Shark X8 User manual

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Shark X8 Multi Rotor Flight Controller
User Manual
20.03.2014
Thank you for purchasing this product. Please strictly follow the instruction for the installation and
operation of your aircraft.

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DISCLAIMER
Please read carefully of this disclaimer before using the product. By using this product, you
hereby agree to this disclaimer and signify that you have read it fully.
THIS PRODUCT IS STRICTLY FOR PERSON AT AGE OF 18 AND ABOVE
SHARK X8 is an autopilot system specially designed for multi-rotor aircraft, the system
provides excellent self-leveling, attitude holding, and accurate position holding, make it the
best choice for the aerial videography, FPV, and entertainment. Under normal circumstances,
the power system (battery, motors) can provide excellent flying experience, and achieve
great performance.
Despite our effort to optimize the system with all safety measures, but we strongly advise
user to remove all propellers while calibrating and configuring the system with power
connection attached. Keep the aircraft away from people, animal, flammable and fragile
substance during any configuration, firmware upgrading, parameter set up.
Our company is not liable for any damage(s) or injuries incurred directly or indirectly from
the use of the product in the following conditions:
1. Damage(s) or injuries incurred when user(s) are taking alcohol, drug, drug anesthesia,
dizziness, fatigue, nausea and any other condition no matter physically or mentally
that could impair the user(s) ability.
2. Damage(s) or injuries caused by subjective intentional operations.
3. Failure to follow the guidance of the user manual/instruction during installation and
operation.
4. Malfunction/failure caused due to alteration/refit, replacement with part(s) that not
provide by our company.
5. Damage(s) or injuries caused by operational errors or subjective misjudgment.
6. Damage(s) or injuries caused by wear and tear, corrosion, or aging and any other
mechanical damage(s).
7. Damage(s) or injuries cause by continue flying aircraft when the low voltage alarm is
triggered.
8. Damage(s) or injuries caused by intentionally flying the aircraft in known abnormal
condition(s) (such as water, oil, solid particles etc. that will cause the aircraft flying
dangerously or incomplete assembly, such as missing parts, damaged/defect parts).
9. Damage(s) or injuries caused by flying the aircraft at magnetic/radio interference
area, any government regulated non-flying zone, the user/pilot facing strong sunlight
that affect the visibility, blocked sight, poor eyesight and any other condition that
not suitable for flying.
10. Damage(s) or injuries caused by flying under inclement weather, such as rain,
lightning, windy, snowing and hail or any adverse weather condition.

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11. Damage(s) or injuries caused by when the aircraft is encounter following situation:
collision, overturning, fire, explosion, lightning, storm, tornado, storm, flood,
tsunami, subsidence, ice trap, cliff collapse, avalanche, hail, mudslides, landslides,
earthquakes and so on.
12. Damage(s) or injuries caused by infringement such as any data, audio or images
obtained by using the aircraft.
13. Damages(s) or injuries caused by misuse of battery protection circuit, battery,
charger, and radio transmission and control system.
14. Other losses that are not covered by the scope of our company.

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Function Overview
Flight Control System Overview
1. All-In-One design integrated 3-axis gyroscopes, 3-axis accelerometer and barometer
2. Support up to maximum 8 rotors outputs
3. 3 flight control modes, 5 intelligent function (attitude, altitude, GPS, Return-To-Home,
AOC)
4. GPS provide high accuracy position hold and wind resistance and auto flight function
5. Precise altitude control function provides good wind resistance
6. Failsafe RTH, Position Hold, effectively enhances flight safety and reduces the probability
of crashing
7. Low voltage protection, Low voltage auto-landing significantly extend the battery life
8. Automatic Orientation Control (AOC), forward direction does not move along with nose
direction
9. Perform remote calibration and start flying without connecting to the computer
10. Connecting assistant software via USB, plug and play that no driver is required.
11. Flight data recording and playback, longer flight data can be stored with larger-capacity
micro SD card
12. Online firmware update
13. One key system recovery
14. Flight limits function, it restrict the aircraft’s flying height and distance.

