Turbo Ace matrix User manual

Turbo Ace MATRIX
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Turbo Ace MATRIX
Quadcopter User Manual
V11
© 2013 Turbo Ace

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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................4
1.1 Welcome to the World of Quadcopters ...........................................................4
1.2 Important Instructions......................................................................................4
1.3 Quick Start.......................................................................................................7
1.4 Features............................................................................................................8
1.5 Specifications...................................................................................................8
1.6 Flight Controller Specifications.......................................................................8
1.7 Packing List .....................................................................................................9
1.8 Caution & Safety..............................................................................................9
1.9 DOA Claim....................................................................................................11
DIAGRAMS AND PARTS.........................................................................................12
2.1 Top View .......................................................................................................12
2.2 Profile View...................................................................................................13
2.3 Part Specifications .........................................................................................13
2.4 Technical Parameters.....................................................................................14
2.5 Parts List ........................................................................................................15
MATRIX SETUP.........................................................................................................16
3.1 Unpacking the MATRIX ...............................................................................16
3.2 Skid Landing Leg Assembly..........................................................................16
3.3 Mounting Propellers.......................................................................................17
3.4 Battery Requirements & Installation .............................................................17
ELECTRONICS SETUP & ADJUSTMENT for Walkera Devo 10 Transmitter .......19
4.1 ESC Programming for Transmitter (A Must Setup For ARF).......................19
4.2 Transmitter Calibration for Transmitter (Required Setup For ARF).............21
4.3 Transmitter & Receiver Compatibility Table (For ARF Only) .....................26
4.4 Receiver, Flight Controller & Auto-stabilization Setup................................27
4.5 Transmitter Settings (For ARF Only)............................................................29
4.6 Transmitter Flight Control & Gain Adjustments (For ARF Only)................30
4.7 MATRIX Wiring Connection Chart for Devo 10 & RX1002.......................31
ELECTRONICS SETUP & ADJUSTMENT for Spektrum DX 8 Transmitter ..........32
4.1 ESC Programming for Spektrum DX 8 Transmitter (A Must Setup For ARF)
..............................................................................................................................32
4.2 Transmitter Calibration for Spektrum DX 8 Transmitter (A Must Setup For
ARF) ....................................................................................................................34
4.3 Transmitter & Receiver Compatibility Table (For ARF Only).....................39
4.4 Receiver, Flight Controller & Auto-stabilization Setup................................40
4.5 Transmitter Settings (For ARF Only)............................................................42

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4.6 Transmitter Flight Control & Gain Adjustments (For ARF Only)................43
4.7 MATRIX Wiring Connection Chart for Spektrum DX 8 & AR8000 ...........45
ELECTRONICS SETUP & ADJUSTMENT for Futaba 14SG Transmitter...............46
4.1 ESC Programming for Futaba 14SG Transmitter (A Must Setup For ARF).46
4.2 Transmitter Calibration for Futaba 14SG Transmitter (A Must Setup For
ARF) ....................................................................................................................48
4.3 Transmitter & Receiver Compatibility Table (For ARF Only).....................53
4.4 Receiver, Flight Controller & Auto-stabilization Setup................................54
4.5 Transmitter Settings (For ARF Only)............................................................56
4.6 Transmitter Flight Control & Gain Adjustments (For ARF Only)................57
4.7 MATRIX Wiring Connection Chart for Futaba 14SG & R7008SB..............58
TESTING & OPERATIONS.......................................................................................59
5.1 Tie-Down Flight Test.....................................................................................59
5.2 Actual Flight Test & Training........................................................................60
5.3 LED Light Description for NAZA-Lite.........................................................62
5.4 LED Light Description for NAZA-V2 ..........................................................63
5.5 Battery Tips....................................................................................................63
CAMERA MOUNT SETUP........................................................................................65
6.1 Gyrox Brushless Gimbal Setup......................................................................65
6.2 MATRIX CAMERA MOUNT SERVO CONTROL SETUP.......................66
6.3 Flight Control Adjustment for Auto-Stabilization.........................................68
6.4 Basic Gain and Attitude Gain Adjustment for Stabilization..........................69
MAINTENANCE & REPAIR.....................................................................................70
7.1 Replacing Motors (For Repairs Only) ...........................................................70
7.2 Replacing ESC (For Repairs Only)................................................................71
7.3 Replacing Extension Arms (For Repairs Only).............................................72
FIXED ID BIND for Walkera Devo 10.......................................................................74

