3D R X8+ User manual

X8+
Operation Manual
Read before
flying!
IMPORTANT

Meet the X8+
Thank you for purchasing an X8+!
The X8 is a powerful octocopter platform for aerial video.
Review this manual in its entirety before your first flight.
Additional instructions can be found in the X8 information
portal at 3DR.com/X8/info.
Happy flying!

Contents
Parts 2
Setup 4
Assembly 4
Ground Station 5
Power Management 7
Charging 8
Safety 8
Controller Battery 9
Powering the X8 10
Connecting to a Ground Station 11
Flight Basics 12
Safety 12
Operating Limits 13
Controls 14
Modes 17
Return to Launch 19
Failsafes 20
Status Indicators 22
Flight Procedures 24
Takeoff 24
Landing 26
Monitoring 27
Missions 28
Planning 29
Saving 30
Initiating 31
Ending 31
Appendix 32
Troubleshooting 32
Maintenance 32
Specs 33
Resources 34

2
Parts
USB adapter
Ground Station Radio
Propeller wrench
Android adapter
SF propellers (4)
SFP propellers (4)
Charger and accessories
Guard bag
Pixhawk micro-SD card
adapter
RC Controller Battery Kit Tool KitPropellers Flight Checklist
Flight battery Radio
Flight Checklist
LED
Motors inactive, safe to
handle
Low battery, automatic landing
Loss of RC signal, automatic landing
Pre-arm safety check failure
Loss of GPS signal, switch to manual
Initializing, hold the X8 level
Acquiring GPS, please wait
Autopilot ready, GPS locked
Armed
Safety Button
Motors active, deactivate before
handling (see reverse)
Flight Modes
Return to launch
RTL
land at the launch point
Stabalize
AltitudeHold
Loiter
FullAutonomy
Returnto Launch
Standard position
(altitude hold mode)
STD
fly manually
Stabalize
AltitudeHold
Loiter
FullAutonomy
Returnto Launch
Loiter mode
LTR
hover
Stabalize
AltitudeHold
Loiter
FullAutonomy
Returnto Launch
!
Stand back!
46
The motors are
now active.
Hold left stick down-
right until motors spin.
2
1Power on controller;
set to STD and RTL OFF.
Arm
motors.
Press and hold safety
button until solid red.
Connect
charged battery.
Choose a clear launch
point, and face the X8
away from you.
5Check
LED.
3
Place the X8 at
launch point.
Go outside to
an open area!
Auto mode
AUTO
fly a mission
Stabalize
AltitudeHold
Loiter
FullAutonomy
Returnto Launch
©2014 3D Robotics. vA. All rights reserved.
Control gimbal
TILT
tilt the camera down and up
Land
CH7
land at the current position
Stabalize
AltitudeHold
Loiter
FullAutonomy
Returnto Launch
Stabalize
AltitudeHold
Loiter
FullAutonomy
Returnto Launch
Stabalize
AltitudeHold
Loiter
FullAutonomy
Returnto Launch
X8+
Hold the X8 still
and level while
powering on.

3
Micro-USB port (not pictured, side
of Pixhawk)
X8+
Front arms (blue)
Rear arms (black)
GPS mast
Pixhawk autopilot
Safety button
Status LED
Antenna

4
Setup: Assembly
The X8 arrives in travel configuration. Complete
these steps to prepare the X8 for flight.
1 Unfold Arms
1
2
Remove the bolts and thumbnuts outside the two folded black arms (1).
Unfold the black arms, re-insert the bolts, and secure with the thumbnuts (2).
1
2
X8 Assembly: Unfold Arms

5
2 Unfold Legs
Remove the bolts and nuts to the inside of the folded legs (1),
unfold the legs, re-insert the bolts, and secure with the nuts (2).
3 Attach Propellers
The X8 uses SF and SFP propellers. These labels can be found on the
individual propeller packages and on the propellers themselves. See
the diagram below for which motors require SF or SFP propellers. The
accuracy of this assembly is critical for the X8 to fly correctly.
To attach each propeller, remove the nut and washer from the motor,
and add the correct type of propeller with the writing on the propeller facing
the sky. (This will be a tight fit; apply pressure and twist the propeller
onto the motor.) Replace the washer over the propeller, and tighten the
nut on top using the propeller wrench.
1
2
X8 Assembly: Unfold Legs
top motor: SF
bottom motor: SFP
bottom motor: SF
top motor: SFP
X8 Propeller Order
top motor: SF
bottom motor: SFP
top motor: SFP
bottom motor: SF
X8 Propeller Assembly
!
Ensure that the writing on all
propellers faces the sky.

