c ompa r tment

r ea r arm s (black)

02

# P a r ts

C ont r oller

y ou r di r ec t lin k t o IRIS

G r oun d s tatio n r adio

wit h US B an d And r oi d adap t e rs

Bat t er y kit

bat t er y

, gua r d bag

, an d cha rg er

wit h in t ernationa l t r a v e l adap t e r s

P r opelle r s an d t oo l kit

f ou r p r opelle rs wit h p r opelle r t oo l and

small

, medium

, an d la rg e h ex k eys

(1. 5 mm

, 2 mm

, an d 3 mm)

T al l legs

S wi t c h t o tal l leg s t o us e IRI S wit h th e T a r ot

Gimba l o r f o r e xt r a clea r an ce o n landing.

Us e th e smal l (1. 5 mm ) h ex

k ey t o loose n th e se t sc r e w

i n th e bot t o m o f th e leg. Slid e ou t th e le g t o r em ove it

, an d r epla ce wit h th e tal l leg.

T igh t e n th e se t sc r e w unti l i t sit s flus h wit h th e sur f a c e.

D o no t tigh t e n th e sc r e w b ey on d thi s point.

03

# 1

2

3 Cha r gin g th e Bat t ery

IRI S i s p o w e r e d by a r echa rg eabl e lithiu m polyme r (Li Po ) bat t er y

. S t o r e

th e bat t er y a t hal f cha rg e the n cha rg e full y be f o r e flying

. Bat t erie s must

shi p a t hal f cha rg e

, s o pleas e cha rg e be f o r e y ou r fi r s t flight

. Eac h full

bat t er y p r o vide s u p t o 22 minu t e s o f fligh t tim e withou t a gimba l and

u p t o 1 6 minu t e s whe n usin g a T a r o t Gimbal.*

C onnec t cha rg e r t o the

p o w e r adap t e r cabl e and

a w al l outlet.

Se t th e cha rg e r t o

Li P o an d 3A

.

C onnec t th e whi t e

c onnec t o r t o th e 3 S po r t.

Joi n th e t w o y ell o w

c onnec t o rs t o g ethe r

. C onnec t th e r e d cabl e t o the

+ po r t an d th e blac k cable

t o th e

- po r t.



# +

–

Li P o 3A



### 3S

04

# 4 Secu r e bat t er y insid e th e gua r d bag

whil e cha r ging

. C ha rg e unti l th e status

indica t o r displ ays g r een.

Chargin g C omple t e



# Bat t er y Sa f e t y

P r o t ec t th e bat t er y f r o m e xt r em e heat

, e xt r em e c old

, puncturing,

an d flammabl e sur f a c es

. Al ways t r anspo r t

, cha rg e

, an d s t o r e

th e bat t er y i n th e gua r d bag.

C ha rg e th e bat t er y usin g a designa t e d Li P o balan ce cha rg e r onl y

. Al ways moni t o r th e bat t er y whil e cha r ging.

F lyin g wit h a l ow bat t er y i s a sa f e ty ris k an d ca n r ende r th e bat t ery

unusable

. Al ways dis c ontinu e us e whe n y o u r e c ei v e a l ow bat t ery

notification

, an d al ways fl y wit h a full y cha rg e d bat t er y

.

Inspec t th e bat t er y f o r dama g e be f o r e ta k eof f an d a f t e r landing. I f

y o u obser v e a n y s w ellin g o f th e pac k a g e o r th e bat t er y c eases t o

function

, loca t e y ou r loca l bat t er y r ec y clin g c en t e r t o dispose o f

th e bat t er y

. I n th e U S an d Canada

, visi t call2 r ec y cle

. o r g t o find a

location

. D o no t dispos e o f th e bat t er y i n th e t r ash.

* F ligh t tim e v arie s wit h p a yload

, win d c onditions

, el ev ation,

t empe r atu r e

, humidi t y

, flyin g s t yle

, an d pilo t skill

. Se e th e F light

Checklis t f o r instruction s o n managin g bat t er y l ev el s durin g flight.

05

# A ttachin g P r opelle r s

IRI S use s f ou r p r opelle r s : t w o wit h blac k nut s an d t w o wit h sil v e r nuts.

A ttac h th e p r opelle rs wit h blac k nut s t o th e mo t o rs wit h blac k t op s and

th e p r opelle rs wit h sil v e r nut s t o th e mo t o rs wit h sil v e r t ops.

Eac h p r opelle r ha s lockin g an d unlockin g di r ectio n s ymbols

. T o attach

, spi n th e p r opelle r i n th e di r ectio n o f th e lockin g s ymbol

. T h e p r opelle rs will

au t omaticall y tigh t e n on t o th e mo t o rs whe n y o u ar m IRI S be f o r e ta k eof f

.

F o r p r opelle rs wit h blac k nuts: F o r p r opelle rs wit h sil v e r nuts:



### Spi n cloc k wis e t o attach.

Spi n c oun t e r cloc k wise

t o r em ov e. Spi n c oun t e r cloc k wise

t o attach.

Spi n cloc k wis e t o

r em ov e.

T o r em o v e

, hol d th e mo t o r i n pla ce with

th e p r opelle r t ool

, an d spi n th e p r opeller

i n th e di r ectio n o f th e unlockin g s ymbol.

06

# Sa f e t y

IRIS has p ow erful mo t o r s and high

- speed p r opelle r s. N ev er pla c e y our hands

near p r opelle r s while IRIS is armed or the sa f e t y but t on displ ay s solid r ed.

Al way s p r e s s the sa f e t y but t on until it displ ay s blinking r ed be f o r e handling.

Al way s fly in an open a r ea a wa y f r om people and buildings; do not at t empt t o

fly indoo r s or in a c onfined spa c e. Do not fly ov er people, near airpo r ts, or in a n y

situation that c ould pose a ha z a r d t o those a r ound y ou. Al way s fly within y our

line of sight and in c omplian c e with local r egulations. IRIS will not av oid

obstacles on its o wn. As the ope r a t o r

, it is y our job t o r e c ogni z e and av oid

obstructions while flying. Al way s f oll o w the p r eflight and pos t flight s t eps in the

o r der described in this manual, and r emain at t enti v e at all times while flying.

E n vi r onmental f ac t o r s, such as wind and GPS ir r egularities, can cause instabili t y

in flight. IRIS will at t empt t o c ompensa t e f or these f ac t o r s b y trig g ering a f ailsa f e

if it de t ects an unsa f e flying c ondition due t o lo s s of c ont r oller signal, lo s s of GPS

signal, or l o w bat t ery ( see bel o w f or detail s ). T o av oid po t ential ha z a r ds due t o

e n vi r onmental f ac t o r s, identify the boundaries of y our flying a r ea be f o r e ta k eof f

, and r e cov er IRIS manually b y s wi t ching in t o standa r d ( S T D ) if it m ov es outside

y our designa t ed flying a r ea. If y ou obser v e a n y in c onsis t ent beh a vio r

, land, and

c onsult the t r oubleshooting guide at 3DR

. c o m / iris / in f o

. 

# F ailsa f es

L o s s of R C signal

Al way s use the c ont r oller as a primary or bac k up c ont r ol sy s t em when flying.

Ensu r e that the c ont r oller is turned on a n y time IRIS is p ow e r ed. If c ontact with

the c ont r oller is lost during flight, IRIS will land and displ a y a blinking y ell o w LE D

. If IRIS is mo r e than 2 me t e r s (6.5 f eet) f r om the launch point, it will r eturn t o

launch ( R TL) be f o r e landing. ( See pa g e 13 f or mo r e in f ormation about R TL.)

L o s s of GPS signal

IRIS r equi r es an acti v e GPS signal be f o r e ta k eof f

. If IRIS loses GPS signal in flight,

it will trig g er a GPS f ailsa f e, indica t ed b y a blinking blue and y ell o w LED with a

high

- high

- high

- l o w t one, and au t omatically s wi t ch t o manual c ont r ol ( standa r d

- altitude hold mode). Al way s be p r epa r ed t o r e g ain manual c ont r ol of IRIS at

a n y time while flying and choose an unobstruc t ed flying a r ea t o imp r ov e GPS

signal st r ength. When flying a mi s sion, w e r e c ommended changing the GPS

f ailsa f e beh a vior t o land. ( V isit 3DR

. c o m / iris / in f o f or mo r e in f ormation about

c onfiguring the GPS f ailsa f e.)

Lo w bat t ery

When the bat t ery r eaches 25% of its r emaining cha rg e, IRIS will land and displ a y

a blinking y ell o w LED with a quick r epeating t one. If IRIS r eaches the l o w bat t ery

limit during a mi s sion, it will r eturn t o the launch point be f o r e landing.

07

# L ear n t o F ly

Maneu v e r IRI S i n fligh t using

th e c ont r olle r stic k s. le f t stick:

th r ottle

& y a w righ t stick:

pi t ch

& r oll



# T h r ottle

M ov e th e le f t stic k u p an d d o w n t o c ont r o l altitude.

le f t s tick

T o ta k e of f an d t o

g ai n altitude

, r ais e the

th r ottl e stic k slightly

ab ove c en t e r position.

Se t th e th r ottl e stick

t o c en t e r t o maintain

th e cur r en t altitude.

L ow e r th e th r ottle

stic k bel ow c en t er

t o dec r eas e altitude.

Se t th e th r ottl e stick

full y d o w n t o land

on ce IRI S i s a f e w

inche s ab ove the

g r ound.

08

# Y a w

M ov e th e le f t stic k hori z ontall y t o r ota t e IRI S an d chan g e orientation.

F o r a sl ow r otation

, m ov e th e stic k slightl y a way f r o m th e c en t er

i n eithe r di r ection

. M o vin g th e stic k f a r the r f r o m th e c en t e r c r ea t es

a f as t e r r otation.

le f t s tick

M ove th e stic k t o

th e le f t t o r ota t e

c oun t e r cloc k wise.

M ove th e stick t o

th e righ t t o

r ota t e cloc k wise.

R eleas e th e stic k t o

s t o p r otatin g and

maintai n th e cur r ent

orientation.



### F light T ip

When adjusting orientation, m ov e the le f t stick hori z ontally without changing its

v e r tical position.

09

# P itc h an d R oll

T h e righ t stic k all ows y o u t o c ont r o l IRIS ’ positio n i n th e ai r

. M ov e th e right

stic k t o t el l IRI S t o m ov e i n tha t di r ection : f or w a r d ( t ow a r d th e blu e arm s ),

bac k ( t ow a r d th e blac k arm s )

, le f t ( t ow a r d th e le f t arm s )

, o r righ t ( t ow a r ds

th e righ t arm s )

. H ow f a r y o u m ov e th e stic k f r o m th e c en t e r be f o r e r eleasing

i t t ell s IRI S h ow f as t t o m o v e.

righ t s tick

M ove th e right

stic k f or w a r d t o

fl y f or w a r d.

M ove th e righ t

stic k bac k t o fly

bac k w a r d.

M ove th e right

stic k le f t t o fly

le f t.

M ove th e right

stic k righ t t o fly

right.



### F light T ip

IRI S m ov e s a cc o r din g t o it s orientation

. T h e blu e arm s an d whi t e light s f a ce

f or w a r d

, an d th e blac k arm s an d r e d light s f a ce bac k w a r d

. Be f o r e usin g th e right



### stick

, us e y a w t o k ee p IRI S f acin g i n ou t w a r d orientatio n so that the black arms and

r ed lights f a c e t ow a r ds y ou and the blue arms and whi t e lights f a c e a wa y f r om y ou.10

# F ligh t Mode s mod e s wi t ch



### IRI S include s th r e e fligh t modes : manua l flight

( S TD

- altitud e hold)

, h ov e r mod e ( L T R

- loi t er)

, and

mi s sio n fligh t ( A U T O )

. Us e th e s wi t c h o n the

righ t sid e o f th e c ont r olle r t o selec t a fligh t mode.



## Standa r d (altitud e hol d mode)

S T D

fl y man u ally

Sta r t y ou r fligh t i n standa r d t o selec t altitud e hold

mode

, an d fl y IRI S manuall y usin g th e c ont r olle r

.



## L oi t e r mode

L T R

h o v er

Selec t loi t e r t o se t IRI S t o h ov e r i n pla ce au t omaticall y

. Us e the

c ont r olle r t o adjus t IRIS ’ positio n the n r eleas e th e stic ks t o hold

tha t position

. L oi t e r i s a g r ea t way f o r beginne rs t o lear n h ow t o fly!

I f y ou’ r e n e w t o flying

, sta r t y ou r fi r s t fligh t i n loi t e r ins t ea d o f standa r d.

T o a v oid sudden chan g es in altitude, set the th r ottle stick

t o c en t er position be f o r e s wi t ching modes, including in the

e v ent of a GPS f ailsa f e.

A d v an c e d Ope r a t o r No t e : I f y o u choos e t o modif y th e fligh t mod e c onfigu r atio n t o

includ e Stabili z e mode

, pleas e fl y onl y wit h th e p r o vide d se t o f tal l legs

. F lyin g i n Stabili z e

wit h sho r t leg s ca n caus e vib r ation s tha t m ay in t er f e r e wit h au t opilo t calculation s and

p r odu ce un e xpec t e d beh a vio r

.

11

## A u t o mode

A U TO

fl y a mission

Selec t au t o mod e t o fl y a n au t onomou s mi s sion

. IRI S will

au t omaticall y fl y th e serie s o f wa ypoint s s a v e d t o th e au t opilot.

Se e pa g e s 1 9 an d 2 0 f o r instruction s o n plannin g an d flyin g mi s sions.

D o no t acti v a t e au t o mod e unle s s y o u h ave s av e d a

mi s sio n t o IRI S usin g a g r oun d statio n application.



## Gimba l c ont r ol

TI L T

til t th e c ame r

a u p an d d o wn

C onnec t a T

a r o t Gimba l ( sol d sepa r a t el y )

, an d us e th e TI L T kno b t o

c ont r o l th e angl e o f th e came r a i n flight

. V isi t 3DR

. c om / iris / in f o

f o r instructions.



## Land

C H 7

lan d a t th e cur

r en t position

Se t th e C H 7 s wi t c h t o O N t o en d y ou r fligh t an d lan d IRI S a t its

cur r en t position

. On ce y o u acti v a t e land

, se t th e th r ottl e stic k fully

d o wn

, an d IRI S wil l au t omaticall y disar m a f t e r landing

. IRI S wil l not

disar m au t omaticall y unle s s th e th r ottl e stic k i s se t full y d o wn.

R epositio n durin g landing : Durin g landing

, us e the

righ t stic k o n th e c ont r olle r t o adjus t IRIS ’ position.

12

# R etur n t o Launc h ( R TL)

lan d a t th e launc h point

Se t th e R T L s wi t c h t o O N t o en d y ou r fligh t an d r eturn

IRI S t o th e launc h poin t au t omaticall y

. Ensu r e tha t the

R T L s wi t c h i s se t t o OF F be f o r e ta k eof f

.

1 15 me t e r s 

### 2 h ov er 5 se c onds



### When c ommanded t o R TL, IRIS will:

1 A chi ev e minimum altitude of 15 m (50 f t)

or maintain cur r ent altitude if ab ov e 15 m.

2 M ov e t o launch point and loi t er f or 5 se c onds. 

### 3

3 Land at launch point. launch point



### R epositio n durin g landing : Durin g landing

, us e the

righ t stic k o n th e c ont r olle r t o adjus t IRIS ’ position.

R T L r eturn s IRI S t o th e locatio n whe r e IRI S w a s armed.

Al ways ar m IRI S i n a sa f e

, unobstruc t e d launc h point.



