QUADCOPTER OPERATOR S MANUAL. Quadcopter Rotor-Drone

Transcription

1 APOLLO A1 Quadcopter Rotor-Drone Operator s Manual Thank you for purchases the Idea-Fly Apollo A1 GEN2 quadcopter. The Apollo A1 is a ready-to-fly quad-rotor heli designed for quadcopter enthusiasts and amateur photography/video hobbyists alike. The integrated flight-control system includes GPS that provides precise Position-Hold, Fail-Safe, Semi-Autopilot and Return-to-Home functions. Equipped with high-performance brushless motors, ESCs and carbon fiber propellers, the Apollo A1 is a top-of-the-line, fully-featured advanced quadcopter. Advanced performance has never been so easy! Ready to take amateur video and images? The Apollo A1 includes a 2-axis, auto-stabilization camera mount ready for any GoPro, Boscam or similar-sized action video camera (not included). The Apollo A1 puts you in control too. While flying in auto-hover mode, you ll not only have stabilization of the camera, you ll have tilt control directly from the transmitter. It s very important that you read through all of the information included with your quadcopter and fully understand not only how to operate your quadcopter, but also to fully understand the responsibility you have for its proper use - both for your safety and the safety of others. If you have any questions about setting up or flying your quadcopter after you ve read this Operator s Manual and viewed the included How-To videos, please contact the Authorized Hobby People/Affiliates service department using the information in the Service and Support section on page 2 before trying to fly your quadcopter. 1

2 TAbLE Of CONTENTS Liability and Warranty Information...3 Service and Support...3 Firmware Updates...3 How-To Videos...3 Replacement Parts and Option Parts...3 Tips and Suggestions...4 Features and Specifications...5 Features...5 Specifications...5 Kit Contents...5 Items Required...5 Warnings and Safety Notes...6 Safe and Legal Use of Your Quadcopter...6 Propeller Safety...6 General Warnings...6 LiPo Battery Safety...7 Radio Control System Warnings...8 Charging the LiPo Battery...8 Charging Precautions...8 Charging the LiPo Battery...8 Transmitter Overview...9 Functions Overview...9 Switch Setup...9 Audible Low Voltage Alarm...10 Audible Trim Switch Tones...10 Quadcopter Overview...10 LED Condition Indicator...10 Preparing for Flight...11 Installing the Transmitter Batteries...11 Initializing the Gyros and Flight Controller...11 Calibrating the Compass...12 Flying the Apollo A1 Quadcopter...13 Propeller Safety...13 Arming the Motors...14 Flight Controls...14 Manual Flight Mode Flying Tips...15 Manual Flight Mode Flying Basics...15 Flight Trimming the Quadcopter...16 Using the GPS Flight Mode...17 GPS Flight Modes...18 GPS Flight Mode Warnings...18 GPS Flight Mode Flying Tips...19 Flying Using the GPS Flight Mode...19 Using the Return to Home Function...20 Return to Home Function Warnings...20 Using the Return to Home Function...20 Resetting the Return to Home Function...20 Failsafe Function...21 Checking the Failsafe Function...21 Maximum Altitude and Distance Limits...21 Autopilot Configuration Program...22 Installing the Autopilot Configuration Program Connecting Your Quadcopter...22 Changing Programming Values...22 Saving Programming Values...23 Programming Value Definitions...23 Updating Firmware...25 Downloading the Current Firmware...25 Connecting Your Quadcopter...25 Updating the Firmware...25 Using the Camera Gimbal...26 Controlling the Camera Gimbal...26 Adjusting the Center of Gravity...27 Maintenance

3 LiAbiLiTy AND warranty information Idea-Fly/Hobby People guarantees this product to be free from manufacturer defects in both material and workmanship at the time of purchase. Idea-Fly/Hobby People will repair or replace at our discretion, equipment determined to be defective, otherwise, the user is responsible for any charges for the repair or replacement of the equipment in question. This warranty does not cover cosmetic damage, nor does it cover damage caused by misuse, modification, negligence, abuse, improper connections, acts of God or damage caused by alterations by unauthorized persons. This warranty only applies to the original purchaser and requires proof of purchase to redeem. Idea-Fly/Hobby People shall not be liable for any damage resulting from the use of this product. As Idea-Fly/Hobby People has no control over the use, setup, modification or misuse of this product, no liability shall be assumed nor accepted for any resulting damage or injury. By the act of using this product, the user accepts all resulting liability. In no case shall Idea-Fly s/hobby People s liability exceed the original cost of the purchased product. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, or allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitations may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights which vary from state to state. Crash damage and damage caused by improper use, misuse or other mishandling of your quadcopter is your sole responsibility and will not be covered under warranty. Propeller damage caused by improper use, misuse or other mishandling (e.g. rough landings, contacting objects, etc.) is your sole responsibility and will not be covered under warranty. SERviCE AND SUPPORT We strongly suggest that when you first open your new quadcopter that you read through all of the information included and fully understand not only how to operate your quadcopter, but also to fully understand the responsibility you have for its proper use - both for your safety and the safety of others. If a problem is found, please contact the authorized Hobby People/Affiliates service department using the information below. Warranty repair requires proof of purchase. A copy of your original purchase receipt will be required. Once used, we do offer repair services as well as replacement parts for those customers who purchased the Apollo A1 quadcopter through Hobby People, Global Hobby Distributors or one of its affiliate authorized dealers. To contact the Authorized Hobby People/Affiliates service department or to purchase replacement parts or option parts: Hobby People/Affiliate Service: Global Services Bandilier Circle Fountain Valley, CA U.S.A. Phone: (714) Fax: (714) service@globalhobby.net Factory Service: Shenzhen Idea-Fly Technology Co., Ltd. 6th Floor, A3 Building, China Rich Crown Industrial Park, Longhua New District, Shenzhen, China. Phone: Fax: ifly@idea-fly.com firmware UPDATES Periodically, updates to the flight controller firmware may be released that provide enhancements and fixes that improve flight performance and user functions. For information about updating the flight controller firmware using the Autopilot Configuration program, see the Updating Firmware section on pages XX and XX. HOw-TO videos An assortment of various How-To videos are provided on the included CD. We strongly recommend watching these videos to help you visually understand the most important aspects of setting up and flying your new quadcopter. REPLACEMENT PARTS AND OPTiON PARTS We stock a complete assortment of stock replacement parts, such as a frame kit, motor, ESCs propellers and more, in addition to a number of optional parts like titanium alloy landing gear, a brushless camera gimbal, a protection ring set and more. For more information, see the Replacement Parts and Option Parts section on page XX. 3

4 TiPS AND SUggESTiONS This section includes a number of important tips and suggestions that we recommend you familiarize yourself with before flying your new quadcopter. 4 PLEASE READ BEFORE FLYING! THESE TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS ARE IMPORTANT! The quadcopter can only use a 3S 2200mAh LiPo battery. Larger batteries may be too large to fit inside the body. The battery dimensions should not exceed 4 x 1-3/8 x 1 (102.0 x 35.0 x 25.4mm). When you plug the LiPo battery into the quadcopter, it s important that the quadcopter be sitting on a flat, level surface and that you wait to move the quadcopter for 10 seconds after plugging the LiPo battery in to allow the gyros and flight controller to initialize. The compass must be calibrated prior to the first flight of your new quadcopter. After this initial calibration process, the calibration process must be repeated under any conditions listed in the Calibrating the Compass section on page XX. The quadcopter features three Flight Modes - Manual Mode, GPS Mode and Return to Home. We strongly suggest learning to setup and fly the quadcopter in the Manual Mode first, then learn about using the GPS Mode and the Return to Home function. For the best flight performance, particularly when using the camera gimbal, we strongly suggest balancing the quadcopter before flight by moving the LiPo battery forward or backward. This will improve flight performance, increase flight times and increase motor and ESC life. The SHAKE-COMPENS value should be adjusted before the first flight of each day to fine-tune the quadcopter to the current flight conditions. This will improve flight performance. In addition you are able to verify the Autopilot Configuration settings and control stick calibration. For more information, see the Autopilot Configuration Programming section on pages XX through XX. In the default configuration, the quadcopter has a maximum range of 328 feet (100 meters) altitude and 985 feet (300 meters) radius distance from the transmitter. If the quadcopter exceeds these maximum distances for any reason during flight, the quadcopter s Failsafe function will activate. For more information, see the Failsafe section on pages XX and XX. NEVER EXCEED THE ALTITUDE AND FLIGHT DISTANCE LIMITS AT ANY TIME FOR ANY REASON! If you don t push the throttle control stick forward within 5 seconds, or if you re flying and pull the throttle control stick all the way back to turn the motors OFF after landing, you will need to re-arm the motors again if you don t push the throttle forward again within 5 seconds. This is a safety feature to help prevent accidentally turning the motors ON, which could result in injury. While in the GPS Flight Mode, you should never pull the throttle control stick below the 10% throttle position or the quadcopter can flip over and crash. If the quadcopter loses its GPS lock while flying in the GPS Mode, it may start to drift, it may or it may even begin to lose power and altitude. In extreme cases, the motors may shut off. Pay attention to the quadcopter at all times! If at any time the quadcopter seems to be flying unusually or you feel there is a problem, switch to the Manual Flight Mode and take over the flight controls. Once you switch to the Return to Home function, you cannot switch to the GPS Flight Mode. You can only switch to the Manual Flight Mode. If you switch to the Manual Flight Mode during the Return to Home maneuver, you cannot switch back to the Return to Home function. You must continue the landing manually. There are some instances that the Failsafe function may not work all the time and the quadcopter could crash. For example, if the quadcopter does not have a GPS lock when the failsafe activates, if there is a problem with the onboard electronics or if the LiPo battery fails. The failsafe function is not guaranteed to save your quadcopter, so it should not be relied upon as such. Prior to updating the firmware or calibrating the control sticks, you must remove the propellers from the quadcopter! Updating the firmware and calibrating the control sticks can cause the motors to turn on unexpectedly, causing extreme damage. If the camera gimbal is not level when the quadcopter is sitting on a flat level surface, or if when you rotate the Camera Gimbal Control Dial, the camera gimbal binds, making the servos buzz, use the Autopilot Configuration program to adjust the PTZ-ROLL-STAB and PTZ-PITCH-STAB values. For more information, see the Autopilot Configuration Programming section on pages XX and XX. Prior to flying using the GPS Flight Mode and using the Return to Home function, please read and understand the warnings associated with each. For more information, see the GPS Flight Mode Warnings section on page XX and the Return to Home Function Warnings section on page XX.

