Maxaero X-Star ST1 User manual
i
Trademarks
Autel
®
, Maxaero
TM
, X-Memo
TM
and X-Star
TM
are trademarks of Autel Aerial
Technology Co., Ltd., registered in China, the United States and other
countries. All other marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective holders.
Copyright Information
No part of this manual may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of
Maxaero.
Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liabilities
All information, specifications and illustrations in this manual are based on
the latest information available at the time of printing. Maxaero reserves the
right to make changes at any time without notice. While information of this
manual has been carefully checked for accuracy, no guarantee is given to
the completeness and correctness of the contents, including but not limited
to the product specifications, functions, and illustrations.
Use the products within the limits permitted by local laws and regulations. In
purchasing the products, the buyer/user agrees to bear full responsibilities of
the results of using this product. Maxaero will not be liable for any direct
damages or for any special, incidental, or indirect damages or for any
economic consequential damages (including lost profits).
IMPORTANT:
Before operating or maintaining this unit, please read this
manual carefully, paying extra attention to the safety warnings and
precautions.
ii
Safety Information
For your own safety and the safety of others, and to prevent damage to the
product and other properties, it is important that the instructions and all
safety information presented throughout the product manuals be read and
understood by all persons operating, or coming into contact with, the
product.
IMPORTANT:
This product is not intended for use by children without adult
supervision. Do not use with incompatible components or alter this product
in any way inconsistent with the instructions provided by Maxaero.
z
Fly with an experienced pilot for the first flight is strongly recommended.
z
Fly in open and safe area; keep away from people and moving vehicles
especially when taking-off and landing.
z
Remove the batteries before assembly or when not in use.
z
Keep away from the moving and powered parts especially rotating
propellers.
z
Remove all propellers during configuration and setup.
z
Keep the small or electrical parts out of the reach of children.
z
Keep all the parts dry and clean.
z
Keep away from heat sources or humid and hostile environments.
z
Make a thorough preflight check before each flight.
z
Remove the propellers when testing the motors’ operation.
z
Make sure the batteries of all devices (aircraft, remote controller,
camera, and mobile) are fully charged.
z
Make sure the failsafe function of your remote controller is enabled
before take-off.
z
Do not fly in GPS mode when less than 6 satellite signals are received.
z
Keep away from electromagnetic interference.
z
Use with only authorized accessories approved or provided by Maxaero.
iii
About Battery Usage
The product is powered by a built-in Lithium-ion Polymer battery.
LiPo/Li-Ion batteries can be extremely hazardous and special attention is
required during usage. Read and follow all safety messages and instructions
presented to avoid personal injuries or property damages.
DANGER:
The built-in Lithium-ion Polymer battery is factory replaceable
only; incorrect replacement or tampering with the battery pack may cause an
explosion.
z
Do not use a damaged battery charger.
z
Do not disassemble or open, crush, bend or deform, puncture or shred.
z
Do not modify or remanufacture, attempt to insert foreign objects into
the battery, expose the battery to fire, explosion or other hazards.
z
Disconnect and remove the Li-Po battery from the aircraft after use to
prevent trickle discharge. During storage, make sure the battery charge
does not fall below 3V.
z
Stop using or charging the battery immediately whenever the battery
starts to swell, smoke or leak.
z
Only use the charging device that has been qualified with device per the
standard. Use of an unqualified battery or charger may present a risk of
fire, explosion, leakage, or other hazards.
z
The heavier the payload, the shorter the flight time will be as more
battery power may be consumed.
z
The battery recharging time varies depending on the remaining battery
capacity.
z
Battery life inevitably shortens over time.
z
Since over charging may shorten battery life, remove the battery or the
device from its charger once it is fully charged. Unplug the charger once
charging is complete.
iv
z
Leaving the product in extreme environments may reduce the capacity
and life of the battery. Always keep the battery within normal
temperatures.
z
Completely discharge the battery prior to disposal.
z
Dispose of the battery properly.
For Services and Support:
http://www.maxaero.com
0086-755-86147779 (China)
Support@maxaero.com
Or contact your local selling agent for technical assistance in all other
markets.
