Ascending Technologies Asctec Falcon 8 User manual
A
scending Technologies GmbH /// Konrad-Zuse-Bogen 4 /// 82152 Krailling /// Germany
T + 49 (089) 89 55 60 79 0 /// F + 49 (089) 89 55 60 79 19 /// team@asctec.de /// www.asctec.de
© Ascending Technologies GmbH
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Dear Customer
Thank you for purchasing an AscTec Falcon 8.
The AscTec Falcon 8 is designed for aerial imaging in areas like aerial photo- and videography
for marketing and entertainment, industrial inspection or remote sensing. Depending on your planned
application the octocopter can be mounted with specially modified camera systems, which deliver
professional DSLR image quality and stunning full-HD video quality. The round about 2 kilo
lightweight drone guarantees flight stability and fast attitude control for redundancy and quick
operations at the spot. The AscTec Falcon 8 is your well-tested reliable equipment. Enjoy full view
due to our patented V-shape.
For your project the AscTec Falcon 8 is a high-tech UAV – more efficient and effective than
conventional methods could be. For instance many industrial companies rely on our technology since
it is much cheaper than traditional inspections could be. It is extremely easy to operate. It is fun to
start and improve one’s own abilities with each performance. It is an investment that is worth it.
You will be amazed by comfort and usability.
Nevertheless you should spend time practicing. Continuous training is essential for safe operations
and your sovereignty in handling challenging situations. Therefore we recommend to participate in
one of our basic training courses. Some technical background information as well as tips by
experienced pilots are useful to decide and plan your missions properly.
We explicitly recommend to carefully read the manual and follow the instructions given. It is about
your safety and responsibility.
Yours Ascending Technologies Team
Ascending Technologies is one of the most innovative German manufacturer and innovator of Micro-UAVs as the AscTec
Falcon 8 for aerial imaging and the AscTec Firefly, the AscTec Hummingbird such as the AscTec Pelican for research and
development. Our systems are well-tested and in professional use around the world.
Operating Manual AscTec Falcon 8 – Version 2.0 /// August 2013
Original version
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of contents..................................................................................................................................... 3
1.Safety guidelines ............................................................................................................................. 5
2.Checklists ........................................................................................................................................ 6
A.System inspection before the first flight of the day................................................................. 6
B.Pre-flight checklist ................................................................................................................... 6
3.Description of the system ............................................................................................................... 7
A.The AscTec Falcon 8 ............................................................................................................... 7
B.The Mobile Ground Station (MGS)........................................................................................... 9
C.Payloads – Camera options................................................................................................... 12
D.Chargers / batteries ............................................................................................................... 14
E.Transport case & AscTec Backpack...................................................................................... 15
F.The AscTec Trainer ................................................................................................................ 16
4.Operating the system .................................................................................................................... 17
A.Safety and warning instructions ............................................................................................ 17
B.Flight modes .......................................................................................................................... 17
C.Automated start-up checks ................................................................................................... 19
D.Emergency Modes ................................................................................................................. 19
E.Choose battery type .............................................................................................................. 20
F.Setting up the UAV ................................................................................................................ 20
G.Setting up the Mobile Ground Station ................................................................................... 21
H.Adjusting the camera mount.................................................................................................. 21
I.Starting and stopping the motors.......................................................................................... 22
J.Launching............................................................................................................................... 22
K.Landing .................................................................................................................................. 23
L.Visual and acoustic warnings ................................................................................................ 24
M.Good advices......................................................................................................................... 25
N.Operating in extreme situations............................................................................................. 26
O.In trouble ................................................................................................................................ 26
P.Crash...................................................................................................................................... 27
Q.Operational limitations ........................................................................................................... 27
R.Payload vs. flight time............................................................................................................ 28
S.Finish your mission ................................................................................................................ 28
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5.Status Display ............................................................................................................................... 29
A.Basic settings right before start............................................................................................. 29
B.Main Menu – Main Page & Orientation Page......................................................................... 30
C.Setting up semi-autonomous functions................................................................................. 30
6.Special functions........................................................................................................................... 34
A.Video Mode............................................................................................................................ 34
B.CableCam Mode .................................................................................................................... 35
C.Waypoint Navigation.............................................................................................................. 36
D.Camera Control...................................................................................................................... 42
7.After the mission............................................................................................................................ 43
A.Receive data from the UAV.................................................................................................... 43
B.AscTec Photo tagger software .............................................................................................. 43
C.Batteries ................................................................................................................................. 44
D.Transport................................................................................................................................ 45
E.Changing payloads ................................................................................................................ 46
8.Updates/Upgrades........................................................................................................................ 47
A.General firmware updates...................................................................................................... 47
B.Optional software features & upgrades ................................................................................. 48
9.Maintenance and repairs............................................................................................................... 49
A.Regular checks ...................................................................................................................... 49
B.Serial number / ID .................................................................................................................. 49
C.Changing propellers............................................................................................................... 49
D.Exchanging motor rails .......................................................................................................... 50
10.AscTec Falcon 8 – data sheet....................................................................................................... 51
11.Disclaimer...................................................................................................................................... 52
12.Validity ........................................................................................................................................... 53
13.Changelog ..................................................................................................................................... 54
14.Contact information....................................................................................................................... 55
1. SAFETY GUIDELINES
These guidelines* must be read, understand, accepted and followed by any personnel who operate
the system.