# Geo f en c e

A sa f e ty f en ce r estrict s IRI S t o withi n 30 0 me t e rs (98 0 f eet ) o f the

launc h poin t an d unde r 10 0 me t e rs (32 0 f eet ) i n altitude

. I f IRI S r eaches

th e ed g e o f th e g eo f en c e

, i t wil l initia t e a n au t omati c r etur n t o launch.

300 m

100 m

launch poi n t



### I n th e ev en t o f a GP S f ailsa f e

, th e hori z onta l g eo f en ce wil l b e disabled.

I f IRI S b r eache s th e v e r tica l g eo f en ce durin g a GP S f ailsa f e

, i t wil l lan d at

it s cur r en t position.

1314 

# 1

2 F i r s t F light

Select an open a r ea f or flying, a wa y f r om people and buildings, and

r emember t o bring the F light C hecklist and a fully cha rg ed bat t er y

. De t ermine the boundaries of y our flying a r ea be f o r e ta k eof f

, and select

a l e v el, unobstruc t ed spa c e as a launch point. F oll o w these p r eflight

and pos t flight s t eps in the o r der sh o wn he r e and on the F light C hecklist

e v ery time y ou fl y

.



# P r eflight

Check

IRIS.

P oin t th e c ont r olle r an t enn a up

an d th e IRI S an t enn a d o w n f or

th e st r on g es t signal.

Se t th e mod e s wi t c h t o standa r d ( S T D ).

I f y ou’ r e n e w t o flying

, tr y sta r tin g y ou r fi r st

fligh t i n loi t e r ( L

TR ) ins t ea d o f standa r d.

Ensu r e tha t th e R T L s wi t ch

i s se t t o OF F

.

P ow er on

c ont r olle r

.

Ensu r e that the c ont r oller is al way s turned on while

IRIS is p o w e r ed. If IRIS loses c ommunication with

the c ont r oller in flight, IRIS will initia t e an au t omatic

r eturn t o launch.

### P r e s s and hold the DN but t on on the c ont r oller t o

vi e w flight data f r om IRIS. See the F light C hecklist

f or mo r e in f ormation about c ont r oller flight data.



# 3

C onnect bat t er y

.

P r e s s the sides

of the bat t ery

c ompa r tment

t o g ether and

r ota t e the door

d o wn. Inse r t bat t er y

, and

attach the y ell o w

c onnec t o r s.

W ait 10 se c onds be f o r e

closing the bat t ery door or

m o ving IRIS at all while the

in t ernal senso r s calib r a t e

and the status LED sh ow s

blue and r ed. T o close, squee z e the

doo r

, and r ota t e up

until it clic k s in t o pla c e,

ensuring that the bat t ery

cables do not in t er f e r e

with the LED cables.

If y ou see a flashing y ell o w status

LE D

, it ’ s li k ely that the senso r s did

not calib r a t e c or r ectly during

sta r tu p

. R e

- c onnect the bat t ery and

ma k e su r e t o k eep IRIS absolu t ely

still and l ev el during the blue

- and

r ed status LED indica t or

. 

### Pla c e IRIS at the launch

point with the black

arms f acing t ow a r ds y ou

and the blue arms f acing

a wa y f r om y ou.

C onnect the r adio t o y our g r ound station, and select C onnect.

A g r ound station ( r e c ommended) lets y ou vi e w li v e data in

flight and unlock IRI S ’ ad v an c ed au t onomous f eatu r es.

T o d o wnload a g r ound station app f or y ou lap t op or

And r oid d e vi c e, visit 3DR

. c om / iris / in f o

.

15

# 4 P r e s s sa f e t y

but t on.

P r e s s the sa f e t y but t on

until it is solid r ed.

IRIS is n o w li v e.

Stand back! Do not handle IRIS while the

sa f e t y but t on is solid r ed and

IRIS is li v e. Al way s p r e s s the

but t on until it displ ay s blinking

r ed be f o r e app r oaching

the p r opelle r s.

Mo t o r s inacti v e, sa f e t o handle Mo t o r s acti v e, deacti v a t e be f o r e

handling



# 5

Check LE D

.

C heck the LED t o vi e w the status of IRIS. W ait

t o p r o c eed until y ou see the blinking g r een light

indicating that IRIS has a c qui r ed GPS lock.

Initializing

, hold IRIS still, please w ait.

Ac quiring GPS, please w ait.

A u t opilot r ead y

, GPS loc k ed

P r e

- arm sa f e t y check f ailu r e. C onnect

t o a g r ound station and see the t r ouble

shooting guide at 3DR

. c o m / iris / in f o

.



# 6

Arm mo t o r s. GPS lock r equi r es a clear vi e w of the

s k y

. IRIS m a y ta k e a fe w minu t es t o

a c qui r e GPS lock depending on y our

flying location. Al way s fly in an open

a r ea t o imp r ov e GPS signal st r ength,

and r e vi e w the GPS f ailsa f e

in f ormation on pa g e 7

.



### T o acti v a t e the mo t o r s,

hold the le f t stick d o wn

- right

until the mo t o r s spin.

N o w y ou’ r e r eady f or ta k eoff! IRIS will spin its p r opelle r s

when armed. Ensu r e that the

launch point is clear of

obstructions be f o r e arming.

Al way s disarm the mo t o r s

be f o r e app r oaching IRIS.

16

# F light

T a k e off and g ain altitude b y

r aising the le f t stick slightly

ab ov e c en t e r

.

Set the le f t stick t o

c en t er t o maintain

the cur r ent altitude. R ota t e c oun t e r

cloc k wise and

cloc k wise b y

m o ving the le f t

stick le f t and right.

F ly f or w a r d, bac k

w a r d, le f t, or right

b y m o ving the right stick in the

di r ection y ou w ant t o fl y

.

R elease the right

stick t o l ev el IRIS. L ow er the le f t

stick bel o w c en t er

t o des c end.

Set the le f t stick fully

d o wn t o land on c e IRIS

is a f e w inches ab ov e

the g r ound. IRIS is a p o w erful and agile

flie r

. M ov e the stic k s in small

inc r ements until y ou f eel

c om f o r table with h o w IRIS

r esponds t o c ont r ols.

17

# 2 P os t flight

mo t o r s. P r e s s sa f e t y

but t on.

A f t er landing, hold

the le f t stick d o wn

le f t until the mo t o r s

s t op spinning. P r e s s the sa f e t y

but t on until it

displ ay s blinking

r ed t o ma k e IRIS

sa f e t o handle.



# 3 Dis c onnect P ow e r o f f

bat t er y

. 

# 4

c ont r olle r

.

Y our fi r st flight is n o w c omple t e!

F oll o w the s t eps sh o wn he r e and

on the F light C hecklist ev ery time

y ou fl y

.

T ips f or N e w F lie r s: P r acti c e these e x e r cises t o help y ou mas t er flight c ont r ols.

Skill 1: H ov er

Y our fi r st s t ep is t o maintain a c onsis t ent altitude while k eeping IRIS orien t ed so

the black arms f a c e t ow a r ds y ou and the blue arms f a c e a wa y f r om y ou. P r acti c e

taking of f

, rising t o a c om f o r table h ov ering altitude, and k eeping IRIS in pla c e

without all o wing f or a n y chan g es in orientation or position. If IRIS dri f ts f or w a r d,

bac k w a r d, le f t, or right, or r ota t es cloc k wise or c oun t e r cloc k wise, use the

c or r esponding stick c ont r ols t o c or r ect.

Skill 2: B o x

When y ou f eel c om f o r table with y our abili t y t o maintain a c onsis t ent h ov ering

altitude, try flying a b o x pat t ern. T o p r acti c e this, ta k e of f

, r each y our h ov ering

altitude, then fly f or w a r d, right, bac k w a r d, and le f t b y making small adjustments

t o the right stick. Ma k e su r e t o fly the b o x in f r ont of y ou and not a r ound y ou.

Use the le f t stick t o r ota t e IRIS so the black arms f a c e t ow a r ds y ou and blue arms

f a c e a wa y f r om y ou f or the du r ation of the e x e r cise.

Skill 3: F igu r e Eight

When y ou can c onfidently n a vi g a t e a b o x while maintaining altitude and

orientation, try flying a figu r e

- eight pat t ern. On c e a g ain, ma k e su r e t o fly the figu r e

eight in f r ont of y ou and not a r ound y ou. Use the right stick t o c r ea t e a smooth

flight path while using the le f t stick t o c or r ect orientation and maintain altitude.

18

# 1 Plannin g Mi s sions

T o pla n a mi s sion

, d o wnloa d a g r oun d statio n applicatio n f r om

3DR

. c om / iris / in f o

, an d instal l on t o y ou r lap t o p o r And r oi d d e vi c e.

D r oidPlanne r 2 f o r And r oid

P ow e r IRIS

, c onnec t th e r adi o t o y ou r lap t op

o r And r oi d d e vi c e

, an d selec t C onnect. Mi s sio n Planne r f o r W ind o ws

A PM Planne r f o r O S X

C onnec t th e blu e en d o f the

And r oi d adap t e r t o y ou r d e vi c e

an d th e blac k en d t o th e r adi o

. Selec t C onnect. C onnec t th e US B adap t e r t o the

r adi o an d y ou r lap t o p

. Select

A U T O

, 5 7 60 0

, an d C onnect.



# 2 C onfigu re wa ypoints.

Selec t E di t an d ta p t o add

wa ypoints

, o r selec t th e brush

t oo l an d d r a w a pat h f o r IRIS

t o f oll o w

. Selec t F ligh t Plan

, an d clic k t o

ad d wa ypoints

. Selec t th e g r een

ar r ows a t th e bot t o m o f the

sc r ee n t o c onfigu r e altitud e and

chan ge wa ypoin t t ypes.



# 3 S av e th e mi s sio n t o IRIS.

Selec t th e optio n men u in

th e t op

- righ t c orne r

, and

selec t Sen d Mi s sion. Selec t W ri t e W P s.



### Whe n flyin g mi s sions

, w e r e c ommen d changin g th e GPS

f ailsa fe beh a vio r t o se t IRI S t o lan d i n th e ev en t o f a lo s s of

GP S signal

. F o r instructions

, visi t 3DR

. c om / iris / in f o

.

19

# 1

3

4 2 F lyin g Mi s sions

P e r f orm a p r e

- mi s sion

t e s t flight.

F ly a brief t est flight t o v erify

that all c ont r ols (th r ottle, y a w

,

r oll, and pi t ch) a r e r esponding

normall y

. Arm IRIS

in s tanda r d.

When y ou’ r e r eady

t o sta r t the mi s sion,

arm IRIS in standa r d

( S T D ).

S wi t ch t o

A U T O

.

If y ou planned a ta k eoff wa ypoint in t o

y our mi s sion, s wi t ch t o A U T O on the

g r ound, and r aise the th r ottle t o initia t e

the mi s sion. If y ou did not add a ta k eoff

wa ypoint, s wi t ch t o A U T O mode a f t er

ta k eoff t o initia t e the mi s sion in flight. F or au t o

- ta k eof f

,

r aise th r ottle t o

sta r t mi s sion.



### T o r ecall IRIS during a mi s sion,

use the c ont r oller t o s wi t ch

t o standa r d ( S T D ) and land

manuall y

. Or s wi t ch t o R TL,

and au t omatically r eturn t o

the launch point. T o a v oid sudden chan g es in

altitude when s wi t ching f r om

au t o t o standa r d ( S T D ),

ensu r e that the le f t stick is

set t o the c en t er position.



### S wi t ch t o s tanda r d

be f o r e disarming.

When the mi s sion is c omple t e and IRIS has landed,

use the c ont r oller t o s wi t ch t o standa r d ( S T D ) then

disarm and p r o c eed with the pos t flight s t eps.

If y ou added an au t omatic landing wa ypoint t o y our

mi s sion, IRIS will disarm au t omatically a f t er landing.

20

# Specifications

A u t opilot: P ixh a wk v2

. 4.5

F ir m w a r e: A r du C op t er 3

. 2

GPS: 3DR uBl o x GPS with C ompa s s (LE A

- 6H module, 5 Hz upda t e)

T elemetry r adio: 3DR Radio T elemetry v2 (915 mHz or 433 mHz)

Mo t o r s: 9 50 kV

F r ame t ype: V

P r opelle r s: 9 .5 x 4.5 T

- Mo t or multi r o t or sel f

- tigh t ening c oun t e r cloc k wise (2)

9 .5 x 4.5 T

- Mo t or multi r o t or sel f

- tigh t ening cloc k wise (2)

Bat t ery: 3S 5

. 1 Ah 8C lithium polymer

L o w bat t ery v olta g e: 1 0 .5 V

Maximum v olta g e: 12

. 6 V

Bat t ery c ell limit: 3S

Bat t ery w eight: 320 g

IRIS is c ompatible with 3S lithium polymer bat t eries onl y . Using a 4S bat t ery can cause

permanent dama g e t o the gimbal elect r onics and will v oid the w ar r an t y

.

W eight with bat t ery: 12 8 2 g Height:

100 mm

Mo t o r

- t o

- mo t or: 550 mm

P a yload capaci t y: 400 g (.8 lb s )

Radio r an g e: up t o 1 km (

. 6 mile s )

F light time: 16

- 2 2 minu t es*

* F light time v aries with p a yload, wind c onditions, el ev ation, t empe r atu r e,

humidi t y

, flying s t yle, and pilot skill. Lis t ed flight time applies t o el e v ations

le s s than 2

, 000 f t ab ov e sea l ev el.



# R esou r c es

Ha r d w a r e: 3DR

. c o m / iris / in f o

F ir m w a r e: c op t e r .a r dupilot .c om

So f t w a r e: planne r .a r dupilot .c om and planner2.a r dupilot .c om

3DR S t o r e: s t o r e

. 3DR

. c om

C ommuni t y: di y d r ones .c om

Hap p y flying!

21

# L earn Mo r e

V isi t 3DR

. c o m / iris / in f o t o lear n about:

» 3PV TM F oll ow M e an d D r oidPlanner

» Openin g th e shell

» R eplacin g th e arm s an d mo t o rs

» Installin g so f t w a r e

» Plannin g a mi s sion

» Updatin g fir m w a r e

» LE D meaning s an d t ones

V isi t c op t e r .a r dupilot .c o m t o lear n about:

» A dditiona l fligh t modes

» C onfigurin g pa r ame t e r s

, includin g y a w beh a vio r during

au t onomou s flight

, des c en t spee d durin g R TL

, an d mo r e

V isi t planne r .a r dupilot .c o m (Mi s sio n Planner ) and

planner2.a r dupilot .c o m ( A P M Planner ) t o lear n about:

» Plannin g a mi s sio n wit h wa ypoint s an d e v ents

» Usin g a g r oun d statio n t o c omman d IRI S i n flight

» D o wnloadin g an d analyzin g fligh t logs

Joi n th e c ommuni ty an d sha r e y ou r e xperien ce at

di y d r ones

. c om

.

F oll ow u s o n F a c eboo k an d T wit t e r @3D R obotics

.



# Suppo r t

F o r cus t ome r suppo r t

, c ontac t u s a t help@3DR

. c om

o r cal l ou r suppo r t lin e a t + 1 (858 ) 2 25

- 1 4 14

Mond ay th r oug h F rid a y

, f r o m 8 a m t o 5 pm

, P S T

.

IRIS + Ope r atio n Manua l v H | ©3 D R obotics

, Inc

. | 2015

# 1 2

4 5 6 3 G o outsid e t o

a n ope n a r ea! P ow e r o n c ont r oller;

se t t o S T D an d R T L OF F

. 

# F ligh t C hecklist

C onnect

char g e d bat t er y

.

