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Aquire Aerial Robotics Systems, Inc. is a trademark 

registered with the US trademark office.

A Q U I R E I

user manual

english

d eutsch

Francais

Dealer

Aquire Aerial Robotics Systems, Inc. ©2015
c o ntents

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Quick s t a r t guide

Getting Started

Introduction....................................................................................................

Flight Safety......................................................................................................... 

Privacy.................................................................................................................

Aircraft Profile 

AQUIRE Introduction......................................................................................... 

Feature Highlights................................................................................................... 

Modular Systems.................................................................................................

Aircraft Specifics..................................................................................................

Aircraft Assembly................................................................................................

Flight Controller..................................................................................................

Aircraft Systems

Video System Array.............................................................................................

Motor Strut System.............................................................................................

Battery Rack System...........................................................................................

Accessories Systems...........................................................................................

Flight Controller System.....................................................................................

Flying the AQUIRE

Flight Minimums...................................................................................................

Preflight Check List..............................................................................................

Environmental Conditions..................................................................................

FRA Flight Restricted Area................................................................................. 

TFR Temporary Flight Restrictions.......................................................................

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Read This Manual First

This manual has been created for the semi-professional 

operator meaning, a person that has experience flying other 

types of UAs-Drones. This person should have an 

understanding of flight operations and flight controls.

1.

In Preparation of Flying

Know what the weather is do not operate the AQUIRE aircraft in 

severe weather conditions such as high wind speeds exceeding 

10m/s, heavy snow, heavy rain, smog, heavy wind, hail, lightning, 

tornado or hurricane.

3.

Communications

Communications with each member of the flight crew is very 

important to have a safe and successful flight. Additionally, 

communication with ground personnel and other non 

participating people must be performed before any flight. 

5.

Before You Fly

The AQUIRE does not require building or construction of any 

major parts but does require some assembly before flight. 

Used this manual to properly assemble the AQUIRE in 

preparation for flight.

2.

Preflight

In this manual you will find a complete preflight check list. Please 

take time to read through each step completing each step before 

moving to the next. The Preflight as well as other check lists 

should be used by the PIC and flight crew for each flight. 

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int ro d u c t i on

Military aviation experts and model airplane hobbyists have known for decades that an airplane can be flown 

without a human in the cockpit. Until very recently, however, for most people the very concept of an aircraft 

was inextricably tied to that of the pilot it was presumed to carry. In the long run, that may turn out to be a 

historical aberration. “Drones”—more accurately, unmanned aircraft—”UA” will dominate the future of 

aviation as thoroughly as manned aircraft have dominated its past. Civilian UAs use in the United States is set 

to grow rapidly in the wake of a law enacted in February 2012 providing for the integration of unmanned 

aircraft into the national airspace over the next several years. UAs can be employed in an endless variety of 

applications, the overwhelming majority of them beneficial. They can be used, for example, to help rescuers 

identify people in need of assistance following a natural disaster, or to provide vital overhead imagery to 

police officers. In the commercial world, UAs will be increasingly employed for tasks as diverse as surveying, 

crop spraying, and traffic congestion monitoring. Scientific applications include air quality assessment, 

wildlife tracking, and measuring the internal dynamics of violent storms and hundreds of known and 

unknown applications. 

major features of the AQUIRE

The AQUIRE is one of the most sophisticated aircraft built today while remaining simple in serviceability and 

operation. It’s most important feature is the ability to quickly remove and replace parts and components at 

any flight location with no down time. This feature places the AQUIRE in a class that no other UA offers by 

delivering vehicle Operational Readiness Up Time of 99.9%. 

● Service for all parts, components and systems should be provide by a Aerial Robotics Systems Certified 

Repair Center and should not be attempted by any other non-authorized person or facility. 

● Never use or try to retrofit parts, components or systems other than original Aerial Robotics Systems, 

Inc. parts, components or systems on to the AQUIRE vehicle. Such actions can lead to permanent 

damage to the equipment or failure of systems or components in flight operations. 