1. The pilot of an Ascending Technologies (AT) UAV should always act according to his/her best
judgment, focusing on the safety of the people and the environment he/she is flying in.
2. All UAVs must be operated according to the laws of the country they are used in. It is the sole
responsibility of the client to be informed of applicable restrictions. Examples of restrictions
for operating UAVs in some countries may include:
oOperation in line of sight only. Flying out of sight is prohibited.
oOperation in uncontrolled airspace only.
oKeep maximum operating altitude.
oPrior permission by authorities required.
3. A system and pre-flight check (p. 6) before every flight is necessary.
4. Rotating propellers are capable of causing serious personal injury and property damage.
Keep a safe distance and/or wear appropriate safety equipment.
5. Our UAVs, like all comparable aircraft, can in rare cases suffer electrical, mechanical and/or
other failures which may lead to a partial or complete loss of flying capability. Therefore the
pilot is responsible for conducting all flights at a safe distance from people, moving vehicles
etc. such that in the event of loss of flight control, no personal injury will result.
6. Operating the aircraft close to power lines, power transformers or other areas with high
electromagnetic disturbances or in urban canyons can have severe effects on the GPS
stability and/or the magnetic field sensor. Therefore a pilot must have the training and ability
to fly the system in HEIGHT MODE in any situation. It is recommended to avoid these
problematic environments.
7. Always give way to other aircrafts! Watch out for low flying helicopters!
8. GPS Mode will limit your maximum speed. Flying the aircraft at wind speeds above 10 m/s is
not recommended. Please note that wind conditions on the ground and in the air can differ.
9. Flying the aircraft at temperatures below -5° Celsius or above 35° Celsius is not permitted.
10. Fly only in dry conditions. This system is not waterproof.
11. Intensive training of every pilot to operate the UAV in all flight modes and to maintain the UAV
in a safe and airworthy condition is mandatory.
12. The aircraft is not made for ongoing assembling and disassembling. After assembly and
before the first flight, a system and pre-flight check (p. 6) is required.
13. Transporting the aircraft in any other transport containers not approved by AT is not
recommended.
14. Using other devices in combination with the aircraft other than approved by AT (e. g.
batteries, battery chargers, cameras, etc.) is prohibited. Any unapproved modification of the
aircraft is prohibited.
15. Insurance according to the requirements of EC Regulation 785/2004 and/or UK Civil Aviation
(Insurance) Regulations 2005 is mandatory. In no circumstances will AT accept responsibility
or liability for third party damages caused directly or indirectly by the AT UAV or its pilot by
whatever means.
Violation of these guidelines result in the loss of warranty!
* Subject to change without prior notice. Errors and omissions excepted.
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2. CHECKLISTS
A. SYSTEM INSPECTION BEFORE THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THE DAY
1. Is the transport case free of visible defects?
2. Is the UAV free of visible defects?
3. Are all the propellers in good condition?
4. Are all the propellers firmly mounted to the motors (move the propellers gently while holding
the motor)?
