# TBS DISCOVERY PRO Quadrotor t multiiotor perfect for 'eoytxipsiffrs Durable and crash r< amateur and pro ae: Rcvision201S-0S-26 The TBS DISCOVERY PRO gimbal frame is the perfect too! for amateur and pro aerial videographers. Sporting afully stabilized, vibration isolated camera gimbal it is the most powerful, compact, robust and versatile "take anywhere" quadrocopter forfifming available to d3te. Ali the wiring is integrated into the frame, the copter is easyto build and outperforms similar quads in terms of FPV range, flight time and video link quality.

By implementing the wiring into the frame, the copter Is easy to build and outperforms similar quads in terms of FPVrange and video link quality. The DJ1FlamewheeI arms aspredetermined breaking point protect your electronics and are easily replaceable in the field. Features • Integrated brushfess gimbal & controlboard(plug &play!) • Built-in camera switch {GoPro live-out and pilot's camera) • Frame acts as power distribution board • Readyfor long range FPV • TBS CORE (On Screen Display) with digital current sensor • Lightweight anodized CNC aluminum gimbal • Custom Gimbal IMU board • Tried and provenframe design - based on the world's most popularFPVquad! • Integrated brushless gimbal controller (BaseCam) 

## Before we begin Thank you for buying aTBS product! The TBS DISCOVERY PRO is a new multirotor aircraft from Team BlackSheep (TBS)for hobbyist, semi-pro and pro aeria! videographers. It features the best design practices available on the market to date, providing great flying stability and incredible FPVcharacteristics. Please read this manual carefully before assembling and flying your newTBS DISCOVERY PROquadrotor. Keepthis manual for future reference regarding tuning and maintenance. 

### Disclaimer Our request to you; the aircraft may not be used to infringe on people's right toprivacy. We have designed a toy with mind blowingcapabilities. Itis your responsibility to use it reasonably and according to your experience level. Use common sense. Flysafe.You are on your own. TBS has no liability for use of this aircraft.Locate an appropriate flying location Obtain the assislance ofan experienced pilot Practice safe and responsible operation Always be aware of the rotating blades Prevent moisture Keep awayfrom heat or excessive amounts ofsunlight

,T9S DISCOVERYPRO S23f i ICATBSDiSCOVEftYPRD



## Specifications Parts list Thefollowing specifications are for the normal TBS DISCOVERY PRO. Long Range hardware will bedifferent. Before building your TBS DISCOVERY PRO, make sure the following items are included inyour kit. Type: Asymmetric spider quadrotor Airframe: Reinforced black fiberglass (rear top RFtransparent, bottom PDB) Battery: 4S (14.8V) 3300 to 4500mAh LiPo pack, max. 31 x47 x 1S7mm Propellers: 9x5-inch or 10x5-inch (2xCW, 2xCCW) Motor: 2216 class, ~900kV, 180-220W, 16x19mm mount pattern Speed controllers: 18 to 30A 400Hz Multirotor ESCs Receiver: 6 channels or more, 8channels recommended Flight controller: Standard quadcopter controller with optional GPS module Currentsensor: SOAon-board Camera gimbal: GoPro HD Hero1/2/3 supported, 2-axis, roll and tilt stabilization Gimbal controller: BaseCam 12V, tied to COREto auto-switch profiles, G82208-80 motors Center of Gravity: 15mm in front of Center of Thrust mark Duration: 8to 13min (dependent on drive train and battery system) Distance: up to 4km range (and return) Attitude: up to 1.5km / 5000ft All-up-weight: 1500 to 2Q00g 

## Required tools
« Hex <A)/en) screwdrivers (0.9mm, 3,5mm, 2.0mm, 2.5mm) • Soldering iron (SOto 100W recommended) • Solder (SnMPb40or Sn^Pb^Agj, multicore flux) • Propeller balancer (recommended) Therewill be some soldering required toconnect the speed controllers, battery lead, R/C header and CORE voltage configuration for the video transmitter and camera. We offer most of the following items on our website individually or as part of anAlmost-Ready-to-Fly(kRF) kit. The equipment and parts we offer has been truly tried-and-tested to meet our standards for an excellent flight experience. But you can of course replace these with equal components or ofsimilar type. 1xTop frame plate 1x Sottom frame plate 1x Gimbal IMU board

1x GoPro link card 1x Pilot camera mount plate 

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7x Red aluminum spacers

1x Battery pigtail 14AWGwith XT60 connector 

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2xVTx and camera Molex Picoblade cables 

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4x Black Molex 1.25 Picoblade cables

3x Pin headers for R/C and RSSI connections 4x Hex screws bags (M2.5x5, M3x6.S, M2.5x6, M3x4+M2x6+M2x12) 10x Black anodized aluminium gimbal parts

1x Gimbal bearing 2x Gimbal motors 

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25x Orange/Red/Green gimbal dampeners |TBS DISCOVERYPRO 4 DiSCOVEHYPRO

## Required parts Build guide Toget in the air the following equipment and parts are needed for assembly. 

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4x DJi Flame Wheel arms 4x 400Hz Multirotor Speed Controller 18-30A 4x 900kV brushless motors (incl. prop adaptor and mounting screws)

4x 9x5 or 1OxS-inch propellers (2xCW, 2XCCW) 1x4S 3300 to 4500mAh LiPo battery 

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1x Multicopter (light controller

1x R/C receiver (6-channels or more, 8-channets preferred) 

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1x R/Ctransmitter (6-channels or more, 8-channeispreferred) 1x LiPo battery charger

1x Pilot camera (32x32mm) 

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1x HD recording camera (GoPro HD Hero 1/2/3) A.

IxVideo transmitter

txEquippedground station 3x Velcro straps - nowincluded! Other essential parts: IxThreadlock (purple/blue) low strength 20xZip-ties 2x Self-adhesive foampads 

# 0 TBSDISCOVERYPRO The TBS DISCOVERY PROcomes in the usual quality finish and plug & play style the TBS DISCOVERY line is famous for. The essentials are fully integratedon the plates, to make the final assembly as easyas humanly possible. No separate boards, wire spaghetti, purchasing stufffrom multiple sources or components that don't match. Itis al! in the box,just take it out, mount the ESCs, motors and props, aflight control and you are ready to shoot videos.
estto use OSD module. Clean data Clutter-free, permanently visible, 2ero ost robust and secure solution for on TBS cons The CORE haswon overthe FPVenthusiasts worldwide and asthe e; layout and only the most important information presented on scree wires for installation, and nicely tucked away under atin shield. The screen telemetry. Features: • Accurate flight pack voltage and mAh consumption display • Reliable power supply for FPVcamera and transmitter • Flight time shown once a minute • Display RSS1(R/C signal strength) from all major UHF systems and some regular R/Csystems • Single battery FPVsystem - less chance offailure! Atthe heart of theTBS DISCOVERY PROsits a new CORE integrated into the frame. Itprovides a rudimentary OSD and clean power distribution to the FPV camera (user installed), video transmitter (user installed), gimbal electronics, IMU board and gimbalmotors, regardless of input voltage (2S-10S). It delivers up to 2A at 5V and 0.65A at 12V, though the 12V rail is powered from the 5V part to support awide input voltage range, so make sure to leave enough headroom when picking gear. Ifyou need more power than that you have to power your equipment (e.g.VTx, camera, LEDs) separate from another power source (supply pads +/- on bottom frame and/or additional voltage regulators)! Theframe includes a50A current sensorwhich is connected directly to the CORE, if you are planning to fly with UHF,we made sure to coverthe COREwith a tin shield to isolate the CORE nicely from the rest of the electronics on frame. Configuring the CORE is made easyvia the readily available buttons on the top plate. This means that CORE is neatly tucked away and protected under the tin shield, while making changes can be done with afew button presses. Note: Ifyou cfraw more current than provided, the OC-DC boardwill shut down due to overheat/ overcurrent protection! This might occurwhen powering a powerfulvideo transmitter. When that happens, you will not damage your DCDC but be aware that the video link/gimbal will experience drop-outs during this period. Test it on the groundfor several minutes before you maiden your PROwithequipment other than TBS recommended gear.

