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Freefly ALTA8, Flight Manual

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18

|  AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL

WEIGHTS

Maximum Gross for Takeoff

1

18.1 kg (40.0 lbs)

Maximum Useful Load

2

12.0 kg (26.4 lbs)

Maximum Payload

3

9.1 kg (20.0 lbs)

Typical Standard Empty Weight:

6.2 kg (13.6 lbs)

 WARNING

Always refer to the following aircraft limitations section for 
complete information on allowable maximum gross weights 
at different altitudes and temperatures before any flight.

 
SPECIFIC LOADINGS

Typical Specific Power

4

145 W/kg

Thrust Ratio at MTOW

1

1.85 : 1

1 

At sea level, ISA. Refer to the Weight Limitations section for complete loading 

information.

2

 Top and bottom mount. Includes batteries.

3

 Payload weight top or bottom mount. Battery weight not included and mounted on 

opposite side from payload.

4

 At MTOW, sea level, ISA. 

Summary of Contents for ALTA8

Page 1: ...AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL 770 00048 REVISION B 01 16 2017 ...

Page 2: ...ry 2017 Added discussion of features available in SYNAPSE version 4 0 4 Added Kinematic Position Mode Added Orbit Mode Updated Alarm Light scenarios Added procedure to disable ceiling and range limits Updated Autoland descent rate Updated default settings switch functions and data logging fields General updates and typographical fixes ...

Page 3: ...tions 23 System Diagrams 27 ALTA Mobile App 28 Additional Required Components not included 29 SETTING UP ALTA 8 30 Unfolding Folding ALTA 8 33 Radio Installation 38 Radio Channel Mapping 44 Configuring for MōVI 46 Isolator Cartridges 47 Battery Installation 52 Compass Calibration 55 Propellers 57 First Person View FPV 64 Tuning ALTA 8 68 ALTA 8 Flight Parameters 72 Resetting ALTA 8 WiFi Password 7...

Page 4: ...DURES 98 Emergency Guidance 99 Alarm Indication Flashing or Solid Red Light 100 Pilot Loss of ALTA 8 Orientation 101 Unexpected Flight Controller Behavior 102 Battery Exhaustion 103 Radio Loss of Signal LOS 104 Loss of FPV Signal 105 PERFORMANCE 106 Weight Endurance Performance Data 107 Allowable Gross Weight Gross Weight 108 MAINTAINING ALTA 8 109 General Information and Techniques 110 Maintenanc...

Page 5: ...5 AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL 119 TROUBLESHOOTING 124 APPENDIX 125 Appendix A Default Tuning Values 126 Appendix B Data Logging Fields ...

Page 6: ...6 AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL ALTA 8 OVERVIEW ...

Page 7: ... and a flight simulator are no substitute for training with an experienced pilot particularly when it comes to learning how to safely operate ALTA 8 Novice pilots should never fly without the supervision of an experienced pilot Always check ALTA 8 and its components prior to operation Always maintain a safe distance from ALTA 8 when in use Never attempt to touch ALTA 8 when the propellers are movi...

Page 8: ...ponsibility to learn how to safely operate ALTA 8 and to adhere to all applicable rules and regulations Fly at your own risk ALTA 8 is a tuned system with custom components selected for each application Modification to removal or substitution of ALTA 8 components will void the warranty and can lead to unsafe operating conditions ...

Page 9: ... for damages or injuries incurred directly or indirectly from the use of ALTA 8 including but not limited to the following situations Failure of operator to follow proper instructions and safety warnings found at www freeflysystems com Failure of the operator to understand and operate the aircraft within the operating limitations described in this manual Failure of the operator to follow onboard s...

Page 10: ... complete operation of airframe and flight control systems and the normal maintenance of those items Do not operate ALTA 8 without reading and understanding this manual This manual is not a substitute for adequate flight training Training requirements can vary when operating in different countries or under different flight conditions Always consult local regulations before flying ALTA 8 In areas w...

Page 11: ...ghlight specific operating conditions or steps of a procedure METEOROLOGICAL TERMINOLOGY ISA International Standard Atmosphere in which The air is a dry perfect gas The temperature at sea level is 15 Celsius 59 Fahrenheit The pressure at sea level is 1013 2 mbar 29 92 inches Hg The temperature gradient from sea level to the altitude at which the temperature is 56 5 C 69 7 F is 0 00198 C 0 003564 F...