5. Are the landing feet firmly attached?
6. Are all the antennas firmly attached?
7. Are all the batteries fully charged?
8. Is the SD card of the black box correctly inserted?
9. Are the motor rails properly connected to the central unit?
10. Is the 10-pin cable of the camera mount firmly attached to the central unit?
B. PRE-FLIGHT CHECKLIST
1. Is the battery of the AscTec Falcon 8 correctly installed regarding “This side up” sticker and
center of gravity?
2. Is the battery firmly plugged into the UAV?
3. Are the antennas of the MGS and UAV unfolded?
Switch on the UAV, then the MGS. Now wait for the link to be established.
4. Make sure the system stands still while it is calibrating itself. Uneven ground is okay.
That takes about 10 seconds; sound: DOUBLE-BEEP.
Do not move the UAV when calibrating!
5. When the acoustic sound is a single BEEP only: Calibration is finished and the camera mount
stabilization starts working. The system is waiting for a GPS signal.
6. If the acoustic sound is an ongoing LONG-BEEP: Calibration has failed. Turn it off & on again.
For detailed meaning of signal tones see Acoustic signal codes.
7. Is the battery voltage of the R/C above 7.4 V?
8. Is the battery voltage of the UAV above 12.4 V?
9. Does the bottom line in the Status Display show OK?
10. Is the GPS quality at least > 75 % (= 4 bars)? This is mandatory, if you want to fly in GPS
MODE!
11. Is the wind speed within the operational limits 15 m/s (in the GPS MODE: 12 m/s)?
12. Is there enough space to take-off and land (no people within a radius of 10 m)?
13. Are there no obstacles around which could shadow the GPS signal?
After starting the motors:
14. Do all motors run correctly?
15. Does the system react accordingly to your inputs?
a. Switch to MANUAL MODE.
b. Hold the system on the ground by the cover of the central unit.
c. Check if the system reacts properly to your inputs (e.g. give the command “thrust”
and the system takes off and fully stabilizes; give the command “left” and the motors
on the right side increase in rpm).
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3. DESCRIPTION OF THE SYSTEM
A. THE ASCTEC FALCON 8
The AscTec Falcon 8 consists of several
subunits:
1. Central unit.
2. Actively stabilized mount option with
related camera.
3. Carbon cross.
4. Motor rails.
5. The data link antennas are attached to the
carbon cross close to the motor rails.
6. The video link antenna is located close to
the central unit to keep wiring as short as
possible.
CENTRAL UNIT
The central unit consists of:
1. Extremely firm and lightweight
construction made out of CNC-milled
carbon fiber.
2. Knurled nut for the actively stabilized
camera mount.
3. Battery connector.
4. Motor rail connectors.
5. Vibration dampers.
6. Battery compartment.
7. Serial number – AscTec Falcon 8-ID.
8. Mini-SD card for black box data storage.
9. Ball link connector for actively stabilized
camera mount.
10. Connector for 10pin cable of actively
stabilized camera mount.
11. Velcro for adjusting the battery position.
12. On/Off switch.
More:
Flight stabilization electronics with power
supply.
Diversity Data Link modules.
Video Transmitter module.
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ACTIVELY STABILIZED CAMERA MOUNT
The actively stabilized
camera mount consists of:
1. Breakout board with case.
2. Pitch servo.
3. Payload (e. g. Sony NEX-7).
4. Extremely stiff and lightweight carbon
fiber mechanical structure.
5. Roll servo.
MOTOR RAILS
The motor rails consist of:
1. The propellers are directly bolted on the
motor shafts.
2. Brushless motors are mounted …
3. on the Motor clips.
4. The landing feet are used to attach the
carbon cross to the motor rails of the
UAV.
5. The data link antennas are attached to the
carbon cross close to the motor rails.
6. Extremely stiff and lightweight carbon
fiber mechanical structure.
In each motor rail there are four brushless
motor controllers protected by the carbon tube.
CARBON CROSS
The carbon cross consists of four carbon tubes connected by a carbon part in the middle. The two
carbon tubes at the back contain the data link antenna wires.
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B. THE MOBILE GROUND STATION (MGS)
The data link, camera control, video link, Status Display and the controls for the system itself are
integrated into the MGS. The MGS is designed to be carried around and operated by one person.
It displays all relevant flight information.
The MGS consists of:
1. 2x Video link antennas (5.8 GHz rod
antennas, male).
2. Diversity video receiver: video live stream
from the UAV (= Receiver). See p. 10.