TBSDISCOVERYPRO

Frame layout TheTBSOfSCOVER PROframe is designed to reduce wiring and clutter. With simplicityin mind, weput all the electronics for the CORE, brushless camera gimbal and camera switching nicely integrated onto the top and bottom plates. All connections for the brushless gimbal motors, gimbalIMU and GoProfeed is plug&play. Calibrating the gimbal and configuring the CORE is made easily accessible via 4 push-buttons. A plate-to-plate bottom link connector shares the required power and signals between theplates. There are also two blue LEOsto indicate the state of the COREant) gimbal controller.There is even aspecial E2UHF "OSD Link" connector for extended R/C uplink stats on the video display.

With the advent of PPM compatible receivers and flight controllers, setting up a multirotor was made reaily easy;just plug in asingle cable into the flight controller. PPM essentially stacks all the channels after another in asequentially stream requiring only one hardware pin, while the traditional PWM channels all requireits own dedicated hardware pin. The advantage of PPM really becomes apparent when paired up with additional controllers (e.g., gimbal.) By sharing the same PPM output, acontroller can demux only the needed channels, for instance aflight controller can demux channel 1 to 4 for R/C control, while agimbal controller can use channel Sand 6for tilt/roll. Compared to traditional PWM, this removes Sservo-cables from the system and really simplifies the build process. Vibration free rcKordmgs The TBS DISCOVERYPRO is designed with a new vibration damping systemwhere the gimbal rests on an array of 8+2 silicone mounts to form a push-pull compression system. This eliminates vibrations from propagating to the gimbal frame and HD camera. We provide 5 rounds of damping balls (soft, medium, hard, harder, extra hard)) which are interchangeable and mixable to support awide range of setups ancfscenarios.Afate addition to the damping systemwas a lever arm on the back ofthe roll motor to reduce slow oscillatingjolts from showing on the HDfootage.

Think ofthe entire damping layout as accumulating hardness. The green damping balls are the softest, red the medium and orange the hardest. Vary between the colors and layouts, keeping the left and right half of the gimbal symmetrical to find the system that works for you. Top and bottom do not need to remain identical. TBScan only ensure proper operation with the T8S-approved setup: 90QkV motors, 9xS Graupner propellers, TBs BULLETPROOF ESCs.All other layouts are subject to optimization. Use the provided dampingballs to experiment to find an optimal combination. With a bit it testing, you will be able to get the "jello'-effect out of any setup. The drivetrain should be balanced and tracking before trying to reconfigure the dampingballs. The primary culprit for vibrations are unbalanced propellers, followed closely by unbalanced motors/shafts and bad bearings. Fortunately, balancing themis a relativelyeasy(ask. T8S is ottering a Prop Balancerfor this purpose and more details on how to perform the procedure, please see our support forum section atl.ong photography Team SlackSheep are the undisputed kings of long range FPV.With the TBS DISCOVERY PROyou can make camera shots that rival those of real helicopters. You can chase BMX drivers down an entire slope. Youcan film boats and yachts from the shore. You can shootbreathtaking action scenesfrom the director's seat! Sinceyou're piloting from the camera view, your skill is the limit. We offer 2 basic setups, eachwith their different flavors of ranges. TheTBS 5.8GHz FPVsystem gives you ranges between 500m (25mW) to 3km (GOOmW). Please make sure your 2.4GHz R/C can match this distance! Tofly further, we offer the EzUHFTx & Rx long range control system and the Lawmate 2,4GHz long range video system. Compatible with all remote controls! With the 11 dBi Yagi ranges of 10km or more are easily achieved. The battery life now isyour limit,



### choice* Frequency choice depends on the ranges you want to fly. Using 5.8GHzvideo is an ideal frequency if you do not pfan on flying far away from yourself or behind objects. Jtis compatible with 2.4GH* remote controls. Using 2.4GHzvideo (TBSvideo frequency of choice)will give you nearly unlimitedrange and far superior link quality, but you can not use your 2.4GHz remote control on the same quad because of limited separation(it is no problem for our R/C buddies to f(ywith 2.4GHz remote control; next to you though!). Youwillneedan EzUHFor any other UHF control system available on the market. 1.2GHzworks very well in urban environmentswhere the 2.4GHz band is completely polluted. frequencies, the TSSeco-system allows quick and By using the same connector type across all effortless switching between the frequencies. Typical ranges (based on customerfeedback)with omnidirectional antennas: • Lawmate 2.4GHz 500mW - 4km • TBS5.8GHz 2SmW-400m • TBS 5.8GHz 200mW- 1.4km • Boscam/Foxtech/HobbyKing 5,8GHz SOOmW- do IVOT buy, baddesign! • Boscarn/Foxtech/HobbyKing 5.8GHz4G0mW • 2.5km • ImmersionRC S.8GH2 600mW - 2.5km More range can be achieved by usinghigher gain (directional)antennas. With the t IcfBi TSSYagi on500mW lawmate 2.4GHz gear, 10km of range is no problem at all. Thebattery normally only lasts for 8km offlight (4km and return.) Vfdeio Another great feature of the TBS DISCOVERY PRO is the ability to switch the video feed between the live FPV pilot camera and the gimbal camera. Fly through the FPVcamera to line yourself up for ashot and then switch to the GoProfootage to position the camera (2-axis). Depending 011i(it is acloseflying area or wide open field, switch back to the FPVfeed to maneuver the quadcoptor. Pay attention when flying through the GoProfeed because the gimbal will make it hard tojudge the quad's attitude and flying direction. Switching the video feed is done through adedicated R/C channel on the receiver. Similarly, one or two slider switches on your R/Ctransmitter allows control over the 2-axis gimbal. Connect aservo-cablefrom the R/C receiverto the designated connectors on the top plate ofthe frame. Electronics installation The electronics installation is split into two sections; one for the R/C equipment and the second for the FPV gear. We recommend finishing and dry-testing the R/C system before movingan to the FPVsection to simplify troubleshooting. A detailed overview diagram ofthe electronics installation is available asan appendix to this document. (^Top plate (5) Bottom plate (s) Frame arms ©WC receiver @ Flight controller @ Brusliiess motors Speedcontrollers (S) Battery (9) Integrated COREand gimbal controller ^0) firushless gimbal (fi) Pilot camera (u) Video transmitter {T^ HD recording camera Before adding the equipment to the frame it is agood idea to become familiar with the recommended positioning of the equipment, asshown in the image above.



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## TBSDISCDVIRYPRO t IpyyimtaI QUiiccplei Electronics Installation 

## Choosing the right setup Jfyou arejust getting into the holjby and you have absolutely nothing, consider the following components to buy. Use these suggested setups as a"shopping list"if you arejust getting started. Any existinggearyou already own (e.g. remote controls,chargers, batteries) can be usedwith the TBS DISCOVERY PRO. These setups, with the exception of theCamera Tripod and the Remote Control, are available from Team SlackSheep. Remote controls can be purchased at your local hobby shop, camera tripods are availablefrom big electronics wholesalers or Ebay. 

### TBS DISCOVERY PRO setup for short range flights • Expected flight time; 10-12 min • Approximate cost: US$2'350 - US$ 2750 • Experience level: 8eginner to Expert • Ideal for; Parks, R/C clubs, front lawns R/C transmitter/receiver: Graupner MX-12 2.4GHz radio with bundled receiver (GR-6) or Futaba 8FG/ 7C2.4GHz radio with included receiver (R6208S8/ R617FS) Quadrotor equipment: 4x DjI Flame Wheel F450 arms 4xTBS BULLETPROOF 30A SVSBECspeed controllers 4xTBS 900kV2 brushless motors 4x Graupner E-Prop 9x5-inch propellers 1x DjI NAZA-Mflight controller (optional GPSadd-on) Battery: TBS4S (14.8V) 3300mAh *4500mAh 3SC Lipo pack Battery charger: Graupner Ultramat 14S (premium) orTBS B6AC SOW (budget) FPVtransmitter: TBS ROOKIE BOSCAM 5.8GHz 200mWvideo transmitter FPV receiver: TSS RCS08 5.8GHzvideo receiver or Dominator 5.8GHz module FPV pilot camera; TBS59 or T8S 69 FPVcamera FPV goggles: FatShark Dominator video glasses HO camera: GoPro HD Hero 3 Black edition Ground station accessories: TBS3SSOOOmAh Ground Station Lipo Camera Tripod to mount your gear (e.g. Cullmann Primax 150)