Communications

Antenna and receiver are 

connected by a common 

circuit board to the controller

Quick Release

Propeller Booms can be 

exchanged or removed for 

storage quickly 

Power

The battery tray secures the 

battery in place and provide a 

permanent solid connection

Video System Array

The Video System Array is 

designed to nest all of the 

video components 

Application Flexibility

Sensors and systems can be 

quickly added for additional 

Applications 

Flight Safety

Currently smaller UAs under 55lbs could fly over 95% of the country with little risk of coming in contact with 

any other aircraft. With the continuing growth of UAs around the world estimated to be more than 

10,000,000 vehicles over the next 7 years, airspace in larger communities will become more congested. This 

congestion needs to be managed by each and every operator to ensure safety and to protect the freedom of 

UA operation that we all now enjoy. Each country around the world are tackling the need to keep the skies 

safe in their country and its communities. All operators of UAs must research the safety laws that have been 

or are being established in their country of operation. Aerial Robotic Systems, Inc. can not provide operators 

of the Aquire UAS-Drone with current safety laws or rules of each country, therefore, it is the responsibility of 

the Aquire UA Pilot in Command or Operator to research and review all laws, regulations or rulings for the 

safe use of UAs.

Modular

All controller and power 

supply ports are modular for 

quick component exchange

Privacy

UA privacy is as important as safety when operating a UA. To begin understanding why privacy is such an 

important topic we need only to review todays headlines to understand the need for privacy in our everyday 

lives. As UA technology grows exponentially the range of platforms that exist today will increase 100x over 

the next 10 years. Some Drones will become the size of an insect and will be able to maneuver through our 

homes without detection. Privacy approaches today address only the concerns raised by the use of larger 

UAs that have dominated the current press coverage. Current privacy activities and laws are being pasted by 

local policy makers without fully understanding the issues' for commercial UA’s. The UAVSA recently sighted 

a simple privacy rule when operating UAs in proximity to people not involved in the flight operations. Protect 

others privacy and safety by navigating around and not over people and property, using fields or dirt paths. 

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Warning

The AQUIRE is an advanced UA with a variety of flight capabilities that can be used in

countless applications. Misuse of the AQUIRE may result in damage to the vehicle or

may cause injury or even death. The operator must conform to all laws and use the

AQUIRE responsibly for any flight operations. PICs Pilot In Command of this vehicle

must hold the proper aviation license as required by the country of vehicle

operation. Please read and understand this manual and disclaimers before any fight

operations. For current updates to this manual and other important data visit

http://www.aquireUAS.com.
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AQUIRE introduction

The AQUIRE is the world’s first UA designed as an industrial product capable of carrying an array of sensor

systems native to its structure and can accommodate additional plug and play systems. An all weather

vehicle the AQUIRE can capture 4K video transmitting HD video to multiple devices while duplexing data

streams from other on board sensor systems. A robust airframe and modular systems design provides

flexibility for fast response in the field selections for multiple mission applications.

Feature Highlights

Modular Systems

● Redundant power and flight systems designed to maintain the aircraft in flight in the event of a 

system component loss or a power failure of one or two motors. 

● Duplex data and video streaming allows for data to be provided to multiple devices with minimum 

latency and advanced fidelity. 

● The modular Video System Array includes all video components, electronics and streaming antenna. 

The AQUIRE has a HD high quality camera mounted on a 360 degree full motion gimbal isolated to 

less than 1 kHz of vibration. 

● Adding, controlling and powering accessories or sensor devices is accomplished through a single Hot 

Shoe Connector located in the Center Section of the aircraft. 

● All major components are designed as modular removable units that provide for easy access 

for maintenance or systems up grades. 

● The Video System Array (VSA) is a removable rack that attaches to the AQUIRE’s Center Section and 

locks into place as a complete unit. The rack nests the full motion gimbal, a Go Pro of other HD type 

camera, a FLIR VUE/TAU Sensor unit, the gimbal controller, a FLIR VUE/TAU video data recorder and 

a Video transmitter. The VSA rack can easily be configured to support high quality film production 

cameras such as a Red or Black Magic bodies including a mid range lens. 

● The removable Power Rack has been designed to secure one or two batteries. The Power Rack 

has two amphenol style connectors at each side of the slide in Power Rack delivering a sold 

state like connection between the battery and the airframe. 

● Each of the Motor Struts include a carbon fiber arm or boom with a multi-pin canon type barrel plug 

at the Center Section connection side and one or two power motors at the opposite end of the unit. 

The AQUIRE can be deployed as an quadcopter or as an octocopter by simply changing Motor Struts 

from a sign motor single propeller unit to an over and under multiple motor and twin propeller unit. 

The assembly is very light weight and has been optimized to reduce low level vibration from 

telescoping to the connector and into the Center Section and airframe which can cause fatigue and 

damage electrical connections. 