Pla ce IRI S at

launc h point. P r e s s an d hol d sa f e ty

but t o n unti l soli d r ed. Check

LE D

. Arm

mo t o r s.

C hoos e a clea r launch

point

, an d f a ce IRIS

a way f r o m y ou. T h e mo t o rs a r e

n ow acti v e.



# !

Stan d back! Hold le f t stick d o wn

right until mo t o r s spin.



## LED

Initializing, please w ait L o s s of R C signal, au t omatic landing

Ac quiring GPS, please w ait L o w bat t er y

, au t omatic landing

A u t opilot r ead y

, GPS loc k ed L o s s of GPS signal, s wi t ch t o manual

Armed P r e

- ar m sa f e t y chec k f ailu r e,

se e t r oubleshootin g guide



## Sa f e t y But t on

Mo t o r s inacti v e, sa f e t o

handle Mo t o r s acti v e, deacti v a t e be f o r e

handling ( see r ev e r se)



## F light Modes

Standa r d position

(altitud e hol d mode)

S T D

fl y man u ally 

### L oi t e r mode

L T R

h o v er



### A u t o mode

A U TO

fl y a mission 

### R etur n t o launch

R T L

lan d a t th e launc h point



### Land

CH7

lan d a t th e cur

r en t position 

### C ont r o l gimbal

TI L T

til t th e c ame r

a d o w n an d up

©201 4 3 D R obotic s | v B DCT00 03 | Al l right s r eser v ed.

## C ont r oller F light D ata

P r e s s an d hol d th e D N but t o n t o a cc e s s th e fligh t dat a sc r eens.

P r e s s D N a g ai n t o t oggl e be t w ee n sc r eens.

GPS status

c onnection st r ength

altitude in me t e r s

speed in m /

s

me t e r s f r om launch point

flight time

cur r ent latitude

cur r ent longitude

altitude in me t e r s cur r ent flight mode

GPS signal st r ength in # of

sa t elli t es

flight bat t ery l e v el (1 0 .5

- 12

. 6 V)

flight bat t ery mAh

c onsumed sin c e armed

End y our flight at 1 0

. 7 V

. 

# ! Do not e x c eed 4000 mAh f or

a fully char g ed IRIS + bat t ery

(80% of a v ailable capaci t y ).

c ont r oller bat t ery l e v el (9

- 12 V)



## F light

Raise le f t stick ab ov e

c en t er t o ta k e off and

g ain altitude. Set le f t stick t o c en t er

t o maintain altitude. M ov e le f t stick le f t

and right t o r ota t e.

Use right stick t o fly f or w a r d,

bac k w a r d, le f t, and right. L o w er le f t stick bel o w

c en t er t o des c end. Se t le f t stic k full y d o w n t o

lan d whe n nea r th e g r ound.



## P os t flight 

# 1 Disarm 

# 2 P r e s s sa f e ty Dis c onnect P ow e r o f f

mo t o r s. but t on

. 

# 3

bat t er y

. 

# 4

c ont r olle r

.

Hold le f t stick d o wn

le f t until mo t o r s s t o p

. P r e s s and hold until

blinking r ed t o deacti v a t e.



### F o r cus t ome r suppo r t

, c ontac t u s a t help@3DR

. c om

o r cal l ou r suppo r t lin e a t + 1 (858 ) 2 25

- 1 4 14

Mond ay th r oug h F rid a y

, f r o m 8 a m t o 5 pm

, P S T

.

3DR

. c o m / iris / in f o

# APPENDIX C

3D Robotics Aero M

– Operations Documents

# AE R O

C ong r atulations on y our pu r chase of an A e r o!

Please r ead the f oll o wing sections of this manual t o g et

sta r t ed with y our n e w au t onomous ai r c r a f t.

1 Meet the A e r o 7 F l y

- b y

- wi r e mode

2 Sa f e t y 8 C ommand modes

3 C ha rg e bat t ery 9 Mi s sions

4 Setup 10 P r eflight s t eps

5 Manual mode 11 T a k eoff & landing

6 Stabili z e mode 12 P os t flight s t eps



# Meet the A e r o

nose

body

le f t wing

mo t or righ t wing

tai l boom

tail

1

## ai r spee d sensor

bat t er y c ompa r tment

elect r onics c ompa r tment

(under wing s )

le f t aile r o n righ t aile r on

rudder

el e v a t or

If the t erms ab ov e a r e un f amiliar t o y ou, visit 3d r

. c om/learn

, and di v e in t o the e x citing w orld of planes with our

Int r oduction t o F lying F i x ed

- W ing Ai r c r a f t

.



## RC t r ansmit t er

Spe k tru m F lyS k y



### If y ou did not o r der an R C t r ansmit t er with y our

A e r o

, visit 3d r

. c om/learn f or instructions.

2100 f t (30 m) 5 miles (8 km) 

# ! 

# Sa f e t y

Be f o r e y ou fl y

, al way s de t ermine the boundaries of y our sa f e flying a r ea. If

the A e r o m ov es outside the designa t ed a r ea or e xhibits instabili t y in flight,

s wi t ch t o fl y

- b y

- wi r e mode and land the plane manuall y

.

T he A e r o will not a v oid obstacles on its o wn, including during mi s sions. As

the ope r a t o r

, it ’ s y our job t o r e c ogni z e and a v oid obstructions while flying.

Al way s be r eady t o r e g ain manual c ont r ol of the plane in the e v ent of an

unsa f e situation.

Spinning p r opelle r s can cause serious injur y

. T he sa f e t y but t on

indica t es the status of the mo t or t o help y ou p r e v ent ha z a r dous

c ontact with the A e r o ’ s high

- speed p r opelle r

. When the A e r o is

p o w e r ed on, the sa f e t y but t on will blink r ed; the mo t or is inacti v e

and the p r opeller is sa f e t o handle. When y ou’ r e r eady t o fl y

, p r e s s

and hold the sa f e t y but t on until it sh ow s solid r ed. T his indica t es

that the mo t or is acti v e and the p r opeller can spin if armed. T o

ma k e the p r opeller sa f e t o handle a g ain, p r e s s and hold the sa f e t y

but t on until it blin k s r ed.

visual l i v n i e sual line

of sigh t of sight 400 f t 400 f t

(120 m ( 1 ) 20 m) 

### Al way s fly bel o w 400 f t (120 m) and within y our

visual line of sight. Don’t let the A e r o g et t oo f ar

a wa y f r om y ou; ma k e su r e y ou can al way s see its

orientation. Don’t fly in l o w light, he a vy wind, r ain,

or other c onditions that might impede visibili t y

.

100 f t ( 3 5 0 m ) les (8 km)

100 f t (30 m) 

### Al way s fly at least fi v e miles (8 km) a wa y f r om

airpo r ts and other a r eas whe r e pilots ope r a t e

manned ai r c r a f t.

Al way s fly at least 100 f eet (30 m) a wa y f r om

people, v ehicles, and buildings. Ma k e the sa f e t y

of people and p r ope r t y y our fi r st priori t y!

If the A e r o looses c ontact with the R C t r ansmit t e r

, it will

r eturn t o the launch point au t omatically and en t er in t o a

ci r cle pat t ern ab ov e the launch point, indica t ed b y a

blinking y ell o w status LE D

.

If the bat t ery r eaches 33% of its r emaining cha rg e, the

A e r o will r eturn au t omatically t o ci r cle ab ov e the launch

point, indica t ed b y a blinking y ell o w status LED and a

quick r epeating t one.

3

# C ha r g e bat t ery

T he A e r o is p o w e r ed b y a r echa rg eable lithium polymer

(Li P o ) bat t er y

. S t o r e the bat t ery at half cha rg e, then cha rg e

fully be f o r e flying. Bat t eries must ship at half cha rg e, so

please cha rg e be f o r e y our fi r st flight. Each full bat t ery

p r o vides app ro xima t ely 40 minu t es of flight time.

bat t ery cha rg er



## C onnect the cha rg er t o the p o w er adap t er cable and a

w all outlet. C onnect the r ed cable t o the + po r t and the

black cable t o the

- po r t.



# +

–

Set the cha rg er t o Li P o and 3A.

Li P o 3A



### 4

## C onnect the whi t e c onnec t or t o the 4S po r t. Join the t w o y ell o w

c onnec t o r s t o g ethe r

. Secu r e the bat t ery inside the gua r d bag while

cha r ging, and cha rg e until the status indica t or displ ay s g r een.

4S



### Chargin g C omple t e

gua r d bag



# ! Bat t ery sa f e t y

P r o t ect the bat t ery f r om e xt r eme heat, e xt r eme c old, puncturing,

and flammable sur f a c es. Al way s t r anspo r t, cha rg e, and s t o r e

the bat t ery in the gua r d bag.

C ha rg e the bat t ery using a designa t ed Li P o balan c e cha rg er onl y

. Al way s moni t or the bat t ery while cha r ging.

F lying with a l o w bat t ery is a sa f e t y risk and can r ender the bat t ery

permanently unusable. Al way s fly with a fully cha rg ed bat t er y

.

Inspec t th e bat t er y f o r dama g e be f o r e ta k eof f an d a f t e r landing.

I f y o u obser v e a n y s w ellin g o f th e pac k a g e o r th e bat t er y c eases

t o function

, loca t e y ou r loca l bat t er y r ec y clin g c en t e r t o dispose

o f th e bat t er y

. I n th e U S an d Canada

, visi t call2 r ec y cle

. or g t o

fin d a location

. D o no t dispos e o f th e bat t er y i n th e t r ash.

5

# Setup

F oll o w these instructions t o ta k e the A e r o f r om

t r a v el c onfigu r ation t o flight c onfigu r ation.



# 1 Slide the hori z ontal stabili z er in t o the v e r tical stabili z er

along the o r an g e g r o ov e. Ma k e su r e not t o st r e s s a n y

of the c omponents on the tail.

hori z ontal stabili z er

v e r tical stabili z er

c omple t e tail a s sembly



## On the t op of the hori z ontal stabili z e r

, open the

blue clasp at the end of the ser v o r od.

6

## Inse r t the pegs on the clasp in t o the open spa c e in

the ser v o horn, and close the clas p

.

ser v o horn



## Slide the blue rubber ring ov er the clasp t o secu r e it in pla c e.

T urn the plane ov er and inse r t the p r o vided tail sc r e w

in t o the hori z ontal and v e r tical stabili z e r s.

tail sc r e w



# 2 L oca t e the wing spar (long r od) and the t w o wings.

Slide a wing on t o the spa r

.

7

## Slide the other wing on t o the spa r

. Do not t wist the wing or the spar so as not t o st r e s s the f oam.

c omple t e wing a s sembly



## L oca t e the t w o cables inside the elect r onics c ompa r tment mar k ed

AILE. C onnect these cables t o the t w o cables on the wings mar k ed

AILE. (Either of the wing cables can c onnect t o either of the plane

cables; the o r der doesn’t mat t e r .)

plane AILE cables wing AILE cables



## Pla c e the wings ov er the body of the A e r o with the f oam squa r es

fit t ed in t o the ma t ching spa c e in the elect r onics c ompa r tment.

Ma k e su r e not t o pinch the AILE cables.

wings pla c ed on t o the body of the A e r o



### 8

## L oca t e the f our la rg e rubber bands. Use the bands t o secu r e

the wings t o the body of the A e r o b y the f our o r an g e knobs

on the body a r ound the wings.

A ttach t w o of the bands t o the t w o knobs on one of the sho r t

sides and opposi t e knobs on the opposing side.

add fi r st band add se c ond band

o r an g e knobs



## R epeat on the other sho r t side with the r emaining t w o rubber

bands, r esulting in t w o pai r s of opposing right triangles.

add thi r d band add f ou r th band

c omple t e band a s sembly



### 9

# 3 L oca t e the rings inside the p r opeller pac k a g e. R em ov e

the ring with the se c ond

- la rg est in t ernal diame t e r

, and

inse r t it in t o the back of the p r opeller hu b

.

R em ov e the nut and the w asher f r om the mo t o r

, add the

p r opeller with the writing on the p r opeller f acing t ow a r ds

the nose of the plane

, add the w asher and the nut ov er the

p r opelle r

, and tigh t en the nut.

10

## T he tail boom arri v es attached t o the A e r o

. F oll o w these

instructions t o r em ov e the tail boom f or t r a v el.

Dis c onnect the R UDD and ELEV cables inside the

elect r onics c ompa r tment.

R em ov e the sc r e w s on the body and the tail indica t ed bel o w

.

body

tail



## P ull out the tail boom t o r em ov e. T o r eattach, r e v e r se these s t eps.

11

# Setting flight modes

O n 3D R t r ansmit t e r s

, us e th e t w o

- positio n s wi t c h an d the

th r ee

- positio n s wi t c h sh o w n bel ow t o selec t a fligh t mode.

Spe k tru m mod e s wi t ches

t w o

- positio n s wi t ch

mar k e d GEAR / MIX

F lyS k y mod e s wi t ches th r ee

- positio n s wi t ch

mar k e d FLA P

/ G Y R O

a v ailabl e position s 0

, 1

, 2

th r ee

- positio n s wi t ch

mar k e d F MODE

a v ailabl e position s N

, 1

, 2

t w o

- positio n s wi t ch

mar k e d AI L D

/R

a v ailabl e position s 0

, 1

T h e t w o

- positio n s wi t c h acti v a t e s on e o f th e t w o g r oup s o f modes

the n th e th r ee

- positio n s wi t c h select s th e specifi c mod e withi n the

g r ou p. T h e th r ee

- positio n s wi t c h ca n b e se t f or w a r d ( a way f r o m y ou),

c en t e r

, an d bac k ( t ow a r d s y ou)

. T h e t w o

- positio n s wi t c h ca n b e set

f or w a r d an d back.

th r ee

- positio n mod e s wi t ch t w o

- positio n mod e s wi t ch

f or w a r d

( a way f r o m y ou) c en t er back

( t ow a r d s y ou) f or w a r d

( a way f r o m y ou) back

( t ow a r d s y ou)



### 12

## T h e A e r o include s si x fligh t modes

. Manua l mode

, t w o a s sis t e d flight

mode s ( stabili z e an d fl y by wi r e)

, au t onomou s mi s sio n mode

, an d t w o

c omman d mode s (loi t e r an d r etur n t o launch)

. T h e f oll o win g sections

o f thi s manua l describ e th e beh a vio r o f eac h mode

. T h e A e r o ’ s six

mode s a r e a s signe d t o y ou r t r ansmit t er ’ s mod e s wi t che s a cc o r din g t o

model.



# F light modes on Spe k trum

W ith GEAR / MIX set t o MIX

,

set FLA P / G Y R O t o: 0 f or A U T ONOMOUS

1 f or F L Y B Y WIRE

2 f or RETURN T O L A UNCH

W ith GEAR / MIX set t o GEAR

,

set FLA P / G Y R O t o: 0 f or MAN U AL

1 f or S T ABILIZE

2 f or L OITER



# F light modes on F lyS k

y

W ith AI L D

/ R set t o 0

,

set F MOD E t o: N f or RETURN T O L A UNCH

1 f or F L Y B Y WIRE

2 f or A U T ONOMOUS

W ith AI L D

/ R set t o 1

,

set F MOD E t o: N f or L OITER

1 f or S T ABILIZE

2 f or MAN U AL

13

# Manual mode

F ly with fine

- tuned manual c ont r ol without au t opilot a s sistan c e.

Manual mode gi v es y ou the most di r ect input t o the c ont r ol

sur f a c es, r esulting in p r ecise in

- flight adjustment. T ry manual

mode if y ou’ r e an e xperien c ed R C plane ope r a t o r

.