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INTRODUCTION
1.1 Welcome to the World of Quadcopters
The MATRIX is spawning a new era in super quadcopter design. Its larger &
powerful motors, propellers and batteries offer up to three times the flight time and
payload of a traditional quad. The extra payload and flight time allow you to carry a
variety of cameras to produce unmatched cinematic quality video. Sporty low-profile
architecture, its triple carbon fiber deck supports an extra wide 1000mm wingspan
that folds down to fit inside an optional aluminum carrying case (no dismounting and
remounting of propellers, landing skids or gimbal required). The MATRIX's ideally
positioned camera mount on the nose offers wide angle views unobstructed by
propeller shadows, reflections and landing skids. Its well-balanced center of gravity,
with battery and gimbal position flexibility, greatly reduces swinging and improves
the video quality of the traditional under-mounted battery/gimbal design.
Quadcopters are loosely classified into several categories - from toys for amusement
to complex units for professional video, science & research. Now, a new class of
quadcopter is emerging for commercial applications. The Turbo Ace MATRIX is the
clear leader in this group with a list of outstanding features: advanced PC interface (so
you can update or customize the flight controller), cutting edge auto-stabilizing mode
for videographers, anti-vibration mounts, dynamically balanced motors for high
definition video production, and a host of other upgrades to improve reliability.
Unlike most quadcopters, the MATRIX is fully assembled and tested in the USA for
outdoor flight and it is ready to produce high quality video right out of the box. If you
are starting from scratch, the MATRIX RTF package even includes a paired
transmitter that is fully programmed and calibrated. If you already have a transmitter,
all you need is an ARF package. For additional cross-training, you can choose from
our optional professional Phoenix flight simulator, an easy-to-fly helicopter, and/or a
mini Walkera QR X350 quad. As with all Wow Hobbies’featured RC helicopters,
MATRIX parts, upgrades and accessories are fully supported online and locally in the
USA.
1.2 Important Instructions
* Read the entire Matrix Instruction Manual on your included USB flash drive before you
operate the Matrix.

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* Follow the instruction manual for a tied down flight test on a bench. This is the safest way
to make sure the Matrix quadcopter has not been damaged during shipping.
* Foldable Matrix aluminum arms operate on guiding carbon tracks with keyed circular locks
on each end. To release the arm from the folded or operating ends of the track, please
unscrew the arm bolt counter-clockwise for a height of 1/8” before the lock will release.
If the bolt is not unscrewed to a sufficient height, you may risk scratching the carbon track.
* Prior to each takeoff, make sure the GPS antenna/compass is erected from the folded
position and screwed down.
* When mounting a propeller, use loctite and make sure the propeller clamp sits flat against
the top of the propeller. Even new propellers may need to be balanced if vibration shows on
video. Use a blade balancer with heavy gauge tape adhered to the underside of the blade for
balance. In bright sunlight, the GoPro 3 may show rolling shutter jello. Use ND8 filter if
necessary to slow down its shutter speed.
* Battery must be positioned by moving it backward and forward until the front and back
weights are balanced from the center point of the Naza flight controller. You can lift the
matrix up with a finger on each side of the matrix to check the balance (see manual for
details). The battery can be placed either on top or bottom of the Matrix.
* Camera must be balanced like a seesaw on a brushless gimbal, otherwise the gimbal motors
will be stressed and vibrate.
Maintaining the Matrix’s LiPo Batteries
* Matrix batteries are made up of 6 cells and each cell must be maintained between 3.7V to
4.2V. The total voltage for Matrix batteries should be maintained between 22.2V (3.7Vx6)
and 25.2V (4.2Vx6) without load. It’s very important to keep each cell above 3.7V. A cell is
at risk of being damaged or life shortened at 3.67V per cell without load.
* Each Matrix battery includes a yellow charging/discharging plug and a white balancing
plug. Both plugs must be plugged in to charge the battery. The yellow plug with thicker gauge
wires enables a faster charge rate, while the white plug with 1 small red wire and 6 small
black wires enables the charger to balance charge 6 individual cells. When all 6 cells reach
approximately 4.2V each for a total of 25.2V, the charger will automatically stop.
* A battery meter is one of the easiest way to monitor voltage for any LiPo battery.
There are seven pins on the battery meter. One of the pins is marked with a “-” symbol, which
should line up with the black wire of the battery’s white balancing plug. The first number
displayed is the total voltage of the battery, followed by each individual cell.

