KONG FH800/PixHawk Hexacopter 

The KongCopter FH800 is in an advanced “F” Series of the KongCopter, which is well-known and used 

by many aerial photographers for its great performance and reliability. The new F series features a folding 

structure design and gimbal connection for FPV. 

The new F series KongCopter platform has been designed to provide convenience and compatibility and 

has brought an economical and superior platform for aerial filming to market. 

Specs: 

Wheelbase or motor-to-motor diagonal: 800mm 

Weight: 1200g 

Required: 

Props: 12-15inch 

Motors: support 35-50 class outer diameter motors 

ESC's: 6 x 30A 

Battery: 5000~8000mah 3~4s 

Min of 5ch Radio 

Flight Controller 
OVERVIEW 

The benefits of the Pixhawk Flight Control Unit (FCU) system include integrated multithreading, 

a Unix/Linux-like programming environment, completely new autopilot functions such as 

sophisticated scripting of missions and flight behavior, and a custom PX4 driver layer ensuring 

tight timing across all processes. These advanced capabilities ensure that there are no limitations 

to your autonomous vehicle. Pixhawk allows existing APM and PX4 operators to seamlessly 

transition to this system and lowers the barriers to entry for new users to participate in the 

exciting world of autonomous vehicles. 

The flagship Pixhawk module will be accompanied by new peripheral options, including a digital 

airspeed sensor, support for an external multi-color LED indicator and an external 

magnetometer. All peripherals are automatically detected and configured. 

Note: Pixhawk is a PPM-input autopilot, which means that it gets RC input from a single cable 

to the receiver, either via the PPM port, the Futaba S.BUS port, or the special satellite receiver 

port for Spektrum gear. Most modern RC receivers (and all those sold by 3D Robotics) allow for 

PPM output, but some, such as non-S.BUS Futaba receivers, do not. If your receiver does not 

support PPM output, please add a PPM encoder board option to your order below. 

Pixhawk includes: 

• Pixhawk autopilot 

• Buzzer 

• Safety switch button 

• 3DR power module with XT60 connectors and 6-position connector cable 

• Extra 6-position cable to connect a 3DR GPS+Compass module 

• Micro USB cable 

• SD card and adapter 

• Mounting foam 

• 3-wire servo cable 

• I2C splitter module with cable 

Features 

• Advanced 32 bit ARM Cortex® M4 Processor running NuttX RTOS 

• 14 PWM/servo outputs (8 with failsafe and manual override, 6 auxiliary, high-power 

compatible) 

• Abundant connectivity options for additional peripherals (UART, I2C, CAN) 

• Integrated backup system for in-flight recovery and manual override with dedicated 

processor and stand-alone power supply 

• Backup system integrates mixing, providing consistent autopilot and manual override 

mixing modes 

• Redundant power supply inputs and automatic failover 

• External safety button for easy motor activation 

• Multicolor LED indicator 
• High-power, multi-tone piezo audio indicator 

• microSD card for long-time high-rate logging 

Options: 

• PPM encoder for RC receivers that do not provide PPM output. 

• External USB and LED module for convenient status indicator and micro-USB port on 

your vehicle 

• Digital airspeed sensor for fixed-wing aircraft 

• Telemetry radios with one-mile range for two-way control, telemetry and datalogging via 

free mobile apps or PC/Mac/Linux ground station 

• u-blox GPS with compass (required for autonomous flight) 

Specifications: 

Microprocessor: 

• 32-bit STM32F427 Cortex M4 core with FPU 

• 168 MHz/256 KB RAM/2 MB Flash 

• 32 bit STM32F103 failsafe co-processor 

Sensors: 

• ST Micro L3GD20 3-axis 16-bit gyroscope 

• ST Micro LSM303D 3-axis 14-bit accelerometer / magnetometer 

• Invensense MPU 6000 3-axis accelerometer/gyroscope 

• MEAS MS5611 barometer 

Interfaces: 

• 5x UART (serial ports), one high-power capable, 2x with HW flow control 

• 2x CAN 

• Spektrum DSM / DSM2 / DSM-X® Satellite compatible input up to DX8 (DX9 and 

above not supported) 

• Futaba S.BUS® compatible input and output 

• PPM sum signal 

• RSSI (PWM or voltage) input 

• I

2C® 

• SPI 

• 3.3 and 6.6V ADC inputs 

• External microUSB port 
Power System: 

• Ideal diode controller with automatic failover 

• Servo rail high-power (7 V) and high-current ready 

• All peripheral outputs over-current protected, all inputs ESD protected 

Weight and Dimensions: 

• Weight: 38g (1.31oz) 

• Width: 50mm (1.96") 

• Thickness: 15.5mm (.613") 

• Length: 81.5mm (3.21") 
AUTOPILOT

QUICK START GUIDE
PARTS

1 Pixhawk

2 Buzzer

3 Safety switch 

4 Micro-SD card and adapter

5 Micro-USB cable

6 Six-wire cable x2 

 7 Power module

 8 I2C splitter module

 9 Four-position I2C splitter cable

10 Three-wire servo cable

11 Mounting foam

1 2 3 4 5 7

8 11

 MOUNT

Use the provided foam to mount Pixhawk as close as possible to your vehicle’s center of gravity. 