# X

GPS 

## no GPS lock r equi r ed

Manual mode R C c ont r ols

th r ottle pi t ch

y a w r oll



## T h r ottle up

Inc r ease mo t or

speed.

T h r ottle d o wn Dec r ease mo t or

speed.

T h r ottle fully d o wn

S t op mo t o r

.

14

## Y a w le f t

T urn le f t.

Y a w right

T urn right.

P i t ch up

P i t ch u p

.

P i t ch d o wn

P i t ch d o wn.

R oll le f t

R oll right R oll le f t.

R oll right.

15

# Stabili z e mode

Stabili z e mode p r o vides manual c ont r ol with an added au t opilot

sa f egua r d: R elease the right stick and the A e r o will au t omatically

r eturn t o a l e v el flying orientation. Use stabili z e mode f or the

f r eedom of manual c ont r ol with r eturn

- t o

- l e v el stabili z ation.



# X

GPS 

## no GPS lock r equi r ed

Stabili z e mode R C c ont r ols

th r ottle pi t ch

y a w r oll



## T h r ottle up

Inc r ease mo t or

speed.

T h r ottle d o wn Dec r ease mo t or

speed.

T h r ottle fully d o wn

S t op mo t o r

.

16

## Y a w le f t

T urn le f t.

Y a w right

T urn right.

P i t ch up

P i t ch u p

.

P i t ch d o wn

P i t ch d o wn.

R oll le f t

R oll right R oll le f t.

R oll right.

R oll and pi t ch c en t er

A u t omatically l e v el.

17

# F l y

- b y

- wi r e mode

L et the au t opilot mana g e the c ont r ol sur f a c es, and n a vi g a t e based

on whe r e y ou w ant the A e r o t o fl y

. F l y

- b y

- wi r e mode* (F B W) is the

easiest wa y t o fly and is the r e c ommended mode f or n e w flie r s.

* A P M:Plane mode F B W

A



# X

GPS 

## no GPS lock r equi r ed

F B W mode R C c ont r ols

th r ottle stabili z ed pi t ch

y a w stabili z ed r oll



## T h r ottle up

Inc r ease mo t or

speed.

T h r ottle d o wn Dec r ease mo t or

speed.

T h r ottle fully d o wn

S t op mo t o r

.

18

## Y a w le f t

T urn le f t.

Y a w right

T urn right.

P i t ch up

P i t ch u p

.

P i t ch d o wn

P i t ch d o wn.

R oll le f t

R oll right F ly t o the le f t.

F ly t o the right.

R oll and pi t ch c en t er

A u t omatically l e v el.

19

# C ommand modes

Use c ommand modes t o en t er in t o an au t omatic flight pat t ern.

On c e set t o a c ommand mode, the A e r o will c ontinue t o f oll o w

the specified pat t ern until otherwise di r ec t ed. C ommand modes

r equi r e GPS lock prior t o ta k eof f

.

L oi t er mode: GPS

- positioned ci r cling

» T he A e r o will en t er in t o a ci r cle pat t ern with a r adius of

60 me t e r s at the cur r ent altitude.

» M ov e the right stick t o adjust the position of the ci r cle.

GPS 

## GPS lock r equi r ed

R eturn

- t o

- launch mode: ci r cling ov er launch point

» T he A e r o will r eturn t o the position whe r e it a c qui r ed GPS lock

and en t er in t o a ci r cle pat t ern at an altitude of 100 me t e r s.

GP S 

## GPS lock r equi r ed

20

# Mi s sions

Use a g r ound station c ompu t er with the p r o vided T elemetry

Radio t o fly a fully au t onomous mi s sion. T o d o wnload so f t w a r e

and learn h o w t o plan a mi s sion, visit 3d r

. c om/learn.

lap t op g r ound station with 3DR T elemetry Radio



## On c e y ou h a v e s a v ed a mi s sion t o the A e r o

, ensu r e that the

au t opilot a c qui r es GPS lock during the p r eflight s t eps, and

ta k e off in manual, stabili z e, or fl y

- b y

- wi r e mode. F ly t o the

app ro xima t e altitude of the fi r st wa ypoint, and s wi t ch in t o

au t onomous mode t o sta r t the mi s sion.

T o fly a mi s sion with au t omatic ta k eoff and landing, visit

3d r

. c om/learn f or instructions.

GP S 

## GPS lock r equi r ed



# ! Do not set the A e r o t o au t onomous mode without f oll o wing

the mi s sion planning instructions at 3DR

. c om/learn

.

213 4 

# P r eflight s t eps

Select an open a r ea f or flying, a wa y f r om people and buildings,

and r emember t o bring the flight checklist and a fully cha rg ed

bat t er y

. F oll o w these s t eps e v ery time y ou fl y

.

Fligh t C hecklist

P r eflight

1 Go outside to an open area, C onnect

and inspect aircra f

t.

» Wings and tail attached

» T ail boom secur e

» S erv os and rods secur e

» Airspeed s ens or secur e

» Propeller tight

» T ransm itter on 2

charged batt er y

.

» Hold aircra f t still

while powering on.

» Secure lid.

» Check for balanc ed

center of gr a vit y

.

Check manual

controls.

» Throttle

» Pitc h u p and down

» Roll le f t and right

» Y aw le f t and right Check autopilot

stabiliz ation.

» Pitc h u p and down

» Roll le f t and right

5 C hec k LED for blinking 6 Press and hold

blue (no GPS) or blinking

green ( GP S lock ed).

X

S safety button until

solid red.

G P S

LED Initializing, please wait

Autopilot r ead

y

, no GPS

Autopilot r ead y

, GP S lock ed

Armed, r eady to fly

L oss of RC signal, automatic r eturn to launch

Sy stem er r o r

, see t r oubleshooting guide

Safety Butt on

Inactive, safe to handle

Active, p r ess and hold button befo r e handling 

### flight checklist



# 1 Be f o r e flying, ex amine the A e r o t o ensu r e that all

c omponents a r e secu r ed in flight c onfigu r ation.

» C heck that the wings, tail, and tail boom a r e fully

a s sembled and secu r ely attached.

» C heck that the p r opeller is secu r ed tightly t o the

mo t o r

.

» C heck that the ser v o r ods a r e secu r ed t o the ser v o

horns with the blue clasps.

tail ser v os wing ser v os



### 22

## C heck that the ai r speed sensor is secu r ed t o the side of

the A e r o and the tube is f r ee f r om obstructions.

ai r speed sensor



## If a n y of the c omponents or a s semblies in these chec k s a r e

not secu r e, tigh t en the sc r e w s or use CA glue ( super glue)

t o secu r e the c omponents t o the f oam.

P o w er on the R C t r ansmit t e r

, and set the th r ottle fully d o wn.



# 2 Open the bat t ery c ompa r tment b y sliding the knob

on the o r an g e s wi t ch and li f ting out the f oam lid.

23

## Secu r e a cha rg ed bat t ery t o the v elc r o strip within the

mar k ed lines, and attach the y ell o w c onnec t o r s.



# ! Hold the A e r o still and l ev el while it p ow e r s on.

Secu r e with the v elc r o st r a p

. C lose lid b y aligning

the o r an g e no t ches at the nose.



# 3 W ith the bat t ery c onnec t ed and the lid secu r ed, check that the

A e r o is c or r ectly balan c ed f or flight. Hold the A e r o with one fin g er

on each of the clea r

, plastic balancing points sh o wn bel o w

. T hese

points indica t e the A e r o ’ s c en t er of g r a vi t y

.

24

## If the plane balan c es on y our fin g e r s, then the c en t er of

g r a vi t y is c or r ect. If it w on’t balan c e, adjust the position of

the bat t ery until y ou can balan c e the plane on t w o fin g e r s as

sh o wn bel o w

.



# 4 C heck the LED f or the status of the au t opilot. If y ou plan t o

use loi t e r

, r eturn

- t o

- launch, au t onomous, or a n y other GPS

r equi r ed modes during y our flight, w ait t o see the blinking

g r een light, indicating GPS lock, be f o r e p r o c eeding. If y ou plan

t o fly only in manual, stabili z e, or fl y

- b y

- wi r e modes, y ou m a y

p r o c eed when y ou see the blinking blue light.

Initializing, please w ait



## LED A u t opilot r ead y

, no GPS

A u t opilot r ead y

, GPS loc k ed



# 5 T o arm the mo t o r

, p r e s s and hold the sa f e t y

but t on until it displ ay s solid r ed.

sa f e t y but t on Inacti v e

, mo t or disarmed

A cti v e, mo t or armed



### 25

# ! 6 Pla c e the plane on the g r ound, and set the mode s wi t ches

t o select manual mode. M ov e each of the stic k s as sh o wn,

and check f or the c or r esponding m ov ement of the mo t or

or c ont r ol sur f a c es.

Raise the th r ottle slightly until the mo t or spins, then

immedia t ely set the th r ottle back t o fully d o wn position.

Mo t or spins.

Do not r aise the th r ottle mo r e than just enough t o

spin the mo t or while the plane is on the g r ound, and

do not pla c e y our hands in the wa y of the p r opeller

while the mo t or is armed.

P i t ch d o wn

El e v a t or tilts d o wn.

P i t ch up

El e v a t or tilts u p

.

26

## R oll le f t

L e f t aile r on tilts u p

, right aile r on tilts

d o wn.

R oll right

L e f t aile r on tilts

d o wn, right aile r on

tilts u p

.

Y a w le f t

Rudder tilts le f t.

Y a w right

Rudder tilts right.

27

# 7 Set the mode s wi t ches t o stabili z e, and hold the plane in f r ont

of y ou. M ov e the plane as sh o wn, and check f or the stabili z ation

r esponse f r om the c ont r ol sur f a c es.

T est: T ilt the plane le f t.

R esult: L e f t aile r on tilts

d o wn, right aile r on tilts u p

.

T est: T ilt the plane right.

R esult: L e f t aile r on tilts u p

, right aile r on tilts d o wn.

T est: T ilt the plane d o wn.

R esult: El e v a t or tilts u p

.

T est: T ilt the plane u p

.

R esult: El e v a t or tilts d o wn.

28

# T a k eoff & landing

N o w y ou’ r e r eady f or ta k eoff! If y ou’ r e n e w t o planes, w e r e c ommend

h a ving a friend help y ou launch the A e r o

. H a v e y our friend th r o w the

A e r o while y ou c ont r ol the t r ansmit t e r

.

W e r e c ommend setting the A e r o t o fl y

- b y

- wi r e mode f or ta k eof f

.

F ind a launching a r ea with at least 100 f eet of clear spa c e in f r ont of

y ou. F a c e in t o the wind, and hold the A e r o at the c en t er of g r a vi t y

. Raise the th r ottle t o c en t er position t o sta r t the mo t o r

. Be ca r eful not

t o pla c e y our hand in the wa y of the p r opeller!

th r ottle c en t er

Hold the A e r o ab ov e y our head, run, and th r o w the

plane at an u p w a r ds angle.

On c e launched, the A e r o will r equi r e immedia t e adjustment with

the t r ansmit t er t o n a vi g a t e a wa y f r om the g r ound and up t o the

desi r ed altitude. P i t ch up (right stick d o wn) and add a n y other

ne c e s sary c ont r ols based on wind, speed, and t er r ain.

29

# ! When y ou’ r e r eady t o end y our flight, f oll o w these s t eps t o land:

» F ly a ci r cle pat t ern ab ov e y our landing a r ea.

» C ome in on a final app r oach, flying in t o the wind at

an altitude of 20 t o 40 me t e r s.

» When the plane r eaches an altitude of 10 me t e r s, set the

th r ottle fully d o wn t o turn off the mo t or and glide d o wn

on a 15 t o 20 deg r ee d o wn

- pi t ch angle.

» When the plane is one me t er ab ov e the g r ound, pi t ch up

(fla r e) t o land the A e r o on the body of the plane ins t ead

of the nose.

wind di r ection

pi t ch slightly d o wn

th r ottle fully d o wn

20

- 40 m pi t ch up

10 m

1 m

A f t er s t opping the mo t or at an altitude of 10 m, k eep y our

thumb on the th r ottle stick in fully d o wn position t o ensu r e

that the mo t or does not a c cidently spin during landing.

30

# P os t flight s t eps

1 T o disarm the mo t o r

, p r e s s and hold the

sa f e t y but t on until it displ ay s blinking r ed.

sa f e t y but t on Inacti v e

, mo t or disarmed

A cti v e, mo t or armed



# 2 Dis c onnect bat t ery



# 3 T urn off t r ansmit t e r

.

Y our flight is n o w c omple t e. Al way s f oll o wing the p r eflight

and pos t flight s t eps described in this manual when y ou fl y

.

31

# FP V / O SD video

If y ou r e c ei v ed an FP V

/ O SD video sy s t em with y our A e r o

, visit

3DR .c om/learn f or instructions on ope r ating y our video sy s t em.



# L earning mo r e

V isit 3DR .c om/learn f or mo r e instructions on flying, c onfiguring,

and using a g r ound station with the A e r o

.

T o learn mo r e about the A P M:Plane pla t f orm, including

adding n e w flight modes and flying au t onomous mi s sions,

visit plane.a r dupilot

. c om

.



# Suppo r t

F or cus t omer suppo r t, c ontact us at help@3DR .c om

or call our suppo r t line at +1 (858) 2 25

- 1 4 14

Mond a y th r ough F rid a y

, f r om 8 am t o 5 pm, P S T

.

Hap p y flying!

A e r o Use r Manua l v B | DCT0 0 3 5 | ©3 D R obotics

, Inc

. | 3 1 Octobe r 2014



### 32

# Ae r o

- M

Operation Manual

Than k yo u fo r pu r chasin g a n Ae r o

- M ! Thi s manua l contain s importan t informatio n abou t your

aeria l mappin g platform

. Pleas e r ea d thes e instruction s befo r e you r firs t flight.

1 Plan 1

2 Fly 20

3 P r ocess 37

Appendix 41

Onlin e informatio n portal : 3DR.com/Ae r o

- M

3D R support : help@3DR.com

T erm s an d conditions : 3DR.com/terms

Pix4 D instructions : support.Pix4D.com

V .3 2014

©3D Robotics

DCT0010

# 1 Plan

Part s 2

Fligh t Batter y 3

Chargin g 3

Safet y 3

Powerin g th e Ae r o 4

Camer a Setu p 5

3D R EA I 5

Chargin g 5

Startin g a Missio n 5

Mountin g 6

G r oun d Statio n Setu p 7

Downloa d Softwa r e 7

Connec t t o Radi o 7 Missio n Plannin g 8

Operatin g Parameter s 8

Loa d Map s 9

Dra w Polygo n 10

Configu r e Surve y 11

Sav e an d W rit e Missio n 19

1

# P arts

Ae r o

batterie s (2)

camera

win g spar

horizonta l stabilizer

wings

r egistratio n ca r d and

Pix4 D licens e key R C cont r olle r and

accessories

g r oun d statio n radio

mic r o

- US B cable

charge r and

accessories

batter y gua r d bag

win g rubbe r bands

( 4 plu s 2 spa r e)

p r opeller s (1

plu s 1 spa r e)

he x key s (?)

p r opelle r w r ench

spa r e cont r o l ho r ns

(2)

spa r e serv o r od s (2)

FPV/OSD System

If you selected to r eceive a FPV/OSD system, those components

will be included with the Ae r o ’ s accessories. See page 34 for

parts and instructions. spa r e camera

moun t filter s (2)

Pixhaw k mic r o

- SD

ca r d adapter

2

# Flight Battery

The Ae r o is powe r ed by a r echargeable lithium polymer (LiPo) batter y

. Charge the battery befo r e your first flight.