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SYSTEM SPECIFICATION
Items
Description
Power Input
7-20V
Power Output
5V/2A
Support ESC output
8 point PWM (ESC) 400HZ refresh frequency
Max Tilt Angle
30°
Hovering Accuracy (GPS Mode)
+/-2 M
Wind Resistance
<8m/s, 25km/h
Recommend Transmitter
PCM or 2.4g with a minimum 6 channels
Operating Temperature
-10°C～50°C （14F～122F）

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Shark X8 CONTROL MODES
Normal Mode
Attitude Mode
GPS Mode
Transmitter
Commend
Linear Control
Rudder Angular
Velocity
Max 100°/ s
Stick Command
(Tilt\Roll)
Stick center position keep for 0
The maximum tilt angel corresponds
to stick ~30°
Stick center position
automatically Lock,
Maximum flying speed >
4m/s
Throttle
Direct control
motor speed
Throttle lock at Altitude mode, Ascending if
center position great than centerline.
Descending if the center position less than
center line
Position Lock
No
No
Yes
Elevation Speed
No Limit
Max 5m/s
F/S
Return-To-Home
Support
Support
Support
Flight Speed
No Limit
No Limit
Max 5m/s

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QUICK INSTALLATION
1. Refer SYSTEM ASSEMBLY AND CONNECTION chapter to connect all equipment
and parts (FC, ESC, MOTOR, GPS).
2. Refer AIRCRAFT TYPE (MOTOR MIXER) chapter for the motor, propellers
installation and orientation.
3. Refer TRANSMITTER chapter for the proper connection of transmitter and
receiver.
4. TRANSMITTER CALIBRATION to check all channel are moving toward the correct
direction.
QUICK START GUIDE
Once the transmitter is being calibrated please follows the steps below to begin
flying the aircraft
1. Switch on the transmitter first, then connect the battery and power on the
multi-rotor aircraft with the propellers removed.
2. Place the aircraft stationary on a flat ground, and wait for the self-check to be
completed.
3. Observe the LED conditions to identify the autopilot system working status.
4. Switch control mode on your transmitter to Normal Mode, Arm the motor by
using Combination Stick Commands (CSC)
5. Push throttle to 30%, monitor whether the motor rotation is being controlled.
5. Adjust the Yaw, Roll and Pitch, and observe whether the motor acting
correspondingly
6. Use hand to wobble the aircraft, observe the changes on the output of each
motor.
7. Proceed to low flying testing is the aircraft corresponding to the transmitter stick
command.
If the yellow LED light flash after the self-check, will indicate the
transmitter enter calibration mode, meanwhile check the if the throttle
stick is at 0, or reverse the throttle, re-power back the aircraft.

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LED STATUS
GREEN LED indicate the control mode
YELLOW LED indicate the autopilot system status
RED LED indicate the GPS signal strength and low voltage alarm
LED Blink Sequence GREEN->YELLOW->RED
GREEN LED Description
NO
Normal Mode
Attitude Mode
GPS Mode
AOC Forward Direction
Return-To -Home
YELLOW OR BLUE LED Description
Altitude not lock, throttle stick not
at center
Position not lock, yaw and roll
stick not at center
。。。
。。。。。。。 Intermittent flashes
Throttle stick not at 0, it only
appear during switching on.

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RED LED Description
GPS No Signal
GPS Worst Signal (GPS Satellite Detected <5)
GPS Bad Signal (GPS Satellite Detected =5
GPS Good Signal (GPS Satelite Detected =6)
GPS Best Signal (GPS Satelite Detected >6)
No Flash
Low Voltage Alarm
Voltage lower than Landing Voltage (Below
Low Voltage Alarm)

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SYSTEM ASSEMBLY AND CONNECTION
R/C System
A: Aileron, Control Craft
Left/Right Movement
E: Elevation, Control Craft
Front/Back Movement
T: Throttle, Control Craft
Up/Down Movement
R: Rudder, Control Craft
Orientation
CH5: 3-way switch select
between flight modes
CH6: 3-way switch Select
between AOC & Auto mode
ESC M1-8
GPS/COMPASS
Arrow Point to
Aircraft Nose
Battery
2s-5s
USB for
configuration,
firmware upgrade
-
+
S

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AIRCRAFT TYPES (MOTOR MIXER)
Quad-rotor X
Quad-rotor I
Hexa-rotor I
Hexa-rotor V
Inconsistent installation will cause the aircraft unable to fly
1. Flight Controller (FC) Orientation Arrow must point to the aircraft nose
direction
2. GPS Orientation Arrow must point to the same direction as the FC
3. The side with the receiver installed is the aircraft nose.