Make sure to orient the board with the arrow pointing forward.

Vehicle front

Attach the foam squares to the 

corners of the board.

GETTING STARTED

With the help of APM firmware, Pixhawk turns any 

RC plane, copter, or rover into a full-featured personal 

drone. Once you have a fully-assembled frame, follow 

this guide to install Pixhawk.

6

9 10

1 Mount

2 Connect

3 Load firmware

4 Calibrate

1
 CONNECT

(Required) Connect the buzzer 

and safety switch.

(Optional) Connect a 3DR 

Radio to Pixhawk’s Telem 

port using the 6-wire cable 

provided with your 3DR Radio 

Kit to receive data and 

communicate with 

the autopilot in flight. 

(GPS or GPS+Compass required)

Connect a 3DR GPS+Compass to 

provide the autopilot with positioning 

data during flight. This kit includes a 

6-wire cable to connect the GPS ports. 

Connect the MAG to the I2C port using 

the 4-wire cable provided with the 3DR 

GPS+Compass.

(Required) Connect the 3DR 

Power Module to the Power port 

using the 6-wire cable to direct 

power from your lithium polymer 

(LiPo) battery to the autopilot.

(Optional) The I2C splitter expands the I2C port to allow up 

to four additional peripherals to connect to Pixhawk. Use the 

4-wire cable to connect the I2C splitter and add a compass 

module, external LED, digital airspeed sensor, or other 

peripherals to your vehicle.

2
Connect the ground (-), power (+), and signal (S) wires to the RC 

pins using the provided 3-wire servo cable.

For a Spektrum DSM, DSM2, or DSM-X Satellite RC receiver, connect to 

the SPKT/DSM port.

CONNECT RADIO CONTROL

FOR PPM RC RECEIVERS AND FUTABA S.BUS RECEIVERS

FOR SPEKTRUM SATELLITE RECEIVERS

FOR PWM RECEIVERS

Purchase a PPM Encoder module to connect a PWM 

RC receiver to Pixhawk at store.3dr.com.

LOAD SD CARD INTO PIXHAWK

If the SD card is not preloaded into Pixhawk, insert the micro-SD card into the slot at the 

bottom end of the board.

For a complete list of RC systems compatible with Pixhawk, visit the APM wiki page here.
 LOAD FIRMWARE 

APM firmware is the brains of your autopilot operation and must be installed before using Pixhawk. 

To load firmware onto Pixhawk, install a mission planner application on your ground station computer. Choose 

either Mission Planner (Windows) or APM Planner for (Windows, OS X, and Linux). 

Both applications are available for free download from ardupilot.com.

For rovers, connect the throttle and steering 

wires to the main output signal pins.

Pin 3 = Throttle

Pin 4 = Steering

Mission planner

firmware

FOR COPTERS

FOR PLANES

FOR ROVERS

Connect each signal wire from the PDB to 

the main output signal (S) pins by motor 

number. Connect one wire for each motor 

to the corresponding pin.

Pin 1 = Motor 1 Pin 5 = Motor 5

Pin 2 = Motor 2 Pin 6 = Motor 6

Pin 3 = Motor 3 Pin 7 = Motor 7

Pin 4 = Motor 4 Pin 8 = Motor 8

For planes, connect the control channel 

wires to the main output signal pins.

Pin 1 = Aileron

Pin 2 = Elevator

Pin 3 = Throttle

Pin 4 = Rudder

CONNECT OUTPUTS

3
Download Mission Planner (Windows)

Mission Planner « Downloads

Sort by: Title | Hits | Date

■ MissionPlanner - Installer Select the installer 

package to download.

Ardupilot.com Downloads Mission Planner

After selecting the correct file, read the safety information and select Download.

Open the file to run the setup wizard. Proceed through any security warnings, and install all 

suggested drivers. When the installation is complete, open the application, and connect Pixhawk to your 

computer using the micro-USB cable. 