# Charging Safety

1

Connect the charger to the power adapter cable

and a wall outlet. Connect the r ed cable to the +

port and the black cable to the

- port. 2

Set the charger to LiPo and 3A. 

# !

+

–

Charger with power cable and

split

- wire charging cable

3 LiP o 3A

Charger settings

4 Flying with a low battery is a safety risk and can r ender the

battery permanently unusable. Always fly with a fully charged

batter y

.

Charge the battery using a designated LiPo balance charger

onl y

. Always monitor the battery while charging. P r otect the

battery f r om ext r eme heat, ext r eme cold, puncturing, and

flammable surfaces. Always transport, charge, and sto r e the

battery in the gua r d bag.

Inspec t th e batter y fo r damag e befo r e an d afte r flying

. I f you

observ e an y swellin g o f th e packag e o r th e batter y ceases

t o function

, d o no t us e th e battery ; locat e you r loca l battery

r ecyclin g cente r

, an d dispos e o f th e batter y

. I n th e U S and

Canada

, visi t call2 r ecycle.or g t o fin d a location

. D o not

dispos e o f th e batter y i n th e trash.

Connect the white connector to the 4S port, and

join the two yellow connectors togethe r

. Secu r e the battery inside the gua r d bag,

and charge until the status indicator

displays g r een.

Charging

4S

Complete

Flight battery charging wiring Charging in process

3

# Powering the Aero

1

T u r n on the cont r olle r

. T o avoid triggering

the cont r oller ’

s startup alarm, ensu r e that

all switches a r e set back (away f r om you)

and the th r ottle stick is set fully down.

Switches 2

Open the battery compartment by

sliding the knob on the orange switch

forwa r d and lifting out the lid. 

# !

It is important to establish communication befo r e

powering on the Ae r o. Always tu r n on the cont r oller

befo r e connecting the batter y

. When powering o f f

the Ae r o, disconnect the battery befo r e tu r ning o f f

the cont r olle r

.

Th r ottle stick Aero: battery compartment lid

RC controller

3

Insert a charged battery into the battery slot,

and attach the yellow connectors. This will

power on the Ae r o.



# !

Hold the Ae r o still and level while it powers on.

Attach the velc r o above the battery slot to the

velc r o on the batter y

. Close and secu r e the lid

onto the battery compartment. battery

connector

battery slot

flight battery

Aero: battery compartment interior

4

# Camera Setup

Th e Ae r o include s a Cano n PowerSho t S10 0 runnin g th e 3D R EA I script.



# 3DR EAI (Exposure

- Aperture

- IS O )

3D R EA I run s o n th e Cano n Hacke r Developmen t Ki t (CHDK)

, a powerfu l open

sou r c e too l tha t expand s th e functionalit y o f Cano n point

- and

- shoo t cameras

. 3DR

EA I optimize s imag e exposu r e an d integrate s wit h th e Pixhaw k autopilo t t o enable

distance

- base d imaging.

Thi s softwa r e i s designe d t o loa d o f f th e camera ’ s S D ca r d

, leavin g th e origina l Canon

p r ogrammin g intact

. Th e yello w switc h o n th e sid e o f th e S D ca r d allow s yo u t o lock

o r unloc k th e ca r d

. Loc k th e S D ca r d t o ru n 3D R EAI ; unloc k th e S D ca r d t o save

image s t o you r g r oun d statio n o r t o boo t th e camer a wit h it s origina l p r ogramming.

Fo r mo r e informatio n abou t 3D R EAI

, se e pag e 43. 

# Charging

Charg e th e camer a batter y befo r e you r firs t flight

. Once

full y charged

, inser t th e batter y int o th e camera.

statu s indicator

Cano n batter y charger



# Starting a Mission

S D ca r d locked

Loa d 3D R EAI



## » Fl y a mappin g mission S D ca r d unlocked

Loa d defaul t Cano n softwa r e



## » V ie w image s o n camera



## » Sav e image s t o g r oun d station



## » Updat e script T o p r epa r e th e camer a t o fl y a mappin g mission

, ensu r e tha t th e mode

dia l i s se t t o P (program ) mode

. Power on the camera using the silver

button on the top. 3DR EAI will start automaticall y

, and you will see the

script messages on the camera displa y

. Check to see that the last line

of the script r eads waiting on USB signal

. The camera is now r eady to map!

power button

mode dial

Camera running 3DR EAI Camera running Canon software



# ! Power o f f the camera befo r e r emoving the SD ca r d.

Camera ready to map: waiting on USB signal

5

# Mounting

Th e camer a mount s t o th e Ae r o insid e th e batter y compartment

an d connect s t o th e autopilo t usin g th e mini

- US B cable

. Whe n the

camer a i s r ead y t o star t th e mission

, inser t th e camer a int o the

moun t insid e th e batter y compartmen t a s show n belo w

, connect

th e mini

- US B cabl e t o th e camera

, an d secu r e th e camer a i n place

usin g th e velc r o strap. Th e camer a moun t include s a len s ca p tha t p r otect s th e filte r during

travel

. Mak e su r e t o r emov e thi s len s ca p befo r e yo u fl y

, an d check

tha t th e filte r contain s n o foa m particles

, dirt

, o r scratche s tha t could

a f fec t imag e qualit y

.

I t i s expecte d tha t th e filte r wil l accumulat e scratche s afte r significant

use

. I f yo u notic e an y damag e t o th e filte r tha t coul d a f fec t image

qualit y

, unsc r e w th e filte r an d r eplac e wit h on e o f th e extr a filters

p r ovide d wit h th e Ae r o.

autopilot integration cable

UV filter

Aer o batter y compartment : camer a mount

Connect mini

- USB cable inside

battery compartment he r e. Camer a moun t (bottom) : ca p removed

Camer a moun t (bottom) : ca p attached

Camer a (side)

Th e camer a moun t i s fixe d t o th e insid e o f th e batter y compartment

an d i s no t intende d t o b e r emove d f r o m th e Ae r o.

6

# Ground Station Setup

Mission Planner allows you to tu r n a W indows laptop into a full

- featu r ed

g r ound station for configuring and monitoring autonomous missions. Y ou will

need to take this laptop into the field when you fly the mission. As part of the

mission p r ocedu r e, you will use the Pix4D Rapid Check to verify the quality of

the image set befo r e leaving the field.



# Download Software Connect to Radio

Mission Planner T o connect the Ae r o to Mission Planne r

, connect the g r ound station radio

to the laptop, and power the Ae r o.

Mission Planner is a full

- featu r ed g r ound station application for planning

missions and monitoring the Ae r o in flight. Download Mission Planner

f r om 3DR.com/d o wnload_software

.

If you al r eady have Mission Planner installed, make su r e you’ r e running

the most r ecent version: Select the Help tab and Check for Upd a tes

.

Mission Planner: Help tab 1

Connect the g r ound station radio to your

laptop using the mic r o

- USB cable. Open

Mission Planne r

.

Ground station laptop with radio connected

3

Select Flight D a ta to view live data f r om the Ae r o. 2

Select 57600 and AUTO , then select CONNECT

. (When connecting di r ectly to Pixhawk ’ s

mic r o

- USB port, set the rate to 115200.)

Mission Planner Connect tool (top

- right corner))

Pix4Dmapper L

T 3DR Edition

Y our license key for Pix4Dmapper can be found on the r egistration ca r d

inside the documents package.

V isit m a ppe r

.pix4d.com/license

- redeem to c r eate an account and r edeem

your license key; then visit pix4d.com/d o wnload to download Pix4Dmapper

Discover y

. Pix4D will automatically upgrade f r om the Discovery edition to

the L T 3DR Edition (or P r o Edition if you selected to upgrade) when you

log in to the p r ogram with your Pix4D account information. Mission Planner Flight D a t a tab: connected to aircraft

7

# Mission Planning

Operating P arameters

Th e Ae r o i s a complet e solutio n fo r c r eating

high

- r esolutio n visual

- spectru m aeria l maps. 

### Operatin g Parameters

Pixhawk

autopilot

system Canon S100

3DR EAI Pix4Dmapper

L T 3DR Edition 

### Came r a Canon S100

Came r a Orientation P o r t r ait ( side f acing f or w a r d)

Mapping system diagram

T o c r eat e a map

, th e Ae r o flie s a n autonomou s missio n over

th e surve y site

, usin g th e integratio n betwee n th e Pixhawk

autopilo t an d custom

- p r ogramme d camer a t o captu r e images

a t a consisten t distanc e interval

. Pix4Dmappe r the n stitches

thes e image s togethe r int o a geo r efe r enced

, ortho r ectified

mosaic.

Th e accurac y o f th e ma p depend s o n th e configuratio n o f the

mission

. Plannin g a missio n tha t captu r e s high

- qualit y images

r equi r e s balancin g th e Ae r o ’ s operatin g parameter s wit h the

envi r onmenta l factor s a t th e surve y site. 

### Ope r ating Altitude 80

- 120 m

Standa r d Ope r ating Altitude 100 m

L ow

- W ind C onditions 0

- 6 m / s

High

- W ind C onditions 7

- 10 m / s

Maximum W ind C onditions 10 m / s

Ope r ating Speed 8

- 20 m / s

De f ault Speed 15 m / s

Estima t ed Maximum F light T ime 40 min

Estima t ed G r ound R esolution 5 c m / pi x el

Estima t ed Maximum Sur v e y A r ea 1 km 2



### Minimum Pho t o In t er v al 2 se c onds

8

# Load Maps

Mission Planner allows you to plan the mission away f r om the mapping location;

howeve r

, it is important to assess the envi r onmental conditions on site at the time

of the mission and adjust the flight plan if necessar y

. Alte r nativel y

, you can plan

the enti r e mission at the mapping location. T o c r eate or alter the mission, Mission

Planner r equi r es an Inte r net connection to access the maps. If you’ r e unable to

access the Inte r net on site, follow the instructions below to p r e

- fetch the maps

within Mission Planner while you have Inte r net access.

1

Open Mission Planne r

, select Flight Plan

, and

zoom to your flying location. 2

Right

- click on the map, select M a p T ool and

Prefetch

, and accept the default p r ompts.

Mission Planner will download the maps

for the selected location to your compute r

.

Mission Planner Flight Plan tab: zoom to mapping location Mission Planner Flight Plan tab: Select Prefetch

3

Mission Planner will attempt to load the map data f r om the cur r ent level of zoom down to the

closest level of zoom available. Howeve r

, it can take hours to p r e

- fetch every level of zoom,

and it is unlikely that the closer levels will be useful in planning the mission. T o shortcut this

p r ocess, check the slider on the right side of the map. The levels of zoom a r e r ep r esented by

this slider f r om 0 (bottom) to 25 (top). P r ess the ESC key to skip levels of zoom at a g r eater

detail than you need for mission planning.

9

# Draw Po l ygon

T o begin planning the mapping mission, select the a r ea you want to map using

the P olygon tool. Y

ou’ll be able to adjust the size and shape of the polygon later in

the mission configuration p r ocess.

1

Select Flight Plan

, and zoom to your

mapping location.

Mission Planner Flight Plan tab: zoom to mapping location 2

Right click on the map. Select Dr a w P olygon and

Add P olygon P oint

. Click and drag to add points

a r ound the a r ea you want to map.

Mission Planner Flight Plan tab: draw polygon 3

Right click on the polygon. Select Auto WP and

Su r vey (Grid

) to open the Survey T

ool.

Mission Planner Flight Plan tab: open Su r vey tool



# ! Units

The Survey T

ool uses metric units. If your Mission Planner is

set to imperial units, please change the settings to use metric

to plan the mission. Support for imperial units in Mission

Planner is coming soon; check 3DR.com/Aero

- M for updates.

10

# Configure Survey: Set Defau l t P arameters

The Survey tool allows you to configu r e a mapping mission acco r ding to the

Ae r o ’ s operating parameters and the cur r ent envi r onmental conditions at the

mapping location. First, set the default values for the Ae r o.

Set Camera

Canon S100

- S120

Set Camera Orientation

Uncheck the option for Camera top

facing forward

.

Set Default Speed

15 m/s

Apply Survey Speed

Check the option for Use speed for this mission

. If unchecked, the mission will use the Ae r o ’ s

default speed of 15 m/s r ega r dless of the

speed selected in the Survey T ool.

Mission Planner Su r vey tool

11

# ! 

# Configure Survey: Set Angle

Next configu r e the angle of the flight path for the cur r ent wind conditions.

Set Angle

Wind Di r ection

In envi r onments with winds of less than 6 m/s, set the angle so that

the Ae r o flies into the wind. In winds f r om 7

- 10 m/s, configu r e the

flight path to travel perpendicular to the wind so the Ae r o flies c r oss

wind.

wind

Mission Planner Su r vey tool No. of Strips

Adjust the angle so that the Ae r o makes as few tu r ns as possible to

complete its course. The No. of Strips parameter shows how many

passes the plane will make as you adjust the angle.

Review Wind Conditions On

- Site

Always assess the wind conditions at your survey site at the time of

the mission and adjust the mission acco r dingl y

.

Mission Planner Tip: Adjust Polygon

Click and drag the r ed polygon points to adjust the size

and shape of the polygon f r om the Survey T ool. wind Configu r e the flight path parallel with

the wind in low winds (1

- 6 m/s).

wind Configu r e the flight path perpendicular to the

wind in high winds (7

- 10 m/s).

Use caution when flying in winds over 10m/s. Mapping r esults may degrade

as a r esult of inability to make headway or maintain app r opriate

g r oundspeed. 12

# Configure Survey: Set A l titude

The survey altitude determines the duration of the mission and the g r ound

r esolution of the final map. Adjust altitude to balance flight time and power

consumption with the cur r ent envi r onmental conditions.

Set Altitude

Standa r d operating altitude: 100 m

Operating altitude range: 80

- 120 m

Inc r easing altitude dec r eases flight time, allowing you to cover mo r e a r ea

per minute. Dec r easing altitude imp r oves g r ound r esolution. Set the alti

tude to get the best g r ound r esolution while keeping the flight time under

40 min and the altitude under 120 m.



# !

Keep altitude below 120 m, and ensu r e that the altitude is app r opriate for

your flying a r ea and local r egulations.

Mission Planner Su r vey tool

Check G r ound Resolution

Ground Resolution is the centimeters per pixel that you will have

in the map and cor r esponds to the amount of detail that you

will see.

T o imp r ove g r ound r esolution by dec r easing the number of

centimeters per pixel, dec r ease altitude. Check Flight T ime

Flight T ime estimates the duration of the mission. The total estimated flight

time must be under 40 min for a fully charged Ae r o batter y

. T o dec r ease

flight time, inc r ease altitude or speed.

High winds, humidit y

, high altitude, and ext r eme heat can a f fect power

consumption and r educe flight time. Consider the envi r onmental factors at

your site when configuring flight time.

13

# Configure Survey: Check Photo Interval

W ith the basic parameters in place, verify that the photo interval calculated f r om

the altitude and speed complies with the operating parameters for the camera.

Mission Planner Su r vey tool Check Photo Interval

Photo Eve r y must be longer than 2 seconds for the S100 camera.

Altitude

Inc r easing altitude inc r eases photo interval.



# !

Keep altitude below 120 m, and ensu r e that the altitude is

app r opriate for your flying a r ea and local r egulations.

Speed

Dec r easing speed inc r eases photo interval.



# !

Ensu r e that the Use speed for this mission option is checked.

14

# Configure Survey: Set T a k eoff and Landing

Now select a takeo f f and landing patte r n, either manual or automatic.