|TBS DISCOVERYPRO

### TBS DISCOVERY PRO setup for long range flights • Expected (light time: 10-12 mm

. Cost range: US$2'500 - US$ 3'000 • Experience level: Expert • Ideal for: Long,wide open (ields, plains, coastlines and valleys or urban flying R /Ctransmitter/receive*; Futaba 8FG/7C or Graupner MX-12 radio • E2UHF433MHz transmitter module and SRH-771 UHF antenna + EzUHF Lite 8-channel 433MH: receiver Quadrotor electronics: 4x TBS8ULLETPROOF 30A 5V SBECspeed controllers 4x T8S 900kV2 brushless motors Ax GraupnerE-Prop 9x5-inckpropellers 1x Ojl NAZA-Mflight controller (optional GPSadd-on) Battery: TBS4S (14.8V) 3300mAh - 4500mAh 35C Llpo pack Battery charger: Graupner Ultramat 14S (premium) orTBS B6AC 80W (budget) FPVtransmitter: Lawmate 2.4GHz SOOmWVideo Tx (stock ortuned) FPV receiver: Lawmate 2.4GH2Video Rx (stock or tuned) with 11dBi Yagi FPV pilot camera: T8S 59 or TBS69 FPV camera FPV goggles: FatShark Dominator video glasses HD camera: GoPro HD Hero 3 Black edition Ground station accessories: TBS3SSOOOmAh Ground Station Lipo Camera Tripod to mount your gear (e.g. Cullmann Primax 150) 

### Camera gimbal assembly Start by assembling the brushless gimbal. There are afew stepswhich requires extra attention to detail in order to get the desired silky smooth operation of the gimbal. These are outlinedin the following sections.

Vibration dam^infs system Start by inserting the damping balls o the main mounting plate later on. ithe mounting plate and frame brackets. This makes if
The kit includes 35 damping balls ofvarying elasticity. Play around with different combinations to find an optimal match which opposes/absorbs the vibrations from the frame, in genera!it is recommended to go as hard as possible up to the stagewhere vibrations/"jello" beginto propagate. The harder you go on the front mounting brackets, the softer you can go on the back lever plate. A list ofsuggested combinations are available below. O - soft silicone (5) O - medium silicone (10) O : - hard silicone (10) O • harder silicone (5) O Black-extra hard silicone (S)


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• On the main mounting plate,the cable for the motor will exit on the top notch and the plate needs to be oriented accordingly. Four ofthe top damping balls will faceforward (toward the gimbal) holding the mounting bracket to the top frame, while the bottom four damping balls will point the opposite direction (backward) and hold thebottom end of the mounting bracket. This creates the ideal push-pull compression state where the gimbal rests nicely on the damping balls and allows them to operate under ideal conditions. • Start out by using the recommended damping layouts shown below and experiment. GoPro HO Herol and GoPro HD Hero2 Alternative #1 Alternative #2



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GoPro HD Hero3 and GoPro HD Hero3+ Alternative #1 Use ashort length of aservo-wire or a piece of string to more easilyfeed the dampingballs through the 16 holes on the base mounting piate and frame mounting brackets.Wrap thewire or string inside the groove ofthe balls, one or two turns, feed both ends into the hale, andpull through using a plier.

eapplies for the lever arm, only this time it is best to start with lever then work on the plate.

l|T8S DISCOVERYPRO 

## SSSO- ' is 

## JBSDiscovmm



# OThe gimbal screws use 1.5mm (M2), 2.0mm (M2.S) and 2.5mm (M3)hex screwdrivers. Keep the screws loose atthe start and fully tighten them 3t the end ofthe assembly, this makes it easierto align all the parts. For a good secure fil, use ave/ysmali amount ofliglit/medium strength thread lock on al! metal-to-metal-screws.
• Begin by putting on the gimbal motors on the gimbal arm and black plate. For thetilt/right motor, make sure to align the motor cable so it protrudes hidden behind the inner side ofthe mount. Mount it with 4x M3x4mm hex screws. For the roll/rearmotor, orient the motor sothat shaft/cable is pointing away from the back mounting plate. Here, use 4x M2.Sx6mm screws. Take note ofthe four adjustable mounting holes on the roll/rear motor, use these to balance the GoPro atthe end ofthe build. • Connect the 5-pin Molex connector to the T8S IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit)board and feed the cable through the hole on the top gimbal cage plate. Align it with the two holes and use 2x M2.5x6mm screws to secure it. • Attach the left side cagewall, bottom cagefloor, and right side cagewall to the top cage plate using 8x M2.5x6mm screws. The axis shaft flange on both walls should face outwards and the notches for the cable zip-tie should be positioned up.This completes the central gimbal cage assembly.

Next, put the bearing into the housingthe left gimbal arm and use the long M2x12mm screw to compress the gap until the bearing stays in place - do not overtighten,just clamp the bearing. 

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To minimize cable tension and friction, feed the 5-pin Molex connector through the bearing and slide the bearingoverthe flange on the left side ofthe gimbal cage {completedpreviously). Align the shrink tube pieces in such a fashion that there is no shrink tube on the inside corner of the cage or in the bearing channel. Feed the remainder ofthe 5-pin cable length through the hole on the left gimbal arm,

Align and attach the roll/rear motor mounting plate to the left gimbal arm. Passthe 5-pin cable through the inner "U"-gap. Do the same for the right gimbal arm. Use the small 2x M2x6mm grubscrews to secure the fijt/right motor shaft to the gimbalcage. This requires a0,9mm hex (Allen) key. Align the two notches on the motor shaft withthe grub screw holes. Ensure that both screws are properly tightened, but do not overtightenasthe screws could strip. Strap down the cables using 4 zip-ties, use the designated holes around the inner bends ofthe gimbal arms and cage. The zip-tie on the cagefor the iMU cable needs to be positioned with the zip-tie head facing backwards to avoid binding/hitting the left gimbal arm.

1T8S DISCOVERYPRO Continue by attaching the main dampingmounting plate (completed previously) andback lever arm to the rear/roll motor. Alignthe cablewith the notch in the mountingplate and secure it using 4x M3x6mm screws. Feedthe remaining cables through the two oval holes on either side ofthe plate. Make sure the cables does not obstruct free movement or is under tension. Also check that the cage can move freely and there is no binding (rubbing) on either side.

Mount lever arm with the flat surfacewith the holes pointing down. The lever plate should have the protruding thread holes also pointing down. This completes the gimbal arm and cage assembly?



# 0 TBSDISCOVERYPROPost, h'smo assembly • Continue assembling the rest of the DISCOVERY PROframe and at the end ofthe build, slide in the gimbal assembly, plug in the 3 cablesfor pitch, roll and IMU to the designated location and secure the gimbal using 6x M2.5x5mm frame(arm) screws. Double check that the right/tilt motor is connected to the "PITCH" connector and the back/roll motor to"ROLL". The cables should move freely.

Adjust the gimbal so that it is parallel and true to the frame. The arms and motors should not be tilting at an angle, looking from the side. Use the sliding positionholes on the bottom plate to make the final adjustment. If f iting brackets are slipping, add awasher to the screws to keep them in place. 

# *¥• 

# S If the lever arm touches the flight controller when installed, either move the controller slightly or remove the spacer and two screws (these are not absolutely necessary}. Finally, feed the GoPro gimbal velcro strap through the slots on the bottom cage mounting plate. Properly strapped down the GoPro before flying to reduce vibrations/jello onthe footage.Adjust the balance on both the tilt and roll axis by movingthe GoPro back/forth and adjusting the mounting screws on the motor behind the GoPro, respectively. With no power applied, the gimbal should stay perfectly still and not lean in eitherparticular direction.

Important: Avoidrotating the gimbalmultiple full turns on the tilt-axis.This puts tension on the IMU cable which in turn introduces counter-forces andinterferes with the normal operation ofthe gimbal.

1TBS DISCOVERYPRO



## Frame assembly Thefollowing sections will show you the essentialsteps to assembling the base ofthe frame and connect the electronics to the frame. In addition to the following assembly instructions, we have produceda both a summarized "ij.gft.T.c/"video and afull length"How to" buildvideo showing the assembly and electronics installation. Afull resolution image of the frame assemblyis available as an appendix to this manual.