3. Antiglare shield.
4. LCD monitor for live video/image.
5. Status Display for telemetry data and to
activate functions. See p. 27.
6. Diversity data link transmits and receives
all relevant flight data (= Transmitter). See
p. 10.
7. 2x Data link antennas (2.4 GHz rod
antennas, male).
8. Remote control. See p. 9.
9. Video receiver battery compartment.
10. Transmitter tray with bayonet connectors
for neck strap.
THE REMOTE CONTROL (R/C)
The R/C transmitter Futaba FX-30 is only used as human interface device and for channel
assignment. It is preprogrammed and ready to use. All functions and information in the display of the
R/C transmitter are irrelevant, except for the voltage shown in the upper right corner. The Status
Display and data link are used for communication with the UAV.
The Remote control contains:
1. Zoom/Rec switch: Enables camera zoom
or video recording if available.
2. Start/Stop switch: Starts/Stops the motors
when the left stick is simultaneously at
minimum.
3. Auto switch (On/Off): Enables/Disables the
autopilot.
4. GPS switch (On/Off): Enables/Disables
GPS position control.
5. Camera TRIGGER BUTTON.
6. Camera tilt sliders: Controls the camera tilt
coarse (left) and fine (right).
7. Left control stick: Left/Right = yawing the
UAV (turning left/right). Up/Down (throttle
stick) = ascending/descending of the UAV.
8. Trim Wheels
1
: Adjusting middle positions
of the sticks. For expert use only!
9. Power switch
2
(On/Off).
10. Right control stick: Left/Right = rolling the
UAV left/right. Up/Down = pitching the
UAV to the front/back.
11. R/C display
3
: Displays settings.
Check the trim of the sticks from time to time. Only adjust them to zero when the AscTec Falcon 8 is switched off.
Do not switch off the R/C and immediately switch it on again. Wait some seconds until the R/C has shut down completely
(display will shut down completely). Then you can switch it on again.
Do not modify any settings in the R/C transmitter!
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DIVERSITY VIDEO RECEIVER
The video transmitter on the UAV is at 5.8 GHz with 25 mW and thus legal in most countries
worldwide. Alternatively we offer 100 mW, if legal in your country. The separation to the diversity data
link with 2.4 GHz prevents interferences.
On the MGS there are two analogue video receivers in diversity configuration.
The battery for the video receiver can be found on the front side of the MGS. The battery is simply
slid into the battery compartment. For charging or exchanging, pull it out.
The power supply of the video receiver and monitor is separated from the other security-relevant
components of the MGS. This separation guarantees maximum safety.
The AscTec Falcon 8 is preset to a certain video channel and the diversity video receiver is set
accordingly. If you use the MGS for multiple AscTec Falcon UAVs, you have to change the channel of
the diversity video receiver. For doing this, please follow these steps:
1. Switch on the UAV and the camera.
2. The video receiver must be off and the
battery has to be plugged in.
3. Press the button on the video receiver for
at least 10 s, till all LEDs flash.
4. Now one single LED is on, which
signalizes the video channel number.
The lowest LED is channel one.
5. If the monitor is not running already,
switch it on, now.
6. By pressing the button again, you can
switch between the channels till you see
the live stream from the UAV.
7. To save the channel, simply wait for 20 s.
All LEDs will flash for indication and the
receiver switches back to normal mode.
DIVERSITY DATA LINK
There are two independent 2.4 GHz digital data control links between R/C transmitter and the UAV.
The transmitter power for the transmitting
module can be set in the PARAMETER
MENU of the Status Display from 10 mW
to 63 mW.
Pay attention to the regulations of the
country, where you perform.
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GAMEPAD
The Gamepad is optional. The plug for the Gamepad cable connector is located behind the LCD
Video monitor.
MAIN MENUENT SETTINGS ENT VIDEO
OPTIONS ENT GAMEPAD
There are different default assignments
depending on the mounted camera
system.
The stick assignment of the gamepad
can be adjusted over Status Display.
The following chart presents an overview.