Contents
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITIES
...............................I
SAFETY INFORMATION
......................................................................................II
ABOUT BATTERY USAGE
...................................................................................III
CHAPTER 1
USING THIS MANUAL
....................................................................1
1.1
C
ONVENTIONS
......................................................................................... 1
1.1.1
B
OLD
T
EXT
......................................................................................... 1
1.1.2
T
ERMINOLOGY
.................................................................................... 1
1.1.3
N
OTES AND
I
MPORTANT
M
ESSAGES
........................................................... 1
1.1.4
H
YPERLINKS
....................................................................................... 2
1.1.5
P
ROCEDURES
...................................................................................... 2
CHAPTER 2
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
.............................................................3
2.1
I
N
T
HE
B
OX
............................................................................................ 3
2.2
A
IRCRAFT
.............................................................................................. 7
2.2.1
F
UNCTIONAL
D
ESCRIPTION
...................................................................... 7
2.2.2
B
UILT
-
IN
S
MART
F
LIGHT
S
YSTEM
............................................................... 9
2.2.3
F
LIGHT
LED
I
NDICATOR
L
IGHT
................................................................ 11
2.2.4
A
IRCRAFT
B
AT T E R Y
............................................................................. 12
2.2.5
3-
AXIS
C
AMERA
G
IMBAL
...................................................................... 16
2.2.6
C
AMERA
......................................................................................... 18
2.3
R
EMOTE
C
ONTROLLER
............................................................................. 20
2.3.1
F
UNCTIONAL
D
ESCRIPTION
.................................................................... 21
2.3.2
R
EMOTE
C
ONTROLLER
I
NDICATOR
L
IGHTS
................................................... 24
2.3.3 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS................................................................ 26
CHAPTER 3
PRE/POST-FLIGHT OPERATIONS
...................................................27
3.1
P
REPARING
A
IRCRAFT
.............................................................................. 27
3.1.1
R
EMOVING
G
IMBAL
L
OCK
..................................................................... 27
3.1.2
I
NSTALLING
P
ROPELLERS
....................................................................... 28
3.1.3
C
HARGING
F
LIGHT
B
AT T E R Y
................................................................... 29
3.1.4
I
NSTALLING AND
R
EMOVING THE
B
AT T E R Y
.................................................. 30
3.1.5
M
OUNTING THE
C
AMERA
..................................................................... 31
3.2
P
REPARING
R
EMOTE
C
ONTROLLER
............................................................... 32
3.2.1
R
E
-
PAIRING
R
EMOTE
C
ONTROLLER
........................................................... 33
3.3
P
REPARING
M
OBILE
D
EVICE
....................................................................... 34
3.3.1
I
NSTALLING
M
OBILE
A
PP
...................................................................... 35
3.3.2
R
EGISTERING
U
SER
A
CCOUNT
................................................................ 35
3.3.3
E
STABLISHING
X-S
TA R
W
I
F
I
N
ETWORK
...................................................... 35
3.3.4
R
E
-
PAIRING
X-S
TAR
W
I
F
I
N
ETWORK
........................................................ 36
3.4
I
NSTALLING
PC
A
ID
S
UITE
......................................................................... 38
3.4.1
R
EGISTER
PC
A
ID
A
CCOUNT
.................................................................. 38
CHAPTER 4
FLIGHT OPERATIONS
...................................................................40
4.1
P
REFLIGHT
C
HECKLIST
.............................................................................. 40
4.2
C
ALIBRATING
C
OMPASS
............................................................................ 41
4.3
R
EMOTE
C
ONTROLLER AND
F
LIGHT
O
PERATIONS
.............................................. 43
4.3.1
M
OTOR
S
TART
-
UP AND
T
AKE
-
OFF
............................................................ 43
4.3.2
F
LIGHT
A
TTITUDE
C
ONTROLS
.................................................................. 44
4.3.3
L
ANDING AND
M
OTOR
S
HUT
-
DOWN
........................................................ 47
4.3.4
O
PERATIONS OF
S
MART
F
LIGHT
F
EATURES
.................................................. 49
4.4
X-S
TAR
M
OBILE
A
PP
O
PERATIONS
............................................................... 53
4.4.1
X-S
TAR
M
OBILE
A
PP
M
AIN
M
ENU
.......................................................... 53
4.4.2
C
AMERA
O
PERATIONS
......................................................................... 55
4.4.3
G
ROUND
S
TATI O N
O
PERATIONS
.............................................................. 61
4.4.4
C
ONFIGURATION
O
PERATIONS
................................................................ 67
4.4.5
S
ETTINGS
O
PERATIONS
........................................................................ 77
4.5
PC
A
ID
O
PERATIONS
............................................................................... 79
CHAPTER 5 MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE ..............................................82
5.1 MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS................................................................ 82
5.2 TROUBLESHOOTING CHECKLIST ............................................................... 83
5.3 SERVICE PROCEDURES ........................................................................... 85
CHAPTER 6 WARRANTY .........................................................................87
1
Chapter 1 Using This Manual
This manual contains product usage instructions.