6
Ground Station
A ground station is a laptop or tablet running an ArduPilot-compatible mission control application.
In the field, a ground station helps you monitor the X8 during flight, plan missions, and trouble-
shoot issues. We recommend using a ground station at all times with the X8.
To set up a ground station, choose a platform below and visit 3DR.com/download_software to install
the application.
Windows
Mission Planner
OS X
APM Planner
Android
DroidPlanner 2
Important Note About Vehicle Setup in Mission Planner and APM Planner:
Your X8 has been pre-configured at the factory and is ready to fly. Re-performing the
calibrations on the Initial Setup screen, including the mandatory hardware configurations
and setup wizard, can adversely affect the performance of your aircraft.
iOS? There are currently no ground station applications available for iOS.

7
Power Management
The X8 is powered by a rechargeable lithium polymer (LiPo) battery. When fully
charged, the battery provides up to 15 minutes of flight time depending on payload,
environmental conditions, and flying style. Flying with a gimbal, GoPro, and FPV
system can reduce flight time by up to 5 minutes. Flying aggressively or in high winds
can affect power consumption and reduce flight time. Monitor power consumption
using the flight data display on the controller (press and hold the DN button).
When the battery reaches the low voltage limit, the X8 will initiate a low battery failsafe
and land automatically at the current position. (See page 20 for more information about
failsafes.) To avoid a low battery failsafe, monitor battery voltage during flight on the
controller’s flight data display, and end your flight before the battery reaches the low
voltage limit.
Controller
Press and hold the DN
button to view flight data.
flight battery mAh consumed since armed
Another way to monitor power consumption is by using milliamp-hours (mAh).
Monitor the mAh on the controller, and ensure that it does not exceed 8,000
mAh (80% of the battery’s available capacity). Exceeding 8,000 mAh can
render the battery permanently unusable.
Do not exceed 8,000 mAh for a fully charged X8+ battery.
flight battery level
Full battery: 16.8 V
Low battery limit: 14 V
End your flight at 14.1 V.
!
Controller Flight Data Display: Screen 1
!

8
Charging
Charge the battery before your first flight!
1
Connect the charger to the power adapter cable
and a wall outlet. Connect the red cable to the +
port and the black cable to the - port.
+
–
2
Set the charger to LiPo and 3A.
LiPo 3A
3
Connect the white connector to the 4S port, and
join the two yellow connectors together.
4S
4
Secure the battery inside the guard bag,
and charge until the status indicator
displays green.
Charging
Complete
Charger with power cable and
split-wire charging cable
Charger settings
Flight battery charging wiring Charging in process
!
Flying with a low battery is a safety
risk and can render the battery
permanently unusable. Always fly
with a fully charged battery.
Charge the battery using a designated
LiPo balance charger only. Always
monitor the battery while charging.
Protect the battery from extreme
heat, extreme cold, puncturing, and
flammable surfaces. Always transport,
charge, and store the battery in the
guard bag.
Inspect the battery for damage before
and after flying. If you observe any
swelling of the package or the battery
ceases to function, do not use the
battery; locate your local battery
recycling center, and dispose of the
battery. In the US and Canada, visit
call2recycle.org to find a location.
Do not dispose of the battery in the
trash.
Safety

9
Controller Battery
The controller is powered by 8 AA batteries (included). The controller’s
flight data display allows you to monitor the voltage of the controller.
When fully charged, the controller will display 12 V; when completely
out of charge, the controller will display 9 V. Replace the batteries when
the controller displays 9.1 V.
Controller
Press and hold the DN
button to view flight data.
controller battery level (9-12 V)
Replace controller batteries at 9.1 V.
Controller Flight Data Display: Screen 1 !

10
Powering the X8
Follow these steps to power the X8.
2
Join the yellow connector on the battery with the yellow connector
on the X8; this will power on the X8. Keep the X8 still and level
while it powers on and initializes the sensors. Check the status
LED; when it displays blinking blue, the sensors have completed
initialization and you can move the X8.
It is important to establish
communication before powering
on the X8. Always turn on the
controller before connecting the
battery. When powering off the
X8, disconnect the battery before
turning off the controller.
1
Turn on the controller. Ensure that the switches
are set to CH 7 OFF, STD, and RTL OFF.
RC controller
Stabalize
Altitude Hold
Loiter
Full Autonomy
Return to Launch
Stabalize
Altitude Hold
Loiter
Full Autonomy
Return to Launch
X8: Connect battery, keep level while initializing
Stabalize
Altitude Hold
Loiter
Full Autonomy
Return to Launch
CH 7 switch Mode switch RTL switch
Initializing, keep still and level
Initializing complete
Status LED indicators:
3
When the initialization process is complete, turn over
the X8 and secure the battery to the underside of the
vehicle using the velcro straps.
X8: Secure battery
!

