GDU SAGA User manual

©2018 GDU-Tech Co., Ltd. All rights reserved 1
GDU SAGA
User Manual V1.0
Jan 2019

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Contents
Features....................................................................................................................................................................................4
User Notice..............................................................................................................................................................................5
Warning..............................................................................................................................................................................5
Instructional Video............................................................................................................................................................5
Download GDU Flight App.............................................................................................................................................. 5
Registration........................................................................................................................................................................ 6
Real-Name Registration of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)...................................................................................... 6
Safety Overview...................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Product Overview.................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Preparation of Aircraft and Remote Control................................................................................................................. 8
Name of aircraft component.............................................................................................................................................9
Name of Remote Control Components..........................................................................................................................10
Aircraft.................................................................................................................................................................................. 11
Aircraft Status Indicator................................................................................................................................................ 11
Flight Mode...................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Automatic Return............................................................................................................................................................12
Intelligent Vision System................................................................................................................................................ 14
Intelligent Flight Function.............................................................................................................................................. 16
Propeller........................................................................................................................................................................... 19
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Intelligent Battery............................................................................................................................................................20
Remote Control..................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Use of the Remote Control..............................................................................................................................................24
HD Image Transmission................................................................................................................................................. 24
Installation of Mobile Device..........................................................................................................................................25
Control of Aircraft.......................................................................................................................................................... 25
Camera Gimbal......................................................................................................................................................................28
Overview of Gimbal........................................................................................................................................................ 28
Installation of Camera Gimbal.......................................................................................................................................29
Control of Camera Gimbal.............................................................................................................................................29
GDU Flight App.................................................................................................................................................................... 31
Device................................................................................................................................................................................31
Flight......................................................................................................................................................................................37
Inspection before Flight.................................................................................................................................................. 37
Calibration of Magnetometer.........................................................................................................................................37
Basic Flight.......................................................................................................................................................................39
Technical Parameters.............................................................................................................................................................41

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Features
Foldable Structure
The platform including the body, landing gear and
propellers of the aircraft are fully foldable based on the
structural strength and design.
Fully Adaptable Platform
This platform is capable of carrying a 4K gimbal as
well as 4K*30X HD and infrared cameras, making the
disassembly and assembly of the gimbal easier with its
quick-remove design.
HD Image Transmission
Provided with HD image transmission module, the
aircraft can transmit HD video and take photos in real
time with a transmission distance of 10km.
Endurance – Long Lasting Performance
GDU SAGA is equipped with a large-capacity battery,
and with optimization made in terms of this dynamic
system and all performance indexes, its endurance time
is increased to 35min.
Intelligent Vision System
GDU SAGA is configured with advanced forward and
downward-vision systems which enable intelligent
obstacle avoidance, tracking, and visual circling. The
powerful visual system makes the aircraft more
intelligent.

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User Notice
Warning
Thanks for choosing GDU. This is a special electronic product. Incorrect operation may lead to damaging the
product or personal injury, even death, and the resulting legal consequences shall be borne by yourself (the user).
Do not use the product if you’re under the age of 18. To ensure your experience and safety, please read the
following documents in depth before using the product:
Disclaimer
List of Items
User Manual
Quick Start Guide
Instructions to Safe Use of Battery
Routine Maintenance Manual
Prior notice will not be made if there are any updates. Please refer to the latest version on the official website:
www.gdu-tech.com.
※The product parameters in the documents only represent the state as delivered, and the actual situation shall remain.
Instructional Video
In addition to documents, an introductory instructional video is also available.
You can gain access to the instructional video on the official website through
http://www.gdu-tech.com/cn/video/getlist.html or by scanning the QR code below to learn how to use the
product. Watching with a WIFI connection is recommended.
Download GDU Flight App
Please visit the official website www.gdu-tech.com or scan the QR code below to download and install the App.
Please use the product with the App.