5 APOLLO A1 features AND SPECifiCATiONS features Easy to Operate and Fun to Fly Low Noise, High Performance Brushless Motors Durable Factory-Assembled Frame Stiff, Efficient Carbon Fiber Propeller Blades 2.4GHz Digital Transmitter and Receiver Fail-Safe and Low-Voltage Protection C6W Digital Programmable Flight Control System Bright LEDs Ensure Good Visibility Precise Hovering and Self-Leveling with GPS Custom Programming and Updateable Firmware* Return to Home GPS Function Replacement Parts and Option Parts Available 2-Axis Camera Gimbal w/remote Pitch Control *Mini USB cable required for PC or laptop connection. SPECifiCATiONS Length: Inches Power Consumption: W Width: Inches GPS Hovering Precision:...+/- 0.8M Vertical Diagonal Span: Inches +/- 2.5M Horizontal Flying Weight:...Approximately 2.6 Pounds Maximum Yaw Angular Velocity:...300deg/sec Propeller Size and Type:...8 x 4 Carbon Fiber Maximum Tilt Angle:...45 Degrees Flying Time:...Approximately 8 Minutes Maximum Ascent/Descent Speed:...+/- 4ms Operating Temp: F to 122ºF (-10ºC to 50ºC) kit CONTENTS The following parts should be included in your kit. If you find a part missing or damaged, please contact the Authorized Hobby People/Affiliates service department using the information in the Service and Support section on the previous page. Contents may differ in both appearance and what s included, and are subject to change at any time without notice. A Apollo A1 GEN2 Quadcopter B B MC6 2.4GHz Digital Transmitter A C 3S 11.1V 2200mAh 30C LiPo Battery D AC LiPo Charger w/power Cord E Camera Gimbal w/digital Servos I F Foam Landing Pads G Assorted Mounting Screws H Jumper Wire Plug (Attached to Transmitter Handle) F H D G E C I CD w/operator s Manual PDF, Software and How-To Videos J Quick-Start Guide (Not Pictured) items REQUiRED The following items are required to fly your new Apollo A1 quadcopter. Items required can be purchased through your local Hobby People retail store or online at 8 AA Alkaline Batteries for Transmitter (P/N ) LiPo Battery Low Voltage Alarm* (P/N ) Mini USB Cable (P/N ) and Windows PC or Laptop for Programming and Firmware Updates** * When the LiPo battery voltage drops to the low voltage cutoff value during flight, the LED Condition Indicator will flash red rapidly to indicate you must land immediately. For extra precaution, we suggest using a programmable LiPo Battery Voltage Alarm that can be mounted with the LiPo battery inside the quadcopter. You are able to program the alarm to sound at a higher cutoff voltage value to give you more time to safely land before the battery voltage drops too low and results in a crash. **Not required for basic flying, but programming is required for best performance. 5

6 warnings AND SAfETy NOTES These warnings and safety notes are important and must be followed closely. Please abide by this information and follow the instructions in this Operator s Manual to ensure maximum safety. It s important that you fully understand not only how to operate your quadcopter, but also to fully understand the responsibility you have for its proper use - both for your safety and the safety of others. SAfE AND LEgAL USE Of your QUADCOPTER Your quadcopter is not intended for commercial use. It must be used in a safe and legal manner only. By operating your quadcopter, the user accepts full responsibility for its safe and legal use. Follow all privacy laws and property laws when operating your quadcopter, and especially when using a still or video camera. The camera gimbal included with the quadcopter is to be used for hobbyists and/or amateur video or photography only. For Safe Operation Guidelines, please contact the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) at PROPELLER SAfETy The quadcopter s propellers are thin, stiff and very sharp. The material they are made from is carbon fiber. This material makes the propellers very strong and enhances the flight performance of the quadcopter. Be careful! Do not allow your fingers, hands or other body parts to come into contact with the spinning propeller blades or serious injury will result! The propellers must be removed from the motors whenever you calibrate the transmitter control sticks, whenever you program the quadcopter or update the firmware using your PC or laptop, or whenever there s any question about safely operating the quadcopter. Do not attempt to fly the quadcopter if one or more of the propellers are damaged. Flying with damaged propellers is not safe and can make the quadcopter fly uncontrollably. For less experienced pilots, we recommend using plastic propellers (P/N ). Always make sure the propellers are installed correctly and that the prop nuts are secured tightly. general warnings The quadcopter should never be flown in rain, sand, mud, snow or dirt. The quadcopter is manufactured with delicate components that must be kept dry and free of debris to ensure the best flight performance. Exposure to moisture or excessive heat can result in damage that will not be covered under warranty. Just because the quadcopter is powered by electric motors doesn t mean that you shouldn t exercise caution when flying and operating it. The quadcopter can be dangerous if you do not fly it in a safe manner or do not pay close attention while flying it. You alone are responsible for its actions during flight. We strongly suggest that when you first begin flying the quadcopter that you perform only basic maneuvers, until you are more familiar with its flight characteristics. Do not attempt to use the GPS Flight Mode or the Return to Home function without first reading about and understanding how to use these features. In addition, we don t recommend installing the camera gimbal until after you ve flown the quadcopter a couple of times. This will allow to learn the steps required for flight and allow you to become familiar with the quadcopter s flight characteristics before using the camera gimbal. For the best flight performance, particularly when the camera gimbal is installed, we strongly suggest balancing the quadcopter before flight by moving the LiPo battery forward or backward. This will improve flight performance, increase flight times and increase motor and ESC life. We suggest using an audible low voltage alarm or a flight timer to help ensure that you don t accidentally run the LiPo battery down too far, which could result in a crash. Always unplug the LiPo battery from the quadcopter after use. Always fly the quadcopter in a suitably large area free of obstructions. The quadcopter can be flown in a large indoor area or outdoors. Make sure any spectators are behind you. Even though the quadcopter is equipped with a GPS that can hold the quadcopter in a stable hover and perform automatic landings using the Return to Home function, the quadcopter is not an autonomous drone. You must pay careful attention and fly it at all times. When in the GPS Flight Mode and/or when using the Return to Home function, if at any time the quadcopter seems to be flying unusually or you feel there is a problem, flip the Flight Mode Switch to the Manual Flight Mode and take over the flight controls. The compass must be calibrated correctly and in the same location you are flying from for the Return to Home function to operate correctly, otherwise a crash can result. 6

7 warnings AND SAfETy NOTES LiPO battery SAfETy To ensure your safety, please read and carefully follow the guidelines in this section. It s important that you follow these warnings closely. LiPo batteries are significantly more volatile than Alkaline or NiCd and NiMH batteries. Charging Safety: Your LiPo battery must be charged with a LiPo balancing charger or fire will result. Do not use or charge your LiPo battery unattended. LiPo Explosions/Fire: All energy storage devices are dangerous. They contain stored (potential) energy, which if mishandled, will cause failure, and in some cases that failure can be very dangerous. Avoid all conditions that cause battery failure. These conditions include, but are not limited to: Severe Heat - Anything over 160ºF can limit the battery s life. If heated to extremes (with fire, a soldering iron, etc.), the battery may fail and/or explode! Severe Damage - Examples of severe damage would be: breaking the battery or putting a hole in the battery. Over Charge - The charger is either the wrong type or it simply fails and puts more energy at a higher voltage than the battery is designed to handle. LiPo batteries must never be charged above 4.2v per cell. Over Discharge - This usually comes from an improper ESC that allows the voltage to go well under 3.0v per cell. Also, this term is sometimes used to mean exceeding C discharge rating. If the battery is rated for 64 amps continuous discharge, do not discharge it at a continuous rate of 70 amps! This will destroy the battery. Charging a damaged or over-discharged battery will eventually result in fire! Warning Signs that Failure and Possible Explosion Might Occur: If you cause or observe any of the conditions listed above, you can experience battery failure, so if any of these things do happen, be prepared that the battery could fail. Swelling of the Battery - Swelling is caused by internal pressure that goes beyond the normal amount of pressure in every battery. This pressure makes the cell swell up like a balloon. Do not use a swelled battery! A swelled battery is a battery that has failed and needs to be discarded before explosion or fire results. Here is what to do with a battery that is on the verge of exploding or is starting to show signs of exploding: Do Not Handle Directly - The material spitting out (if it comes to that) is spitting out at as much as 2000ºF. Try to Contain the Fire - We recommend always charging your LiPo battery using a LiPo safety bag (available separately). If you don t use a LiPo safety bag, we recommend a fire-proof container with a lid be kept near the proximity of any battery being used or charged. Fill the bottom with sand. Have this ready to use at a moment s notice. If the battery looks suspicious, put it in the container and drop another large amount of sand on top, then drop the lid. Let it burn out. It will smoke and fume, but the sand will contain the sparks and reduce the transfer of heat. A fire extinguisher will help, but it will not stop the chemical reaction. The only thing that can be done is to contain the fire until the fire goes out. Practical Advice for Using LiPo Batteries: While there are precautions that must be taken and dangers that must be considered, LiPo batteries today are very safe and very easy to use. Here is a list of practical advice for using this type of battery. Assembly of the Battery - Do not solder directly to the battery! Charging - Always use a LiPo balance charger. Always make sure the settings on the charger match the battery (voltage and amperage) and that the polarity is correct! Never charge if the battery is hot (over ambient temperature or 105ºF). Let it cool first! Storage - We suggest a fireproof container for storing any rechargeable batteries. LiPo batteries in storage for an extended period of time should be stored at 60 percent of their capacity. If storing for only a short time, then leaving them with a full charge is fine. Never store them in a discharged state! Do not store the battery in high-heat conditions. 60º to 72ºF is acceptable. Damaged Battery - Damaged battery s must be discarded immediately. We suggest removing the insulation from around the battery, then submerging the battery in a bowl of saltwater for 24 to 36 hours. This will completely discharge the battery. Cut off the wires, place the battery in a sealed bag, then discard it in the trash. Never charge your battery unattended. Not ever! Never charge your LiPo battery inside your car and Never leave your battery in a place where it will be stored over 120ºF (i.e., in your car in the summertime). 7