Camera Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-7 Sony CX730E,
CX410VE & 80VE
Panasonic Lumix
LX5, LX7, TZ22 &
TZ31
Inspectionpayload
TZ61
1 (Start/Stop) video (Start/Stop) video Record (Start/Stop) (Start/Stop) video
on FLIR (~3
frames/sec)
2 (Take a) photo (Take a) photo (Take a) photo (Take a) photo
(both cameras)
3 View (latest pict.) View (latest pict.) / /
4 / / / Change color
pallete (when
FLIR is active)
5 Tilt (Up/Down) Tilt (Up/Down) Tilt (Up/Down) Tilt (Up/Down)
Yaw/Gear
(Left/Right)
6 Yaw (Left/Right) Yaw (Left/Right) Yaw (Left/Right) Tilt (Up/Down)
Yaw/Gear
(Left/Right)
7 Preview/Video* ↔Aperture +/- 5
↕Shutter speed +/-
Horizontal Tilt Horizontal Tilt
8 Camera tilt - Camera tilt - Zoom - Switch camera
9 Camera tilt + Camera tilt + Zoom + Zoom - (when
TZ61 is active)
10 Nick velocity - Nick velocity - Nick velocity - Zoom + (when
TZ61 is active)
11 Nick velocity + Nick velocity + Nick velocity + Nick velocity -
Nick velocity +
Following settings are adjustable via Status Display on the MGS:
Invert Y-axis. Set the stick
assignment for 5 and 6:
Kombi sets tilt
(up/down) and yaw
(right/left) on 5 and 6.
Or
Separat sets tilt
(up/down) on 5 and yaw
(right/left) on 6.
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C. PAYLOADS – CAMERA OPTIONS
Every payload must be integrated mechanically and electronically into the UAV. Thus it is only
allowed to use approved payloads by Ascending Technologies. Payloads might affect the compass
calibration due to magnetic fields of the cameras and have impact on the flight performance. We will
be happy to help you to find a perfect camera option for your planned application. When installing a
new payload onto an existing AscTec Falcon 8 system, the compass has to be (factory) calibrated
once. The AscTec Falcon 8 system will save the calibration with that exact payload and remember it
the next time you use that payload.
SONY – CAMERAS & CAMCORDER
The Sony systems are powered directly by the AscTec Falcon 8 battery to save weight. This means
shutting down the UAV instantly shuts down the power of the camera. When changing camera settings,
make sure to switch off the camera at least 10 seconds before switching off the UAV to save the
settings and the pictures. We recommend to set the HDMI resolution on AUTO.
Sony NEX-5N
Sony NEX-7
Sony Alpha 7
Sony Alpha 7R
Camcorder/Handycam®: If you want to export the images off your camcorder, keep the flight
system turned on and connect the camcorder to your computer via USB cable.
Alternative SD Card removal: To remove the SD Card simply loosen the screw at the bottom and
turn it carefully till you can open the battery compartment of the camcorder and take off the SD card.
Sony CX730E
Sony CX410VE
Sony PJ780VE
Always stop recording, before you switch off the UAV!
Otherwise recording might fail and the floating lens cover won´t close properly!
Then before you again turn on the camcorder wait ca. 30 seconds, so that the camcorder can fully shut down.
Sony Alpha NEX-7:
Fully integrated.
Modified hardware for direct remote
control and power supply.
Actively stabilized camera mount.
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Sony Alpha 7:
Fully integrated.
Modified hardware for direct remote
control and power supply.
Actively stabilized camera mount.
Sony Camcorder PJ780VE:
Fully integrated.
Modified hardware for direct remote
control and power supply.
Actively stabilized camera mount.
PANASONIC LUMIX – CAMERA
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5, Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ22, Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ31, Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ41
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ61
The Panasonic cameras have a USB connector on top of the camera to
communicate with the camera mount. You must NOT use this plug for any other
purpose!
Therefore for downloading your photos – please remove the SD-card. It is located at the bottom
of the camera next to the battery.
The Panasonic Lumix LX5, L
X
7, TZ22
&
TZ31
& TZ 61 camera options:
Panasonic Lumix LX5, LX7, TZ22, TZ31 or
TZ61 digital cameras with internally
modified hardware for remote access.
CMOS camera*.
AscTec USB connector.
Actively stabilized camera mount.
*The CMOS camera needs to be used for the
live view while recording HD videos, since the
cameras themselves do not output live view in
HD VIDEO MODE. The switch is done directly
via Status Display on the MGS.