11
Connecting to a Ground Station
To connect the X8 to a ground station, connect the ground station radio to
your laptop or tablet, and power the X8.
Tablet (DroidPlanner)
1
Connect the ground station radio to your
laptop using the USB adapter. Open
Mission Planner or APM Planner.
3
Select Flight Data to view live data from the X8.
2
Select 57600 and AUTO, then select CONNECT.
(When connecting directly to Pixhawk’s
micro-USB port, set the rate to 115200.)
Ground station laptop with radio connected
Mission Planner Connect tool (top-right corner)
Mission Planner Flight Data tab: connected to aircraft
Laptop (Mission Planner/APM Planner)
1
Connect the blue end of the Android adapter
to your device and the black end to the radio.
2
Select Connect.
Ground station tablet with radio connected DroidPlanner: Connect icon

12
Flight Basics: Safety
To ensure safe and successful flying, always fly in accordance
with your location regulations and these best operating practices.
Before you fly, determine the boundaries of your safe flying area.
If the X8 moves outside the designated area or exhibits instability
in flight, switch to standard mode and land the X8 manually.
The X8 will not avoid obstacles on its own, including during
missions. As the operator, it’s your job to recognize and avoid
obstructions while flying. Always be ready to regain manual
control of the X8 in the event of an unsafe situation.
visual line
of sight 400 ft
(120 m)
100 ft (30 m)
5 miles (8 km)
Always fly at least 100 feet (30 m)
away from people, vehicles, and
buildings. Make the safety of people
and property your first priority!
Always fly below 400 ft (120 m) and within your
visual line of sight. Don’t let the X8 get too far
away from you; make sure you can always see its
orientation. Don’t fly in low light, heavy wind, rain,
or other conditions that might impede visibility.
Always fly at least 5 miles (8 km)
away from airports and other areas
where pilots operate manned aircraft.
visual line
of sight 400 ft
(120 m)
100 ft (30 m)
5 miles (8 km)
visual line
of sight
400 ft
(120 m)
100 ft (30 m) 5 miles (8 km)
Spinning propellers can cause serious injury. The safety
button indicates the status of the motors to help you
prevent hazardous contact with the X8’s high-speed
propellers.
• When the X8 is powered on, the safety
button will blink red, indicating that the
motors are inactive and the propellers are
safe to handle.
• When you’re ready to fly, press and hold the
safety button until it shows solid red. This
indicates that the motors are active and the
propellers can spin if armed. To make the
propellers safe to handle again, press and
hold the safety button until it blinks red.
visual line
of sight
400 ft
(120 m)
100 ft (30 m) 5 miles (8 km)
visual line
of sight 400 ft
(120 m)
100 ft (30 m) 5 miles (8 km)
Location
Propellers

13
Operating Limits
Always fly within the X8’s operating limits.
Maximum Altitude* 100 m (328 ft)
Range* 300 m (984 ft) from launch point
GPS Lock GPS lock required at all times
Maximum estimated flight time 15 min
Payload capacity 800 g (1.7 lbs)
X8+ Operating Limits
*While geofence enabled (default)

14
Maneuver the X8 in flight using the
controller’s two joysticks.
left stick:
throttle
& yaw
right stick:
pitch
& roll
Left Stick
Left Stick
Lower the throttle
stick below center to
decrease altitude.
Set the throttle stick
to center to maintain
the current altitude.
left stick
Left Stick
Left Stick
Move the left stick vertically to control altitude.
Set the throttle stick
fully down to land
once the X8 is a few
inches above the
ground.
Left Stick
To take off and to
gain altitude, raise the
throttle stick slightly
above center position.
Left Stick
Left Stick
Controls
Throttle