Page 12: ...e control For Mode 2 controllers this is the vertical movement of the left control stick For Mode 1 controllers this is the vertical movement of the right control stick Yaw Stick The radio controller stick responsible for yaw also called pan control For Mode 2 and Mode 1 controllers this is the lateral movement of the left control stick Pitch Stick The radio controller stick responsible for pitch ...

Page 13: ...weight plus optional equipment Useful Load Difference between take off weight and basic empty weight Payload Useful load less battery weight GENERAL TERMINOLOGY LOS Loss of Signal RTH Return to Home sUAS Small Unmanned Aircraft System includes all components of the system required for the flight of an unmanned aircraft including the radio controller data link and other related support equipment ...

Page 14: ...7 8 1325 52 1 1720 67 7 UNFOLDED PLAN VIEW WITH BOOM NUMBERING SCHEME MM INCH 457 18 0 220 8 6 1325 52 1 220 8 6 360 14 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNFOLDED SIDE VIEW WITH LANDING GEAR MM INCH 457 18 0 220 8 6 1325 52 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1325 52 1 1720 67 7 UNFOLDED FRONT VIEW WITHOUT LANDING GEAR MM INCH ...

Page 15: ...15 AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL 615 24 2 250 9 8 260 10 2 FOLDED SIDE VIEW MM INCH 660 25 9 615 24 2 FOLDED PLAN VIEW MM INCH 660 25 9 615 24 2 250 9 8 260 10 2 FOLDED FRONT VIEW MM INCH ...

Page 16: ...n 6 Electronic Luggage Scale 7 USB Futaba Power Cable 8 Inverted Landing Gear 9 Antenna Tubes 10 FPV Cables a Skyzone BOSCAM b BOSCAM small connector c ImmersionRC Fat Shark d Ready Made RC 11 2 M3 6 Flat Head for Accessory Mount 12 Quick Release Battery Tray 13 5 5mm Wrench 14 Hex Drivers 1 5mm 2 0mm 2 5mm 15 Accessory Mount 16 Double Sided Tape ...

Page 17: ...um RPM flat rated 6300 RPM Equivalent Kv 384 Electronic Speed Controller Freefly Silent Drive Sine Wave ESC PROPELLERS Make and Model Freefly ALTA Propeller Material Carbon fiber with balsa core Propeller Orientation 4 CW and 4 CCW Props Propeller Type 18 6 Folding BATTERY Nominal Battery Voltage 6S 22 2V Maximum Battery Size GroundView 240 175 80 mm Maximum Battery Size SkyView 220 x 156 x 64 mm ...

Page 18: ... for complete information on allowable maximum gross weights at different altitudes and temperatures before any flight SPECIFIC LOADINGS Typical Specific Power4 145 W kg Thrust Ratio at MTOW1 1 85 1 1 At sea level ISA Refer to the Weight Limitations section for complete loading information 2 Top and bottom mount Includes batteries 3 Payload weight top or bottom mount Battery weight not included an...

Page 19: ...rted SBAS QZSS WAAS EGNOS MSAS First Person View System Video Formats NTSC PAL Supported First Person View Transmitters Skyzone BOSCAM ImmersionRC Fat Shark Supported First Person View Cameras Ready Made RC RMRC 700XVN Recommended First Person View OSD Telemetry User Configurable Installed Transceivers Wi Fi 2 4 GHz b g n Data Logging Rate 25 Hz LIGHTING AND INDICATION Status Light 1 Watt Red 1 Wa...

Page 20: ... AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL PAYLOAD MOUNTING Mounting Locations Bottom and Top Mount Mounting System Freefly Toad In The Hole TITH Quick Release FPV Camera Mount Between Booms 8 1 FPV Transmitter Mount Boom 2 ...

Page 21: ...thorities POWERPLANT LIMITATIONS Maximum RPM 6300 RPM Maximum Battery Voltage 25 2 Volts Minimum Average Battery Voltage 19 2 Volts ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITATIONS Do not fly ALTA 8 in temperatures exceeding 45ºC 113ºF or below 20ºC 4ºF 5 FLIGHT CONTROLLER LIMITS Maximum Pitch Roll Angle 45 Maximum Yaw Rate 150 second 5 Battery temperature ratings must be observed ...