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THERMAL CAMERAS & EXPERT CAMERAS
Digital camera Sigma DP1 Merrill
Infrared camera FLIR TAU 640
Inspection payload TZ61
Near-infrared camera Tetracam ADC Micro
Thermal camera NEC F30
D. CHARGERS / BATTERIES
ROBBE POWER PEAK C8 EQ-BID
The Robbe Power Peak serves as charger for all flight system batteries and the battery of the diversity
video receiver, but not for the batteries of the Mobile Ground Station.
The Robbe Power Peak C8 EQ-BID provides:
One click operation for easiest and safest
charging of all batteries of the UAV.
The charger recognizes the battery type
by the Battery Identifier Chip (BID) and
sets the right charging parameters.
You may use a 12 V and a 220 V input.
All charging adapters and cables are
included. If you use a Graupner Ultra Duo
Plus 50/60, please ask for support if
required.
All batteries have a small BID on the balancing
plug that contains a battery level display. To
check the charging state, please press the
small button in the left down corner of the BID
and control the charging state by the LED.
• Green LED > 12.0 V = Battery is full and ready for use.
• Yellow LED > 11.5 V = Means battery is half empty please recharge.
• Red LED < 11.0 V = Means battery is empty, please recharge.
After having done the connection of the red and black DC-current cable to the charging station
also the BID-Chip cable must be connected to the battery. Afterwords the display shows a BR
(Battery Ready) message and the present voltage of the battery.
By pushing the Mode button the charger changes in the BC mode (Battery Charging). One
charging of an empty battery will take about one hour. The successful end of the charging
process is announced by a PEEP and the display message of BF (Battery Full).
Please remove the battery and controll the success of the charging procedure by pressing the
ca. 1mm black button of the BID Chip with your finger nail or by the help of a pen. Now a shining
Green LED should prove the successful charging procedure.
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Battery for the Diversity Video Receiver:
The battery for the video receiver is pushed in a
vertical position with gentle pressure on the
right side of the MGS. The upper and down
boards of the MGS are fixing the battery.
This battery has to be charged by the ROBBE
charging station in the same manner like the
„flying batteries“.
Futaba charging station:
The Futaba socket is located below the 2.4GHz
FASST writing at the left corner of the MGS
(Mobile Ground Station)
It has to be charged by the small Robbe
charging station.
During the charging process a red light is
shining.
After successful charging the LED is
turning its colour in green.
E. TRANSPORT CASE & ASCTEC BACKPACK
The transport case consists of a Peli
®
Case with a precisely water jet cut inlay fitting the complete
AscTec Falcon 8 system with all its accessories. For easy one-person transport, it has a retractable
handle and wheels. The AscTec Backpack is not airfreight able, but very useful for missions in remote
destinations, since it is light and tight, but safe.
The transport case offers great advantage:
It is watertight, crushproof and dust proof.
An automatic pressure equalization valve
prevents the transport case and the UAV
from damage when transported by
airplane.
Due to a pull-out holder and bottom side
wheels it can be easily transported by one
single person.
The upper part of the inlay can be used as
compact transport protection for the UAV.
The UAV itself is secured by a Velcro
strap.
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F. THE ASCTEC TRAINER
The AscTec Trainer is a small and extremely robust training device specifically designed for AscTec
Falcon 8 customers. The AscTec Trainer is delivered ready to fly with battery and spare propellers.
A red label indicates the front in the flying direction,
Following features are alike on the
AscTec Falcon 8:
Operation with the MGS.
Extremely stable flight stabilization.
GPS MODE, HEIGHT MODE and
MANUAL MODE with the same level of
support and limitations.
Complete functionality of the Status
Display (e.g. telemetry, GOTO HOME).
Waypoint Navigation and Comfort
Package.
To bind the AscTec Trainer, use the ASCTEC FALCON SCAN in the Status Display and select the ID
which is written on the system.
Please note, when the Comfort Package is not activated on your AscTec Falcon 8 system, the Status
Display will not show the same features on both systems.
The operation of the AscTec Trainer is similar to that of the AscTec Falcon 8.
So please read the following instructions prior to the first flight.
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4. OPERATING THE SYSTEM
A. SAFETY AND WARNING INSTRUCTIONS
1. Always keep a safe distance away from people, as they could be severely injured
by the UAV during start or landing, as well as in case of improper use or
sudden/unexpected failure.