Some illustrations shown in this manual may contain optional modules or
accessories that are not included on your system. Contact your sales
representative for availability of other modules and optional accessories.
1.1 Conventions
The following conventions are used.
1.1.1 Bold Text
Bold emphasis is used to highlight selectable items such as
buttons and menu options.
Example:
z
Tap
OK
.
1.1.2 Terminology
The term “select” means highlighting a button or menu item and
tapping it to confirm the selection.
1.1.3 Notes and Important Messages
The following messages are used.
Notes
A
NOTE
provides helpful information such as additional
explanations, tips, and comments.
Important
IMPORTANT
indicates a situation which, if not avoided, may
result in property damages or personal injuries.
2
1.1.4 Hyperlinks
Hyperlinks, or links, that take you to other related articles,
procedures, and illustrations are available in electronic documents.
Blue colored text indicates a selectable hyperlink.
1.1.5 Procedures
An arrow icon indicates a procedure.
Example:
¾
To use the camera:
1 Tap the
Camera
button. The camera screen opens.
2 Focus the image to be captured in the view finder.
3 Tap the blue circle. The view finder now shows the
captured picture and auto-saves the taken photo.
3
Chapter 2 General Introduction
The X-Star is the new generation of smart unmanned aircraft system. It is
extremely easy to fly and reliable. Featuring the advanced built-in Smart
Flight System, a high-performance remote control, combined with a powerful
mobile app, the X-Star system allows safe and stable flight maneuvers both
manually and automatically. The stabilized 3-axis camera gimbal offers ideal
solutions for smooth aerial photographing and video recording, making the
system incredibly versatile and powerful.
This manual describes the construction and operation of the product, and
how it works to deliver flight maneuvers for ideal aerial photographing
solutions.
2.1 In The Box
The complete X-Star ST1 standard package comes with the following
items. Before using the system, check if everything is included.
NOTE:
The package may or may not contain the camera and the
camera accessories kit depending on the Gimbal system purchased.
Table 2-1
Package Contents
Image Qty. Description
X1
Aircraft
Integrated with a 3-axis Gimbal and a
Camera (optional)
X4 Pair
Propeller
4 with red nut, 4 with white/black nut
X1
8GB MicroSD Card
Inserted in the Camera MicroSD card slot
8GB
4
Image Qty. Description
X1
Gimbal Lock
Protects the Camera Gimbal when not in
use
X1
Lens Cap
Protects camera lens from dust and
scratches
X1
Gimbal Camera Securing Bracket
Secures the camera to the mount
X1
Remote Controller
Phone holder and 5000mAh Li-Ion battery
included
X1
Aircraft Battery
6400mAh Rechargeable Li-Po battery
Provides
ʈ
25 minutes of flight time if fully
charged.
X1
Aircraft Battery Charger
Connects the Aircraft Battery to the external
power port for AC/DC power supply
X1
Micro-USB Cable
z
Connects the Remote Control to the
USB Power Adapter for power supply;
z
Connects the Aircraft or the Remote
Control to the PC for firmware update or
configurations;
z
Connects the Camera Gimbal to the PC
for camera file transfer.
X1
USB Power Adapter
Connects to the external power port and
provides power supply to the Remote
Control through the Micro-USB Cable.
5
Image Qty. Description
X3
Manuals
z
User Manual
z
X-Star ST1 Quick Start Guide
z
Camera Mount Quick Start Guide (for
camera attached gimbals)
X1
CD
Includes PC Aid Program and User
Manual, etc.
Optional
Acc.
Propeller Guards
Surround the propellers and protect them
from damage. (4 in 1 set)
Aircraft Maintenance Kit
Image Qty. Description
X2
Indication Stickers
Helps pilots to identify the front side of the aircraft.
X2
Anti-drop Lock Pins
Fix the Camera Gimbal to the mounting rack
connected to the aircraft to avoid dropping.
2 pins mounted on deliver; 2 extra supplied for
maintenance use
X4
Vibration Absorber
Fixed in between the gimbal’s mounting rack and
the Gimbal to reduce vibrations and avoid
mechanical damage.
X11
Spare Screws
M3X5 (6pcs); M3X8 (5pcs)
X4
Rubber Pad
Stick to the 4 corners at the bottom of the landing
gear to support the aircraft when it is on the
ground, and when it is landing or taking off.
AutelIntelligent Technology Corp., Ltd.