8 warnings AND SAfETy NOTES RADiO CONTROL SySTEM warnings The radio system operates on the 2.4GHz frequency band. The 2.4GHz connection is determined by the transmitter and receiver pair. Unlike ordinary crystal-based systems, the quadcopter can be flown without frequency control. Always turn the transmitter ON before plugging the LiPo battery into the quadcopter and always unplug the LiPo battery from the quadcopter before turning the transmitter OFF. The operational range of the quadcopter is beyond sight, so be careful when flying the quadcopter to keep it within sight at all times. Because the quadcopter is operated by radio control, it s important to make sure you are always using fresh transmitter batteries. Never allow the transmitter batteries to run low or you might experience loss of control. Do not expose the transmitter to moisture or excessive heat and never attempt to disassemble or modify any of the radio control system components. CHARgiNg THE LiPO battery Your quadcopter includes a 3S 11.1 volt 2200mAh LiPo battery that is charged using the included balance charger. CHARgiNg PRECAUTiONS The charger and the LiPo battery should be placed on a heat-resistant, non-flammable and non-conductive surface. Never place them on carpet or similar. Do not attempt to charge the LiPo battery through the red power connector. The LiPo battery should always be charged through the white balance connector. Always allow the LiPo battery to cool down after use prior to recharging it. Keep flammable and volatile materials well away from the operating area during use. Never charge the LiPo battery if it appears swollen or damaged in any way. Never leave the LiPo battery unattended during the charging process. If any malfunction is observed, unplug the charger from its power source immediately. If the LiPo battery becomes hot to the touch during the charging process, unplug the charger from its power source immediately. Keep the charger away from moisture, dust, dirt, heat, direct sunlight and vibration. Do not drop it. CHARgiNg THE LiPO battery The charger s output is 0.8A (800mAh), therefore, it can take up to 2.5 hours or more to fully charge the LiPo battery, depending on its discharge level. Never allow the charger to charge for more than 3 hours! If desired, an after-market LiPo Balance Charger with a Charge Current of no more that 1C (2.2 Amps) can be used to charge the LiPo battery in approximately 1 hour. 1) Plug the AC power cord into the charger, then plug the power cord into a 110v AC wall socket or power strip. The three Charge LEDs will illuminate Green, indicating the charger is powered. 2) Plug the white balance connector on the LiPo battery into the matching 11.1V balance port in the charger. The three Charge LEDs will illuminate Red, indicating the LiPo battery is charging. Do not plug anything into the red power connector! 3) Allow the LiPo battery to charge. When the LiPo battery is fully balance charged, all three Charge LEDs will illuminate Green. Unplug the LiPo battery from the charger, then unplug the charger from its power source. Near the end of the charging process, the Charge LEDs may turn Green momentarily, then turn Red again. This is normal. Allow the battery to continue charging. The charging process is complete when all three Charge LEDs illuminate Green continuously for more than 30 seconds. Flight times average between 6 to 8 minutes, but can vary widely based on many factors. We suggest timing your flights using an electronic flight timer (P/N ), available from Hobby People. This is an ideal way to ensure you don t run the LiPo battery too low, forcing yourself into a fast and unsafe landing. 8

9 APOLLO A1 TRANSMiTTER OvERviEw The transmitter comes paired and programmed from the factory to work with the Apollo A1 quadcopter. Read this section to familiarize yourself with the transmitter s functions. Before flying your quadcopter, please ensure that the transmitter is set up exactly as described in this section. functions OvERviEw If it s ever necessary to pair the transmitter and receiver again, see the Binding the Transmitter and Receiver section on page XX. Antenna Manual Mode (1) GPS Mode (2) Camera Gimbal Control Dial Return to Home (3) Power/Bind LED Flight Mode Switch Throttle/Yaw Control Stick Pitch/Roll Control Stick Pitch Trim Switch Throttle Trim Switch Yaw Trim Switch Roll Trim Switch Mixing and Servo Reversing Switches On/Off Switch Antenna - Transmits the RF signal from the transmitter to the integrated receiver in the quadcopter. Camera Gimbal Control Dial - Controls the Pitch axis of the camera gimbal during flight. Flight Mode Switch - Used to change Flight Modes. Choose from Manual Mode (1), GPS Mode (2) and the Return to Home function (3). Also used in the Compass Calibration process. The Flight Mode Switch should be left in the Manual Mode (1) position for the majority of flight. Mixing and Servo Reversing Switches - Allows you to change the transmitter s electronic mixes and change the direction of control travel. See the Switch Setup section below for more information. On/Off Switch - Turns the transmitter ON and OFF. Pitch/Roll Control Stick - Controls the quadcopter s Forward/Backward (Pitch) and Right/Left (Roll) flight axes. Pitch Trim Switch - Used to make fine-tuned adjustments to the pitch axis to level the quadcopter during flight. Power/Bind LED - Indicates the current status of the transmitter. Roll Trim Switch - Used to make fine-tuned adjustments to the roll axis to level the quadcopter during flight. Throttle/Yaw Control Stick - Controls the quadcopter s Throttle (Power Up/Down) and Yaw (Spin Right/Left) flight axes. Throttle Trim Switch - Used to make fine-tuned adjustments to the throttle axis to keep the motors from turning ON when the throttle control stick is pulled all the way back. Yaw Trim Switch - Used to make fine-tuned adjustments to the yaw axis to keep the quadcopter from spinning right or left during flight. SwiTCH SETUP Before flying your quadcopter, verify that the Flight Mode Switch, Trim Switches and the Mixing and Servo Reversing Switches are in the positions described in the table below and shown in the photo above. The Flight Mode Switch should be left in the Manual Mode (1) position for programming, takeoff, normal landings and for the majority of flight and all four trim switches should be centered. SWITCH TYPE SWITCH POSITION Flight Mode Switch MANUAL MODE (1) Trim Switches CENTERED Mixing Switches ELEVON / A-NOR Servo Reversing Switches AIL (REV) / ELE (REV) / THR (NOR) / RUD (NOR) The two Mixing Switches and four Servo Reversing Switches should never be moved from their default positions. 9

10 TRANSMiTTER OvERviEw AUDibLE LOw voltage ALARM The transmitter features a Low Voltage Alarm that will sound continuously when the transmitter battery voltage drops below a safe value. When this occurs, land as soon as is safely possible and replace the transmitter batteries. AUDibLE TRiM SwiTCH TONES When you move a trim switch, a short audible tone is heard. When a trim switch is centered, a longer audible tone will sound (transmitter must be turned ON). QUADCOPTER OvERviEw Use the information in this section to familiarize yourself with the basic layout of the quadcopter, including motor direction, front, back, left and right orientation, center of gravity and the LED Condition Indicator. Clockwise Rotation Front Power Connector Counter-Clockwise Rotation Flight Controller Connector* USB Connector GPS Dome Left Right LED Condition Indicator Camera Gimbal Connections Counter-Clockwise Rotation Back Clockwise Rotation C G *Only used when required by Customer Service. C.G. Position Do not pick up or carry the quadcopter by the GPS dome or it could be damaged or even broken off. Always pick up and carry the quadcopter by one of the outrigger arms or the main body. For the best flight performance, particularly when using the camera gimbal, we strongly suggest balancing the quadcopter before flight by moving the LiPo battery forward or backward. This will improve flight performance, increase flight times and increase motor and ESC life. For more information, see the Adjusting the Center of Gravity section on page XX. For information about installing, connecting and controlling the camera gimbal, see the Camera Gimbal section on pages XX and XX. LED CONDiTiON indicator The LED Condition Indicator will flash red and/or green to indicate the current status of the quadcopter. Use the table below to determine the current status based on LED condition. STATUS No GPS Signal (Manual Mode) No GPS Signal (GPS Mode) 6 or More GPS Satellites (Manual Mode) Manual Set Altitude GPS Set Altitude (Head-Lock) GPS Set Altitude (Head-Free) Return to Home Low LiPo Battery Voltage Caution Low LiPo Battery Voltage Warning GPS Connection Wire Unplugged LED CONDITION When the quadcopter is sitting on the ground, place a piece of white paper, white cardboard or a CD turned upside down below the quadcopter. The LED will reflect off this surface, making it easier for your to see the color and flashing pattern. Make sure to remove before flight. Green Flash Red Flash Red Solid Yellow Solid 10