2. Do not fly too close to obstacles (e. g. trees, cars) the UAV could damage third party
property. Besides these might shadow the GPS signal and worsen position accuracy.
3. Do not fly beyond line of sight.
4. Always keep both hands on the sticks. You have to be able to react all at once.
5. Be aware of dogs or birds of prey, they might attack your UAV.
6. Always give way to other aircrafts! Watch out for low flying helicopters!
7. All control inputs are done in the UAV’s coordinate system. That means commands are
always given like you were sitting in the UAV as a pilot. When looking at the live view on the
monitor of your MGS, you can thus directly manipulate the point of view of the camera.
When looking at the UAV from the outside, the orientation of the UAV has to be taken into
account when giving commands.
8. In case of any problems close to the ground, give full throttle for the safest way out.
9. Always keep the thrust stick completely down when the UAV is on the ground and the
motors are running.
10. We strongly recommend a basic training and frequently practicing the HEIGHT MODE.
B. FLIGHT MODES
The user can select the flight modes by the two switches on the right hand side of the remote control
(See p. 9). The Auto switch activates/deactivates the auto pilot (On/Off). When it is pushed away from
the pilot, full MANUAL MODE is selected. By pulling the switch the height controller is activated.
When the GPS and Auto switches both are pulled towards the pilot, the GPS aided flight mode is
activated. If the GPS signal is lost, the UAV automatically switches into HEIGHT MODE.
Thus you have to be able to handle the UAV in the HEIGHT MODE. Appropriately we recommend to
take part in the basic training where we impart basic knowledge and give the chance to fly
supervised by exercised pilots.
In every flight mode, there is a different level of automatic control available.
The pilot must be able to control the UAV not only in GPS MODE but also in
HEIGHT MODE at all times!
For most applications, the AscTec Falcon 8 is best to be flown in GPS MODE. Our systems are well-
proven. However a valid GPS lock can never be guaranteed.
Mode
Auto switch
GPS switch Attitude control Height control
GPS control
MANUAL MODE
Off
On or Off √
- -
HEIGHT MODE
On
Off √ √
-
GPS MODE
On
On √√√
GPS MODE
Mode
“Auto” switch
“GPS” switch Attitude control Height control
GPS control
GPS MODE
On
On √√√
18
When there is no input from the pilot, the system will:
Keep its orientation in the air.
Maintain its position within the limits of the GPS accuracy (approx. 2–5 m).
Keep its height within the limits of the height controller (approx. 1–3m).
Compensate for wind speeds up to 10 m/s.
For safety reasons and to make operation as easy as possible, there are some limitations:
Roll and pitch angles are limited to 32°.
Speeds in horizontal plane are limited to 3 m/s.
Ascend rate is limited to 3 m/s.
Descend rate is limited to 1.8 m/s.
When manipulating the sticks on the MGS, there is a direct control of the speed of the UAV. For
example, giving full input to the left means the system will fly with 3 m/s to the left, independent of
the wind direction.
HEIGHT MODE
Mode “Auto” switch “GPS” switch Attitude control Height control GPS control
HEIGHT MODE On Off √ √ -
Attitude and height control is active. When there is no input from the pilot, the system will:
Keep its orientation in the air (system will be leveled).
Keep its height within the limits of the height controller (approx. 1 – 3 m).
For safety reasons and to make operation as easy as possible, there are some limitations:
Roll and pitch angles are limited to 52°.
Ascend rate is limited to 3 m/s.
Descend rate is limited to 1.8 m/s.
The system will neither keep its position nor compensate for wind. The position control has to be
done manually.
Do not give full control inputs in HEIGHT MODE! The UAV can be overstrained in
certain situations, e. g. flying abrupt maneuvers with low battery.
When manipulating the sticks on the MGS, there is a direct control of the roll and pitch angles of
the UAV. For example giving full input to the left means the system will roll 52° to the left. It now
depends on the wind direction and speed to determine the direction and speed the UAV flies.
MANUAL MODE
Mode “Auto” switch “GPS” switch Attitude control Height control GPS control
MANUAL MODE Off On or Off √- -
Only attitude control is active. When there is no input from the pilot, the system will:
Keep its orientation in the air (system will be leveled). Fragile to external influences.
