FMA Direct
13
FS8 Co-Pilot™ user guide
Set up flight stabilization
Note:
Flight stabilization will not function until it has
learned which channels control pitch and roll.
About flight stabilization modes
Flight stabilization has two modes:
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Normal Flight Mode
is the regular operating mode. When
flight stabilization is turned on, it works to maintain your air-
craft in straight and level flight. Your transmitter stick move-
ments override FS8 Co-Pilot’s flight stabilization. The Pitch
and Roll Throw controls on the receiver determine how much
stick movement is required to override stabilization. If you
assigned a
proportional
transmitter channel for remote stabili-
zation control, that channel adjusts the amount of stick move-
ment needed to override both pitch and roll stabilization.
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Flight Stabilization Setup Mode
enables flight stabilization
to learn which channels control pitch, roll and optional remote
on/off. Within Setup Mode are three steps:
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Setup Mode 1:
Pitch channel learning, in which flight sta-
bilization determines how to return the aircraft to level
pitch (i.e., elevator response).
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Setup Mode 2:
Roll channel learning, in which flight sta-
bilization determines how to return the aircraft to level roll
(i.e., aileron response).
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Setup Mode 3:
Remote on/off channel assignment, in
which flight stabilization determines the channel you want
to use (if any) for turning flight stabilization on and off.
Getting oriented
Be sure you know the three axes of motion for an aircraft, and
how to control them with your transmitter sticks. Refer back to
this diagram if you need help later in this section.
Assign flight stabilization channels
Note:
During setup, move only the transmitter stick
for the axis being programmed. Do not move other
sticks.
1. Disconnect Vertical (“Z”) Sensor cable (if sensor is installed).
2. Turn on your transmitter.
3. Press and hold the CAL Button, turn on FS8 Co-Pilot™, then
release the button. This puts FS8 Co-Pilot™ in Flight Stabili-
zation Setup Mode:
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The channel 2 servo shakes three times to confirm.
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The LED twinkles (but not continuously) when FS8 Co-Pi-
lot™ is in Flight Stabilization Setup Mode.
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The LED blinks 1 time (and repeats slowly), indicating FS8
Co-Pilot™ is in Flight Stabilization Setup Mode 1.
4. Assign the pitch channel:
a. If the Roll/Pitch Sensor has one win-
dow facing forward (as shown be-
low, left), fill a
plastic
soda bottle
with
hot water
(at least 120°F or
49°C) and cap the bottle.
or
If the Roll/Pitch Sensor has two windows facing forward
(as shown below, right), fill two
plastic
soda bottles with
hot water
(at least 120°F or 49°C) and cap the bottles.
Tape the bottles together.
Tip:
You can also use a coffee cup or similar con-
tainer instead of a soda bottle. If you can close the
container, you’ll be less likely to spill the hot water.
Do not use shiny metal cans.
b. Place the bottle(s) in front of the Roll/Pitch Sensor (as
shown below). The servo connected to channel 2 to will
“tick” one or two times (then repeat) to tell you how many
sensors detect the hot water.
Hot water location for
1 forward-facing sensor
window. Channel 2
servo “ticks” one time
(and repeats)
Hot water location for
2 forward-facing sensor
windows. Channel 2
servo “ticks” two times
(and repeats)
FS8CP
FMA
Direct
REC
CAL
IMPORTANT:
Verify operation as described above:
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If the sensor has one window facing forward, the
servo
must tick only once
.
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If the sensor has two windows facing forward, the
servo
must tick twice
.
If this is not the case, flight stabilization setup
will be incorrect.
c.
Slowly
move the elevator (pitch) stick
toward you for up elevator (pitch up).
Make the motion last at least 2 seconds
so FS8 Co-Pilot™ can exactly copy
transmitter mixing (if any). FS8 Co-Pilot™ now knows
which channel controls pitch, and how it should respond
when the aircraft is pitching away from horizontal.
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