Before you use the Trimble® UX5 launcher, make sure that you have read and 

understood all safety requirements in this guide. 

This guide explains how to:

• Prepare the launcher.

• Use the launcher to launch the Trimble UX5 aerial imaging rover.

• Disassemble the launcher.

TRIMBLE UX5 LAUNCHER

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Before you head out 

to the fi eld

Make sure the launcher bag 

contains the following items:

• Safety pin.

• Launch dock with lock 

pin.

• V-support.

• Crank.

• Launch slide with elasti cs.

• Trimble UX5 Launcher 

Quick Start Guide (this 

document)

QUICK START GUIDE
2. Secure each secti on of the launch 

slide by lift ing the appropriate 

handle and hooking it into the 

next secti on of the launch slide. 

Close the handles. 

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3. Unfold and secure the V-support 

with the lock pin.

To att ach the V-support to the 

launch slide, make sure the 

knob is pointi ng to the left and 

then insert the V-support pins 

in the reserved holes, situated 

approximately 2/3 of the length 

of the launch slide. Turn the knob 

to the right to ti ghten.

Assembling the launcher

You are prompted to prepare the launcher during the fl ight checklist.

1. Unfold the launch slide.

C CAUTION – Take care when unfolding the launch slide as there are sharp edges that 

can cause fi nger cuts.
4. Pull the ends of the launcher cord out of the launch slide so that the cord 

lies on top of the launch slide.

Note – If the launcher cord is blocked while the elasti cs are not ti ghtened, pull 

the release handles upward to unblock them.

C CAUTION – Never push the release handles when there is tension on the launcher 

cord. You will damage the elasti cs. If there is tension on the launcher cord, see step 1 of 

“Disassembling the launcher.” 

5. Positi on the launch dock on the end of the launch slide with the tabs on the 

launch dock pointi ng toward the directi on of launch.

6. Slide the launch dock over the ends of the launcher cord. 

7. To att ach the ends of the launcher cord to the launch dock, remove the lock 

pin from the launch dock and then slide the lock pin through the holes in the 

launch dock, att aching the ends of the launcher cord as you do so. Secure 

the lock pin.

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8. Slide the launch dock over the hook at the beginning of the launch slide. 

Make sure the launch dock clicks into positi on and the trigger is not blocked.

9. Insert the safety pin into the launch dock.

C WARNING – Always keep the safety pin inserted in the launch dock. Remove the 

safety pin only just before launch. Early removal of the safety pin can result in accidental 

release of the launcher, causing serious personal injury and damage to the UX5 or 

launcher.

C CAUTION – Never launch without the UX5 sitti ng on the dock as it will damage the 

launch dock. The design of the launcher takes into account the weight of the UX5 sitti ng 

on the launch dock.

10. Positi on the launcher at the planned takeoff locati on, with the launch 

directi on pointi ng into the planned takeoff directi on.

11. Make sure the takeoff locati on is free of obstacles:

• From 0 m to 50 m (164 ft ): No obstacles within 30° to the left and right.

• From 50 m to 280 m (164 ft to 919 ft ): No obstacles above the 15° safety 

angle and within 25 m (82 ft ) lto the left and right of the launch directi on.

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Placing the UX5 onto the launcher

1. Positi on the UX5 at the front of the launch dock and use your fi nger ti ps to 

guide the launcher slats on the underside of the UX5 onto the lips of the 

launch dock.

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2. Use the arti fi cial horizon indicator in the Aerial Imaging soft ware to check 

the pitch and roll of the UX5 on the launch dock:

The pitch angle should be between 20° and 30° and the roll angle should be 

between -5° and 5°. The horizon should be positi oned parallel to the UX5 on 

the arti fi cial horizon indicator. 

If you need to adjust the horizon, repositi on the launcher.

C WARNING – Take care to ensure the UX5 is correctly positi oned on the launch 

dock. An incorrect positi on can result in launch failure, causing serious personal injury 

and damage to the rover or launcher. 
Removing the safety pin

Positi on yourself behind the launcher, reach carefully under the UX5 and then 

pull out the safety pin.

C WARNING – Always take care to avoid contact with the propeller blades. If the UX5 

receives a sudden shock while armed, the motor can unexpectedly start causing the 

propeller blades to move. Contact with moving propeller blades can result in serious 

personal injury.

Tightening the launcher cord elasti cs

1. Insert the crank onto the nut located toward the front end of the launch 

slide.

2. Stretch the launcher cord using the crank. In normal circumstances, the node 

between the cord and elasti c should be in the middle of the hole numbered 

“4” on the launcher. 

C CAUTION – The launcher cord stretches with every launch. When you can 

easily reach the last hole when ti ghtening the cord, replace the launcher cord to 

prevent unsuccessful launches or damage to equipment. For more informati on, click 

Maintenance in the Home screen

3. Remove the crank.

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Launching the UX5

Once you have armed the system, the software prompts you to launch the 

aircraft.

1. Just before launch, perform the following safety checks:

• Make sure there are no aerial objects inside the zone of operation.

• Make sure you have a clear line of sight to the UX5.

• Make sure there are no obstacles or people near the front of the 

launcher. 

C WARNING – Make sure you complete each of the safety checks listed at this 

step. Failure to do so could result in serious personal injury and damage to the UX5 or 

launcher.

2. When you have made sure that everything is clear in front of, above, and 

behind the launcher, stand behind the launcher and press the launch handle 

to launch the UX5.

C CAUTION – Never launch without the UX5 sitting on the dock as it will damage the 

launch dock. The design of the launcher takes into account the weight of the UX5 sitting 

on the launch dock.

3. If an obstacle such as a person or animal suddenly appears in the obstacle 

clearance zone during takeoff, tap the FTS icon in the Aerial Imaging 

software. The UX5 immediately powers down and returns to the ground. 

For more information, refer to the Trimble UX5 Aerial Imaging Solution User 

Guide.

After launch, the UX5 flies to the first waypoint, which is highlighted in the 

Dashboard tab. If the UX5 is not yet at the flight height when it reaches this 

point, it climbs in circles of 100 m radius until it reaches the desired height.

4. After launch, release the tension on the launcher cord. Leaving tension 

on the launcher cord for extended periods can damage the elastics. See 

“Disassembling the launcher.” 

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www.trimble.com P/N UX-D00106-01

UX-D00106-01

© 2013-2015, Trimble Navigation Limited. All rights reserved. Trimble and the Globe and Triangle logo are trademarks of 

Trimble Navigation Limited, registered in the United States and in other countries. All other trademarks are the property 

of their respective owners. Translation of the original instructions. Revision D (February 2015).

Disassembling the launcher

1. Release the tension on the launcher cord, if you have not already. 

To release the tension, release the force with the crank very gently while 

pulling the release handles in the front of the launcher upward. This is safest 

done with two people, with one person carefully winding the crank counterclockwise to counteract the force on the elastics. 

2. Remove the lock pin on the launch dock and detach the launcher cord.

3. Using the crank, tighten the launcher cord so that most of the cord is in the 

launch slide but the end remains out. Remove the crank.

4. Slide the launch dock off the front of the launch slide.

5. To detach the V-support, turn the knob upward and then slide the pins out 

of the holes in the launch slide. Remove the lock pin on the V-support to fold 

the legs and then reinsert the lock pin.

C CAUTION – Take care when folding the V-support legs not to jam or cut fingers. 

6. Open the handle fixes on the launch slide and fold the launch slide.

7. Return all of the launcher items to the launcher bag.

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