● The Flight Controller is attached through a solid state connection to the Upper Center Section 

Control Unit that carries the GPS Antenna, the Flight Controller and the Radio Receiver. The Lower 

Center Section Unit carries the ESC Stacks, the Power Distribution Board, the Motor Strut Connector 

Mounts, the battery rack slide rails and Power Connectors. 

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AQUIRE specifications

S p e c i f i c a t i o n s

Airframe The Airframe is made up of the complete Center Section assembly, 

Landing Legs, Motor Struts and the Propellers.

Center Section Width 160mm

Center Section Length 128mm

Landing Gear Size • Length 370mm

• Width 280mm

• Height 300mm

• Mounting Base Width 130mm.

Fight Parameters

Airframe Weight T3.9Kg includes; the Center Section assembly, Landing Legs, Motor 

Struts and the Propellers.

Takeoff Weight 5.8Kg ~ 11.0Kg

Fight Battery Size Li Po 10000mAh ~ 20000 mAh 15C Rating

Fight Power 

Consumption

• 3500W Max Power Consumption

• 1250W Hovering Power Consumption

• 1500W Flight Power Consumption

• 2000W Max Payload Power Consumption

General Information

Flight Performance For the best energy consumption and flight performance operate the 

vehicle at 80% throttle flying at no greater than a 15 degree angle of flight.

ESC 8kHz PWM Frequency

Propellers 16 x 1.2inch Cord

Motor • 35 x 18mm Stator Size

• Nd Neodymium Magnets

• 500W Max Power Output

• kV=450rpm/V
The Motor Strut Assembly as shown is for a twin motor 

configuration. With the replacement of the lower motor 

mount blank or base the AQUIRE can be assembled as a 

quadcopter utilizing four motors in place of eight motors 

and propellers.

inst r u c t i ons

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1. Connecting Motor Strut Unit

When installing the Motor Strut Unit ......

3. Inspecting Upper and Lower Sections

The upper and lower Center Sections .......

co m p o n e nt a s s e m b l y

For ultra light weight each Motor Strut Unit is made of carbon fiber and aluminum machined casting and 

are assembled with isolation rubber pads between the outer carbon fiber strut tube and the inner wall of 

the upper and lower motor mount assemblies and between the barrel connector halves where the motor 

strut attaches to the vehicle center section. 

Connector Half W/ Locking Base

Multi-pin Connector

Carbon Fiber Tube Strut

Motor Attachment

Lower Motor Mount

Canon Connector Collar Half

Upper Motor Mount

subtitle

2. Attaching Video System Array 

The Video System Array rack assembly.......

4. Installing Battery Rack and Battery

Be sure to install the Battery Rack as the last step in the assembly 

process...... 
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preflight check list

Weather

Check weather to ensure safe operating conditions.

Location

• Check for nearest airport

• Notify property manager of arrival and daily expectations.

• Check property and surrounding areas for radio towers, buildings, power lines, and other obstructions.

• Designate a safe takeoff and landing location.

• Clean up all trash and debris from area. 

Radios

• Turn on radios.

• Ensure radios are on proper aircraft model.

• Ensure radios have proper battery voltage.

• Ensure radios are transmitting on proper frequencies.

• Ensure radio switches are all operational.

Ground stations.

• Plug batteries into ground stations.

• Check antennas on ground stations for serviceability.

• Turn on ground stations.

• Ensure ground stations are on proper receiving channels.

Aircraft

• Set up aircraft.

• Check aircraft hardware for proper security.

• Check aircraft components for proper security.

• Check propellers for any indications of chips, cracks, or wear beyond safe serviceability.

• Check camera for full battery.

• Check camera for SD card.

• Check camera for clean lens.

• Secure camera in gimbal.

Electrical Check

• Check flight battery for proper overall voltage and voltage of individual cells.

• Check video transmitter battery for proper overall voltage and voltage of individual cells.

• Plug in batteries and let aircraft initialize.

• Calibrate aircraft to location.

• Ensure proper satellites acquired.

• Ensure OSD is displaying all accurate information.

Camera and Systems

• Turn on camera.

• Ensure operation of camera gimbal.

• Ensure ground stations are receiving video signals from cameras.

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f l i g ht co nt ro l l e r o p e rat i o n

Nos Information to come based on new controller.

Operating Modes 

● Operating Modes to be defined

● Operating Functions Open

mode description

Power On

Light

Stick Forward Actuation

Stick Right

Actuation

Stick Left Actuation

Stick Back

Actuation