AllRights Reser ved
www.autel.com
PC Suite
Suitablefor:
ವWindows8
ವWindows7
ವWindowsVista
:indowsXP
6
Camera Accessories Kit
Image Qty. Description
X1
Waterproof Housing
Allows underwater photographing.
X2
Backdoors
z
Opened (without cover, not waterproof)
z
Covered (with touchable screen protector)
X1
Camera Battery
940mAh Rechargeable Li-Po Battery installed on
delivery
X1
Flat Mount
X1
Curved Mount
X2
Short Connectors
X1
Long Connector
X1
90
q
C Rotate Connector (long)
X1
90
q
C Rotate Connector (short)
X1
Connecting Screw (long)
X2
Connecting Screws (short)
X1
Fixing Rubber
Prevents the Rotate Connector from slipping off.
X1
Mini USB Cable
Connects the Camera to the PC for file transfer.
7
2.2 Aircraft
The X-Star aircraft is a quadcopter with an integrated stabilized camera
gimba. The camera may or may not be supplied depending on the
gimbal model purchased. The Micro-USB port on the aircraft supports
convenient connection that allows easy flight configuration and system
update through the PC Aid Software.
2.2.1 Functional Description
Figure 2-1
Front Side
1. Propeller – 9.4 x 4.3 inch
2. Motor
3. Front LED Indicator Light – helps to identify the aircraft nose
4. Micro-USB Port – allows communication between the Smart
Flight System and the PC Aid program through USB
connection
5. 3-axis Camera Gimbal
6. Camera
7. Front Sticker – helps to identify the aircraft nose
8
Figure 2-2 Rear Side
8. Rear LED Indicator Light – indicates flight status
9. Aircraft Battery
10. RC Pairing Button – prepares the aircraft to perform pairing
with the Remote Control, see 3.2.1 Re-pairing Remote
Controller on page 33 for detailed instructions
11. Landing Gear
12. Compass
Aircraft Specifications
Table 2-2 Aircraft Specifications
Item Descriptions
Max. Payload 0.8kg
Hover Precision Horizontal:
r
2m; Vertical:
r
1m;
Max. Yaw Rate 180
q
/s
Max. Inclination Angle GPS Mode: 30
q
; ATTI Mode: 30
q
Max. Ascent/Descent Speed Ascent: 6m/s; Descent: 2m/s
Max. Cruising Speed 12m/s
Diagonal Wheelbase 352mm
9
Item Descriptions
Propeller Size 9.4”x4.3”
WiFi Frequency 2.4GHz
Receiver Frequency 5.8GHz
Flight Modes
z
GPS
z
IOC
z
ATTI
z
Waypoint
Operating Environment Temperature
0
q
C~50
q
C(32
q
F~122
q
F)
Storage Temperature 0
q
C~45
q
C(32
q
F~113
q
F)
Weight (Battery & Propellers
included)
1.1kg
2.2.2 Built-in Smart Flight System
The X-Star features the Built-in Smart Flight System which
enables autopilot flight control that provides great ease of use and
stability. The Smart Flight System consists of various modules
such as the GPS receiver, the Compass and the Inertial
Measurement Unit (IMU). It works as the central computer of the
aircraft and supports various functions such as Intelligent
Orientation Control (IOC), Go Home, and Failsafe, etc.
Table 2-3 Smart Flight System Modules
Module Descriptions
IMU
An electronic device consists of a gyroscope,
accelerometer and magnetometer that measures flight
velocity, gravitational force and orientation.
Compass Reads geomagnetic information and assists the GPS
receiver for accurate position calculation.
GPS Receiver Receives GPS signals and determines the latitude and
longitude of the aircraft location.
10
Table 2-4 Smart Flight System Functions
Function Descriptions
IOC
Configures the aircraft to fly in the direction relative to
the home point or consistent to the initial aircraft
orientation, instead of its nose and tail.
Go Home Commands the aircraft to return to and land on the
specified home point.
Failsafe
Enables the aircraft to take automatic protection
measure when communication with the remote control
is lost, to prevent damage or injuries.
NOTE:
A home point is usually memorized by the system each time as the
point where the aircraft takes off. The home point can also be repositioned
during flight. See 4.3.4 Operations of Smart Flight Features on page 49 for
details.
Table 2-5 Supported Flight Modes
Flight Modes Descriptions
GPS Mode
Stabilizes and holds the aircraft in position on stick
release when activated (requires at least 6 GPS satellite
signals), which offers more stable and smooth flight
maneuvers. It allows the safety features including Go
Home, IOC and Failsafe for safer flight experiences.