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※GDU Flight App requires iOS8.0 or above or Android5.0 or above.
Registration
To ensure better after-sales services, please visit www.gdu-tech.com for registration. Registration does not
affect the normal use of the product, however registering as a GDU member is still recommended. GDU will
push the latest official news and special offers to members from time to time.
※The user’s personal information will be kept strictly confidential once the registration is completed.
Real-Name Registration of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
According to the Regulations on Real-name Registration of Civil Unmanned Aerial Vehicles of the Civil
Aviation Administration of China, the owner of an unmanned aerial vehicle shall complete the real-name
registration on the registry system (http://uas.caac.gov.cn) and paste the registration mark given by the system
on the vehicle.

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Safety Overview
1. Environment
· Do not fly in bad weather such as rain, thunder, lightning, hail, strong winds, heavy fog, dust, and
extremely cold weather.
· Please fly in open spaces, a tall building could block signals necessary for GPS positioning.
· Please ensure a secyre flight by keeping the vehicle in sight and away from obstacles, people, and water.
· Do not fly in areas with high-voltage lines, telecommunication base stations or launch towers to avoid
interference with remote control signals.
· Please operate with care when flying at an altitude over 4,000m.
· Please fly within legal areas.
2. Operation
· Do not make or answer calls in the course of flying. Please pay close attention to the display of the GDU
Flight App to ensure flight safety.
· Please return and land as soon as possible when the low power signal is on.
· The aircraft will be forced to return when a severely low power signal is received, at which point please
control the aircraft to land in a safe place.
· After landing, please turn off the power of the aircraft prior to other actions.
· Do not stop the motor at will, during the flight under non-emergency circumstances, so as to protect people
from being injured by a falling aircraft.
· The propeller rotates at a high speed during the flight, which is extremely dangerous. Please keep a safe
distance from the aircraft to ensure safety.
3. Maintenance
· Please replace the battery if it is found with any damage, bulge, or leakage.
· If there is an abnormal sound when the motor is activated without the propeller installed, then there may be
some deterioration. If so please replace the motor.
· Please replace a deformed broken propeller blade in time.
· Please keep the PTZ camera lens clean, and ensure that it is cleaned with a professional cleaning kit.

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Product Overview
Preparation of Aircraft and Remote Control
1. Unfold landing gears in turn;
2. Extend arms to the limit and unfold blades in
turn;
※Please control the strength of extending the arms when unfolding the aircraft. Please stop extending when the
structural limit is reached.
3. Unfold the remote control.
Click

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Name of aircraft component
1. Aircraft Rear LED Indicator
7. Forward Vision System
2. Aircraft Front LED Indicator
8. Parameter Adjustment Interface
3. Landing Gear
9. Downward Vision System
4. Propellers
10. Gimbal Interface
5. Intelligent Battery
11. Power Button
6. Motors
12. Power Indicator of Aircraft

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Name of Remote Control Components
※When the gimbal of a 10X or 30X zoom camera is carried, number 19 refers to the zoom thumbwheel of the camera
gimbal.

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Aircraft
Aircraft Status Indicator
The flight status of SAGA can be judged by the tail indicator of the aircraft.
Flight Mode
SAGA supports the following three flight modes:
1. Standard GPS mode (P)
The GPS module and the intelligent vision system are employed to enable precise hovering and intelligent flight
of the aircraft.
2. Sports GPS mode (F)
GPS module is employed to enable precise hovering. The handling sensitivity of the aircraft is adjusted and the
maximum flight speed increases.
3. Attitude mode (A)
GPS and visual ultrasonic system are not used for positioning, while only attitude stabilization is provided.
Accurate positioning can be realized with the GPS if there is a good GPS signal.