Page 22: ... 3 12 8 12 3 11 9 36 8 35 5 34 2 33 0 31 8 30 6 29 5 28 4 27 3 26 3 25 3 16 7 16 1 15 5 15 0 14 4 13 9 13 4 12 9 12 4 11 9 11 5 Maximum Gross Weight kg Maximum Gross Weight lb Maximum Gross Weight kg Maximum Gross Weight lb Maximum Gross Weight kg Maximum Gross Weight lb Maximum Gross Weight kg Maximum Gross Weight lb Maximum Gross Weight kg Sea Level 305m 1000ft 610m 2000ft 914m 3000ft 1219m 4000...

Page 23: ...23 AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL SYSTEM DIAGRAMS sUAS OVERVIEW ALTA App FPV Rx Preview Monitor NOT INCLUDED Radio Controller GPS Satellite 2 4GHz MōVI Controller HD Video Link Preview Monitor ...

Page 24: ...T MANUAL FLIGHT CONTROL CAN PWM Status Light ESC 8 ESC 1 ESC 2 ESC 3 ESC 4 ESC 5 8 Position Lights A B B Futaba Receiver or Generic Receiver S BUS S BUS 2 or PPM A Spektrum Receiver DSMX DSM 2 SYNAPSE Flight Controller ...

Page 25: ...tor Lights 1 Motor Lights 2 Motor Lights 3 Motor Lights 4 Motor Lights 5 Motor Lights 6 Motor Lights 7 F U S E F P V C A M F P V T x R E C I E V E R F U S E R E C I E V E R R E G U L ATO R S 12v 5v 5v Note Do not modify augment or add components to the electrical power system of the ALTA Unauthorized modifications may result in unsafe operation ...

Page 26: ...MANUAL FPV EQUIPMENT FPV Camera Lead Pre installed FPV Camera optional FPV Camera Cable FPV Tx Lead Pre installed FPV Tx Cable Boscam Skyzone or Fat Shark ImmersionRC FPV Tx optional SYNAPSE Flight Controller 1 2 3 4 5 8 ...

Page 27: ...n addition radio mapping parameters can only be adjusted when the Configuration Jumper is removed For more information on radio mapping see the Radio Mapping section of this manual The ALTA App will be actively maintained and additional functionality may be added over time For information on individual app updates refer to the App release notes NOTE When making configuration changes with the ALTA ...

Page 28: ...ode functions It is recommended to use a radio controller with a three way switch for the Mode Home and Orbit functions a two or three way switch for the disarm safety function and a knob or slider input for both the Velocity and Climb Rate Clamp functions FLIGHT BATTERY ALTA 8 can accommodate a variety of Lithium Polymer LiPo flight battery packs Battery packs must be 6S having a nominal voltage ...

Page 29: ...29 AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL SETTING UP ALTA 8 ...

Page 30: ...They are secured in an open position for flight using over center latches TO UNFOLD ALTA 8 1 Remove ALTA 8 from case 2 Fold down all eight boom retention clips 3 Open ALTA 8 booms ALTA 8 can become unbalanced and tip over while unfolding booms individually so unfold opposite boom pairs simultaneously to keep balance ...

Page 31: ...31 AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL 4 Snap shut all eight boom latches until they click and latch 5 Visually confirm all latches are seated properly 6 Remove prop protectors ...

Page 32: ...CRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL TO FOLD ALTA 8 1 Secure props with prop protectors 2 Unlatch all eight booms 3 Close ALTA 8 booms in opposing pairs to keep balance 4 Fold up all eight boom retention clips to secure booms ...

Page 33: ...SM2 and DSMX receivers This means two receivers may be installed and the SYNAPSE flight controller will automatically use the receiver with the best signal quality Using two receivers requires the radio controller to be bound to both receivers Refer to the instructions provided with your radio controller to complete the binding process For Spektrum JR radios a receiver is required to bind the sate...

Page 34: ... the telemetry wire located in the closeout between booms 2 3 into the primary receiver refer to the Voltage Telemetry section 5 Feed receiver antenna into lower antenna tube 6 Secure receiver using the provided double sided tape to inside of receiver housing 7 Reattach closeout panel ...