T akeo f f and Land WP ’

s

For automatic takeo f f and landing

Check the Add T

akeoff and Land WP ’

s option.

Uncheck the Use R TL option.

This will c r eate a takeo f f waypoint and a placeholder waypoint for the landing pat

te r n. After accepting the surve y

, configu r e the automatic landing patte r n by following

the instructions on page 20.

Mission Planner Su r vey tool For automatic takeo f f and manual landing

Check both the Add T

akeoff and Land WP ’

s option and the Use R TL options.

This will c r eate a takeo f f waypoint so the Ae r o will automatically climb to the survey

altitude befo r e heading to the first waypoint. The Ae r o will r etu r n to ci r cle over the

launch point after completing the mission.

For manual takeo f f and landing

Uncheck the Add T

akeoff and Land WP ’

s option

Check the Use R TL option.

For this option, take o f f manually then initiate the mission in flight. The Ae r o will

r etu r n to ci r cle over the launch point after completing the mission.

15

# Configure Survey: Advanced Options

The Survey tool includes the following advanced configuration options. These options

allow you to customize the mission to comply with best operating practices.

Check Advanced Options

to view the Survey T

ool ’ s advanced configuration options.

Select Grid Options

Set OverShoot

The Ae r o has a minimum tu r ning radius of 90 deg r ees. T o accommodate the

sharp angles of the survey mission, set both OverShoot parameters to 50 to

have the Ae r o overshoot the waypoints on either side of the polygon by 50%

to ensu r e that the complete a r ea of the polygon is cove r ed by the images.



# !

OverShoot will a f fect flight time. Ensu r e that the total estimated flight time is

less than the Ae r o ’

s maximum flight time of 40 minutes.

Mission Planner Su r vey tool: advanced options

Camera Config

The options under the Camera

Config tab allow you to configu r e

a camera other than the S100

and won ’ t be used for operating

the Ae r o. Adjust StartF r om

During the mission, you will maintain contact with the ai r craft th r ough the RC

cont r oller and g r ound station signals. If your mission is likely to experience a

loss of signal, it is best practice to start f r om the co r ner of the mission farthest

f r om the launch point. In this example, T opLeft is the co r ner of the mission

farthest f r om the launch point.

Mission Planner Su r vey tool: advanced options Adjust Overlap and Sidelap

Overlap and sidelap a r e set to 50% and 60%, r espectivel y

, by default. See

page 42 for an in

- depth discussion of these parameters.

16

# Configure Survey: Accept Survey

Befo r e accepting the surve y

, verify that the mission complies with the

Ae r o ’ s operating parameters.

Operating Parameters

Camera

Canon S100

- S120

Altitude

80

- 120 m

Camera top facing forwa r d

unchecked

Flying speed

9

- 15 m/s

Use speed for this mission

checked (optional if speed set to default speed of 15 m/s)

Photo Every

g r eater than 2 s

Flight time

under 40 min depending on envi r onmental conditions

Mission Planner Su r vey tool

Accept

Select Accept to c r eate this mission. After accepting, you

will need to r econfigu r e the survey completely to make any

adjustments.

If Mission Planner p r ompts you for a home altitude, enter

the altitude that you specified in the Su r vey tool.

Do not accept the mission if any of the parameters 

# ! exceed the Ae r o ’ s operating limits.

17

# Configuring Automatic T a k eoff and Landing

If you selected automatic landing in the Survey T ool by checking the Add T akeoff and Land WP ’

s option and unchecking

the Use R TL option, you will need to configu r e the landing waypoint patte r n manually at this step in the mission planning

p r ocess.

T o begin, determine the di r ection of the wind and select an unobstructed a r ea 200

- 500 m in length leading to the

launch point, into the wind. On the main Flight Plan sc r een, c r eate a series of waypoints along this path to dec r ease

altitude gradually f r om the survey altitude to 0, ensuring that:

» T u r ns along the flight path a r e g r eater than 90 deg r ees.

» The altitude dec r eases by a maximum of 20 m between waypoints

» The r e is at least 20 m between each waypoint

» The Grad % does not exceed 20%

T o add a waypoint, right click on the map in the location of the waypoint you would like to add, and select Insert WP . For

each waypoint you add to the mission, Mission Planner will p r ompt you for the new waypoint ’ s place in the script: Add

the series of landing waypoints immediately befo r e the LAND waypoint in the script of events. For the first waypoint in

the patte r n, add it to the mission immediately following the DO_SET_CAM_TRIGG_DIST waypoint at the end of the mission.

Specify the altitude of each waypoint and check the distance and gradient angle in the waypoints table. Locate the T akeo f f waypoint in the mission script and set the

first option in the r ow to assign the takeo f f angle.

Set the takeo f f angle to 20

- 25 deg r ees depending on the

length of your takeo f f a r ea.

T akeo f f angle

Mission Planner Tip: Configu r e W aypoints

Measu r e the distance between waypoints by right

- clicking at one

end and selecting Measure Distance ; then right

- click on the other end

and select Measure Distance again. A dialog box will open with the

distance between the two points.

Mission Planner Flight Plan tab: Correctly configured automatic landing pattern Set altitude.

Check Grad %

. Double

- click on a field in the waypoint table to edit the parameters

for a waypoint.

Use the Up and Down ar r ow icons to r e

- o r der the waypoints.

Use the Delete option to r emove a waypoint f r om the mission.

T o add a waypoint, right click on the map in the location of the waypoint

you would like to add, and select Insert WP . For each waypoint you add to

the mission, Mission Planner will p r ompt you for the new waypoint ’ s place

in the script: Add the series of landing waypoints immediately befo r e the

LAND waypoint in the script of events. For the first waypoint in the patte r n,

add it to the mission immediately following the DO_SET_CAM_TRIGG_DIST

waypoint at the end of the mission. Specify the altitude of each waypoint

and check the distance and gradient angle in the waypoints table.

18

# Save and W rite Mission

For the Ae r o to run the mission, write the waypoint file to the autopilot.

Don ’ t forget to save the waypoint file to your g r ound station for futu r e use.

Select Save WP File

to save the mission file to your compute r

. T o

r epeat this mapping mission, load the saved

WP file f r om your compute r

.

Select W rite WPs

to save the mission to the Ae r o.

Mission Planner Flight Plan tab: Save and write mission

19

# 2 F l y

Safet y 21

Ai r craf t Operatio n 22

Component s 22

Assembl y 23

Cont r ol s 26

Mode s 27

Armin g an d Disarmin g 28

LE D Indicator s an d T

one s 28

GP S Loc k 28

P r efligh t Check s 29

Manua l an d Automati c T akeo f f 32

Manua l an d Automati c Landin g 33

FP V Syste m Operatio n 34

Flyin g Mappin g Mission s 35

T akeo f f Checklis t 35

Initiatin g 35

Monitorin g 35

Failsafe s 36

20

# Safety

T o ensu r e safe and successful flying, familiarize yourself with the safety information

on this page. Always fly in acco r dance with your location r egulations and these best

operating practices.

Befo r e you fl y

, determine the boundaries of your safe flying a r ea. If the Ae r o moves

outside the designated a r ea or exhibits instability in flight, switch to fly

- by

- wi r e mode

and land the plane manuall y

. Always be r eady to r egain manual cont r ol of the plane

in the event of an unsafe situation.

The Ae r o will not avoid obstacles on its own, including during missions. As the

operato r

, it ’ s your job to r ecognize and avoid obstructions while flying. When

planning missions, ensu r e that the selected altitude is app r opriate for all

geographical featu r es of the a r ea, including terrain.



# Location Propeller

Spinning p r opellers can cause serious injur y

. The safety

button indicates the status of the motor to help you

p r event haza r dous contact with the Ae r o ’ s high

- speed

p r opelle r

.

• When the Ae r o is powe r ed on, the safety

button will blink r ed, indicating that the motor

is inactive and the p r opeller is safe to handle.

• When you’ r e r eady to fl y

, p r ess and hold the safety

button until it shows solid r ed. This indicates that

the motor is armed and the p r opeller will spin if the

th r ottle stick is raised. T o make the p r opeller safe

to handle again, p r ess and hold the safety

button until it blinks r ed.

vis u v a i l s l u i n a e l line

of s i o g f h s t ight

100 f t 1 0 ( 3 0 0 f t m ( 3 ) 0 m)

5 miles (8 km) 40 0

4 f 0 t 0 f t

(12 0 ( 1 m 2 0 ) m) Always fly below 400 ft (120 m) and within your visual

line of sight. Don ’ t let the Ae r o get too far away f r om

you; make su r e you can always see its orientation.

Don ’ t fly in low light, rain, or other conditions that

might impede visibilit y

.

Always fly at least 5 miles (8 km) away f r om airports

and other a r eas whe r e pilots operate manned

ai r craft. Y ou can find mo r e safety tips th r oughout these instructions 

# ! whe r e you see this yellow box.

100 f t (30 m) Always fly at least 100 feet (30 m) away f r om

people, vehicles, and buildings. Make the safety

of people and p r operty 5

y o m u il e r s fi ( 8 r s k m t ) priority!

21

# Aircraft Operation

Components

nose

body rudder

lef t wing righ t wing elevator

tai l boom motor

Aero tail

tail

airspee d sensor

batter y compartment

elect r onics compartment

(under wings)

lef t aile r o n righ t aile r on

Aero (top) vide o syste m compartment

(abov e batter y compartment)

g r oun d statio n radio cont r oller

If the terms above a r e unfamiliar to you, visit 3DR.com/Aero

- M

, and dive into the

exciting world of planes with our Int r oduction to Flying Fixed

- W ing Ai r craft.

22

# Assemb l y

T ail

Slide the horizontal stabilizer into the vertical stabilizer along the orange g r oove.

Make su r e not to st r ess any of the components on the tail. T u r n the plane over and insert the p r ovided tail sc r ew into the horizontal

and vertical stabilizers.

Horizontal stabilizer

Vertical stabilizer Complete tail assembly Tail assembly (underside) Tail screw

On the top of the horizontal stabilize r

, open the blue clasp at the end of the servo r od. Insert the pegs on the clasp into the open

space in the servo ho r n, and close the clasp. Slide the blue rubber ring over the clasp to secu r e it in place.

clasp

servo horn

23Wings

Attach a wing onto each side of the spa r

. Do not twist the wing

or the spar so as not to st r ess the foam. Locate the two cables inside the elect r onics compartment marked AILE. Connect these

cables to the two cables on the wings marked AILE. (Either of the wing cables can

connect to either of the plane cables; the o r der doesn ’ t matte r .)

Place the wings over the body of the Ae r o with the foam

squa r es fitted into the matching space in the elect r onics

compartment. Make su r e not to pinch the AILE cables. Locate the four large rubber bands. Use the bands to

secu r e the wings to the body of the Ae r o by the four

orange knobs on the body a r ound the wings.

Attach two of the bands to the two knobs on one of the

short sides and opposite knobs on the opposing side. Repeat on the other short side with the r emain

ing two rubber bands, r esulting in two pairs of

opposing right triangles.

1 2

3 4

24Propeller

Locate the rings inside the propeller package. Remove the ring with

the second

- largest internal diameter, and insert it into the back of the

propeller hub. Remove the nut and the washer from the motor, add the propeller with the writing on the

propeller facing towards the nose of the plane, add the washer and the nut over the propeller,

and tighten the nut.



# ··

### 25

# Controls

Fly the Ae r o manually using the RC cont r olle r

.

th r ottle

yaw pitch

r oll yaw left

yaw right T u r n left.

T u r n right.

r oll left

Th r ottle : Mov e th e lef t stic k forwa r d an d backwa r d t o cont r o l th e moto r

.

Y aw : Mov e th e lef t stic k horizontall y t o tu r n lef t an d righ t usin g th e rudde r

. Roll left.

Pitch : Mov e th e righ t stic k u p t o pitc h dow n an d dow n t o pitc h up.

Roll : Mov e th e righ t stic k lef t an d righ t t o cont r o l th e ban k angle. r oll right

Roll right.

th r ottle up

th r ottle down

th r ottle fully down Inc r ease motor speed.

Dec r ease motor

speed.

Stop moto r

. r oll and pitch center

pitch up

pitch down Automatically level.

Pitch up.

Pitch down.

26

# Modes

Auto

- fly a mission

Fly an autonomous mission. This is the mode that the Ae r o will use to c r eate the map.

Fly by Wi r e

- assisted manual control

Let the autopilot manage the cont r ol surfaces, and navigate based on whe r e you want the Ae r o

to fl y

. Fly

- by

- wi r e mode* (FBW) is the easiest way to fly and is the r ecommended mode for new

operators.

*A r duPlane mode FB W A

Retu r n to Launch ( R TL)

- recall to launch point

Command the plane to ci r cle over the launch point. The Ae r o will r etu r n to the position whe r e it

acqui r ed GPS lock and enter into a ci r cle patte r n at an altitude of 100 meters.

Loiter

- circle

Activate GPS

- positioned ci r cling; the Ae r o will enter into a ci r cle patte r n with a radius of 60 meters

at the cur r ent altitude. Move the right stick to adjust the position of the ci r cle.

Stabilize

- st

a bilized manual control

Stabilize mode p r ovides manual cont r ol with an added autopilot safegua r d: Release the right stick

and the Ae r o will automatically r etu r n to a level flying orientation. Use stabilize mode for the f r eedom

of manual cont r ol with r etu r n

- to

- level stabilization.

Manual

- full manual control

Fly with fine

- tuned manual cont r ol without autopilot assistance. Manual mode gives you the most

di r ect input to the cont r ol surfaces, r esulting in p r ecise in

- flight adjustment. T ry manual mode if

you’ r e an experienced RC plane operato r

. T o select a flight mode:

First, set the GEAR/MIX switch to select a set of modes. Then use the

FLAP/GYRO switch to 0, 1, or 2 to select a specific mode.

W ith GEAR/MIX set to GEAR,

set FLAP/GYRO to: 0 for Manual

1 for Stabilize

2 for Loiter

W ith GEAR/MIX set to MIX

,

set FLAP/GYRO to: 0 for A uto

1 for Fly by wi r e

2 for R TL

GEAR/MIX selects the set of modes.

FLAP/GYRO selects the specific mode, either 0, 1,

or 2.

RC controller (top)

27

# Arming & Disarming LED Indicators

Arming and disarming a r e important steps that must be completed befo r e

takeo f f and after landing to activate and deactivate the moto r

, r espectivel y

. Initializing, please wait

Befo r e arming, check the status LED. The LED will flash blue while

the Ae r o acqui r es GPS; this can take a few minutes. Once you see

the g r een LED, the autopilot has acqui r ed GPS lock. Acquiring GPS, please wait

Armed, GPS locked

Loss of RC signal, automatic landing

Initializing, please wait.

Acquiring GPS lock, please wait.

Autopilot r ead y

, GPS locked Low batter y

, automatic landing

Loss of GPS signal, switch to fly

- by

- w r e

Syste m er r o r

, se e t r oubleshootin g guide

T o arm the moto r

, p r ess and hold the safety button until it

displays solid r ed.

T o disarm, p r ess and hold the safety button until it displays

blinking r ed.

safety button

Inactive, motor disarmed

Active, motor armed 

# T ones

V isit 3DR.com/Ae r o

- M to listen to Pixhawk ’ s status tones.



# GPS Lock

Auto, R TL, and loiter modes r equi r es GPS lock. When powe r ed, the autopilot will

automatically sea r ch for GPS lock. The position of the Ae r o when the autopilot acqui r es

GPS will be saved as the home position, and used as the coo r dinates for the launch

point during R TL. If you plan to use auto, R TL, or loiter modes during your flight, ensu r e

that the Ae r o is located at a suitable launch point when powe r ed, and the autopilot

acqui r es GPS lock befo r e takeo f f, indicated by a blinking g r een status LED.