### Bottom plate Power distribution » Start bypre-tin»i/>g(adf) solder to) the baltery pads, speed controllerpads, auxiliary power pads (for flight controller power), speed controller power leads and the battery pigtail. If needed, desolder and change the XT60 connector to your preferred connector of choice (e.g. Deans, EC5.} • Cut the the batterypigtailto J4cm and pre-tin the ends. Solder the wires to the positive(red) and negative (black) pads located on the back-right side on the frame. • Pick one of the available auxiliary power pads (smaller squares) and solderthe flight controller power unit and/or voltage regulators) to the frame. We recommend thepads on the middle-left side.

VfBS DISCOVERYPRO• Next, add the red spacers (posts) to the bottom frame plate usingthe supplied M3x6.5mm hex screws.Add asmall drop of threacflocfcto helpsecure the frame. It is recommended toonly apply on the bottom screwsfor easy repairs/maintenance. • There are three spacer positions in the battery compartment to make it easy to balance (CG)the frame. The rear spacer position is great for <IS33G0-37OOmAh packs, while Che most forward position is great for larger4S4000-4500mAh packs (shown in the image below.) Speed coofcroUfsrs • Position the ESCwith the label facing up. Solder the positive and negative leads on the speed controllers to the corresponding square pads on the bottom frame. The pads are located next to the two frame arm screw holes. Heat the solder pad, hold the cable in aslight angle (so both cableswill form a"V"), remove the solder iron and keep still until the solder has had time to cool down and settle nicely.

Calibrate the throttle range for each ESC individually (except for DJI and TBS BULLETPROOF ESCs) by connecting the ESCdirectly to the throttle channel on the receiver and setting the throttle stick high (Wide Open Throttle - WOT) on power-on andthen low untilaconfirmation beep is heard (motors attached). The ESC has to be connected directly to the R/C receiverfor this procedure to work. TBS is offering a handy calibration cable for this purpose. If you are using EzUHF,setWOT asfailsafe to avoid start-up timing issues.After calibration, re-program your correct failsafe throttle position. One important note for ESCs that do not carry the "OPTO" label or are not T8S BULLETPROOF designs, is that only one ofthe four ESCs should provide SV8EC power to the flight controller. The middle red wire on the end connector should be disconnected on three ofthe ESCs. if the flight controller is providing power (e.g. NAZA-M PMU/V-SEN-unit), afl ESCSECsshould be disconnected The reason for this isto avoid voltage oscillations caused by erroneous voltage-regulator feedback.



### STBS DISCOVERYPRO ARESDISCOVERYPRO

Plight controller • Decidewhether you want to use traditional PWM or PPM/S.BUS control signal mode. Theframe is laid out to work with both types ofsetups.As ofwriting, TBSsuggests the DJI NAZA-Mflight controller in PPM/S.BUS mode (togetherwith acompatible receiver) and an optional GPSadd-on (for return-to-home capability) for aclean wiring layout and great out-of-the-box experience.

Plug in all the R/C and ESCservo-cables to the flight controller according to the flight controller instructions. Mount the unit on the bottom plate in the centre of the whiterectangle. Use a self-adhesive foam pad (normally included) to mount the controller. Be sure to double check the orientation ofthe flight controller for proper operation. When using PPM/S.BUS,there is a handy easy-to-reach PPM header output located on the bottom frame. Also be sure the radio and receiver is properly mapping the channels in the PPM stream, for setup and tuning parameters ofthe flight controller, refer to the manufacturer manual or guides 00.te•Seethe tahle below for initial TBS recommended NA2A-M gains. (DJ! NAZA only) Open NAZAAssistant and disable the 'Voltage Monitor Protection". This prevents the DISCOVERY PROfrom prematurely descending 011low battery.Use the CORE OSDto watch the battery condition instead. Never let the voltage go past 3.5Vx cell count (i.e. 3S 10.5V,4S 14.0V) or deplete the battery past 20% (e.g. max.3600mA discharged on a4500mAh battery pack.) • (DJI NAZA only) To saveweight and space, the PMU (V2) can be disconnected and removed after the final configuration has been made. Although, 5V power still has to be provided from at least one of the ESCs. Start out using the following suggested gains for NA2A-MAutopilot and tune accordingly. Setup Gain Pitch Roll Yaw Vertical TBS 900kV2 9x5 4S4S00mAh 30A Basic/manual 135% 129% 133% 176% NAZA-M Lite Attitude 130% 130% TBS 900kV2 9x54S4S00mAh 30A Basic/manual 130% 100% 120% 120% NAZA-M V2 Attitude 150% 150% Other drivetrains (general starting point) Basic/manual 130% 120% 110% 130% NAZA-M V1/V2/Ute Attitude 130% 130% Note: The pitch axis gain will inmost cases be greater than the roll axis gain because ofthe inherent asymmetric design and weight distribution on the frame, Fsame arms • Install the frame arms on the four designated locations using the long-neck M2.5xSmm screws. Feed the speed controller wires through the gap between the frame arm and bottom plate. • With the speed controllers soldered (completed previously) and frame arms mounted,usethe zip-ties to mount the speed controllers to the underside of the arms.Avoid putting tension or stress on the motor- or speed controller-cables. Use aself-adhesive pad to mount any BECor control unit (e.g. NAZA PMU/l£D/V-SEN-unit.)to the underside ofthe back-left speed controller.

iTflSOISGOVMYPRO 

# ©• Feed the battery straps through the two slots in thebattery compartment. Only one strap is really necessary to provide adequate friction to keep the battery fastened. Optional: Use differentcolored frame arms for the front and back pair to make it easierto identify the orientation of the quadcopterin the air. MotOf'V • Mount the brushless motors to the frame arms using the supplied M3x6.Smm hex screws. There is no need to acid anX-mount to the motors. Apply a small drop of medium threadlock to a secure the base. Feed the motor wires through the frame arm comb-pattern to minimize clutter.



# MR Plug in the bullet-connectorsto the speed controllers. Swap any two wires to change the direction of rotation if they do not rotate asshown below. Seethe Image above for the most commonly used motor setup (e.g. NA2A-M.)

)1BS DISCOVERYPRO 

# 0 ,T8S DISCOVERYPRO



### Top plate R/C signal headers • To get aclean R/C receiver-to-flight controller wiring, it is recommended to use the header on the top piate. There are 8 traces to support up to equally many PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) channels. When using a PPM (Pulse Position Modulation) compatible receiver and flight controller, only one trace (Channel 1)is used.

Solder the supplied pin header to (he 8x3-pads and the single 1x3-header to the separate RSSI pad. Install the first header on the R/C receiver side (back-end) with thepins pointing up and, ifyou are using PWM control signals, solder the second headerwith thepins pointing down(towards the bottom plate/flight controller.) Use tape to keep the header in placewhile applying a reasonable amount ofsolder to all ofthe pins while applying heat. The flux in (he solderwill make the solder flow around the pins. The layout of the header is asfollows; O channel 1 for PPM stream or channel1 to 4 for PWM aileron/elevator/throttle/yaw control O chahnel 5for PWM gimbal horizontal roll control(rarely needing adjustments) O channel 6for PWM gimbal tilt pitch control O channel 7 for PWMflight mode selection (i.e. attitude, manual, GPSassisted) O channel 8for PWM camera switch (i.e. fpv camera or GoProfeed) O a dedicated RSSI_ANA10G headerfor CORE OSD signal strength read-out . The channelswith atext label, i.e. PPM, GIM8ALR0LL, GIMBAl.PITCH,CAM.SWITCH and RSSI_ANALOG, has the signal pin (fl)hardwired directly to their respective electronics section on the top frame (i.e. flight controller PPM break-out, gimbal controller roll/tilt, camera switcher, and CORE RSSIsignal). No further wiring is needed to enable those systems. • Either gimbal channels and/or camera switch channel can be omitted if desired to free up channels (e.g. to use a6/7 channel PWM receiver.) But you will of course lose direct control overthose systems. • Seethe "FPVgear and gimbal" in the electronics installation section for further details. R/C receiver • Plug in the short servo extensions on the header on the topplate and connect them to the R/C receiver. Use a self-adhesive foam pad to mount the unit to the back-end ofthe top plate. Mount the antenna(s) in avertical and/or 'V'-formationusing nylon antenna tube(s).