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For safety reasons and to make it impossible to flip the system:
Roll and pitch angles are limited to 52°.
The system will neither keep its position and height nor will it compensate for wind. The position and
height control has to be done manually.
The MANUAL MODE is for experts only.
When manipulating the sticks on the MGS, there is a direct control of the roll and pitch angles
and of the thrust of the UAV. The direction and the speed of the UAV is determined by the wind
direction and speed.
Having the thrust stick in the middle does not mean the UAV will keep the height, but 50 % thrust.
This means the UAV will, depending on the weight of the payload, either ascend or descend when
switching from any other mode to MANUAL MODE! In most cases with full payload the system will
start to descend, so be prepared to give some thrust when switching to MANUAL MODE.
C. AUTOMATED START-UP CHECKS
When switching on the UAV, you will hear a single BEEP followed by a continuous DOUBLE– BEEP.
During the time of the double beeping, the system performs an automated start-up check:
The gyroscopes are checked for drift.
The current magnetic field is compared to the expected magnetic field.
The electronics are checked for general malfunctions.
The acceleration sensors are checked for a valid calibration.
The black box SD card is checked.
Irregularities that might affect the flight behavior are reported by a continuous signal and a
corresponding error notification on the Status Display (for 5 secondes only). In case of an error,
please try to start the system again at a different location. If the error persists, please contact us.
ACOUSTIC SIGNAL CODES
Signal in a 2 seconds pulse
System initialization successful.
Battery warning:
The BEEP gets longer as battery voltage gets lower.
GPS warning.
Gyro calibration error:
The system has been moved during initialization.
A
ccelerometer calibration error.
Compass magnetic field/inclination warning.
Compass error.
D. EMERGENCY MODES
Regarding the EMERGENCY MODE please note that:
The home position is set automatically to the position where you start the motors.
If no GPS lock is available at that time, the UAV will set DIRECT LANDING automatically.
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Flying back to home position does not mean the system flies in a perfectly straight line.
Especially when there is wind, the flight path might be curved.
When the system is flown in HEIGHT MODE or MANUAL MODE and the EMERGENCY
MODE is activated, the system will automatically switch to GPS MODE.
When the EMERGENCY MODE is activated and you reestablish connection to the UAV, the
system will stop and go into the flight mode selected on the MGS.
DIRECT LANDING
In case the UAV loses contact with the MGS, the system will wait 10 seconds, and then
start a controlled descend with 1 m/s at its current position till it lands. If no GPS is
available, the UAV will keep itself leveled and immediately start to land.
COMEHOME STRAIGHT
In case the UAV loses contact with the MGS, the system will stop at its current position,
wait for 10 seconds and then fly back to home position at its current height. If the UAV
is flying lower than 20 m, the system will stop at its actual position, wait for 10 s then
ascend to approx. 20 m above take off height and then fly back to home position.
COMEHOME HIGH
In case the UAV loses contact with the MGS, the system will stop at its current position,
wait for 10 seconds, ascend to the highest height the UAV has reached during this flight
and then fly back to home position. This mode prevents crashing into obstacles, but
can be critical towards the end of the flight time, since ascending drains the battery.
The HOME POSITION is automatically set at the spot where you start the motors.
E. CHOOSE BATTERY TYPE
See p. 27.
F. SETTING UP THE UAV
1. Slide the battery into the battery compartment. Make sure to install the battery with the “This
side up” sticker facing upwards! Otherwise the compass might get interfered with.
2. Plug in the battery connector all the way. Pay attention that the flat side of the plug is facing
upwards. With too much force you might overcome the protection against reverse polarity.
3. Choose a static platform to get the vehicle started unmoved. For initialization about 15
seconds are required. Flick the power switch to turn the system on and wait for the signal.
The camera mount will align the camera horizontal.
4. Switch on the camera and remove the lens cap.
The system is ready to take-off as soon as the calibration has successfully finished and the link to the
MGS has been established. A GPS signal is not essential for flying the AscTec Falcon 8. However, we
recommend any inexperienced pilots to take-off and land in GPS MODE. Good GPS reception
(> 75 % = 4 bars) is mandatory in this case. Choose a take-off and landing area where good GPS
signal is available. But it is not critical, if the ground is level or inclined.
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