11 APOLLO A1 PREPARiNg for flight Follow the information in this section to install the transmitter batteries, install the LiPo battery, initialize the gyros and flight controller, calibrate the compass to prepare the Apollo A1 quadcopter for flight. It s important that you follow the steps in this section very carefully. Failure to follow these steps correctly and in the order written may result in your quadcopter not flying as designed or not flying at all. This section lists the steps that are required to prepare your new quadcopter for flight in the Manual Flight Mode. Do not attempt to fly your quadcopter yet using any other Flight Mode (GPS or Return to Home). It s important that you first learn to setup and fly your new quadcopter using the Manual Flight Mode. Aside from installing the transmitter batteries, each of these steps must be completed in the order described in this section, unless otherwise noted. installing THE TRANSMiTTER batteries 1) Remove the battery holder, then install 8 new AA alkaline batteries into the battery holder, double-checking to make sure that the polarity is correct. Reinstall the battery holder and the battery cover. Do not mix old and new batteries and do not mix battery types. The transmitter is designed to use Alkaline batteries only. Using NiCd, NiMH or Lithium batteries will result in an error due to incorrect voltage and the transmitter will not function properly. If when you turn the transmitter ON after installing new batteries, the Power LED does not illuminate, first twist the batteries in the battery holder. If that doesn t fix it, double-check the polarity of each battery. initializing THE gyros AND flight CONTROLLER 1) Install the LiPo battery into the quadcopter, making sure to push the LiPo battery as far forward as possible into the body. Do not plug the LiPo battery into the power connector yet. We suggest installing and removing the LiPo battery with the quadcopter upside down. This will allow the USB and auxiliary connectors to lay in the notched area in the top of the quadcopter, preventing them from unplugging or getting damaged when you install or remove the battery. 2) Pull throttle control stick all the way back, verify that the Flight Mode Switch is in the Manual Mode (1) position, then turn the transmitter ON. It s important that when you plug the LiPo battery into the quadcopter in the next step, that the quadcopter be sitting on a flat, level surface and that you wait to move the quadcopter for 10 seconds after plugging the LiPo battery in to allow the gyros and flight controller to initialize. 3) Place the quadcopter right-side up on a flat, level surface, then plug the LiPo battery into the matching power connector. Three single audible tones will sound, followed by a short audible chime. Do not move the quadcopter for 10 seconds after plugging the LiPo battery in to allow the gyros and flight controller to initialize (about 5 seconds after the audible chime sounds). 4) Carefully push power connector wires and USB connector into the back of the body. The LiPo battery should fit snug. If the fit seems loose, a thin piece of foam rubber (not included) can be affixed to the top or bottom of the battery to help hold it more securely in place. 11

12 PREPARiNg for flight CALibRATiNg THE COMPASS Please follow the tips below when calibrating the compass. Completing the compass calibration process correctly is important to ensure the quadcopter will fly properly. CALIBRATING THE COMPASS IS REQUIRED FOR FLIGHT! DO NOT SKIP THIS PROCEDURE! When calibrating the compass, do not do so in an area that may cause magnetic interference, such as a parking garage, near an area with steel reinforcement, near metal fencing, etc. In addition, remove keys, cell phones and any other metal objects from your pockets that could interfere with the calibration process. You should perform the compass calibration process in the location that you will be flying the quadcopter at. The LED Condition Indicator should illuminate solid Green while you re rotating the quadcopter. If the LED goes out, stop rotating the quadcopter and hold it level (either horizontal or vertical, depending on the calibration axis), wait for the LED to illuminate solid Green again, then continue rotating the quadcopter. When calibrating the vertical axis, rotate the quadcopter by spinning it with your fingertips around its vertical axis. Do not simply hold the quadcopter out and spin your whole body around. This will not work. The calibration process MUST be performed before the first flight of your NEW quadcopter. After this initial calibration process, the calibration process must be repeated under any of the following conditions: If you fly in a location that is greater than 20 miles (32 kilometers) away from the location you last calibrated the compass at. If you fly in a location with an altitude difference that is greater than 500 feet (152 meters) from the location you last calibrated the compass at. If the temperature is 20ºF higher or lower than when you last calibrated the compass. If the quadcopter drifts noticeably and it s not caused by wind interference (cross-wind, etc). Horizontal Calibration: The quadcopter should be sitting on a flat, level surface with the front of the quadcopter pointing away from you and you should have completed steps 1 through 4 in the Installing the LiPo Battery and Initializing the Gyros and Flight Controller section on the previous page. x 3 1) Cycle the Flight Mode Switch from the Manual Mode (1) position to the Return to Home (3) position and back to the Manual Mode (1) position three times quickly in a row. The LED Condition Indicator on the bottom of the quadcopter will turn solid Green. 2) Carefully rotate the quadcopter clockwise along its horizontal axis for three complete 360º rotations, while watching the LED Condition Indicator throughout the entire process. Lift the quadcopter only enough to rotate it and make sure to keep the quadcopter level throughout the entire process. If the quadcopter does not stay level while you re rotating it, the LED Condition Indicator will go out. If this occurs, stop and level the quadcopter until the LED turns solid Green again, then continue rotating it until you finish three complete 360º rotations. Rotate 360º x 3 3) After rotating the quadcopter three complete 360º rotations, set the quadcopter down in the same position you started in, then cycle the Flight Mode Switch from the Manual Mode (1) position to the Return to Home position (3) and back to the Manual Mode (1) position three times quickly in a row. The LED Condition Indicator will go out. 12 Continue with the Vertical Calibration and Saving Calibration Settings section on the next page!

13 APOLLO A1 PREPARiNg for flight CALibRATiNg THE COMPASS, CONTiNUED... Vertical Calibration and Saving Calibration Settings: The quadcopter should be sitting on a flat level surface with the front of the quadcopter pointing away from you when you finished the horizontal calibration process. Now continue with the vertical calibration process. x3 1) Cycle the Flight Mode Switch from the Manual Mode (1) position to the Return to Home (3) position and back to the Manual Mode (1) position three times quickly in a row. The LED Condition Indicator on the bottom of the quadcopter will turn solid Green. 2) Grasp the vertical rudder on the back of the quadcopter and lift the tail of the quadcopter up so that the quadcopter is in a vertical position with the bottom of the quadcopter facing toward you. Next, carefully rotate the quadcopter clockwise along its vertical axis for three complete 360º rotations, while watching the LED Condition Indicator throughout the entire process. Make sure to keep the quadcopter vertical throughout the entire process. Rotate 360º x 3 If the quadcopter does not stay level while you re rotating it, the LED Condition Indicator will go out. If this occurs, stop and jiggle the quadcopter in the vertical position until the LED turns solid Green again, then continue rotating it until you finish three complete 360º rotations. 3) After rotating the quadcopter for three complete 360º rotations, you should be holding the quadcopter vertical and the bottom of the quadcopter should be facing toward you like when you started. While still holding the quadcopter in this position, use your other hand to cycle the Flight Mode Switch from the Manual Mode (1) position to the Return to Home (3) position and back to the Manual Mode (1) position three times quickly in a row. The LED Condition Indicator will continue to illuminate solid Green. 4) Carefully pivot the quadcopter down and set it in the same position you started in and wait for the calibration settings to be saved. The LED Condition Indicator will continue to illuminate solid Green. It can take up to 1 minute or more for the settings to be saved. Do not move the quadcopter or make any adjustments to the transmitter during this time! When the calibration settings are saved, the LED Condition Indicator will go out, then flash Red and Green (No GPS lock) or flash Green (GPS lock), indicating the quadcopter is ready for flight. The LED Condition Indicator should illuminate solid Green when you set the quadcopter back down, indicating the settings are being saved. If the LED Condition Indicator goes out when you lower the quadcopter back down, this indicates the quadcopter is still in calibration mode. If this happens, repeat the vertical calibration process starting at step 2. If the calibration process should fail for any reason, for example, if the LED Condition Indicator is constantly flashing, unplug the LiPo battery, turn off the transmitter, then repeat the calibration steps from the beginning. flying THE APOLLO A1 QUADCOPTER After calibrating the compass, your quadcopter is now ready for flight. Follow the steps in this section to arm the motors and fly your quadcopter using Manual Mode. We strongly recommend flying your quadcopter in Manual Mode for at least the first few flights before attempting to use the GPS Mode or the Return to Home function. This will allow you become familiar with not only how to set up the quadcopter and prepare it for flight, it will allow you to become familiar with the quadcopter s flight characteristics, since the majority of flying is done in Manual Mode. PROPELLER SAfETy The quadcopter s propellers are thin, stiff and very sharp. The material they are made from is carbon fiber. This material makes the propellers very strong and enhances the flight performance of the quadcopter. Be careful! Do not allow your fingers, hands or other body parts to come into contact with the spinning propeller blades or serious injury will result! 13

14 APOLLO A1 flying THE APOLLO A1 QUADCOPTER ARMiNg THE MOTORS Before the throttle will operate, the motors must be armed. Before arming the motors and flying your quadcopter, make sure you ve completed the following steps: Install the LiPo battery, turn the transmitter ON and make sure the Flight Mode Switch is in the Manual Mode (1) position. Set the quadcopter on a flat level surface, plug in the LiPo battery and allow the gyros and flight controller to initialize for 10 seconds. Complete the compass calibration process. The LED Condition Indicator should be flashing Red and Green (No GPS lock) or flashing Green (GPS lock). 1) Pull the left control stick and the right control stick to the lower left and lower right corners as shown in the photo, then release the control sticks. The motors are now armed. 2) Within 5 seconds, push the throttle control stick forward to turn the motors ON. If you don t push the throttle control stick forward within 5 seconds, or if you re flying and pull the throttle control stick all the way back to turn the motors OFF after landing, you will need to re-arm the motors again if you don t push the throttle forward again within 5 seconds. This is a safety feature to help prevent accidentally turning the motors ON, which could result in injury. flight CONTROLS Left Control Stick: Move the left control stick left and right to spin the quadcopter left and right. Right Control Stick: Move the right control stick forward and backward to move the q u a d c o p t e r forward and backward. Spin Left TOP VIEW Move Forward Spin Right Move Backward SIDE VIEW Move Left Move Right Right Control Stick: Move the right control stick left and right to move the quadcopter left and right. BACK VIEW Move Up Left Control Stick: Move the left control stick forward and backward to move the quadcopter up and down (increase and decrease throttle). 14 SIDE VIEW Move Down