Channel S,6 and 8 pin headers can be used for other purposes (e.g., NAZAXI, X2) by disabling the gimbal R/C mapping via SimpleBGC (BaseCam) and/or camera switcher via CORE Menu. R/C receiver Ch. Ch. Ch. Ch. Ch. Ch. 6 Ch. Ch. 8 Flight controller Aileron/

PPM Elevator Throttle Rudder Gimbal Roll Gimbal

Pitch Flight

mode Camera

switch When using the RSSf(Received Signal Strength lndicatlon)s<gnalfrom a compatible ft/C r« the header labeled RSSJ_ANALOGto supply the signal directly to the CORE. Or, leave the header unused and connect the output to your OSDsystem of choice.

ai.BS DISCOVERYPRO 

# ©TBSDISCOVERYPROTBSDISCOVERY PRO• Common receiverand Rightcontroller setups t2UHF•N'AZA-PPM•KSSIlink F-APM2- PPM-RSSlLlnl adaptors {never prop-saverwith o-ring.)The layering should be asfollows;prop adaptor, optional reduction ring,propeller, washerand (lock) nut. You can skip any bell screw as it may add unnecessary vibrations.

TheT8S 900kV motors have a5mm prop shaft.This is compatible with Graupner9xS-inchpropellers. ForGraupner 10x5-inch propellers you will need aluminium 8mm-to-Smm reduction spacers available separately. Try to match the motor and propeller to suit your particular need.For extended flight time try to achieve optimal efficiency. For agile-flight look at a responsive combination. Our general recommendations are listed in the table below, Athumb of rule wouldbe that smaller props equals lessflight time, and higher kV motors equals smaller props or lower battery cells count (than the reference below.) Note that 10-inch isthe maximum propeller sizethat can fit on the DISCOVERY PRO. Motor type Propeller Flight characteristic TBS900kV brushless motor 9xS-inch Graupner type responsive, locked in 10x5-inch Graupner type long flight time



### •TBSDISCOVERYPAD

properly. Interference and noise from the driver train is Isolated nicely from the rest of the electronics on the frame.

Configure the required voltage for your FPVgear by soldering adab to the pads labeled VTXand CAM oil the top plate (as shown inthe pictures above.) Theframe already comes pre-configured for SV video transmitters and 12V FPVcameras.Adjust the output voltage by soldering the middle pad and either side pad for 12V or SV. Do not solder all three pads (short-circuit.) When you first power up the CORE, it will askyou to cycle through the buttons "DWN", "ENTR" and "UP" accordingly to verify thai they work properly. This is also agood time to get familiarwith the CORE menu layout.



# O: TBSDISCOVERYPRO 

# OTBSDISCOVERYPRO

# CORE menu layout Bulton Up

RSSI ation Calibration inial Minimal nal Signal VAL. l-»f WIN.VAL. T n ANALOG I 

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• The solder pads next to the sockets can be used to connect your gear, but try to connect your FPV camera and video transmitter via the Molex connectors on the board. With that,you will not risk ripping off the pads from the frame when pullingtoo heavy on acable. Modify our cable harness when using other than TBSsuggested gear. » A pre-installed tin shield makes the DC-to-DC switching voltage conversion part of the CORE isolated from the rest ofthe electronics on frame. • Afull menu layout ofthe CORE menu system is available asan appendix to this manual. Pilof. e.amwa • Use the supplied camera plate to mount the pilot camera. The mounting patternis designed to be compatible with most standard 32x32 mm board cameras.You might need to break-away excessive board support. Either use two small zip-ties, rubber bands or four M2x1Smm screws and nuts (not supplied) to mount the camera (use threadlock.)

Plug in the cable connector for the camera and insert the tabs on the top and bottom ofthe camera frame in the corresponding routedgaps on the frame. For a secure mount, you can addsolderto the three exposed solder spots, or leave it f >ing in the field.

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# "N Decide whether you can use the supplied wires and connector socket on the top frame the camera and video transmitter via the round solder pads. The supplied picoblade Molex cable "SV Vfx"are designed to work with the TBS GREENHORN,TfiS ROOKIE, lawmatevideo transmitters, and the supplied "12V CAM" cable with the TBS59/TBS69 cameras respectively. You can of course modify and solder the wires to suit your specific need. The connectorwire color and signal arrangement is shown in the picture previously, whereyellow is video, white is audio, redis power and black is

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# © ,TBS DISCOVERYPRO 

# ©TBSDISCOVERYPROTBS DISCOVERY / DISCOVERY PRO- Video transmitter (VTx) setups rev. Feb 2014- by ivc.no/tbs VrrJUitt fcnmsmftfcftr • Put the video transmitter close to the front on the top plate. Use zip-ties and/or self-adhesive foam pads to fit the transmitter. TBSoffers a custom made mounting bracket for easyverticsf instalt over the front-right frame arm. To avoid possible video interference, be sure to use afoam or gel pad between the frame andVTx unit to reduce exposure to vibration. TBS/lawmste VTx •?.AG 

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The kit includes asmall JSTcablewhich is compatible with Lav. GREENHORN and TBS ROOKIE. For FatSharkVTxyou need to c NVTx aswell asour TBS

Powerful video transmitters, such asthe ImmersionRC 5.8GHz 600mW or more powerful VTx, must be powered directly from the bottom frame (small +/-pads) to avoid overdriving the CORE.Testthis a few minutes on the ground and verifythat the COREdoes not reboot which indicates athermal protection shutdown/overcurrent. 

# o JBS DISCOVERYPRO 

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iSrusMess Qf mfcsl confcroUer • Plug in the 3Molex cablesfor the pitch- and roll-motors, aswell asthe IMU board,into the connectors labeled "PITCH", "ROLL", and "IMU"located near the front on the top plate.

Hero3 and no additional accessories (lens protection or housing.) Tuning maybe necessary (PID, power) when usingan older GoPro model or different add-ons. Also make sure tobalance both axis by moving the GoPro back or forth until it stays stillindependent of how you rotate/leave it. • Additional configuration can be done using the SimpleBGC software package via the micro USB connector on the right-side of the top frame. The CORE uses dual profile switching(described later in the manual) which means that all essential (light tuning should be done in both profiles. » The gimbal controller has two dedicated channels (RC.PITCH, RC.ROLL) brought out on the topplate R/C header (channel Sand 6)which can be used to position the GoPro image. This means that you can assign a knob or slider on the radio to control pitch and roil ofthe gimbal. • If the camera gimbal is not levelat start-up, move the gimbal andquad to aperfectly level position (use a bubble leveler) and press the "GIMBAL CAl." buttonon the top plate for 3-5 seconds until the gimbal motors release. Wait for theblue LEDto stop blinking and motors to lock again. Ensure that the gimbal is perfectly still and straight during this calibrationprocess. • If the gimbal still drifts,recalibrate the sensors by turning any UHF orvideo transmitters, plugging in power, connecting the frame to SimpleBGC, then propping up the gimbal so it stays level andstili. Then click "CALIB,ACC"wait for it to finish, click "WRITE", and then click "CAUB. GYRO" and "WRITE". • To further fine-tune the accelerometer, perform the 4 position calibration by settingboth POWERto 0and clicking "CALIB.ACC"after each time you position the gimbal face forward, face down, face up and face backwards.And only atthe very endre-enable the POWERsettings and commit the calibration data by clicking "WRITE". Seethe SimpleBGC manual for further details. • Gyro calibration is very sensitive. Ifyou are in a skyscraper, considering going to theground floorfor this calibration. Do not use unstable surfaces, such aslightweight tables orwooden floors for calibration. You only need todo this once in awhile orwhen movingto an entirely new geographical location. The calibration directly influences howwell the gimbal performs, • The gimbal controller is PPMcompatible (no S.BUSsupport) and the channel 1trace on the top plate is integrated directly to the controller chip. To enable PPM gimbal, you needto close the solder pads labeled "PPM GIMBAL" on the top plate, enable "PPM-Sum" and assigntheright channels via the SimpleBCG software. Remember to remove any servo-cables between the receiver andthe header channel Sand 6, asany PWM signal would cause conflict. • Note that in PPM mode, the COREcan not switchprofiles because it relies on the gimbalcontroller to be PWM configured. We suggest that you use achannel on your radio to switch profiles. Camera switcher • Switching video downlinkfeedis now possible via a dedicated R/C channel on the radio, e.g., a 2-position toggle switch. Connect aservo-cable from the receiver to the R/C header (channel 8).The video switcherwill change input when the PWM-period passes the1520ps center point (50%). No further sub-trim should be necessary. Thefailsafe setting depends on your receiver configuration. • To enable the camera switcherfunctionality (off by default), press the "ENTR" buttonon the top plate for 4-5 seconds and toggle to the "CAMERATYPE" menu and select "SWITCH". • When using PPMfor R/C and/or gimbal control, the camera switching still has to behooked up to PWM. Fortunately, most receivers stilloutput PWM on the remaining receiver pins when in PPM mode. Itonly requires one additional servo-cable to CAM.SWITCH (ch8) to enable switching. • Setthe GoPro recording mode to match your FPVcamera; 25p/S0p equals PAL, 30p/60p equals NTSC. This allows forfaster transitions and no garbled screenbecause the viewing device (display, goggles) does not need to switch video format. • The GoProjumper selector called "GP OUT SEL" is by default set to camera switcher and no further soldering is necessary. For more information, refer to dual-pilot support later (advanced.)