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CONNECTING TO ASSISTANT SOFTWARE
Properly connect receiver, ESC, BEC module, GPS, flight controller, ensure all
propellers are removed. Power on the aircraft, connect USB cable between BEC
module and computer, wait for the computer to identify the device, once the device
has been identified, a removable disk icon will be appeared in the computer.
If the micro SD card is removed, the flight controller can not to
communicate with computer
*Suggest using lower capacity SD card
Must ensure the micro SD card is correctly inserted, in order to connect to PC or
normal operation of the flight controller
TRANSMITTER
The flight controller can be connected with most commonly used R/C transmitters
with receiver, please turn off all mixing output before the connection. Ensure there
are at least two 3 position switches are available on the transmitter (CH5,CH6 shall
be left unconnected, must connect to the switches), and all channels can be set to
reverse.
Futaba/JR transmitter connection, for other transmitter can also refer to the
connection shown below
*When connecting Futaba transmitter, reverse on all channels must turn off
CH1:AILE
CH2:ELEV
CH3:THRO FUTABA
CH4:RUDD WFLY
3 Position Switch
3 Position Switch
CH1:THRO
CH2:AILE
CH3:ELEV JR
CH4:RUDD
3 Position Switch
3 Position Switch

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SWITCH FLIGHT MODES
Once CH5 is being connected to 3 position switch channel on the transmitter, user is
able to switch between Attitude, Altitude, GPS
Once CH6 is being connected to 3-position switch channel on the transmitter, user is
able to switch between one key return home or AOC mode.
CH5, CH6 Switch Position and Flight Mode Selection.
Channel
CH6:-A
CH6:-B
CH6:-C
CH5:-A
Attitude
Attitude +
AOC
Attitude
Flight Mode
CH5:-B
Altitude
Altitude + AOC
Altitude
Flight Mode
CH5:-C
GPS
GPS + AOC
GPS + RTH
Flight Mode
CALIBRATE R/C TRANSMITTER
When receiver is being connected, it requires calibrating the transmitter channel
throw and center point.
Calibration steps as followed (All channels must be set to 0 during calibration)
1. Turn on transmitter, push throttle to Max, all other sticks at center
2. Power on aircraft (receiver), wait for the yellow LED flashes
3. During the bule LED flashing, pull throttle to 0
4. Wait for the system to enter normal status
If unable to enter calibration mode, push throttle to reserves direction and repeat.
Once entered calibration mode, the yellow LED flash intermittently, now pull the
throttle to 0, all other sticks must be at center
……. ……… ……. ………
If the throttle sticks already at minimum and still unable to enter calibration mode,
please check whether the receiver is connected properly or throttle set to reserve.

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ATTITUDE MODE
At attitude mode, the aircraft will level at its attitude, transmitter corresponds with
aircraft attitude, move stick up, the aircraft move forward, aircraft automatically level
if stick at center.
ALTITUDE LOCK MODE
Aircraft will maintain level from ground, and keep altitude holding at altitude lock
mode, when throttle stick at center point. Aircraft will ascend when the throttle
sticks above center, descend when the throttle sticks below center.
GPS MODE
GPS mode make the flight much easier for the user, when all sticks at the center
point, the aircraft will automatically locked at current position and hovering
accurately in the air, it provides good wind resistant with windy condition.
At this mode the stick corresponding with speed, max speed about 4m/s
Must ensure autopilot system collects enough satellite signals, otherwise aircraft
flight will not be able to hover
By observing the RED LED to confirm the satellite signal condition, refer to LED
DESCRIPTION
ONE KEY RETURN HOME
The aircraft will ascend to the predefined height once the ONE KEY RETURN HOME is
selected, and adjust the aircraft orientation to let the tail point to the take off point.
Hovering in the air for while then rapidly return to the top of the take off point, after
few second the aircraft will land on the take off point.
To use ONE KEY RETURN HOME, refer toCH5, CH6 Switch Position and Flight Mode
Selection.
When use ONE KEY RETURN HOME, must ensure the auto pilot system has
collected enough satelite signal, otherwise the aircraft will not to fly, all
sticks must be at center position when excute ONE KEY RETURN HOME.

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CH6 can be used to intervent the ONE KEY RETURN HOME process, but not
suggest to perform this action, as this may cause the aircraft crash during
the high speed flight.
AUTOMATIC ORIENTATION CONTROL (AOC)
AOC mode can be turned on via CH6; with AOC the aircraft forward direction has
nothing to do with the nose direction.
How to switch on; refer to Switch flight Modes chapter.
AOC off, push elevator stick
AOC on, push elevator stick
Black arrow point to the actual flight direction
Fly towards aircraft nose direction
Fly toward direction of locked course
When AOC is switched on, the flight controller will record the current nose
direction as forward direction.