15 flying THE APOLLO A1 QUADCOPTER MANUAL flight MODE flying TiPS The Apollo A1 quadcopter is a powerful, high-performance quad-rotor heli and you must use caution at all times when flying it. In this section we ve provided some basic flying tips to help you get started. If at any time during flight you begin to lose control of the quadcopter and are unable regain control before crashing into something or someone, pull the left control stick (throttle) all the way back to shut the quadcopter down and allow it to crash land on its own. Always fly the quadcopter in a suitably large area free of obstructions. The quadcopter can be flown in a large indoor area or outside. Flying in strong or gusty winds can make the quadcopter more difficult to control and should not be attempted until you are a very proficient flier. When moving the control sticks, use only small, smooth control inputs. Using large, abrupt control inputs can cause you to over-control, making the quadcopter more difficult to fly and possibly result in a crash. Quadcopters in general do not need to be re-corrected as helicopters do, so control inputs should be given and the control stick(s) returned to center before the next control input. When the front of the quadcopter is facing toward you, the right and left roll and yaw controls will seem reversed. This takes some time to get used to until it becomes second nature. Imagining yourself sitting in the cockpit will help you get used to this. MANUAL flight MODE flying basics When learning to fly, we suggest always trying to keep the quadcopter about 3 feet off the ground and in a relatively small flying area. To be successful when learning, make small control inputs. Over-controlling is a mistake all new pilots make. Never move the control sticks more than halfway except the throttle, and only when necessary. You should have completed the following steps prior to flight: Fully charge and install the LiPo battery. Verify the correct positions of all transmitter switches (trim switches centered and Flight Mode Switch in the Manual Mode (1) position. Pull the left control stick all the back and turn the transmitter ON, then plug the LiPo battery in and initialize the gyros and flight controller. Make sure to wait 10 seconds before moving the quadcopter. Calibrate the compass. (This only needs to be done before your first flight or under any of the circumstances described in the Calibrating the Compass section on pages XX and XX). Verify the LED Condition Indicator is flashing Red and Green (no GPS lock) or Green (GPS lock), then arm the motors. 1) With the front of the quadcopter facing away from you, slowly push the throttle forward until the propeller blades begin to spin. Continue to push the throttle forward to increase the speed of the motors and take off. Remember, you must advance the throttle within 5 seconds of arming the motors or you ll need to re-arm the motors. 2) Gently move the right control stick as required in small increments to keep the quadcopter hovering in the same general area about 3 feet off the ground. At the same time you will need to increase or decrease the throttle to keep the quadcopter hovering a consistent distance off the ground. As you take off, it s normal for the quadcopter to drift backward until you climb higher out of the ground effect. To counter-act this, gently push the right control stick forward. 3) While making small adjustments to the throttle to keep the quadcopter hovering in the same general area about 3 feet off the ground, gently move the right control stick to the right and left and see how the quadcopter banks and moves to the right and left, then slowly move the right control stick forward and backward and see how the quadcopter banks and moves forward and backward. Remember, make gentle, small control inputs. Now gently move the left control stick to the right and left and see how the quadcopter spins around its center axis right and left. 4) Repeat moving the right and left control sticks slowly to the left and right, and forward and backward to get used to how the quadcopter moves, all while at the same time making small adjustments to the throttle to keep the quadcopter hovering about 3 feet off the ground. 5) Now try placing the quadcopter in a stable hover and release the control sticks. The quadcopter should stay in the same general position on its own. If the quadcopter is continually moving one direction or the other when the control sticks are centered, and it s not caused by a constant cross-wind, the quadcopter may require flight trimming. For more information, see the Flight Trimming section on pages XX and XX. 15

16 flying THE APOLLO A1 QUADCOPTER MANUAL flight MODE flying basics, CONTiNUED... Practice Patterns: Once you become comfortable with the basics, start practicing the different patterns described below to help you increase your skills and confidence flying the quadcopter. Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 First, practice hovering in a small space, using small control inputs to keep the quadcopter in one place (Fig. 1). Next, practice flying a square or rectangular pattern (Fig. 2), then practice flying in a figure-8 pattern (Fig. 3). After getting better at flying these patterns, practice flying different patterns, spinning the quadcopter 360º and changing the position at which you stand relative to the front of the quadcopter (Fig. 4). flight TRiMMiNg THE QUADCOPTER The quadcopter is stable and easy to fly, and in general should require very little to no flight trimming. Follow the tips below if and when flight trimming your quadcopter. If you feel the quadcopter requires flight trimming that is not caused by a continuous cross-wind, do the following first: Ensure all four trim switches are centered. When you move a trim switch, a short audible tone is heard. When a trim switch is centered, a longer audible tone will sound. Re-arm the motors and continue flying. Land and let the quadcopter s center points reset on their own automatically by landing on a flat, level surface and holding there without any movement for at least 10 seconds. Re-arm the motors and continue flying. It s possible that the compass is out of calibration or was not calibrated correctly. Perform the compass calibration process, re-arm the motors and continue flying. If you still feel that the quadcopter requires flight trimming go ahead and adjust the trim switches as described below and on the next page. We suggest flight trimming the quadcopter while hovering no less than 3 feet off the ground. Flying any lower will make it more difficult to trim the quadcopter due to the ground effect caused by the spinning propellers. We also suggest flight trimming in a calm environment (little to no wind). 1) Push the throttle forward to take off and place the quadcopter in a stable hover, about 3 feet off the ground, then release both control sticks and watch how the quadcopter reacts, then trim the quadcopter as described: If the quadcopter spins left, push the Yaw Trim Switch RIGHT several times until the quadcopter stops spinning left. Spins Left Push Right If the quadcopter spins right, push the Yaw Trim Switch LEFT several times until the quadcopter stops spinning right. Spins Right Push Left 16

17 flying THE APOLLO A1 QUADCOPTER flight TRiMMiNg THE QUADCOPTER, CONTiNUED... If the quadcopter moves left, push the Roll Trim Switch RIGHT several times until the quadcopter stops moving left. Moves Left Push Right If the quadcopter moves right, push the Roll Trim Switch LEFT several times until the quadcopter stops moving right. Moves Right Push Left Moves Backward If the quadcopter moves backward, push the Pitch Trim Switch FORWARD several times until the quadcopter stops moving backward. Push Forward Moves Forward Push Backward If the quadcopter moves forward, push the Pitch Trim Switch BACKWARD several times until the quadcopter stops moving forward. The Throttle Trim Switch should be left centered at all times. In addition, if for any reason the motors will not arm after you ve adjusted the trim switches, center the trim switches on the transmitter. In some cases, if too much trim is used, it can cause the quadcopter s safety features to not allow the motors to be armed. USiNg THE gps flight MODE The Apollo A1 quadcopter features a GPS Flight Mode that provides Auto-Hover, Auto-Hover with Head Lock Position Hold and Auto-Hover with Head Free Position Hold. Using the GPS Flight Mode allows you manually fly the quadcopter to the desired altitude and position, then have the GPS hold that altitude and position, allowing you to control the camera gimbal to shoot amazing, stable aerial video. Three GPS Flight Modes can be programmed to the Flight Mode Switch GPS Mode (2) position as listed below. In the default configuration, GPS Set Altitude (Head Lock) is programmed, and this is the mode we recommend you use. For more information about these different Flight Modes, see the next page. Manual Set Altitude GPS Set Altitude (Head Lock) - Default GPS Set Altitude (Head Free) To change which GPS Flight Mode the Flight Mode Switch will control when moved to the GPS Mode (2) position, see the Autopilot Configuration Programming section on pages XX and XX. 17