Your computer will automatically install the correct drivers. Do not select Connect at this time; Pixhawk can only 

load firmware while unconnected to Mavlink. 

Download APM Planner (Windows, OS X, and Linux)

APM Planner 2.0 « Downloads

Sort by: Title | Hits | Date

■ APM Planner 2.0 Mac

■ APM Planner 2.0 Windows

■ APM Planner 2.0 Linux

Select your platform to 

download.

Ardupilot.com Downloads APM Planner 2.0

INSTALL PLANNER
When prompted, follow the directions to load the firmware. Once the status bar shows that the download is 

complete, power cycle the board by disconnecting and reconnecting the USB.

If you hear a musical tone, your firmware installation is complete. If you hear a series of tones followed by three 

beeps, disconnect the USB and reconnect while holding down the safety button. Upon restart, listen for a series 

of tones followed by two beeps indicating that your firmware has loaded successfully.

beep BEEP beep... 

BEEP BEEP  Pixhawk needs your attention:

beep BEEP beep... BEEP BEEP BEEP

Everything is OK:

musical tone 

Select Initial Setup, Install Firmware, and select your vehicle.

 CALIBRATE

With Pixhawk connected to your computer, select the communication option from the drop-down menu for 

PX4 FMU, set the rate to 115200, and select the Connect icon. Select Initial Setup and Mandatory Hardware to 

access the calibration wizards. 

Remove propellers before performing calibration. !

4
SELECT FRAME TYPE (COPTERS ONLY)

CALIBRATE COMPASS

Select the options to enable the compass; to allow automatic declination 

calculation; and to specify Pixhawk. Select Live Calibration to launch the wizard, 

and follow the prompts.

Show Me

videos demonstrating live calibration techniques at 3dr.com/learn.

For copter, select your frame orientation. 
CALIBRATE ACCELEROMETER

SELECT FLIGHT MODES

4

5

6

RC CALIBRATION

left stick

right stick

Select Accel Calibration, check the box for AC 3.0+, select Calibrate, and 

follow the prompts to calibrate Pixhawk’s accelerometer. Make sure to wait a 

couple of seconds before and after changing the positions of the vehicle.

Select Radio Calibration to teach Pixhawk to work with your RC 

transmitter. Turn on your transmitter, select Calibrate Radio, and move 

all sticks and switches to their extreme positions. Select Click when Done

once the red bars are set for all available channels.

Move each switch on your transmitter to its available positions. The mission 

planner will indicate the currently selected position with green highlighting. Select 

a mode for each switch position, and select Save Modes to assign.
LED MEANINGS

Flashing red and blue: initializing. Please wait.

Double flashing yellow: error. System refuses to arm.

Flashing blue: disarmed, searching for GPS. Autonomous, loiter, and return-to-launch 

modes require GPS lock.

Flashing green: disarmed, GPS lock acquired. Ready to arm. Quick double tone when 

disarming from the armed state.

Solid green plus single long tone: armed and ready to fly!

Flashing yellow: RC failsafe activated.

Flashing yellow plus quick repeating tone: battery failsafe activated.

Flashing yellow and blue plus high-high-high-low tone: GPS glitch or GPS failsafe 

activated.

Quick, constant blinking: performing system check. Please wait.

Solid: ready to arm. Proceed to the arming procedure.

Intermittent blinking: system ready. Press the safety button to activate.

SAFETY SWITCH MEANINGS

Learn more

about LED meanings and buzzer tones at 3dr.com/learn.
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

1 Spektrum DSM receiver

2 Telemetry (radio telemetry)

3 Telemetry (on-screen display)

4 USB

5 SPI (serial peripheral interface) bus

6 Power module

7 Safety switch button

8 Buzzer

 9 Serial

10 GPS module

11 CAN (controller area network) bus

12 I

2

C splitter or compass module

13 Analog to digital converter 6.6 V

14 Analog to digital converter 3.3 V 

15 LED indicator

PORTS

1 2

3 4

1 Input/output reset button

2 SD card

3 Flight management reset button 

4 Micro-USB port

1 2

ground

power

signal

1 Radio control receiver input

2 S.Bus output

3 Main outputs

4 Auxiliary outputs

3 4
Processor

32-bit ARM Cortex M4 core with FPU

168 Mhz/256 KB RAM/2 MB Flash

32-bit failsafe co-processor

Sensors

ST Micro 16-bit gyroscope

ST Micro 14-bit accelerometer/magnetometer

MEAS barometer

MPU6000 accelerometer/magnetometer

Power

Ideal diode controller with automatic failover

Servo rail high-power (7 V) and high-current ready

All peripheral outputs over-current protected, all 

inputs ESC protected

Interfaces

5x UART serial ports, 1 high-power capable, 2x with 

HW flow control

Spektrum DSM/DSM2/DSM-X Satellite input

Futaba S.BUS input and output

PPM sum signal

RSSI (PWM or voltage) input

I

2

C, SPI, 2x CAN, USB

3.3 and 6.6 ADC inputs

Dimensions

Weight 38 g (1.3 oz)