ITBS DISCOVERYPRO CSSF' 37 TBSDISCOVERYPDAWith video switching now possible on the DISCOVERY PRO,the kit includes 3small adaptorwhich plugs into the GoPro 30-pin bus connector to provide video output and the possibility to charge the GoProwhile in flight. The charging is disabled by default and it is only recommended to enable the "500mA/1A" solder bridge if you are certain the COREwill not be overloaded. After assembling the camera gimbal frame, piug in the 3-pin mole* connector from the GoPro adaptor to the gimbal 1MU board. TheIMU boardjust passes the video signal straight through to the CORE/video switcher input, in an uncluttered fashion.

• (Advanced users onfy) There is even acomponent you can add on the board to be abfe to change the charging rate from 1A to O.SAcontinuous. To reduce the chargingrate, order the 1Cpart NCP380HSN05AAT1Gfrom Mouser or Digi-Key and soider the IC to the unoccupied pads on the adaptor board (adequate soldering skills needed.) OSD (Os? ScK'im Display) • You can use the integrated OSOto get live readout on screen about the battery voltage (V), current draw (A),total current consumption (mAh), receiver signal strength (H)and flight time (minutesiseconds). This gives an essential overview of the system vitals while in flight. The OSO is enabled by default, to disable it completely hook up video and press the"ENTR" button on the top plate for 4-5 seconds, toggle to the "OSO" menu and select "OSD OfF".

• In the picture above the video feed is switched to the GoPro camera.Notice how the OSDadapts to the GoPro margins. The£]UHF RSSI Link was used here,allowing additional details to be displayed (diversity signal strength, link quality, packet loss.) • Asaside note, assoon asthe RSSI figures gel towards -90 or the link quality drops below 80%, it is a good time to turn around (whichever comes first.) • To read the R/c receiver signal strength (RSSI),connect 3servo-cable between the receiver and the designated RSSI_ANALOG header on the top plate. All major FPV R/Csystem vendors support either analog or digital (PWM) RSSIoutput.For EzUHFowners, the COREalso supports "OSD Link". Enterthe CORE menu to select the right RSSItype for your receiver and calibrate the max. (radio on) and min. (radio off) value. • The bottom p/ate includes an on-board current sensorMinewith the battery supply. Configure the COREto use the 50A current sensor. The sensor can also be tuned (in % increments) to more accurately display current consumption (mAh), i.e. atthe end of aflight if it was 1%too high, adjust it down 1%. The same kind of adjustments can be made for the battery voltage (in 0.1V increments.) The current sensor output is compatible with similar OSD systems. (Advanced users only) Limited instructions on how to install the T8S CORE PROon the PROcan be found later in this manual. » Coupling current sensor and RSSI input directly on-board makes for aclutter-free OSDsetup and clean build. Afull menu layout of the CORE is available asan appendix to the manual. • Lastly,when all the R/C and FPVgear is installed connect the 9-pin top-bottom link cable and close the frame. Use the remaining spacer and frame arm screws to secure the frame. Note: Digital RSStand Camera switch sharethe source pin with each other. Ifyou use the Camera switch you can only use analog RSSIor the link input fromE2UHF receiver.
[TBS DISCOVERYPAO IteS? 39 TBSDISCOVERYP8D 

# 0"

Brushless gimbal stabilization Integrated gimbai controller Setting up agimbal the right way can be adaunting task, fortunately we licensed the SimpleBGCfirmware (AlexMos) and the SimpleBGC hardware layout from Viacopter. The controller has all the parameterspre-set and gains tuned by TBSfor agreat out-of-the-box experience. The gimbal controller is fully embedded into the frame (aworld's first), no soldering or software configuration required,just plug inthe motors and IMU, and you are good to go. The on-board USB port connects to your PC for future firmware upgrades and custom confij If you wantto apply updates and make adjustments to the gimbal, download the SimpleBGC and SiLabs CP210x driver package ( t v ) plug in battery power, and connect the DISCOVERY PROto a $• ~ —-^ Windows computer via a micro US8 cable (e.g., from the NAZA-M or a mobile phone.) Extensive details of the brushless controller is available in the SimpleBGC manual. DISCOVERY PRO utilizes two profiles, one silent profile (Profile 1), to keep the gimbal quiet while on ground and one noisy proflfe (Profile 2). The CORE MCUwilldetectwhen main motor starts (current consumption >3A) and switch from the silent to noisy profile automatically. If you change somethingin SimpleBGC you have to dothe change on both profiles. Ifyou want to change your in-flight values you have to do this on Profile 2. Thefollowing table shows the suggested PID and power controller gains for a GoPro HD Hero3&3+ mounted on the gimbal. Download the factory settings from 

### HD camera The GoPro HD Hero camera isthe most commonly used HDrecording camera (as ofwriting) for sport purposes, thanks to its wonderful high-qualitypicture and compact size. The TBS DISCOVERY PROwas designed around the GoPro to take advantage of its great features. Consider using the GoPro settings in the tables below for "no-prop-in-view"footage. Adding a NDfilter to the front of the GoProwill also help slowing down the shutter speed and reduce "jello". GoPro HD Herol: Video format: NTSC (or PALto match pilot camera) to get 30fps Video resolution: 1080p30fps (medium angle) for 10x5-inch props 720p 30fps (wide angle) for 9x5-inch props GoPro HD Hero2: Video format: NTSC (or PALto match pilot camera) to get 30fps Video resolution; 10SOp 30fps high quality video Video angle: Medium (127 degrees) for 10x5-inch props Wide (170 degrees) for 9x5-inch props GoPro HD Hero3/3+: Video format: NTSC (or PALto match pilot camera) to get 30/G0fps Video resolution: 1080p 60fps (or 30fps) less chance of "jello" Video angle: Medium (127 degrees) for 10xS-inch props Wide (170 degrees) for 9x5-inch props

Axis P 1 D Power Poles Inverted FC Gain Roll 12 G.I 9 57S U Yes 0 Pitch 14 0.1 9 173 14 No 0 Other essential settings:Axis TOPto -Z, RIGHTto Y,skip gyro calibration at startup CHECK,gyro trust 100, and PWMfrequency to HIGH (silent) for Profile 1 and LOWfor Profile 2, ROLLto RC_ROLL, PITCHto RC.PITCH, CMD to EXT.ROLL, RCcontrol ROLLto -30/30/CHECK/3/UNCHECK/10/0% and PITCH to -90/90/CHECK/3/UNCHECK/10/0%.

TBSDISCOVERYPRO

## Center of Gravity optimization A properly balanced multirotorwill distributing the weight(mass) equally overthe four motors. The mark on the bottom plate isthe Center of Thrust (CT, Col) mark and the Center of Gravity (CG, CoG) spot is 15mm forward ofthis mark. When holding the frame in the air at the CGspot it should ideally be level and not dip to either side. After completing the build and loading up the frame, adjust the CGover the lateral (pitch) axis by primarily moving the battery pack forward or backward. You might needto move the middle two frame spacers to accommodate the battery. The CGoverthe longitudinal (roll) axis should be in the center of the frame front-to-back and should only need slight adjustments. When the frame is out of balance some motors are going to have to work harder than others and you will have less authority in agiven axis due to the fact that one or more motors are already working more than normally required. Small balancevariations are countered very well by the flight controller and should not cause any problems. If the quadcopter is too nose heavy it will bobup and down fn forward flight and if it istoo tail heavy it will get very twitchy and hard to fly. As aside note, the flight controller does not need to be over the CG spot. It should be mounted In the center of the white rectangular lines on bottom plate. 