18 USiNg THE gps flight MODE gps flight MODES Manual Set Altitude: Provides Altitude Hold, but not Position Hold. With the throttle control stick at 50% (half throttle), the quadcopter will hover at the current altitude, but won t hold its current position. For example, you can use the control sticks to place the quadcopter in the desired position and at the desired altitude, then reduce the throttle to half throttle and the quadcopter will hold the current altitude; however, the quadcopter will drift because this mode does not feature a Position Hold function. Throttle at 50% = Altitude Hold (Auto-Hover) Throttle Greater Than 50% = Climb Throttle Less Than 50% = Descend Right and Left Control Sticks Control Pitch, Roll and Yaw (Limited Control) GPS Set Altitude (Head Lock): Provides both Altitude Hold and Position Hold with Head Lock. With the throttle control stick at 50% (half throttle), the quadcopter will hover at the current altitude and hold its current position. For example, you can use the control sticks to place the quadcopter in the desired position and at the desired altitude, then reduce the throttle to half throttle and the quadcopter will hold the current altitude and position. In this mode, the forward flight direction is locked to the nose of the quadcopter. For example, if you spin the quadcopter right or left, then fly forward, the quadcopter will fly forward in the direction the nose is pointing. Throttle at 50% = Altitude Hold (Auto-Hover) Both Control Sticks Centered = Position Hold Throttle Greater Than 50% = Climb Throttle Less Than 50% = Descend Right and Left Control Sticks Control Pitch, Roll and Yaw (Limited Control) GPS Set Altitude (Head Free): Provides both Altitude Hold and Position Hold with Head Free. This Flight Mode functions the same as the GPS Set Altitude (Head Lock) Flight Mode, except the forward direction is not locked to the nose of the quadcopter (e.g., the forward direction is a defined direction other than the nose of the quadcopter. For example, if you spin the quadcopter right or left, then fly forward, the quadcopter will fly forward in the defined direction, not in the direction the nose is pointing. We don t recommend using this mode because it can be difficult to keep the quadcopter oriented during flight. gps flight MODE warnings Please read and understand the warnings in this section prior to flying your quadcopter using the GPS Flight Mode. Failure to follow these warnings can result in erratic performance or worse, a crash. When the LiPo battery is plugged in and the gyros and flight controller have been initialized, the quadcopter will automatically attempt to acquire a GPS lock. Please observe the following: 18 The quadcopter should have a clear view to the sky. There should be no trees, buildings or other obstructions nearby that could affect the ability to receive a GPS signal. Cloud cover can affect the GPS signal. The GPS works best when the sky is clear. The quadcopter may need to be placed in a hover about 10 feet off the ground to help acquire a GPS lock. In some cases it can take up to two minutes or more to acquire a GPS lock. The GPS must be locked (LED Condition Indicator flashing all Green) for the GPS Flight Mode to function. The GPS will not function if there is no GPS lock (LED Condition Indicator flashing Red and Green). The quadcopter is not an autonomous drone. You must pay careful attention and fly it at all times. When in the GPS Flight Mode, if at any time the quadcopter seems to be flying unusually or you feel there is a problem, switch to the Manual Flight Mode and take over the flight controls. Do not use the GPS Flight Mode until you ve manually flown the quadcopter to the desired altitude and position and stabilized it in that spot. Only then should you switch to the GPS Flight Mode. When flying in the GPS Flight Mode, never pull the throttle back to the low throttle position or a crash could occur. For more information, see the red notation box in the Flying Using the GPS Flight Mode section on the next page.

19 USiNg THE gps flight MODE gps flight MODE flying TiPS Before switching to the GPS Flight Mode, you must manually fly the quadcopter (using the Manual Flight Mode) to the desired altitude and position and place it in a stable hover. Only after the quadcopter is stable should you switch to the GPS Flight Mode. When flying in the GPS Flight Mode, the throttle control stick must be at the 50% (half throttle) position to activate the Altitude Hold function (Auto-Hover) and the right control stick must be centered to activate the Position Hold function. 100% Remember, there will be no Position Hold if you ve programmed Manual Set Altitude to the Flight Mode Switch GPS Mode (2) Position. For more information, see the 50% Autopilot Configuration Programming section on pages XX through XX. The GPS Flight Mode is designed to keep the quadcopter in the same general position, but you can use the control sticks to fly the quadcopter to a different altitude or to a different position, even with the Altitude Hold and Position Hold functions active. When in the GPS Flight Mode, control stick sensitivity will be reduce by about half, ensuring smooth operation while taking photos and video. Climb Auto-Hover Descend Warning - Crash WHILE IN THE GPS FLIGHT MODE, YOU SHOULD NEVER PULL THE THROTTLE CONTROL STICK BELOW THE 10% THROTTLE POSITION OR THE QUADCOPTER CAN FLIP OVER AND CRASH. If you want to move the quadcopter to a different location that is far away, we recommend you switch to the Manual Flight Mode, then switch back to the GPS Flight Mode once you position the quadcopter in the new location. If the quadcopter loses its GPS lock while flying in the GPS Mode, it may start to drift, it may or it may even begin to lose power and altitude. In extreme cases, the motors may shut off. Pay attention to the quadcopter at all times! If at any time the quadcopter seems to be flying unusually or you feel there is a problem, switch to the Manual Flight Mode and take over the flight controls. 10% flying USiNg THE gps flight MODE 1) Prepare the quadcopter for flight as summarized below: Transmitter turned ON and Flight Mode Switch in the Manual Mode (1) Position LiPo battery plugged in and Gyros and Flight Controller Initialized Compass Calibrated GPS Locked (LED Condition Indicator flashing GREEN) If the GPS won t lock on the ground, it will usually lock once you get about 10 feet in the air. This can be verified by looking at the LED Condition Indicator during flight. For more information, see the GPS Flight Mode Warnings section on the previous page. 2) Arm the motors and take off. Using the Manual Flight Mode, fly the quadcopter to the desired area you want to shoot photos or video from. 3) While still in the Manual Flight Mode, place the quadcopter in a stable hover, then switch to the GPS Flight Mode. Place the throttle control stick at the 50% (half throttle) position and release the right control stick. The quadcopter will Auto-Hover at the current altitude and hold its current position on it s own. You can now control the camera gimbal pitch angle using the Camera Gimbal Control Dial and adjust the direction the camera is pointing by spinning the quadcopter right and left around its yaw axis, using the left control stick. Refer to the GPS Flight Mode Flying Tips section above about controlling your quadcopter while in the GPS Flight Mode. Remember, while in the GPS Flight Mode, you can use the throttle control stick to move the quadcopter up and down, but NEVER EVER pull the throttle control stick below the 10% throttle position or the quadcopter can flip over and crash. Refer to the Throttle Range Chart in the GPS Flight Mode Flying Tips section above. 4) If you want to move the quadcopter to a different location that is far away, switch to the Manual Flight Mode, then manually fly the quadcopter to its new location. Upon reaching the new location, place the quadcopter in a stable hover, then switch to the GPS Flight Mode. Place the throttle control stick at the 50% (half throttle) position and release the right control stick. The quadcopter will Auto-Hover at the current altitude and hold its current new position. 19

20 USiNg THE RETURN TO HOME function The Apollo A1 quadcopter features a Return to Home function, that when activated, commands the quadcopter to automatically return to its Home Point and land, all automatically. RETURN TO HOME function warnings Please read and understand the warnings in this section prior to using the Return to Home function. Failure to follow these warnings can result in erratic performance or worse, a crash. The GPS must be locked (LED Condition Indicator flashing all Green) for the Return to Home function to work. The Return to Home function will not work if there is no GPS lock (LED Condition Indicator flashing Red and Green). For more information, see the Using the GPS Flight Mode Warnings section on page XX. Once the GPS is locked and the motors are armed, the flight controller will record the current Home Point. The Home Point determines the location the quadcopter will fly back to when you switch to the Return to Home function. To ensure the best performance, you should acquire a GPS lock on the ground, prior to takeoff. If you can t acquire a GPS lock until after takeoff, Return to Home function performance will not be as accurate. The compass must be calibrated correctly as described in the Calibrating the Compass section on pages XX through XX. If compass calibration was not completed correctly, Return to Home function performance will not work as expected. When the Return to Home maneuver begins, you will not have any control over the flight controls. When the quadcopter nears the Home Point and begins to descend, the autopilot will allow you to control the pitch, roll and yaw controls to make small adjustments to the landing position, but the throttle cannot be controlled. At any time during the Return to Home maneuver, if the quadcopter seems to be flying unusually or you feel there is a problem, switch to the Manual Flight Mode and take over the flight controls. The throttle control stick should be placed at the 50% (half throttle) position or higher during the Return to Home maneuver. This will ensure that the quadcopter won t experience a sudden loss of altitude if you need to switch to the Manual Flight Mode for any reason. Since the Return to Home function is fully automated, you cannot alter the quadcopter s flight path until the quadcopter nears the Home Point and begins to descend. For this reason, never switch to the Return to Home function to close to you or spectators, or if there are any objects, such as trees, buildings, etc., between the Home Point and the quadcopter. USiNg THE RETURN TO HOME function 1) During your flight, when it s time to land and you want to use the Return to Home function, flip the Flight Mode Switch to the Return to Home (3) position. The quadcopter will begin the Return to Home maneuver and start to fly back towards the Home Point. During this time you will not have any control over the quadcopter; however, you should place the throttle control stick at the half throttle position or higher to ensure the quadcopter won t experience a sudden loss of altitude if you need to switch to the Manual Flight Mode for any reason. Once you switch to the Return to Home function, you cannot switch to the GPS Flight Mode. You can only switch to the Manual Flight Mode. If you switch to the Manual Flight Mode during the Return to Home maneuver, you cannot switch back to the Return to Home function. You must continue the landing manually. 2) When the quadcopter nears the Home Point, it will begin to descend. At this point, you will have control of the pitch, roll and yaw controls to allow you make minor changes to the landing position; however, you will not have control of the throttle. Throttle control is fully automatic from descent through landing. If necessary, use gentle control stick movements to move the quadcopter to the desired landing position as it descends and lands. When you switch to the Return to Home function the quadcopter will start to fly back towards the Home Point. If the quadcopter is at an altitude of less than 65 feet (20 meters), the quacopter will first rise above 65 feet (20 meters), then execute the Return to Home maneuver. If the quadcopter is above 65 feet (20 meters) when you switch to the Return to Home function, the quadcopter will attempt to hold the same altitude until it nears the Home Point and begins to descend. RESETTiNg THE HOME POiNT function 1) After using the Return to Home function to land, the function must be reset to use it again. You can either pull the throttle all the way back and move the Flight Mode Switch to the Manual Mode (1) position and let the quadcopter sit powered ON for 10 seconds, or you can simply unplug the LiPo battery, then plug it back in. 20