ATTI Mode
Stabilizes and holds the aircraft to the altitude on stick
release. The ATTI mode provides more agility in flight
controls with attitude and speed mixture. It allows the
safety features including Go Home, IOC and Failsafe for
safer flight experiences.
Manual Mode
Provides freer and more agile flight maneuvers
depending on 100% mechanical driving by controls of
the command sticks.
This mode is only recommended for experienced pilots,
and is disabled by default. It can be activated through
flight configurations with the PC Aid or X-Star Mobile
App.
11
2.2.3 Flight LED Indicator Light
The LED Indicator Lights on the aircraft can be found at both the
front and rear sides. The Front Indicators are mainly used for
helping pilots to identify the position of the aircraft nose, and the
Rear Indicators are used for showing the current flight status of
the aircraft.
The LED Indicator Lights will light up when the aircraft is turned on.
The table below describes the definitions of the LED Indicator
Light status.
Ș- Indicates solid light;
Ȗ– Indicates flashing light;
R – Indicates red colored light;
G – Indicates green colored light;
Y – Indicates yellow colored light
Example: “
R-
Ș
Ș
”sta
nds for
RED SOLID
light.
Table 2-6 Definitions of Flight LED Indicator Light Status
LED Indicator Status Descriptions
R-
Ș
(Front LEDs)
Light up when the motors start spinning
after the aircraft is powered on, indicating
the position of the aircraft nose.
G-
Ȗ
(Rear LEDs)
Displayed when in GPS Flight Mode. This
mode can be activated only when more
than 6 GPS satellites are found.
Y-
Ȗ
(Rear LEDs)
Displayed when in non-GPS Flight mode,
or when less than 6 GPS satellites are
found.
R-
Ȗ
-Slow
(Rear LEDs) Displayed when communication with the
remote controller is lost.
12
LED Indicator Status Descriptions
R-
Ȗ
Ȗ
-Quick
(Rear LEDs) Light up when battery voltage is less than
20%.
Y-
Ȗ
(Front & Rear LEDs)
Indicates compass calibration is required.
See 4.2
Calibrating Compass
on page
41 for detailed instructions.
Y-
Ș
(Rear LEDs) Displayed during the 1
st
step of compass
calibration.
G-
Ș
(Rear LEDs) Displayed during the 2
nd
step of compass
calibration.
R-
Ȗ
(Front & Rear LEDs)
Indicates hardware problems possibly
caused by:
z
IMU deviation or abnormal
z
Compass error
z
Remote Controller recalibration
required
See 5.2
Troubleshooting Checklist
on page 83 for detailed information.
2.2.4 Aircraft Battery
The Aircraft Battery is a rechargeable Li-Po Battery with the
capacity of 6400mAh specially designed for the X-Star aircraft. It
can only be charged by the charger supplied with the X-Star
package, and can provide sufficient power for about 25 minutes of
continuous flight if fully charged.
The Aircraft Battery features several smart functionalities for
charge-discharge management that improves the battery’s
longevity.
13
Table 2-7 Aircraft Battery Features
Feature Descriptions
Balancing Balances the voltage of each battery cell to
prevent overcharging or over-discharging.
Communication
Retrieves and transfers battery info, including
battery level, current, voltage, battery life, and
temperature to the aircraft and the controller.
Charging Temperature
Detection
Stops battery charging when environment
temperature is out of allowed range.
Low Battery Protection Activates alarm when battery level is less than
20%.
LED Capacity Indicator Indicates current battery level.
Overcharging &
Over-discharging
Protection
z
Automatically stops charging when battery
voltage reaches 12.8V to prevent damage.
z
Automatically stops discharging when
battery voltage reaches 8.4V to prevent
damage.
Short Circuit Protection
z
Cuts off power supply when a short circuit
occurs to prevent damage.
z
All LED lights on the battery front panel will
flash green when a short circuit is
detected.
Power Saving Turns the battery off automatically after 10
minutes of inactivity.
14
Aircraft Battery Specifications
Table 2-8 Aircraft Battery Specifications
Item Descriptions
Battery Type Rechargeable Li-Po Battery
Capacity 6400mAh
Battery Voltage 11.1V
Charging
Environment Temperature 0
q
C~40
q
C(32
q
F~104
q
F)
Discharging
Environment Temperature -20
q
C~60
q
C(-4
q
F~140
q
F)
Storage Temperature & Humidity Temp: -10
q
C~45
q
C(14
q
F~113
q
F);
Humidity: 5~70%
Functional Descriptions
The Aircraft Battery front panel contains 4 LED Capacity Indicator
Lights and 1 Power Button.
Figure 2-3 Aircraft Battery
Table of contents