The arming and disarming p r ocedu r es ensu r e that you can safety start and 

# ! stop the motor without risk of injur y

.

The Ae r o ’

s motor can spin when armed! Do not place your hands in the

way of the p r opeller while the safety button is active (solid r ed).

28

# Preflight Chec k s

Befo r e each flight, perform a physical component check, center of gravity check, and cont r ol checks in both manual and stabilize

modes. If any of the components or assemblies in these checks a r e not secu r e, tighten the sc r ews or use CA glue (super glue) to

secu r e the components to the foam.

1

Examine the Ae r o to ensu r e that all components a r e secu r ed in flight configuration.



## » Check that the wings, tail, and tail boom a r e fully assembled and secu r ely attached.



## » Check that the p r opeller is secu r ed tightly to the moto r

.



## » Check that the servo r ods a r e secu r ed to the servo ho r ns with the blue clasps. 3

W ith the battery connected and the lid secu r ed, check that the Ae r o is cor r ectly

balanced for flight. Hold the Ae r o with one finger on each of the clea r

, plastic balancing

points shown belo w

. These points indicate the Ae r o ’ s center of gravit y

.

If the plane balances on your fingers, then the center of gravity is cor r ect. If

it won ’ t balance, adjust the position of the battery until you can balance the

plane on two fingers as shown belo w

.

tail ser v os wing ser v os

2

Check that the airspeed sensor is secu r ed to the side of the Ae r o and the

tube is f r ee f r om obstructions.

airspeed sensor Flying the plane without the camera will a f fect the center of gravit y

. If you

choose to fly without the camera, make su r e to r e

- balance the center of

gravit y

.

29

# Preflight Chec k s: Manual Control Check

Befo r e flying, power and arm the Ae r o on the g r ound and complete these checks to verify that the cont r ol surfaces r espond cor r ectly to the cont r ol inputs. Place

the plane on the g r ound, and set the mode switches to select manual mode. Move each of the sticks as shown, and check for the cor r esponding movement of

the motor or cont r ol surfaces.

1

Raise the th r ottle slightly until the motor spins, then

immediately set the th r ottle back to fully down position. 3

Roll left

Left aile r on tilts up, right

aile r on tilts down.

Motor spins.

Do not raise the th r ottle mo r e than just enough to spin the motor while 

# ! the plane is on the g r ound, and do not place your hands in the way of

the p r opeller while the motor is armed. Roll right

Left aile r on tilts down,

right aile r on tilts up.

2

Pitch down 4

Y aw left

Elevator tilts down. Rudder tilts left.

Pitch up Y aw right

Elevator tilts up. Rudder tilts right.

30

# Preflight Chec k s: Stabilize Control Check

Set the mode switches to stabilize, and hold the plane in f r ont of you. Move the plane as shown, and

check for the stabilization r esponse f r om the cont r ol surfaces.

1

T est: T ilt the plane left.

Result: Left aile r on tilts down, right

aile r on tilts up.

T est: T ilt the plane right.

Result: Left aile r on tilts up, right

aile r on tilts down. 2

T est: T ilt the plane down.

Result: Elevator tilts up.

T est: T ilt the plane up.

Result: Elevator tilts down.

31

# Automatic T

a k eoff Manual T a k eoff

Auto

- takeo f f works by sensing the movement of the plane and launching it in that

di r ection. Set the Ae r o to autonomous mode when you’ r e r eady to launch.

Find a launching a r ea with at least 100 feet of clear space in f r ont of you. Face into

the wind, and hold the body of the Ae r o in one hand under the center of gravit y

. Be

ca r eful not to place your hand in the way of the p r opeller!

Hold the Ae r o above your head, run, and th r ow the plane at an upwa r ds angle. The

Ae r o will sense the th r o w

, power the moto r , and climb to the altitude specified by

the takeo f f waypoint befo r e starting the survey mission.

DO NOT WIND UP YOUR THRO W ; if the Ae r o senses any backwa r ds

momentum it will attempt to launch in that di r ection. Use only forwa r d 

# ! momentum to th r ow to Ae r o! If you’ r e new to planes, we r ecommend having a friend help you launch the

Ae r o. Have your friend th r ow the Ae r o while you cont r ol the cont r olle r

.

W e r ecommend setting the Ae r o to fly

- by

- wi r e mode for takeo f f. Find a

launching a r ea with at least 100 feet of clear space in f r ont of you. Face

into the wind, and hold the Ae r o at the center of gravit y

. Raise the th r ottle

to center position to start the moto r . Be ca r eful not to place your hand in

the way of the p r opeller!

Hold the Ae r o above your head, run, and th r ow the plane at an upwa r ds

angle.

Once launched, the Ae r o will r equi r e immediate adjustment with the

cont r oller to navigate away f r om the g r ound and up to the desi r ed altitude.

Pitch up (right stick down) and add any other necessary cont r ols based on

wind, speed, and terrain.

Automatic takeo f f r equi r es you to configu r e the takeo f f angle during mission plan

ning. See page 18.

32

# Automatic Landing Manual Landing

T o land automatically at the end of the mission, the Ae r o r equi r es the

mission to be configu r ed with a specific patte r n of landing waypoints

that gradually dec r eases the altitude so that the Ae r o can land safel y

. For instructions on configuring automatic landing, see page 18. When you’ r e r eady to end your flight, follow these steps to land:



## » Fly a ci r cle patte r n above your landing a r ea.



## » Come in on a final app r oach, flying into the wind at

an altitude of 20 to 40 meters.



## » When the plane r eaches an altitude of 10 meters, set the th r ottle fully down to tu r n

o f f the motor and glide down

on a 15 to 20 deg r ee down

- pitch angle.

After stopping the motor at an altitude of 10 m, keep your thumb on the th r ottle

stick in fully down position to ensu r e 

# ! that the motor does not accidentally spin during landing.



## » When the plane is one meter above the g r ound, pitch up (fla r e) to land the Ae r o on

the body of the plane instead of the nose.



## wind di r ection

pi t ch slightly d o wn

th r ottle fully d o wn

20

- 40 m pi t ch up

10 m

1 m

33

# FPV System Operation

If you selected to r eceive an optional FPV/OSD system, the components a r e p r e

- installed

into the Ae r o to transmit on

- boa r d video.

Parts 2 Wi r e and power r eceiver

1 Charge battery A V r eceiver

Antenna

Receive r cables

Batterie s (2) T ransmitter

Batter y connector Camera Attach an antenna to the r eceive r

. Connect the A

V output cable to either r eceiver A V OUT

port. Connect the RC power cable to the r eceiver DC IN port, and attach a battery to the r ed

connecto r

.

3 P r epa r e on

- boa r d components

Charg e bot h batterie s befo r e you r firs t flight

. Se t th e charge r t o LiP o an d 1A

. Connec t the

whit e batter y connecto r t o th e 3 S port

, an d connec t th e XT60

- JS T charge r adapte r t o the

r e d batter y connecto r an d yellow

charge r connecto r

. Connect a fully charged battery to the transmitter inside the compartment in the nose of the

plane. Remove the lens cap f r om the camera.

Remove lens cap!

LiP o 1A 3 S port

4 V iewing video

When using a 3DR Black Pearl Monitor to view your video, set the mode to DIV (M button

changes modes), the channel to 8 (+ and

- buttons), and the band to E (p r ess the power

button to access the menu).

For mo r e information about configuring the FPV/OSD system, visit 3DR.com/Aero

- M

.

34

# F l ying Mapping Missions

T a k eoff Checklist

Befo r e flying the mission, check the following:

» Camera is on with mission script r eady and is secu r ed into the

mount with the mini

- USB cable connected and the cap r emoved.

» Ae r o is powe r ed and connected to the g r ound station with all p r e

- flight

checks passed.

» The survey mission has been adjusted to account for p r esent

envi r onmental conditions and saved to the Ae r o. 

# Initiating

For automatic takeo f f, set the Ae r o to auto mode and launch acco r ding to the

instructions in the Automatic T akeo f f section of these instructions (page 33).

For manual takeo f f, set the Ae r o to auto mode after takeo f f to initiate the mission

in flight.



# Monitoring

Monitor the Ae r o closely during the mission using your line of sight and the

Mission Planner Flight Data sc r een. Actions

Missio n Planne r Fligh t Data : Attitude

1 Headin g di r ection

2 Ban k angle

3 Altitud e (black ) an d rat e o f clim b (blu e bar)

4 G r oun d speed Status

1

2

3

4

1 G r oun d statio n signal

2 GP S time

3 Cur r ently

enable d mode 1

2

3

4

5

6

4 Distanc e t o cur r en t waypoin t >

cur r en t waypoin t number

5 GP S status

6 Batter y status*

Full battery: 16.8 V

Low battery failsafe: 13.8 V 1 Chang e waypoint s o r r estar t a mission

2 Chang e modes

3 Chang e altitude

Fligh t Map

1 Cur r en t heading 1

2

3

1

2

3

4

5

6

4 Actua l fligh t path

*Failsafe behavior enabled 

# ! End your flight at 14 V! 2 Di r ec t pat h t o cur r en t waypoint

3 GPS

- r eporte d di r ectio n o f travel 5 Latitude

, longitude

6 Altitude

35

# F ailsafes

The Ae r o is p r ogrammed with a set of failsafe behaviors to p r event a crash in the event of a loss of

one of the data or communication channels r equi r ed for autonomous flight. Although certain failsafe

have assigned LED indicators and tones, it is unlikely that you will be able to see these at a distance.

Monitor the Flight Data sc r een for failsafe indications. If a failsafe is trigge r ed, the assigned behavior

will activate. T

o override the failsafe behavior ( R TL in most cases), use the cont r oller to r egain manual

cont r ol.

Regaining Manual Cont r ol

T o r egain manual cont r ol during the mission, switch to fly

- by

- wi r e mode using the cont r olle r

. If you’ r e

a confident operato r

, switch to stabilize mode. If you observe instability in the Ae r o ’ s flight behavior

or it the ai r craft moves outside your designated safe flying a r ea, switch to R TL. T u r ning o f f the

cont r oller will automatically trigger an R TL and can be used in an emergency situation as a ha r d

r ecall command.

RC Cont r oller Signal Failsafe

Physical obstructions and interfe r ence f r om nearby wi r eless signals can a f fect the Ae r o ’ s connec

tion with the RC cont r olle r

.

If the Ae r o loses contact with the cont r olle r

, it will r etu r n to the launch point automatically and

enter into a ci r cle patte r n above the launch point, indicated by a blinking yellow status LED.

If the cont r oller failsafe is trigge r ed, wait for the Ae r o to r etu r n to the launch point, then r egain

manual cont r ol and either land or r estart the mission. Low Battery Failsafe

Envi r onmental conditions can a f fect power consumption. Use the Mission Planner Flight Data

display to monitor the voltage of the battery during flight.

If the battery r eaches 13.8 V

, the Ae r o will r etu r n automatically to ci r cle above the launch point,

indicated by a blinking yellow status LED and a quick r epeating tone.

36

# 3 Process

On

- Sit e Qualit y Chec k 38

Spo t Chec k 38

Downloa d Image s 38

Downloa d Lo g Fil e 39

Pix4 D Rapi d Chec k 40

Ful l P r ocessin g 40

37

# On

- Site Quality Check

Befo r e leaving the survey site, check the images using Pix4D to ensu r e sufficient quality for

mapping by downloading the images f r om the SD ca r d, downloading the log file f r om the

Ae r o, and completing Rapid Check Initial P r ocessing in Pix4D.

If you observe poor image quality or the quality r eport r etu r ns er r ors, see the Image Quality

T r oubleshooting section on page 45 and r epeat the mission.



# Spot Check ( Optional)

The quickest way to see the images after a flight is to unlock the SD ca r d and r estart the

camera. The camera will load the default Canon p r ogramming and you can select the

playback button to r eview the images. 

# Download Images

Unlock the SD ca r d and load into your g r ound station. Select the DCIM folder and locate

the folder for your flight. Copy the files into a p r oject folder on the g r ound station and

delete them f r om the SD ca r d.

playback button

SD card file structure: Download images

38

# Download Log File

Pix4D uses the GPS data f r om the Ae r o ’ s log file to geo r efe r ence the images. T o download the Ae r o ’

s

dataflash log, power the Ae r o and connect to Mission Planne r

. The download p r ocess will be faster if

you connect the mic r o

- USB cable di r ectly to Pixhawk ’ s mic r o

- USB port instead of connecting using

the g r ound station radio. (When connecting di r ectly to the Ae r o, set the rate to 115200.)

On the Flight Plan sc r een, select the D a taFlash Logs tab under the heads

- up

displa y

, and select D o wnload D a taFlash Log over M a vlink

.

Mission Planner: Flight Data heads

- up display

Mission Planner: Download Logs Program Files: Retrieve log file

The Log window shows the Ae r o ’ s r ecent flights. Select the flight for your

mission, and select D o wnload These Logs

. This will save the log file to your

computer in the location displayed under the list of flights.

T o r etrieve the log file, access your computer ’ s file structu r e under Program F iles/Mission Planner/logs/

PLANE , and select the .log file for the date of your flight.

39

# Pi x 4Dmapper Rapid Check: Create Project

1

Open Pix4D Mappe r

, and c r eate a new p r oject. 2

Select Aerial Nadir as the p r oject

type. 3

After adding the images, select F rom F ile to add the geolocation data f r om the Ae r o ’ s log file. In the

pop

- up windo w , select 3D Robotics Flight Log as the file format, and upload the dataflash log file

downloaded f r om Mission Planne r

.



# Pi x 4Dmapper Rapid Check: Initial Processing

After c r eating the p r oject, select the Local P r ocessing sc r een (P r ocess menu). Check the

option for Initial P r ocessing and Rapid Check. Uncheck all other local p r ocessing options, and

select Start.

Pix4D will generate a Quality Report that will indicate if the images a r e of sufficient quality to

c r eate a map.



# F ull Processing

T o complete full p r ocessing for the map, visit support.pix4d.com for instructions.

40

# Appendix

Aerial Imaging Concepts 42

3DR EAI 43

Image Quality T r oubleshooting 45

Operational T r oubleshooting 46

41

# Aerial Imaging Concepts

Understanding key concepts in aerial images can help you understand the mission planning p r ocess and c r eate better maps.

Distance

- Based Imaging

By default, the camera captu r es only the images r equi r ed to c r eate the map. The Pixhawk monitors the distance traveled by the ai r craft and sends a

command to the camera to captu r e an image at the distance interval specified by the camera trigger distance parameter ( CAM_TRIGG_DIST ). This

parameter is set by the Mission Planner Survey tool during survey configuration by calculating the minimum distance between images based on the

parameters specified for the survey (altitude, overlap, sidelap). This distance

- based imaging allows for mo r e p r ecise data collection, r esulting in less

images and data storage cost. Once configu r ed, the Survey tool c r eates an event at the start of the mission script (after takeo f f) to set the camera

trigger distance to the specified interval and an event at the end of the mission (befo r e landing) to r eset the camera trigger distance to 0.

Time

- Based Imaging

The camera is also equipped to captu r e images at a consistent time interval instead of using distance. This function can be useful if you want to

captu r e images over an a r ea without planning a mission. This time

- based imaging r esults in mo r e images per a r ea, and the r efo r e mo r e p r ocessing

time and storage cost. See the T rigger T ype options on page xx to enable time

- based imaging.