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Before & After Each Flight
* Attitude mode is the most reliable way to fly for experienced pilots, as it is not susceptible
to GPS interference. GPS mode is commonly used by beginners, but once more experience is
acquired, attitude mode is highly recommended (you can still use GPS mode as a backup).
When orientation is lost, do not panic. Just flip to GPS mode and let go of the cyclic stick,
and GPS will take over. Do not to attempt to recover the craft with the cyclic stick. There is a
certain time of the year in which solar flare may interfere with GPS. To recover the craft in
such a case, switch to manual (not attitude) mode. Please be aware that if the Matrix has
passed through airport X-ray screening, near a magnet or has been relocated more than 30
miles from where it was originally calibrated, the GPS may need to be recalibrated depending
on the geographic latitude at which you are located (see manual).
* Before each flight, always turn on the transmitter first, then plug in the Matrix battery.
Then, you need to allow enough time for the flight controller and GPS to warm up and
initialize. The Naza Lite takes approximately 2 minutes to warm up. The yellow LED light
will turn off when the Naza Lite is ready for use.
* After each flight, always unplug the Matrix battery first, then turn off the transmitter. If
you forget, the quadcopter and/or transmitter will continue to drain power and the battery will
be damaged.
Dos
* Do initialize the Matrix & takeoff from a large, leveled surface.
* Do implement a pre-flight checklist & use it consistently before takeoff.
* Do unplug the Matrix battery when maintaining or upgrading the quadcopter.
* Do dismount propellers if battery is plugged in while updating the flight controller.
Don’ts
* Don’t operate near people or pets & do not allow people to approach an operating
quadcopter.
* Don’t use magnets (e.g. magnetized screwdrivers & tools) in close proximity to the GPS
antenna/compass.
* Don’t attempt to catch a quadcopter.
1.3 Quick Start
The MATRIX has a convenient foldable arm / landing skid design. When you first
remove it from the box, please make sure that the GPS antenna (See diagram 2.5) is

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erected and properly tightened by turning the top locking cylinder in a clock-wise
direction. Next, loosen the arm screws located on top of the folding track. These
screws are keyed so they must be loosened and raised by about 1/8 of an inch in order
for the arms to fold, unfold the arms, and tighten them back in a clock-wise manner.
Make sure the round key located on the bottom of the screw is securely locked into
the circular key on the track. When it is properly locked in, it will prevent the arms
from accidentally folding during flight. Next, if you wish to fold the landing skid, you
may loosen the 2 side screws on each of the 4 legs. Pull the leg down to lengthen it.
Tighten the 2 screws back on each of the landing skid legs. Refer to section 5
TESTING & OPERATIONS (Please DO NOT install the propellers during the testing
procedure). Attach the battery to either on top or bottom of the Matrix. Lift the Matrix
up with one finger on each side from the center of Naza flight controller. Move the
battery until the Matrix is leveled like a see-saw with equal weight on both sides. See
Figure 3.4.4. It is important to note that the Matrix will not fly properly and may lose
control and crash if the center of gravity is not balanced at the middle of the Naza
flight control. Turn on the transmitter and within 2 seconds plug in the MATRIX
battery to bind. If your unit comes with DJI NAZA, please observe the blinking
yellow LED light located behind the quad, which indicates the controller is in warm
up stage. Wait for about 2 minutes until the yellow light stops flashing. Please check
the LED light description at section 5.3 and 5.4. Attitude mode is the most reliable
way to fly for intermediate to advance level pilots as all GPS is susceptible to
interference and sun spots activities. However, GPS remains to be the easiest and the
safest way to fly for beginners. Select the attitude mode from your transmitter, if you
are a trained pilot and use the GPS mode as a backup. Move both sticks of the
transmitter together in one action down to the lower right or left corner to start the
motors. Release right stick and immediately give the left stick about 10% throttles so
the motors will not cease. It will not lift off until the throttle stick passes 50%. Have
an experienced pilot test fly it on a bench while tied down. No defective claim is
allowed if the unit is crashed, so please be very careful.
1.4 Features
Extra wide 15-inch propellers for optimum flight time
High payload
High efficiency voltage with 6 cells Li-Po battery
Unobstructed front positioned camera mount
Center of gravity rolling camera compensation
Quick foldable design for easy portability

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Advanced Multi-Counter-Rotating Rotor System designed for outstanding
stability & performance
Intelligent Programmable Flight Controller
Built-in Altitude Hold when throttle stick is released at 50% Throttle
Flight Controller with PC software interface
Dual Flight Mode: Sport Flying Mode & Auto Leveling Aerial Video Mode
Advanced Gyro with 6-DOF Motion & MEMS Sensor Technology
Full Compatibility with Standard 2.4GHz Systems
4 Dynamically Balanced C4234 Brushless Motors with outstanding power and
minimal vibration
4 Independent 40A ESCs for Outstanding Performance, Reliability & Ease of
Maintenance
Square Anti-Twist Mount Impact-Resistant Propellers with low noise operation
High Payload suited for professional camera & video equipment
Optional Single Axis Quadruple Anti-Shock Camera Mount (available)
Optional High Capacity 8000mAh Batteries for extended flight (available)
Optional FPV Integration (available)
Optional Sports Mode for faster flight capability
1.5 Specifications
Three models: MATRIX Lite, MATRIX Silver, and MATRIX Black
Dimensions including propellers: 1000 mm × 392 mm × 135 mm
Motor: 4 x 42mm Outrunner Brushless Motors
ESC: 4 x 40A Electronic Speed Controllers
Propellers: 2 x CW and 2 x CCW, 15 inches carbon
Receiver & Transmitter Requirements: 2.4GHz 6 to 14 Channel RX/TX Pair
Standard Battery: LiPo 6S (22.2v) 5300mAh 20C 1P. Flight time 15 min
Optional Battery: LiPo 6S (22.2v) 8000mAh 20C 1P. Flight time 25 min
Weight Without Battery & Camera mount:3.5 lbs
Maximum Payload: 3.5 lbs. For proper operation and stability please limit the
payload to 2.5 lbs.
Wind Tolerance: Class 5
1.6 Flight Controller Specifications
Supported Multi-rotor
Quad-rotor I4, X4 / Hex-rotor I6, X6, IY6, Y6
Supported ESC output
400Hz refresh frequency
Recommended Transmitter
PCM or 2.4GHz with a minimum of 4 channels