Width 50 mm (2.0”)

Height 15.5 mm (.6”)

Length 81.5 mm (3.2”)

SPECIFICATIONS

IMPORTANT NOTE

SUPPORT

For more information about Pixhawk and other documentation, visit 

3dr.com/learn. For more instruction on using APM firmware and 

planner software, visit ardupilot.com.

For customer support, contact us at help@3dr.com or call our 

support line at +1 (858) 225-1414 Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, PST.

Please note that these instructions describe basic setup for Pixhawk and do not represent the 

complete set of configuration procedures required to build a copter, plane, or rover. 

For more information on ESC calibration, battery monitoring, failsafes, mode descriptions, 

and more, visit ardupilot.com. Do not operate your vehicle without a complete understanding 

of the online instructions.
Operating a powered vehicle of any kind can be a lot of fun, but it carries certain inherent risks. Regulations 

governing the use of powered vehicles, including aircraft, vary from locale to locale, even within the same country 

or district. It is your responsibility to ensure that you understand and comply with all local laws and regulations.

Safety basics:

•	 Never operate the vehicle or software in a way that could be dangerous to you, other people, or property.

•	 Always keep propeller arcs free of objects and body parts while the vehicle is live.

•	 Keep in mind that software and hardware failures happen. Although we design our products to minimize 

such issues, you should always operate with the understanding that a failure could occur at any time and 

without warning. Accordingly, you should take the appropriate precautions to minimize danger in case of 

product failure.

•	 Never use the software or hardware for manned vehicles.

•	 Always operate within local laws and regulations.

•	 Do not operate the aircraft if you are under the age of 18. 

Additional safety information:

•	 Be sure to maintain safe distances between people and your aircraft. 

•	 Never operate your aircraft if your ability to do so with the utmost attention to safety is impaired in any 

way. Do not operate your aircraft while tired, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or otherwise unable to 

operate it with the highest attention to safety. 

•	 Environment conditions can change rapidly and can make operation difficult. If this occurs, land your aircraft 

and discontinue use immediately. Do not operate your aircraft if operating conditions are not ideal. This 

includes, but is not limited to, rain, snow or excessive wind.

•	 Always ensure the battery cable is disconnected from the aircraft until you are ready to fly, and ensure that 

your batteries are fully charged prior to use.

•	 Always turn on the transmitter and ensure the throttle stick is all the way down before connecting the 

battery.

•	 After landing, disarm your vehicle immediately and disconnect the battery cable.

•	 Do not turn off the transmitter until after you have disconnected the battery.

•	 Always remove the propellers while testing the motors.

•	 When the battery is connected, always assume the vehicle is live and the motors are armed.

•	 Do not attempt to fly longer than the battery’s safe capacity.

•	 Do not operate the vehicle with excess weight attached.

•	 Ensure that all vehicle components are well maintained before each flight. Ensure that components are 

firmly attached and operating properly. 

•	 Replace any worn or damaged components before each flight. Never operate with any damaged or worn 

components.

•	 SAFETY IS THE FIRST PRIORITY. Take all precautions necessary to ensure your own safety as well as the 

safety of other people and property.

SAFETY
DISCLAIMER

THE LIMITED WARRANTIES APPLICABLE TO 3D ROBOTICS-BRANDED HARDWARE CAN BE FOUND AT 

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ROBOTICS MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTIES FOR 3D ROBOTICS-BRANDED PRODUCTS, AND MAKES 

NO WARRANTIES WHATSOEVER FOR SERVICE, SOFTWARE, MAINTENANCE OR SUPPORT FOR NON-3D 

ROBOTICS-BRANDED PRODUCTS. SUCH PRODUCTS, SOFTWARE, SERVICES, MAINTENANCE OR SUPPORT 

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IN 3D ROBOTICS’ APPLICABLE WARRANTY IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF THE INVOICE, PACKING SLIP OR 

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ANY KIND CONCERNING THE HARDWARE, EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, 

INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OF TITLE, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A 

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FROM THE USE OF THIS PRODUCT.

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OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE.

Pixhawk Kit User Guide V8 © 3D Robotics, Inc. 20 March 2014