Overlap and Sidelap

T o captu r e images for the map, the ai r craft flies a lawnmowe r

- like patte r n in strips ac r oss the survey site. The f r ont

- to

- back overlap between

sequential images is called overlap; the side overlaps of adjacent pictu r es in di f fe r ent strips is called sidelap. The overlap and sidelap parameters

in the Survey tool (see Advanced Options page xx) determine the distance between images and the number of images to be captu r ed based on

the p r ojected g r ound a r ea that each image will cove r

, called a footprint. Inc r easing overlap and sidelap imp r oves the accuracy of the map while

inc r easing flight time and p r ocessing time.

In the Survey tool, Distance between Im a ges shows the specified

camera trigger distance that will be assigned to the mission.

Y ou can also see the p r ojected image footprint size and the

total number of images to be captu r ed. Default overlap: 50%

Default sidelap: 60%

42

# 3DR EAI

3DR EAI is based on KAP U A V Exposu r e Cont r ol Script v3.1: a g r eat open

- sou r ce p r oject for kite and

U A V aerial photograph y

.

Start and Stop Script

Ensu r e the camera is set to P (p r ogram) mode befo r e powering the camera. Upon startup, 3DR EAI

starts automatically and listens for commands f r om the autopilot, indicated by waiting for USB signal

. T o stop (and r e

- start) the script, p r ess the shutter button. The script will display INTERRUPTED when

stopped. Script Menu

The script menu allows you to change the parameters associated with the script itself, including

changing the trigger mode and adjusting exposu r e. T o open the script menu, stop the script and

select the FUNC. SET button. These parameters a r e configu r ed for the S100 and do not r equi r e

adjustment as part of standa r d operation.

Script start: waiting on USB signal Script menu

T rigger T ype

This parameter allows you to cont r ol how the camera captu r es images. T rigger type defaults to USB

for distance

- based imaging during mapping missions. For time

- based imaging, select Inte r val and

specify the length in the Shot Inte r val paramete r

.

T rigger T ype default: USB (mapping)

V ariable intervalometer: Inte r val (default to 2 seconds, specified by Shot Inte r val )

Script stopped: INTERRUPTED FINISHED

CHDK Menu

The CHDK menu contains all the standa r d options p r ovided with CHDK. T o access the CHDK menu,

stop the script and select the MENU button.

Script menu: Trigger Type

Memory Reset

If the battery is left out of the camera for too long, the camera will r eset its memor y

. T o r e

- configu r e

the camera in this case, visit 3DR.com/Aero

- M for instructions.

CHDK menu Online Resou r ces and Information

V isit 3DR.com/Aero

- M for links to updates, mo r e information about KAP U A V

, and full CHDK

instructions.

43

# Image Quality T

roubleshooting

If you observe poor image quality during the spot check or if you r eceive er r or

messages during p r ocessing, use the settings below to t r oubleshoot the image qualit y

.

Blurry Images

T o cor r ect motion blu r

, adjust the shutter speed using the T arget Tv parameter in the script menu.

T arget Tv (shutter speed) default: 1/1250

T o cor r ect moderate motion blur: Set to 1/1600.

T o cor r ect seve r e motion blur: Set to 1/2000.

Ove r exposu r e

If the images a r e ove r exposed but do not show any motion blu r

, it can be due to flying in ext r emely

bright conditions. T

o cor r ect this, set the All o w use of ND filter parameter to YES in the script menu.

All o w use of ND filter default: No

T o cor r ect ove r exposu r e: Set to Y es. Example image: motion blur Script menu: Target Tv

Example image: overexposure Script menu: ND Filter

P r ocessing Er r ors

If you r eceive er r ors f r om Pix4Dmapper r ega r ding the images, dataset, or matching points, inc r ease

the overlap and sidelap during survey configuration to imp r ove the quality of the image set.

Overlap default: 50%

Sidelap default: 60%

T o imp r ove p r ocessing: Set overlap to 60% and sidelap to 70%.

Mission Planner Survey tool Advanced Grid Options: Overlap and Sidelap

44

# Operational T

roubleshooting

No Images Captu r ed

1 If the camera did not captu r e any images during the mission, first perform a

physical inspection on the Ae r o.

Is the mini

- USB cable connected to the camera ’ s USB port? 2 T ake a distance

- trigge r ed test image on the g r ound by manually setting

the camera trigger distance parameter to 1 m.

Power the ai r craft and connect to Mission Planne r

. Select Config/

T uning and

Full P arameter List

. Change the CAM_TRIGG_DIST parameter to 1, and select

Write P arams

. Now carry the Ae r o for a few meters to see if the autopilot

triggers the camera.

Camera (side)



### A r e the AUX OUT 6 pins connected on Pixhawk?

AUX OUT 6: black (

- ), r ed (+), white (s)

Pixhawk (side)



### Is the camera battery charged? Unlock the SD ca r d to view the Canon ’ s

battery level indicato r

.

Mission Planner Full Parameter List: Set CAM_TRIGG_DIST to 1.

Camera with SD card unlocked, running Canon software

45

# 3DR Ae r o

- M Specifications

v3



### Autopilot: 3DR Pixhawk V2.4.5

Firmwa r e: A r duPlane 3.1.1

GPS: 3DR u

- blox GPS with Compass (LEA

- 6H module, 5 Hz update)

T elemetry radio: 3DR Radio v2 (915 mHz or 433 mHz)

Motors: T iger Motor A T2820

- 7 830 kV

Frame: Fixed wing

P r opellers: Gemfan 11x7

Battery: 4S 6000 mAh 35C lithium polymer

Ai r craft weight (with battery): 6.8 lbs (3 kg)

Ai r craft dimensions: 74 in (188 cm) wingspan, 51 in (129 cm) length

Case dimensions: 60.75 in x 14.5 in x 15.5 in (154 cm x 37 cm x 39 cm)

Payload capacity: 1.1 lbs (500 g)

Radio range: .6 miles* (1 km)

Flight time: 40 min*

Maximum operational wind speed: 25 mph (11 m/s)

Landing accuracy: 6.5 ft latitude x 131 ft longitude (2 m x 40 m)

Recommended flight speed: 33 mph (15 m/s)

Camera: Canon SX260 12.1 megapixel

Camera softwa r e: 3DR EAI 1.0

A r ea coverage (single flight): 250 ac r es* (1 km 2 

### )

Orthomosaic accuracy: 3

- 16 ft (1

- 5 m)

G r ound sampling distance: 2 inches per pixel* (5 cm per pixel)

Image p r ocessing softwa r e: Pix4Dmapper L T 3DR Edition ( W indows only)

*Figu r es r eflect estimated values at ideal operating conditions. Envi r onmental conditions

can affect flight time, range, a r ea coverage, and g r ound sampling distance.

# 1

3 4

2

5 6

A e r o F li g h t C hecklis t

P r efligh t

G o ou t s i d e t o a n ope n a r ea

,

an d inspec t ai r c r a f t.

» W ing s an d tai l attache d

» T ai l boo m secu r e d

» Ser v o s an d r od s secu r ed

» Ai r spee d senso r secu r ed

» P r opelle r tigh t

» T r ansmit t e r o n C onnec t

char g e d bat t er y

.

» Hol d ai r c r a f t stil l

whil e p o w erin g on.

» Secu r e lid.

» C hec k f o r balan c e d

c en t e r o f g r a v i t y

.

Chec k LE D f o r blinkin g

blu e (n o G P S ) o r blinkin g

g r ee n ( G P S l o c k e d )

.

G 

# X PS 

### P r e s s an d hol d

s a f e t y but t o n un t i l

soli d r ed.

GPS



### Chec k manua l

c on t r o l s

.

» T h r ottl e

» P i t c h u p an d d o w n

» R ol l le f t an d righ t

» Y a w le f t an d righ t Chec k au t opilo t

stabili z ation.

» P i t c h u p an d d o w n

» R ol l le f t an d righ t



# LED

Initializing, please w ait

A u t opilot r ead y

, no GPS

A u t opilot r ead y

, GPS loc k ed

Armed, r eady t o fly

L o s s of R C signal, au t omatic r eturn t o launch

Sy s t e m er r o r

, se e t r oubleshootin g guid e



# Sa f e t y But t on

Inacti v e

A cti v e, p r e s s and hold but t on t o deacti v a t e

# 1 F l i g h t C ont r o l

R C mod e 2 onl y

mo t or on

mo t or off

pi t ch d o wn

pi t ch up y a w le f t

y a w right

r oll le f t

r oll right



# F l i g h t Mode s

Spe k trum F lyS k y

W ith GEAR / MIX set t o MIX

, set FLA P / G Y R O t o:

0 f or A U T ONOMOUS

1 f or F L Y B Y WIRE

2 f or RETURN T O L A UNCH

W ith GEAR / MIX set t o GEAR

, set FLA P / G Y R O t o:

0 f or MAN U AL

1 f or S T ABILIZE

2 f or L OITER W ith AIL D /R set t o 0

, set F MODE t o:

N f or RETURN T O L A UNCH

1 f or F L Y B Y WIRE

2 f or A U T ONOMOUS

W ith AIL D

/R set t o 1

, set F MODE t o:

N f or L OITER

1 f or S T ABILIZE

2 f or MAN U AL



# P os t fligh t

P r e s s an d hol d s a f e t y but t o n

unti l blinkin g r ed.



# 2 Dis c onnec t bat t er y

.



# 3 P ow e r of f t r a n s m i t t e r

.

F o r cus t ome r s u pp o r t

, c ontac t u s a t help@3DR

. c om

o r cal l ou r suppo r t lin e a t + 1 (858 ) 2 25

- 1 4 1 4

Mond ay th r oug h F rid a y

, f r o m 8 a m t o 5 pm

, P S T

.

3DR

. c o m /

r t f

- ae r o | plane.a r dupilot

. c om

V

. B DCT0 0 3 4 ©201 4 3 D R obotics

. Al l right s r eser v ed.

# APPENDIX D

Sample Flight Log

## Advanced Drone Technol o g ies

– UAS Flight L o g

DATE UAS BATTERY FLIGHT AREA FLIGHT TIME NOTES (Client, Purpo s e of fli g ht, e t c.)

# APPENDIX E

Sample Battery Log

## Advanced Drone Technol o g ies

– UAS Battery L o g

DATE BATTERY FLIGHT TIME NOTES (Charge Ti m e , etc.)

# APPENDIX F

Sample Maintenance Log

## Advanced Drone Technol o g ies

– UAS Maintenance Log

DATE UAS ITEM (Motor s , E S C, e t c.) NOTES (mai n te n a n ce p erf o r m e d

, e t c.)

# APPENDIX G

OpenPi l o t Pr efl i ght C h ecklist

### ENV I RONMENTA L ::

□ C heck for people, animals, proper t y in the flight vicinity.

□ Notify any bystanders or nearby prope r ty owner of y o ur intentions.

□ If flying F P V, discuss flight plan with y o ur ch e ck‐ pilot.

□ If flying in controlled airspace, noti f y air s pace au t hority of y o ur int e nt i ons.

□ First Aid / Safety Kit o n ha nd, stocked, r eadily accessible, and visible t o anyone in th e area

HARDWARE / E Q U I PMENT::

== VIS U ALLY I NSP E CT THE A I RF RA ME ==

□ Cr a cks (especially in hi g h stress areas like joints)

□ Loose or d a maged s crews / fast e ners / b ands / straps / ties

□ Loose or d a maged wiring

□ Loose or d a maged c o nn ec tions (solde r

, pl u g s

, e t c)

□ In s pect pr o p mounts & screws & apply s light co u nter pressure on ar m s to c h ec k for l oosened cons t ruction

□ For F P V, in s pect/cle a n FPV and/or Gopro camera lens and en s ure that cameras are secured

□ Battery/batteries fully c h ar g ed, pr o perly s eated & secu r ed

□ Remove pr o ps and test fail‐safe be h avior (if applicable)

□ Props are s mooth a nd fr e e of damag e /defect ( c he c k b l ade, s urfac e , & h u b)

□ Tighten pr o p adapters (ca r eful not to over tight e n wh i ch may dama g e prop)

□ Ensure voltage alarm is co n nect e d

□ Ensure armin g /idle timeout is proper l y co nfigur e d (6

‐ 15 seconds is generally accep ta ble)

□ C heck whether the right m odel is selected in t he t r an s mitter (if applicable)

□ C heck y o ur RC tr a nsmitter shows the right range and centering for all sticks

□ If desired, perform range test

PR E ‐F L IGHT::

== POWER UP ==

□ B a tteries charged & secured

□ Position qu a d in a level, saf e location for t akeoff

□ For F P V, p o wer up gro u nd station, video receiver, goggles, etc

□ If using onboard video r e corder (i.e., Gopro), tu r n on camera

□ All transmitter co n trols move freely in all directions

□ All transmitter trims in its neutral position

□ All transmitter switches in correct position (typ i cally a w ay)

□ Transmitter throttle to ze r o

□ Radio t r an s mitter on

□ C o nn e c t /p o wer on batte r y to airframe

□ Ensure led i ndic a tors & au dible t o nes are all correct

□ Timer on (if applicable)

□ For F P V, ch e ck video in go g g les

□ S c a n for ne a rby people or animals

□ Stand clear

‐ aud i bly, loud l y announce the word "C L EAR!"

□ Arm flight controller

== PRE TAKEOFF ==

□ Increase t h r ottle slightly listening for a ny abnormalities

□ S h or t 20

‐ 30 second hover at 3

‐ 5 feet

(listen for a ny weird vibrations or a ny t hing that s o u n ds loose)

Version 1

. 1

# APPENDIX H

Flight Safety Procedures

# Advanced Dron e Technologies

– UA S Flight Safety Procedures

Pre

‐ Flight Safety

□ Pr e ‐Flight Safety Br i e fing  Make sure all pa r ti c ipating cre w members understand their assignments

and cre w stations  cordon off Flight Perimeter and clea r o f all non‐participating persons

□ Designate Take off / La n ding Are a  Are a c l ea r o f all non‐participating persons and clea r of all hazards

 Are a m ar k e d off

□ Complete U A S Preflight Check l ists  OpenPilot Checklist

□ Confirm all Approvals are in place BEFO R E flight begins



# Flig h t Safety

□ PIC maintain constant visual contact with the UAS and monitor flight systems

□ VO maintain constant vi s ual contact with UAS and monitor surrounding airspace a n d operations

perimeter fo r other air traffic and ground hazards

□ PIC and V O maintain constant verbal communication



# Post Flight Procedures

□ Turn off powe r to UAS

□ Turn off powe r to ground station

□ Disconnect UAS battery to prevent accidental activation

□ Inspect UAS for any damage / unusual wear ‐and

‐ tear  log in Maintenance Log if necessary

□ Secure the UAS

□ Complete Battery and Flight Logs

□ Remove all warning signs/markers from operations perimeter

□ Make all necessary i m p r ovements/repairs

□ Flight Debriefing  any changes necessary to process / documents / safety proced u r es / etc .?



# Emergenc y or Suspected Hazard

Immediately land UAS a t safest and close t ground location in the event of:

□ ANY Hardw a re or System Failure

□ ANY System Warnings

□ Low‐flying manned aircraft See n or Hear d in the vicinity of UA S operation

□ Public gathering within establish safety perimeter

□ Too many distractions affecting the PIC or VO

□ Sudden weather change (wind bursts, rain, fog, etc .)

□ Sudden increase of vehicular traffic i n vicinity of UAS operation

□ Birds flying into flight p e rimeter

□ Any other unsafe event / condition t h a t has the potential to cause collision, distraction, or interruption

of safe flight operations

THE PIC A L WAYS HAS THE DUTY TO CANCE L ANY FLIGHT I N THE EVE NT OF ANY SAFETY RELATED ISSUE