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ELECTRONIC COMPASS
Flight controller calculate the aircraft flying course by detecting the magnetic field,
environment/condition changes may cause the magnetic field change, the electric
compass must be calibrated in any one of the following circumstances. Otherwise
serious consequences may occur such as a crash.
a) Initial use, after the aircraft has been assembled
b) Aircraft rotating during hovering (Toilet bow effect)
c) Change to new airframe, or change installation position.
CALIBRATION
1. Switch on transmitter, push the throttle stick to 0, and power on the auto pilot
system.
2. Quickly switch the control mode switch (CH5) till the GREEN LED is flashing.
3. Hold multi-rotor horizontally and rotate it around the gravitational force line
(About 360°) till the GREEN LED change to constant green.
4. Hold multi-rotor vertically and rotate it (nose point downwards) around the
gravitational force line (About 360°) till the LED turn off. Meaning calibration is
completed.
Hold horizontally, rotate the multi-rotor
Till the GREEN LED change to constant
green
Hold vertically, rotate the multi-rotor till
the GRREN LED turn off.
LED status during horizontal calibration
------------- ---------------
LED status during vertical calibration
------
f

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Multi-rotor Rotating Problem During Hovering
If you have done the compass calibration and there is rotating problem, please
re-calibrate the compass.
If the problem persistent, please reinstall the GPS as the instruction below
Rotating Clockwise
Rotate GPS counter clockwise for
certain angle (0-30°)
Rotating counter clockwise
Rotate GPS clockwise for certain
angle (0-30°)

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START/STOP the MOTORS
Push throttle up will not start the motor, push the throttle down will not stop the
motor either, motor will only start or stop unless one of the follow sticks combination
command (CSC) is executed.
If the flying direction is oppsite of the stick direction, please set to revers
in the transmitter setting.
*If the motor fail to start after the above action has been done, Please recalibrate
R/C transmitter CALIBRATING R/C TRANSMITTER

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LOW VALTAGE PROTECTIONG
There are two levels of low voltage protection available to use, low voltage alarm and
low voltage landing. Correctly use the low voltage protection will effective extend the
battery life.
LOW VOLTAGE ALARM
When the low voltage alarm trigged, RED LED light begin flashing, automatically
move up the throttle from the end point, please prepare for the multi-rotor to land
to prevent any crash!
LED flashing sequence during alarm stage
------------------ ------------------
Value of alrm voltage can be set via assistant sofware.
LOW VOLTAGE LANDING
When battery level below the low voltage landing alarm, the multi-rotor will
automatically landed from the its currently position.
After enter the low voltage landing, the RED LED will flash constantly
THIS FUNCTION DOSE NOT WORK ON NORMAL MODE.
THIS FUNCTION DOSE NOT WORK ONONE KEY RTH MODE
Set auto-landing voltage to 0V, can switch off the low voltage landing.
When the system enter the automatic landing process, the throttle stick will not be
able to control the aircraft altitude. In order to regain control of the aircraft, switch it
to NORMAL MODE during this stage.

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FAILSAFE
The auto pilot system provides complete failsafe protection functions, which
effectively avoid the lost or crash of multi-rotor aircraft. User can choose
auto-landing or position hold when the failsafe switch is turned on. The movement in
failsafe mode can be chosen via the assistant software. Default value is define as
Return to Home.
SET FAILSAFE ON TRANSMITTER
1. Set the throttle through the failsafe protection to minimal
2. Set the pitch, roll, direction channel failsafe protection to 0%
3. Set mode switch to GPS mode
POSITION HOLD
If you do not choose auto return to home, the aircraft will enter position hold mode
when failsafe is activated. Once regain the control signal, the system will pass the
control to the user.
RETURN TO HOME
The multi-rotor aircraft will perform the following action after entering the RETURN
TO HOME mode
a) If the current altitude is less than the preset level, the aircraft will automatically
rise to the preset altitude
b) Automatically adjust the aircraft flying direction, make the tail point to the take
off point.
c) Fly to take off point straight
d) Hovering on top of the take off point before landing
During the course of return to home, even the control signal is regained, user will not
able to control the auto pilot system
User can switch to attitude mode, to end auto return to home and regain the control
of aircraft.