# O



# ©TBSDISCOVERYPRO 

# ©TBSDISCOVERYPRO

. Ipv gimbal quadcopter



### Dual-pilot support (ADVANCED USERS ONLY!) Split dual-pilot support is possible in situations where aseparate operator for piloting the quad and camera is preferred. Extra equipment is needed for the extra video link and R/C controluplink (2-axis gimbal and yaw adjustments.) Installation of the video transmitterand R/C receiverfollows the same basic setup principles described previously.

Connect the second video transmitter to location labeledVTX2 (GND,VBatt!!,Video.) The GoPro output selectorjumper works like this; the middle and right pads are connected by default from the factory, transferring the Gopro image to the camera switcher. To use asecond transmitter, cut the trace in between the two pads. This can be done with asharp knife. Use a multimeter to verify that the two pads are entirely separated. Now connect the left and middle pad withadab ofsolder, this diverts the GoPro image to the Video pad. ir reference, the following diagram shows the normal "all-in-one" setupwhere squad and controls video positioning. Dual operator - Introducing aseparate video operator for the gimbal roll and tilt controlrequires one additional video transmitterandR/Creceiver. Disable the video switcher, cut the trace between the two "GP OUT SEL"jumper pads and solderthe left pad to the middle.

Dual operatorwith yaw authority - To givethe video operator the ultimate freedom overframing and picture positioning, swap the responsibility for yaw control over to the the video operator. This requires good piloting skills and continuous communications back and forth to practice safe maneuvering and flight. Split control/videowith video yaw authority VideoTx1

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U xX>—o5 — —.j. Pilot carr GoPro 1.Throttle/PPM 3. Elevator 1.Y.<w 5. Gimbal rail 6. Ciiinbdl pitch /.Flight mode

TBSDISCOVERYPRO IsSP « (01 TBSDISCOVERYPRO 

# ©

## TBS CORE PNP PRO installation The TBSCORE PNP PRO upgrade wili make the DISCO PRO afull-featured quadcopter. Youwill be able to see current power index, home direction, speed, altitude, distance to home, exact GPScoordinates and notifications to assistyou while flying. Secthe official CORE PRO manual forfurther details and setup, available at Kin-/:I:-;:-;c;n-on; Afuii resolution diagram ofChefollowing procedure is available on the next page.
• By following these instructions you will end up with adual CORE & CORE PROsetup where the video out from the on-board CORE (with video switching) will feed into the CORE PRO,where the OSO overlay will be applied. The on-board COREcan now be used to charge the GoPro HO camera at 1A, if desired. • The on-board COREautomatic gimbal profile switching (at >3A)will function as normal andno change is necessary. • First, enter the CORE menu via the buttons on the top plate and set CAMTYPE to SWITCH and OSDto OSO OFF*to enable pilot<->GoPro camera switching and avoiding overlapping OSDs. • Connect the GoPro and pilot camera as normal to the top plate (IMU/GoPro and CAM). Disconnect the video transmitter (VTXJfrom the VTX port on the top plate. • Then, you need to connect the video out from the VTX port on the DISCO PROto the CAM port on the CORE PRO. Connect the video transmitter (VTx)to the VTX port on the CORE PRO, • Note:U the VTx is high power and has an on-board regulator, connect the power leads (normally red and black) to the unregulated power pads on the bottom plate (+/- pads) on the DISCO PRO.The video signal (normally yellow wire) should beconnected separately to the VTX port on the CORE PRO. • Forthe CORE PRO current sensor, you need to connect the PWR OUTto the battery lead on the DISCO PRO. Connect the current sensor to the CORE PRO unit with one ofthe short BST-cables. The battery now connects to the PWR IN on the current sensor. • (Optional) To establish aconnection between the EzUHF (available separately) and CORE PRO, use one of the longer BST-cables and connect it between the OSD Link port on the EzUHF and LINK port on the CORE PRO.This replaces the short black E2UHF OSD Link cablewhich normally connects to the rear connector on the top plate. • Lastly, connect the GPS module (available separately) to one of the BST ports on the CORE PRO. Mount the GPS module on the rear section on the DISCO PRO. • Now, with the rewiring done, power up the DISCO PRO and your goggles. Enter the CORE PRO menu and make sure the current sensor is set to 100A, RSSIset to LINK (EzUHF) orANALOG/DIGITAL and calibrate the compass (if used). • The setup is now complete. See CORE PRO manual for further configuration options. 

## Flight First flight Checkthat the flight battery and transmitter battery isfully charged. Make sure all the screws on the frame and the propellers are spinning the correct direction and secured, and that the battery strapped down. Balance the quadcopter around the Center of Gravity (CG)spot by repositioning the battery. Make sure the gimbal is positioned perfectly level and flat against the frame. Ithas to be calibrated at least once to get good level reference. Find anwide open location free from obstacles, dust and distractions (e.g., garden or park.) Theflight conditions should be calm with only a light breeze. Flip the flight mode switch to "Attitude" mode and execute the stick combination to arm the flight controller (e.g.,for NAZA left stick to bottom-fefl and right slick to bottom-right.) Slowly raise the throttle stick andwhen the propellers start to spin, make sure they rotate in the right direction and the propeller type is correct (right-hand or left-hand turn.) 

### Takeoff With all the essentials checked, stand behind the quadcopterwith the gimbal facing awayfrom you. Raisethe throttle to about 50%where the quadcopter should start to lift-off and hover. Control the hover by primarily using the aileron and elevator slicks. Remember, only small stick movements.!f the stickworks in the opposite direction than expected, invert the channel and watch theflight controllermonitorto confirm. Let go ofthe sticks and observe if it drifts in either direction. Compensate by adding 2or 3 clicks oftrim on the radio in the opposite direction (only in Attitude mode).If the quadcopter still drifts, land, put the frame on a level surface, balance the frame and cyclethe power to the flight controller to re-initiaiizo the gyro calibration. Perform at least Sflights in low altitude and easy pace to allow any hardware defects to manifest itself. 

### FPV After the quadcopter has been tweaked to stay still in a hover and fly true, turn on the FPVequipment and do a range test to verify that the video link is reliable. Visual inspect the area to pick out noteworthy landmarks and usethese to orient yourself once your are in the air, Get a friend or assistant to be your spotter during the entire session. While still flying line ofsight (LOS),takeoff and hover the quadcopter as normal, attain reasonable altitude, and with the video goggles ready on yourhead, put them on (or turn to the display) to engage in FPVflight.If the picture gradually weakens (noise blends in)or video suddenly drops, increase altitude and return to home, asthis normally indicates that you fly at the edge ofthe video range or behind obstacles, respectively.