21 failsafe function The Apollo A1 quadcopter features a Failsafe function, that when activated, commands the quadcopter to return to its Home Point and land (Return to Home function). The Failsafe function will activate automatically if the quadcopter should exceed the altitude and/or distance limits or if the RF signal between the transmitter and receiver fails. For information about the Return to Home function, see the Using the Return to Home function section on the previous page. The Failsafe function will not activate if there is an issue with the flight controller or the LiPo battery. CHECkiNg THE failsafe function 1) Connect the quadcopter to your PC or Laptop and open the Autopilot Configuration program. For more information, see the Autopilot Configuration Program section on pages XX through XX. 2) After connecting and opening the Autopilot Configuration program, press the Open USB button. 3) Place the throttle control stick at the 50% (half throttle) position, move the Flight Mode Switch to the GPS Mode (2) position, then turn the Camera Gimbal Control Dial all the way to the right. 4) Turn the transmitter OFF. The FLIGHT-MODE value should show Return&Land(F/S). The FLIGHT-MODE value will show whatever Mode you have programmed to the F/S OPTION programming value. In the default configuration, this is Return & Land. We don t suggest using the Land or AutoHover options. MAxiMUM ALTiTUDE AND DiSTANCE LiMiTS NEVER EXCEED THE ALTITUDE AND FLIGHT DISTANCE LIMITS AT ANY TIME FOR ANY REASON! There are some instances that the Failsafe function may not work all the time and the quadcopter could crash. For example, if the quadcopter does not have a GPS lock when the failsafe activates, if there is a problem with the onboard electronics or if the LiPo battery fails. The failsafe function is not guaranteed to save your quadcopter, so it should not be relied upon as such. In the default configuration, the quadcopter has a maximum range of 328 feet (100 meters) altitude and 300 feet (985 meters) radius distance from the transmitter. If for any reason the quadcopter exceeds either of these maximum distances during flight, the Failsafe function will automatically activate, regardless if you re flying in the Manual Mode or the GPS Mode. If this occurs, the quadcopter will automatically begin the Return to Home maneuver. Once the quadcopter is back within the distance limits, you can cycle the Flight Mode Switch from the current position to the Return to Home (3) position and back to the Manual Mode (1) position to regain manual control. Once the Return to Home maneuver begins, you cannot switch to the GPS Flight Mode. You can only switch to the Manual Flight Mode by cycling the Flight Mode Switch as described above. If you switch to the Manual Flight Mode during the Return to Home maneuver, you cannot switch back to the Return to Home function. You must continue the flight and the landing manually. 21

22 AUTOPiLOT CONfigURATiON PROgRAMMiNg The CD inludes an Autopilot Configuration program that allows you to change programming values to ensure that the quadcopter flies correctly, in addition to allowing you to customize flight control settings to achieve the best flight performance for the current flight conditions. The Autopilot Configuration program allows you to customize the Flight Mode Switch, in addition to viewing information, such as voltage, altitude, current latitude and longitude, and more. The Autopilot Configuration program also allows you to calibrate the transmitter control sticks, which should be done as part of a periodic maintenance routine. For information about calibrating the control sticks, see the Maintenance section on pages XX through XX. When you calibrate the control sticks you MUST REMOVE THE PROPELLERS FIRST or you could be badly injured if the motors unexpectedly turn ON. installing THE AUTOPiLOT CONfigURATiON PROgRAM The Autopilot Configuration program does not install onto your PC or laptop like a conventional program. You simply copy the application to your PC or laptop and run it. We suggest making a shortcut to this application on your desktop, since you will be using it frequently. 1) Place the included CD into your PC s or laptop s CD/DVD drive. 2) Using Windows Explorer, navigate to your CD/DVD drive and copy the IFLY-GCS folder from the CD onto your hard drive. This folder contains the Autopilot Configuration program and a copy of the firmware that s shipped with your quadcopter. CONNECTiNg your QUADCOPTER 1) Pull throttle control stick all the way back, verify that the Flight Mode Switch is in the Manual Mode (1) position, then turn the transmitter ON. 22 If you re using a downloaded version, you can skip steps 1 and 2. Simply unzip the downloaded folder to your desktop. 2) Place the quadcopter right-side up on a flat, level surface, then plug the LiPo battery into the matching power connector. Three single audible tones will sound, followed by a short audible chime. Do not move the quadcopter for 10 seconds after plugging the LiPo battery in to allow the gyros and flight controller to initialize (about 5 seconds after the audible chime sounds). 3) Connect the quadcopter to your PC or laptop a using a mini USB cable (not included). The first time you connect the quadcopter to your PC or laptop, Windows will automatically install a USB Input Device. This is normal. Do not cancel this process. CHANgiNg PROgRAMMiNg values The Autopilot Configuration program is used for several different types of quadcopters. If you press the Default button, the programming values will default to general values that are not used for the Apollo A1 quadcopter. Failure to ensure the programming values match the recommended values in this section can result in your quadcopter not flying properly or not flying at all. 1) Double-click the IDEAFLY-GCS application file in the IFLY-GCS folder to open the Autopilot Configuration program. 2) With the quadcopter connected to your PC or laptop and the Autopilot Configuration program open, press the Open USB button. Current programming values will be displayed, along with current transmitter variables. 3) To change a programming value, highlight and enter the desired value in the desired field and/or select the desired value from the desired drop-down menu. Values displayed in the Adjust Transmitter field cannot be changed, except for the STICK LAYOUT option.

23 AUTOPiLOT CONfigURATiON PROgRAMMiNg SAviNg PROgRAMMiNg values 1) After changing the desired programming values, press the Save button to write those values to the flight controller. For detailed explanations of each programming value, see below and on the next page. 2) After saving the programming values, unplug the USB cable from the quadcopter. PROgRAMMiNg value DEfiNiTiONS Parameter Settings: PTZ-ROLL-STAB (Default Value: 20) - This value allows you to center the camera gimbal in the roll axis. Adjust this value so that the camera gimbal is level in the roll axis when the quadcopter is sitting on a level surface. PTZ-PITCH-STAB (Default Value: 20) - This value allows you to center the camera gimbal in the pitch axis. Adjust this value so that the camera gimbal is level in the pitch axis when the quadcopter is sitting on a level surface and the Camera Gimbal Control Dial Centered. If when you rotate the Camera Gimbal Control Dial, the camera gimbal binds, making the servo buzz, you may need to remove the camera mount from the servo output gear, readjust its position and reinstall it, then adjust the PTZ-PITCH-STAB value again. Ideally, the camera gimbal should be level in the pitch axis with the Camera Gimbal Control Dial centered and the camera gimbal should not bind when the dial is turned to its end points. ROLL-STAB (Default Value: 38) - This values allows you to adjust the stability of the quadcopter in the roll axis during flight. Using a higher value will make the quadcopter more sensitive and may result in it being more difficult to control. Using a lower value will make the quadcopter feel more stable, but less reactive to roll control input. PITCH-STAB (Default Value: 38) - This values allows you to adjust the stability of the quadcopter in the pitch axis during flight. Using a higher value will make the quadcopter more sensitive and may result in it being more difficult to control. Using a lower value will make the quadcopter feel more stable, but less reactive to pitch control input. SHAKE-COMPENS (Default Value: 63) - This values allows you to adjust gyro gain. Using a higher value will make the quadcopter more sensitive and may result in the quadcopter shaking or bouncing. Using too low a value may cause the quadcopter to lose stability. The SHAKE-COMPENS value should be adjusted before the first flight of each day to fine-tune the quadcopter to the current flight conditions. This will improve flight performance. For example, if it s windy, you will usually need a lower value to keep the quadcopter from bouncing or shaking. If it s a calm day, using a higher number will make the quadcopter hover smoother, although too high a number can result in the quadcopter bouncing or shaking. You can also program the ROLL-STAB and PITCH STAB values in the same way to suit current flight conditions; however, adjusting only the SHAKE-COMPENS value is usually all that is required. ALTITUDE LIMIT (Default Value: 100 Meters / 328 Feet) - This value allows you to adjust the maximum altitude from the transmitter during flight that the quacopter s Failsafe function will activate at. DISTANCE LIMIT - (Default Value: 300 Meters / 985 feet) - This value allows you to adjust the maximum distance from the transmitter during flight that the quadcopter s Failsafe function will activate at. The default Altitude and Distance Limits are the maximum that can be programmed. Using higher values will not increase the actual altitude or distance limits. We strongly suggest leaving these values at 100 and 300. We don t recommend lowering them. NEVER EXCEED THE ALTITUDE AND FLIGHT DISTANCE LIMITS AT ANY TIME FOR ANY REASON! For more information see the About the Maximum Altitude and Distance Limits section on page XX. LIPO-CELL-NUM (Default Value: 3) - This value should match the number of cells in the LiPo battery you re using. Since the quadcopter is designed for use with 3S LiPo batteries only, this value should always be set to 3. PTZ SERVO FREQUENCY (Default Value: 50Hz) - This option allows you to choose the operating frequency of the servos used to control the camera gimbal. For the stock digital servos and most others, we recommend 50Hz. WARNING CELL-VOLT (Default Value: 3.55 Volts) - This option allows you to choose the LiPo Low Voltage cutoff warning value. We suggest this value should always be set to