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If there is a poor GPS signal, the intelligent vision system is then used for positioning when the light conditions
satisfy the use of the system.
If there is a poor GPS signal and the light conditions cannot satisfy the intelligent vision system, the aircraft will
be incapable of precise hovering, and the App will prompt the user to land the aircraft.
Note! If the sports mode is selected, the forward vision system will be automatically turned off, and then the
aircraft can’t actively brake and avoid obstacles. The user is required to pay attention to the surroundings and
control the aircraft to avoid obstacles on the flight descent.
Note! If sports mode is selected, the flight speed and the descending speed of the aircraft will be comparatively
faster than standard mode, and the resulting braking distance will change. A braking distance of 30m should be
considered to ensure flight safety when there is no wind.
Note! If the sports mode is selected, the attitude control sensitivity of the aircraft will be greatly improved
compared with the standard mode, which means that the ordinary operation of the remote control will result in
greater flight actions. Sufficient flight space should be considered to ensure flight safety during the flight.
Automatic Return
SAGA has the automatic return to home(RTH) function. There are three ways of automatic return, namely,
“one-click return”, “low power return” and “lost return”.
If the return point is recorded before taking off, the aircraft will automatically return to the top of the return
point and land when the user activates the one-click return or the low power return or the lost return is activated
due to the disconnected signal between the remote control device and the aircraft.
The return point, also known as the HOME point, means the effective GPS coordinates are recorded by the
aircraft when the GPS signal is active during takeoff or flight. It is only valid for the current flight.
When the automatic return is enabled, in the case that the distance between the aircraft and the return point is
within 20m, the aircraft will rise ( if below 5m) to the height of 5m for the return or return at current height
(if above 5m).

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In the case that the aircraft is more than 20m away from the return point, the aircraft will rise to the preset
height (the aircraft will remain at the current height if such height is higher than the preset one), fly to the top of
the return point, and then land slowly on the ground.
※Please set up the height of return via settings - flight settings on App.
1. One-click return
The automatic return can be used by clicking the “one-click return” button on the remote control or the
icon on the App interface during the flight. In the course of return, the height and speed of the aircraft instead of
the orientation of nose can be controlled by the remote control, as the user can regain control by canceling the
return via the “one-click return” button or the icon on the App interface.
2. Low power return
The low power return includes three mechanisms, which are the early low power warning, low power return,
and severely low power landing.
Early low power warning
The early low power warning will be triggered when the power of the aircraft is less than or equal to 30%. At
this moment, the red light of the aircraft will flash slowly and the App will remind the user of the low power.
Low power return
When the power of the aircraft is less than 20%, the red light of the aircraft will flash quickly and the aircraft
will return automatically. In the course of return, the user can cancel the return by short pressing the
“one-click return” button of remote control or the icon on the App; the App or the remote control
(with normal remote control signal) can control the aircraft during the return and landing.
Severely low power landing
When the power of the aircraft is less than or equal to 5%, which means a severely low power, the red light of

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the aircraft will flash quickly and the aircraft will be forced to land.
※The stick can be also used to control the aircraft to land at a proper place in the course of landing.
※The automatic low power return occurs only once in the same flight.
※When the power for return is not enough and when it is excessively low, the user shall land the aircraft as soon as
possible.
3. Lost return
Where there is a good GPS signal, a normally functioning compass, and a successfully recorded return point by
aircraft, yet the signal between remote control and aircraft is interrupted, the aircraft will continue hovering; If
this signal continues to be interrupted for more than 15s, the aircraft will return automatically. If the signal is
restored on the way to the return point, the return process will continue, and the user can cancel the return by
shortly pressing the “one-click return” button on the remote control or the App icon.
Obstacle avoidance during return
If the light conditions satisfy the visual system in the course of the return, with the obstacle avoidance function
enabled under the standard mode, the aircraft will, in the case of encountering an obstacle ahead, hover 2m
away from the obstacle, rise to avoid the obstacle and then return at the original height.
※There is no obstacle avoidance under the sports mode during the return.
※The obstacle avoidance function during return is closed by default. Please start it in the settings of the App if
necessary.
Intelligent Vision System
The intelligent vision system is composed of the forward vision system and downward vision systems. The
forward vision system is placed at both sides of the nose, and includes a binocular vision sensor that senses
obstacles by visual image ranging. The downward vision system is placed at the bottom of aircraft and includes
a optical flow sensor and an ultrasonic sensor. The light stream is used to obtain the location information of the
aircraft, thus providing horizontal location references for the aircraft, while the ultrasonic wave is used to judge
the current flight height and provide reference for the distance from the ground to the aircraft to realize a fixed
flight height.
Detection Range
The detection range of the forward and downward vision systems are shown in the figure below. The aircraft
cannot effectively avoid an obstacle if the obstacle is out of the effective range and therefore the flight must be
carefully operated .