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Working Voltage Range
MC:4.8V~5.5V
VU: 7.2V ~ 26.0 V (recommend 2S ~ 6S LiPo)
Power Consumption
MAX1. 5W (0.3A@5V)
Normal:0.6W (0.12A@5V)
Operating Temperature
-10°C ~ 50°C
Assistant Software System Requirement
Windows XP sp3 / Windows 7
Max Yaw Angular Velocity
200°/s
Max Tilt Angle
45°
Ascent / Descent
±6m/s
Weight
MC:25g
VU:20g
GPS:21.3g
Dimensions
MC: 45.5mm x 31.5mm x 18.5mm
VU: 32.2mm x 21.1mm x 7.7mm
GPS & Compass 46mm(diameter)x9mm
Built-In Functions
Three Modes Autopilot
Enhanced Fail-safe
Low Voltage Protection
S-Bus Receiver Support
2-axle Gimbal Support
1.7 Packing List
USB 8GB Flash Drive with test flight video, application software and the
MATRIX User Manual
1 x Turbo Ace MATRIX Quad Flyer (3 x Body Plates –Top Cover, Middle,
Bottom, 4 x Motors, 4 x ESC, Flight Controller)
2 x CCW Propellers (1555 Type) & 2 x CW Propellers (1555R Type)
Programming USB-to-Micro USB Cable to link to your PC
2 x Velcro Battery Strap (on Matrix) 1 x Velcro Battery Strap
Batteries: Included with RTF Package but not included with ARF Package
Receiver: Included with RTF Package but optional on ARF Package
1.8 Caution & Safety
As the operator of the Turbo Ace MATRIX, it is your responsibility to follow all
proper procedures, protocols and precautions to ensure the safe operation of the
MATRIX. The operator must wear safety glasses and any bystanders must be
protected in a safe area. Do not operate the MATRIX in the proximity of

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children, pets, cars and other vulnerable property. The owner and the operator
of the MATRIX assumes all liability for any damages caused in the operation of
the MATRIX, including but not limited to personal injury, equipment and
property damage.
If your package includes a transmitter radio, do not pull on the transmitter’s
antenna when removing it from the foam packaging tray. Remove the
transmitter by pulling on the neck strap holder.
Since the MATRIX propellers are dismounted for shipping purposes, you must
first follow the setup instructions in this user manual to mount the propellers. Any
attempt to skip procedures will end in a bad crash.
Do not be tempted to fly a new and large RC aircraft, such as the MATRIX,
out of the box, especially after shipping. Prior to its maiden flight, please tie
the MATRIX down to a stationary workbench for 3 battery test flights. Any
crashed aircraft is not eligible for dead-on-arrival or any other defective
equipment claims. If you are new to RC equipment, please seek the help of an
experienced RC equipment operator to prevent damage and injury.
If you have purchased a MATRIX ARF package, you must first program the
end points of each ESC then calibrate your transmitter to the MATRIX (See
Section 4.2). If you are using your own transmitter you must reprogram each
ESC independently. (See Section 4.1). Any attempt to fly without proper
transmitter calibration and ESC programming will result in a crash and it will
invalidate any DOA claim. If you have purchased an RTF (ready-to-fly) unit with
transmitter, please ignore these steps.
Additional Velcro should be added on the flight battery to prevent the battery
sliding from side to side.
Operator must tie down MATRIX and remove all propellers when it is
hooked up to a computer. Any incorrect settings or values may trigger an
accidental motor startup. Turbo Ace, its distributors and dealers are not liable for
any damages caused by mishandling of the MATRIX and its associated
equipment.
Operator should use Loctite to secure all necessary screws on the MATRIX,
excluding propeller locking screws. Blue Loctite can be applied directly to the
screw and should not come in contact with any plastic propellers or parts which
will crack during flight. Please do not use red Loctite, as it can only be removed
with extreme heat.