24 AUTOPiLOT CONfigURATiON PROgRAMMiNg PROgRAMMiNg value DEfiNiTiONS, CONTiNUED... Parameter Settings: MAX LIFT SPEED (Default Value: 2M/S) - This option allows you to choose the maximum lift speed of the quadcopter in Meters Per Second. Using a higher value increases the lift speed of the quadcopter, which can make the quadcopter more difficult to control. 2M/S is ideal for basic flying. MAX-FLY SPEED (Default Value: 3.6M/S) - This option allows you to choose the maximum flight speed of the quadcopter in Meters Per Second. Using a higher value increases the speed of the quadcopter, which can make the quadcopter more difficult to control. 3.6M/S is ideal for basic flying. MODE 1 (Default Value: Manual) - This option allows you to choose the Flight Mode that is programmed to the Flight Mode Switch (1) position. We recommend that this Flight Mode Switch Position always be set to Manual. MODE 2 (Default Value: GPS Set Altitude) - This option allows you to choose the Flight Mode that is programmed to the Flight Mode Switch (2) position. MODE 3 (Default Value: Return & Land) - This option allows you to choose the Flight Mode that is programmed to the Flight Mode Switch (3) position. F/S OPTION (Default Value: Return & Land) - This option allows you to choose the Flight Mode the quadcopter will automatically switch to when the Failsafe function activates. We don t suggest using LAND or AUTO HOVER. For more information about the different Flight Modes and the Return to Home (Return & Land) function, see the Using the GPS Flight Mode section on pages XX and XX, and the Using the Return to Home function section on pages XX and XX. RETURN RISE (Default Value: Rise) - This option allows you to choose what the quadcopter will do when the Return to Home function is activated when the quadcopter is at an altitude of less than 65 feet (20 meters). When Rise is selected, the quacopter will first rise above 65 feet (20 meters), then execute the Return to Home maneuver. If No Rise is selected, the quadcopter will execute the Return to Home maneuver at its current altitude without first climbing above 65 feet (20 meters) altitude. We suggest always selecting Rise to help reduce the chance of the quadcopter hitting an object near the ground if the Return to Home function is activated at an altitude below 65 feet (20 meters). MULTI-CONFIG (Default Value: Quad 4X) - This option allows you to choose the quadcopter s control orientation. This value should always be set to Quad 4X. Using any other setting will result in the quad not flying or being uncontrollable. Adjust Transmitter Settings: These settings cannot be changed, except for the STICK LAYOUT value, which is used to verify control stick calibration. AP VERSION - This value displays the current flight controller firmware version installed. The last three numbers are the actual version number (e.g = v.051). AP VOLT - This value displays the current voltage of the quadcopter s LiPo battery. SATELLITES - This value displays how many satellites are locked to the GPS. The more satellites the better. You will need at least four locked for good GPS use. Seven or more is ideal for the best performance. LONGITUDE - This value displays the quadcopter s current longitude coordinates. A GPS lock is required for a value to be displayed. LATITUDE - This value displays the quadcopter s current latitude coordinates. A GPS lock is required for a value to be displayed. ALTITUDE - This value displays the quadcopter s current altitude in meters, relative to the altitude that the quadcopter was at when the compass was last calibrated. ATTITUDE - This value displays the quadcopter s current attitude in degrees. 24

25 AUTOPiLOT CONfigURATiON PROgRAMMiNg PROgRAMMiNg value DEfiNiTiONS, CONTiNUED... Adjust Transmitter Settings: COURSE ANGLE - This value displays the quadcopter s current course angle deviation in degrees, relative to the position the nose of the quadcopter was in when the compass was last calibrated. This value does not show the actual course. FLIGHT-MODE - This value displays the Flight Mode that is assigned to the current Flight Mode Switch position. You are able to verify which Flight Modes are programmed to the Flight Mode Switch positions by moving the Flight Mode Switch and seeing which Flight Mode is displayed. STICK LAYOUT - This option allows you to select the control stick mode, so you can view the current status of the control stick positions. When the control sticks are centered, the values should all be green. If any values are red when the control sticks are centered, you should first verify that the trim switches are all centered. If after centering the trim switches, there are still red values, the control sticks should be calibrated. For more information, see the Control Stick Calibration section on pages XX and XX. The included transmitter operates in Mode 2, so you should select Mode 2 prior to checking the calibration settings. UPDATiNg firmware Firmware updates may periodically be released that provide enhancements and fixes that improve flight performance and user functions. Updating the flight controller s firmware is fast and easy. PRIOR TO UPDATING THE FIRMWARE, YOU MUST REMOVE THE PROPELLERS FROM THE QUADCOPTER! This must be done for safety reasons. Once you have installed the updated firmware, verified the correct default programming values and tested and verified the quadcopter s flight controls, only then should you reinstall the propellers. DOwNLOADiNg THE CURRENT firmware Download the current firmware version to your desktop from the Files section of the Apollo A1 quadcopter product page here: CONNECTiNg your QUADCOPTER Performing a firmware update requires the use of the Autopilot Configuration program. Please make sure you ve installed the Autopilot Configuration program onto your PC or laptop as described in the Installing the Autopilot Configuration Program section on page XX. In addition, be aware that the connection sequence for updating the firmware is the opposite of the connection sequence for changing programming values. 1) Connect the quadcopter to your PC or laptop a using a mini USB cable (not included). 2) Pull throttle control stick all the way back, verify that the Flight Mode Switch is in the Manual Mode (1) position, then turn the transmitter ON. 3) Place the quadcopter right-side up on a flat, level surface, then plug the LiPo battery into the matching power connector. The LEDs on the quadcopter should illuminate. UPDATiNg THE firmware 1) With the quadcopter connected to your PC or laptop, open the Autopilot Configuration program. 2) Press the Open USB button. The Update Firmware dialog box will appear. If the Update Firmware dialog box does not appear, you may not have connected the quadcopter in the incorrect order. Unplug the LiPo battery, turn the transmitter OFF, then unplug the USB cable. Reconnect the quadcopter, making sure to do it in the correct order - connect the USB cable, turn the transmitter ON, then plug the LiPo battery in. 25

26 UPDATiNg firmware UPDATiNg THE firmware, CONTiNUED... 3) Press the Select Firmware button, then navigate to the location that you saved the firmware download. 4) Click to highlight the firmware file, then press the Open button. The firmware update process will proceed as follows: ERASE > DOWNLOAD > VERIFY > DOWNLOAD SUCCESSFULLY! 5) When the firmware update process is complete (DOWNLOAD SUCCESSFULLY! displayed), close the Autopilot Configuration program, unplug the LiPo battery and turn the transmitter OFF. Do not press the Cancel button or turn the quadcopter OFF or unplug the USB cable during the update process or the firmware update can be corrupted. USiNg THE CAMERA gimbal The included camera gimbal features 2-axis auto-stabilization and is ready for any GoPro, Boscam or similar-sized action video camera. Using the GPS Flight Mode, the quadcopter will Auto-Hover at the current altitude and hold its current position on it s own. You can now control the camera gimbal pitch angle using the Camera Gimbal Control Dial and adjust the direction the camera is pointing by spinning the quadcopter right and left around its yaw axis. installing THE CAMERA gimbal 1) Carefully push each of the four foam landing pads into the bottom of the quadcopter. These landing pads will increase the ground clearance of the quadcopter, making room for the camera gimbal. When not using the camera gimbal, we suggest leaving the landing pads off to improve flight performance. 2) Mount the camera gimbal to the four forward-most set of mounting holes in the bottom of the quadcopter, using the four button head machine screws included. Using the four forward-most mounting holes will provide better view angle range than mounting the camera gimbal further back. 3) Plug the pitch and roll servos into the matching pitch and roll input ports on the quadcopter, making sure the polarity is correct. The negative wires (brown) should face up as indicated by the sticker on the side of the connection port cover. 26 The pitch servo is the servo that s mounted horizontally at the front of the camera gimbal and the roll servo is the servo mounted vertically at the back of the camera gimbal. Do not secure the excess camera gimbal wires in any way. Leave the wires loose and curled to ensure there is enough slack for correct operation. 4) Mount your camera to the top of the camera gimbal arm mount using a velcro strap or a mounting screw (not included). CONTROLLiNg THE CAMERA gimbal The camera gimbal controller built into the quadcopter features a built in gyro and accelerometer to help stabilize the camera gimbal for smooth, jitter-free filming. 1) After plugging the LiPo battery into the quadcopter and allowing the gyros and flight controller to initialize, the camera gimbal will automatically move to the level position (verify Camera Gimbal Control Dial is centered).

27 USiNg THE CAMERA gimbal CONTROLLiNg THE CAMERA gimbal, CONTiNUED... 2) Rotate the Camera Gimbal Control Dial to adjust the pitch of the camera gimbal. To adjust the roll angle of the camera gimbal, spin the quadcopter left or right around its yaw axis using the left control stick. If the camera gimbal is not level when the quadcopter is sitting on a flat level surface, or if when you rotate the Camera Gimbal Control Dial, the camera gimbal binds, making the servos buzz, use the Autopilot Configuration program to adjust the PTZ-ROLL-STAB and PTZ-PITCH-STAB values. For more information, see the Autopilot Configuration Programming section on pages XX and XX. ADjUSTiNg THE CENTER Of gravity Although the quadcopter will fly okay if it s out of balance (the gyros will compensate for this), for the best flight performance, particularly when using the camera gimbal, we strongly suggest balancing the quadcopter before flight by moving the LiPo battery forward or backward. This will improve flight performance, increase flight times and increase motor and ESC life. 1) Using a C.G. Machine or one finger placed on either side of the quadcopter at the C.G. location (essentially between the E and A in the IdeaFly logo on the side of the quadcopter), lift the quadcopter up. If the nose of the quadcopter drops when you lift it up at the C.G. location, move the LiPo battery back so that the quadcopter stays level when you lift it up. If the tail of the quadcopter drops when you lift it up at the C.G. location, move the LiPo battery forward so that the quadcopter stays level when you lift it up. C G MAiNTENANCE In general, the Apollo A1 quadcopter doesn t require much in the way of maintenance or adjustments, however, there may come a time when you need to replace the rotor blades, bind the transmitter to the receiver, calibrate the transmitter control sticks and more. This section covers the more common maintenance items you might encounter. flight CONTROLLER PiNOUT DiAgRAM Should you ever need to replace the flight controller or remove it for any reason, follow the diagram in this section to orientate the flight controller and make all the electronic connections correctly. 27