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Application scenario of the downward vision system
The downward vision system is applicable to the environment under 8m, with poor or no GPS signal.
Steps
1. Switch the flight mode to the standard mode.
2. Turn on the power of the aircraft and wait for a successful aircraft self-inspection (normally the red light is
on at the nose and normally the green light is on at the tail).
Application scenario of the forward vision system
The forward vision system is applicable to an environment with good light conditions under the standard mode
and an obstacle with clear texture on the flight route.

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The precision of the intelligent vision system is easily affected by the intensity of the light and the object’s
surface texture, while the ultrasonic wave may not work in normal ranges because of specific wave-absorbing
materials. Therefore, please use the intelligent vision system with care in the following situations:
Light conditions are less than 10 lux or greater than 10,000 lux.
The operating temperature is lower than -10℃or higher than 50℃.
The flight altitude is over 4,000m.
The vehicle is moving too fast.
Solid color surfaces (e.g. pure black/red/white/green).
Strong reflective surfaces.
Over water or other transparent surfaces.
Moving surfaces.
Intense or rapidly changing lighting.
Surfaces that are highly absorptive to ultrasonic waves.
Surfaces with particularly sparse texture.
Surfaces with highly repetitive texture.
A surface with an inclination of more than 30 degrees.
Small obstacles (e.g. wire mesh, net for ball and twig).
Intelligent Flight Function
Before using the intelligent flight function, attention should be paid to:
1. Ensure good light conditions.
2. Ensure that the forward and downward vision systems’ cameras are clear and without any stains.
3. Ensure sufficient power and standard mode of aircraft.
4. Ensure a normal self-inspection through the App before the flight.
5. Fly the aircraft more than 5m above ground with the follow/circle functions.
6. Keep an eye on the surrounding objects on the follow/circle path of aircraft, and be ready at all times to avoid
collision by manually controlling the aircraft or clicking the “stop” button on the App in case of an emergency.
7. Ensure a safe distance of over 5m between the aircraft and the pedestrian under follow/circle functions.

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8. Use the follow/circle functions carefully if the shape of the target changes greatly or the target is out of sight
during moving.
9. When the communication may be interrupted in a complex outdoor electromagnetic environment, click the
“one-click return” to avoid an uncontrolled aircraft due to interrupted communication in the course of
flight.
10. Abide by local laws and regulations on privacy when using the following function.
Intelligent obstacle avoidance
The high-precision and fast detection and avoidance of obstacles by the aircraft are carried out to automatically
avoid obstacles during flight.
Operation steps:
1. Start intelligent obstacle avoidance mode
Enter the camera interface by clicking shooting preparation, start “visual obstacle avoidance” and “radar chart
display” in settings - perception settings. The aircraft is then in the intelligent obstacle avoidance mode.
2. Using the intelligent obstacle avoidance mode
1) The App displays the distance from the obstacle ahead. The distance will not be displayed if it’s greater than
8m as detected by the vision system. The colors of the radar chart displayed on the App vary in green, yellow and
red, based on the distance (from far to near).
2) The aircraft will stop at a distance greater than 1.5m from the obstacle ahead, and pushing the advancing
stick will then be invalid. The aircraft will automatically retreat to keep a safe distance of more than 1.5m from
the obstacle, if the obstacle actively approaches the aircraft.
Follow Me
Operation steps:
1. Click the intelligent function button, select “follow me” on the pop-up interface to enter the follow mode.
The user will be prompted to select a target.
2. There are two ways to select a target:

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A. Double-click: Double-click the face or pedestrian on screen for target detection. The screen will display a
green cursor after the target is selected.
B. Frame: Click and drag the frame with a finger to adequately fit the target’s outline. The screen will display a
green cursor after the target is selected.
After the target is selected, the aircraft will track the target utilizing the PTZ camera, and keep flying at a
certain distance from the target.
3. End follow or re-select target
Click the “stop” button on the left of the App’s camera interface to exit the current follow session. As the aircraft
is hovering with the button displaying “exit” have the aircraft restart the follow function via double-click or
framing to turn “exit” into “stop.”
4. Exit the following mode and have the aircraft hover in place after clicking “exit”.
Visual Circling
Operation steps:
1. Click the intelligent function button and select “visual circling” on the pop-up interface to enter the visual
surrounding mode. The user will be prompted to select a target.
2. Select the ‘visual circling’ target by double-clicking or framing the target to make the aircraft fly with the
target.
Adjust the direction and speed of the ‘visual circling’ with the slider on the App interface in the process of
surrounding.
3. End visual circling or re-select the target
1) Click the “stop” key on the left of the App camera interface to exit circling. At the moment, the key displays
“exit” and the aircraft will hover; When double-click or box selection can be started again, "exit" becomes "stop",
and the aircraft is in the follow me state.
3. When clicking “exit”, the visual circling mode will exit and the aircraft will continue to hover.

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Points of Interest
Operation steps:
1. Click the intelligent function key on the App camera interface, and select “points of interest” on the pop-up
interface to get into the points of interest mode.
2. Operate the aircraft to the top of interest point, which is taken as the center to set up a radius, then click “start
flying”, and then the aircraft flies at a specific radius around the point clockwise at the current height with a speed
of 2m/s.
3. When clicking “exit”, the points of interest mode is exited, and the aircraft will continue to hover.
※Intelligent obstacle avoidance function is off by default. Please turn it on in the App settings if required.
※Intelligent functions are only open for partial configured aircrafts.
Propeller
Folding propellers are used for SAGA, including ‘a’ propeller and ‘b’ propeller, which correspond to
different motor rotation directions respectively.
Removal and Installation of the Propeller
Letters ‘a’ and ‘b’ are labeled on the propeller arm, the motor rotor, and the internal surface of the engine arm.
Please make sure the letter logos of these three are consistent during the installation.

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Select the same type of propeller in accordance to the letter on the motor during the installation of the
propeller. Set the propeller surface printed with the letter upwards, and screw in the propeller spacer pin on
motor. Then, press the propeller blade in the clamp slot of the motor axis in a vertical direction to the spacer pin
connection. Rotate the propeller blade by 90 degrees so as to align the spacer pin with hole sites at both ends
and then press hard. Finally, screw the propeller cap according to the direction indicated on the propeller cap.
When disassembling the propeller, remove the propeller cap first according to the direction indicated on
the propeller cap. Then lift the propeller blade slightly upwards, and remove it after rotating by 90 degrees.
Finally, remove the propeller.
Anti-Ejection Propeller Design
The anti-ejection design mechanism of the propeller is the second safety guarantee besides the self-locking
design of the propeller cap. Even if the propeller cap falls off, the anti-ejection mechanism of the propeller
can also prevent the propeller blade from falling. The clamp slot on the propeller blade works with the
clamp slot on the motor axis. Only when the blade rotates to a certain specific angle can it be removed
from the motor axis.
Intelligent Battery
The capacity of the GDU SAGA intelligent battery is 12000 mAh, with a flight duration of 35min.
Turning On/Off the Power Supply
Short press the power switch and then hold it down for 2s to start up the power supply of aircraft; repeat the
operation to turn off the power supply of aircraft.