# 0 ,TBS DISCOVERYPRO 

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## Good practices We have compiled a list of all ofthe things that have been tried and tested in countless environments and situations by TBScrew and other experienced FPV pilots. Follow these simple rules, even if rumors on the internet suggest otherwise, and you will have success in FPV.
• Startwith the bare essentials and add equipment one step at a time, after each new equipment was added to properrange- andstress tests. • Do not fly with avideo system that is capable of outperforming your R/C system in terms of range. • Do not fly with a R/Cfrequency higher than the video frequency {e.g. 2.4GHz R/C, 900MHz video). • Monitor the vitals of your plane (R/C link and battery). Flyingwith adigital R/C linkwithout RSSI is dangerous. • Do not use 2.4GHz R/C unless you fly well within its range limits, innoise-free environments and alwayswithin LOS. Since this is most likely never the case, it is recommended to not use 2.4GHz R/C systems for longer range FPV. » Do not fly at the limits ofvideo, if you see noise inyour picture, turn around and buy a higher-gain receiver antenna before going out further. • Shielded wires ortwisted cables only, anything else picks up RF noise and can cause problems. • When using powerful R/Ctransmitters, make sure your ground station equipment is properly shielded. • Adding Return-To-Home(RTH)to an unreliable system does not increase the chances of getting your plane back. Work on making your system reliable without RTHfirst, then add RTHas an additional safety measure if youmust. • Avoid powering the VTx directly from battery, step-up or step-down the voltage and provide a constant level of power to your VTx. Make sure your VTx runs until your batterydies. • Do not power your camera directly unless it works along the complete voltagerange of your battery. Step-up or step-down the voltage and provide aconstant level of power to your camera. Make sure your camera runs until your battery dies. • A single battery system is safer than using two dedicated batteries for R/C and FPV.Two batteries in parallel even further mitigate sources offailure. • For maximum video range and "lawcompatibility", use 2.4GHzvideo with high-gain antennas. • When flying with R/C buddies that fly on 2.4GHz, orwhen flying in cities, it is perfectly possible to use 2.4GHzvideo provided you stick to the channels that do not lie in their band(CHSto CH8for Lawmate systems, available from TBS). • Do not use diversity video receivers asa replacement for pointing your antennas, diversity should be used to mitigate polarization issues. • Improving the antenna gain on the receiver end is better than increasing the output power (except in RF-noisy areas). More tx power causes more issueswith RFon your plane. SOOmW is plenty of power! Try to achieve as much separation ofthe VTx and R/C receiver as possible to lower the RF noise floor and EMI interference. Do not buy the cheapest equipment unless it is proven to work reliably (e.g. parts falling off, mukitudes ofbug fixfirmware updates, community hacks andmods are a goodindicator 0/ poor quality and something youdo NOTwant to buy for asafe system). Do due diligence and some research before sending your aircraft skyward.



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## Troubleshooting

• Issue: Horizontal lines in pilot video downlink Solution: If there are lines in the video during flight that disappear assoon asyou land, your video transmitter is exposed to too much vibrations. Memory foam in conjunction withthe Flame Wheel VTx mount will take out the vibrations in an instant and giveyou crystal-dear video.
• Issue: Motor(s) doesn't start Solution: It is probably a lazy start syndrome, some information on thatis available here:

You should calibrate your ESCthrottle endpoints, details on how to perform this: We have acalibration cable available which speeds up the process. Please remember to remove the props before doing that.
• Issue: Can the TBS EzOSD be Installed on the DISCOVERY PRO? Solution: It requirestaking theVTxoutput and feeding it to the E2OSDand removing the shunt resistor. For instructions, look atthis post: J.V.*..*.V':.?.«.*f.'.Ihg•
• Issue: Can the GoPro camera be charged from the frame? Solution: If youdon't use the internal power supply from the TBS COREfor your VTx (e.g. aVTxwith an included power supply) there is enough SV power available to charge the GoPro. In this caseTBS has conveniently located asoldering pad to activate the charging feature,
• Issue:After switching video from GoProto pilot camera, video Is rolling and desynced Solution: Secthe GoPro recordingmode to match yourFPV camera. 2Sp ifyou are using PAL, 30p if you are using NTSC.This allows fastertransitions between the two cameras because the viewing device does not need to switch between PALand NTSC.
• Issue; Ican't connect to the Glmbal using the SlmpleBGC software Solution: Ensure that the SiLabs CP210x drivers are installed, download them from

• Issue: The glmbal motor does not feel securely tightened or spinsfreely without any movement on the glmbal (tilt axis) Solution: Pull offthe bell and roughen the motor shaft with a low grit sand paper or afile to cause a rough surface. Add adrop of Loctite or CAglue to the shaft and slide the motor bell back on. Let the glue dry. Issue: Gimbal controller displays a blue light and motors not engaging Solution: Try to connect your PROto the SiinpleBGC UI software and checkwhat message you get there. There is possibly a bad connection between the topplate and the gimbal 1MU. Checkthe connection by verifying the voltage at the IMU when everythingis plugged in:

• Issue: The glmbal drifts or doesn't center properly Solution: Install the SimpleBGC SoftwareI ), level the gimbai on a heavy and sturdy table and fix it using athin book or similar, Turn off any UHFtransmitters and disconnect any video transmission devices. Ensure there are no vibrations on the table. Remove the camera and strap from the Gimbal, as it simplifies levelling the gimbal. Connect the battery. The gimbal willtry to "fight" - do not worry about this it willnot overheat the motors unless being kept running for extended periods oftime. Connect the micro USBto the top plate, and select "Connect" in the software. Now select "Acc. Calibration" and wait for the motors to regain power. Then select "Gyro calibration". Ifthese steps have been done correctly, the gimbal will now lock dead center, You can remove whatever you used to support the Gimbal and it willhold its position.

• Issue: The glmbal stutters or moves In Jerky motion Solution 1: Has the USB port beenplugged in while the batterywas disconnected? Unplug the USS, then plug in thebattery, and subsequently connect the USB plug again. Solution 2: The IMU may be under tension, whichprevents the gimbal from rotating freely. Loosen the 2ip-ties of the IMU cable and give them some"play", especially around the ball-bearing area.

• Issue: Video signal resets every few seconds Solution: Too much current is being drawn from the COREcausing it to go into shutdown mode. The video transmitter should be powered from aseparate power source. Use a SVor 12V BECand connect it to the +and - pads on the bottom plate.



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## Recommended parts Below is a list of compatible R/C and FPVgearfor the TBS DISCOVERY PRO quadrotor. Thiswill hopefully make i!easierto pick up spare parts andupgrades. 

### Power sets TBS900kV2 Motor / ESC Combo Forthe more sophisticated, agile-flight loving pilot or for those requiring super-vibration-resistant and high quality motors.
• 4x TBS BULLETPROOF 30A ESC{flashed with SimonK Firmware) • 4x TBS900kV2 Motor with MS prop mount hubs 

### Individual parts Motors • TBS 900KV2 or Tiger Motors MT2216-10/11 900KV brushless motor (Smm shaft) • DJI2212 920KVbrushless motor (8mm shaft) • Sunnysky 2216-12 800KV brush less motor Speed controllers • TBS30A Multicopter SimonKfirmware speed controller • DJi OPTO 30A no-BEC speed controller • Tiger Motors ISA SECspeed controller • HobbyKing F-20A or F-30A BEC programmable ESCwith SimonK firmware Plight cwttrollar » DJI NAZA-M VJA/2/LiIe with optional GPS • OpenPilot CopterConirol 3D • APM2Arduino-based autopilot controller P/C TransmU'tei'/Rftcciver • Futaba 8FG/ 7Cwith included receiver R6208SB/ R617FS • Graupner MX-12 radio with included GR-6 receiver • SmmersionRC EzUHF 8ch Diversity receiver • ImmersionRC E2UHF 8ch Lite receiver Propellers • Graupner E-Prop 9xS-inch propellers • Graupner E-Prop 10x5-inch propellers • GemFan E-Propeller 10x5 Carbon Fiber propelfers • RCTimer Carbon Fiber 9x5-inch propellers • RCTimer Carbon Fiber 10xS-inch propellers Buttery • TBS4S 3300mAh 30C or KyPOM KT4500/35-4S lipo pack • TBS4S45Q0mAh 30C or KyPOM KT330Q/35-4S Lipo pack • GensAce4S 3300mAh 25C Lipo pack • Zippy Compact 4S 4000m Ah 2SC lipopack • Zippy Compact 4S SOOOmAh25C Lipo Pack • Turnigy nano-tech 4S 3300mAh 35C Lipo pack FW trsnsmifctor • Lawmate TM-240500-LM 2.4GH: 500mW transmitter • TBS ROOKIE 5,8GHz 200mW transmitter • TBS GREENHORN 5.8GHz 2SmW transmitter • BosCam TS-353 5.8GHz400mW transmitter Pi-'V cam&ra • TBS69 or TBSS9 FPVcamera

. TBS ChipChip FPVcamera • Security Camera 2000 PZ0420 or CMQ1993X (IR blocked) 600TVL camera

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## Spare parts You can either get spare parts directly from us ticr-n-i i.KkOtcro.viifiil or from one of our distributors and retailers nearyou. Our ever-growing list of retailers is published on the left atJ-jsj.vir.t'A'.s 

## Appendix Frame assembly diagram Gimbal assembly diagram Electronics installation diagram Common R/C receiver setups Video transmitter installation diagram CORE menu layout Center of Gravity diagram 

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# • 'j; TBS DISCOVERYPRO fpv gimbal quadcopter 

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Manual written and designedby ivc.no in cooperation with T8S.