15
Flight Tip
When adjusting orientation, move the left stick horizontally without changing its
vertical position.
Activate
Hold until propellers
start spinning.
Take-off + Lift
Raise just slightly
for take off
Hover + Land
Lower just slightly
to hover
Left Yaw
Left
Back
Forward
Right
Right Yaw
Deactivate
Hold until propellers
stop spinning
Activate
Hold until propellers
start spinning.
Take-off + Lift
Raise just slightly
for take off
Hover + Land
Lower just slightly
to hover
Left Yaw
Left
Back
Forward
Right
Right Yaw
Deactivate
Hold until propellers
stop spinning
Move the stick to
the left to rotate
counterclockwise.
Move the stick
to the right to
rotate clockwise.
left stick
Left Stick
Release the stick to
stop rotating and
maintain the current
orientation.
Move the left stick horizontally to rotate the X8 and change orientation.
For a slow rotation, move the stick slightly away from the center
in either direction. Moving the stick farther from the center creates
a faster rotation.
Left Stick
Yaw

16
Activate
Hold until propellers
start spinning.
Take-off + Lift
Raise just slightly
for take off
Hover + Land
Lower just slightly
to hover
Left Yaw
Left
Back
Forward
Right
Right Yaw
Deactivate
Hold until propellers
stop spinning
Activate
Hold until propellers
start spinning.
Take-off + Lift
Raise just slightly
for take off
Hover + Land
Lower just slightly
to hover
Left Yaw
Left
Back
Forward
Right
Right Yaw
Deactivate
Hold until propellers
stop spinning
Move the right
stick forward
to fly forward.
right stick
Move the right
stick back to fly
backward.
The right stick allows you to control the X8’s position in the air. Move the right stick to tell the
X8 to move in that direction: forward (toward the blue arms), back (toward the black arms),
left (toward the left arms), or right (towards the right arms). How far you move the stick from
the center before releasing it tells the X8 how fast to move.
Activate
Hold until propellers
start spinning.
Take-off + Lift
Raise just slightly
for take off
Hover + Land
Lower just slightly
to hover
Left Yaw
Left
Back
Forward
Right
Right Yaw
Deactivate
Hold until propellers
stop spinning
Activate
Hold until propellers
start spinning.
Take-off + Lift
Raise just slightly
for take off
Hover + Land
Lower just slightly
to hover
Left Yaw
Left
Back
Forward
Right
Right Yaw
Deactivate
Hold until propellers
stop spinning
Move the right
stick left to fly
left.
Move the right
stick right to fly
right.
Flight Tip
The X8 moves according to its orientation. The blue arms face forward, and the black
arms face backward. Before using the right stick, use yaw to keep the X8 facing in
outward orientation so that the black arms face towards you and the blue arms and face
away from you.
Pitch and Roll

17
!
Standard (altitude hold mode)
STD
fly manually
Start your flight in standard to select altitude hold mode,
and fly manually using the controller.
Loiter mode
LTR
hover
Select loiter to hover in place automatically. Use the controller
to adjust the X8’s position then release the sticks to hold
that position. Loiter is a great way for beginners to learn how to fly!
If you’re new to flying, start your first flight in loiter instead of standard.
Stabalize
Altitude Hold
Loiter
Full Autonomy
Return to Launch
Stabalize
Altitude Hold
Loiter
Full Autonomy
Return to Launch
mode switch
The X8 includes three flight modes: manual flight
(STD-altitude hold), hover mode (LTR-loiter), and
mission flight (AUTO). Use the switch on the
right side of the controller to select a flight mode.
To avoid sudden changes in altitude, set the throttle
stick to center position before switching modes,
including in the event of a GPS failsafe. See page 20
for more information about failsafes.
Modes

18
Auto mode
AUTO
fly a mission
Select auto mode to fly an autonomous mission. The X8 will
automatically fly the series of waypoints saved to the autopilot.
See the Missions section on page 28 for instructions on planning and flying missions.
Stabalize
Altitude Hold
Loiter
Full Autonomy
Return to Launch
Gimbal control
TILT
tilt the camera up and down
Connect a Tarot Gimbal (sold separately), and use the TILT knob to control the
angle of the camera in flight. Visit 3DR.com/X8/info for instructions.
Stabalize
Altitude Hold
Loiter
Full Autonomy
Return to Launch
Land
CH 7
land at the current position
Set the CH 7 switch to ON to end your flight and land at the current position.
Once you activate land, set the throttle stick fully down, and the X8 will auto-
matically disarm after landing. The X8 will not disarm automatically unless the
throttle stick is set fully down.
Reposition during landing: During landing, use the right
stick on the controller to adjust the X8’s position.
!Do not activate auto mode unless you have saved
a mission to the X8 using a ground station application.