Page 35: ...8 chassis 9 Repeat installation process for dual receivers if applicable FOR SPEKTRUM JR 1 Locate the noted closeout panels used for Spektrum JR receiver installation between booms 3 4 and 7 8 2 Remove side closeout panel using a 2 0mm hex driver 3 Feed signal cable through panel grommet ...

Page 36: ...CRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL 4 Reattach closeout panel 5 Plug in receiver satellite into signal cable 6 Attach receiver satellite to exterior using double sided tape 7 Repeat steps 1 6 for dual receivers if applicable ...

Page 37: ...age telemetry for Futaba radios 1 Remove the closeout panel between booms 2 and 3 with a 2 0mm hex driver and locate the radio receiver wire bundle 2 Identify the voltage sense wire and connector in the bundle It is the small 2 pin connector attached to a black and red wire pair NOTE This wire is already connected to an in line fuse Soldering a fuse into this wire is not required 3 Connect the cab...

Page 38: ...are uncertain about your radio channel mapping obtain assistance from an experienced pilot or from Freefly Customer Support CONFIGURATION JUMPER A small jumper is used to prevent motor operation while configuring radio channel mapping parameters With the jumper in place the motors may operate but radio channel mapping is prevented With the jumper removed radio channel mapping may take place but mo...

Page 39: ...s removed prior to adjusting radio settings to prevent unintentional motor starts 2 Power ALTA 8 using a battery pack or by plugging in the included USB Futaba cable into an available port on a Futaba receiver 3 Open the ALTA App and connect to ALTA 8 4 Open Configurations Radio 5 Open each ALTA 8 function and adjust the channel to the desired channel number Use the toggle in the App to invert the...

Page 40: ...nputs are reversed PPM Graupner interprets Graupner radio PPM inputs PITCH ROLL YAW THROTTLE The Pitch Roll Yaw and Throttle controls are the basic flight controls and are mapped to the two radio controller sticks MODE The required Mode Switch selects between the three different flight modes Manual Height and Position A three position switch is recommended to select the three different modes Howev...

Page 41: ... Orbit On functions ALL FUNCTIONS The meaning of the direction or position of the indicator is described in the following table for all mappable parameters The top and right positions on the radio mapping indicators represent 2000µs and the bottom and left positions represent 1000µs and the middle position represents 1500µs FUNCTION IN APP INDICATOR POSITION INDICATES Pitch Top Nose Up Bottom Nose...

Page 42: ...42 AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL Disarm Safety Top On Disarming Not Possible Middle Bottom Off Disarming Possible Orbit Top Orbit On Middle Orbit Off Bottom Set Orbit Center Point ...

Page 43: ...gs are appropriate FUTABA 14SG 8FG FUNCTION CHANNEL NUMBER DIRECTION Pitch 2 Normal Roll 1 Normal Yaw 4 Normal Throttle 3 Reverse Mode Switch 5 Normal Home Switch 6 Reverse Disarm Safety 9 Reverse Velocity Clamp 8 Reverse Climb Rate Clamp 7 Reverse Orbit Switch 10 Normal SPEKTRUM DX18 FUNCTION CHANNEL NUMBER DIRECTION Pitch 3 Reverse Roll 2 Reverse Yaw 4 Reverse Throttle 1 Normal Mode Switch 6 Rev...

Page 44: ...r GroundView flight see MōVI manual a Attach landing gear b Install TITH receiver on MōVI 2 Connect MōVI to bottom Toad SKYVIEW CAUTION Top mounting is not supported by the MōVI M10 without the keyed pan tube upgrade kit If you are unsure whether your M10 has the upgrade kit contact Freefly Customer Support for additional info 1 Prepare your MōVI for SkyView flight a Remove landing gear see MōVI m...

Page 45: ...45 AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL 2 Connect and secure the supplied inverted landing gear to the bottom Toad 3 Remove Battery Mount Quick Release 4 Connect MōVI to top Toad ...

Page 46: ... place the cartridges between the top chassis plate and the battery plate Ensure they are engaged in the track features and are parallel with the chassis and battery plate Push inwards fully until they click indicating the cartridges are locked in place Pull outwards on the cartridge to ensure it is locked in place CAUTION Always ensure isolator cartridges are locked in place before flying ALTA 8 ...

Page 47: ...r to connecting them to ALTA 8 Plugging in two dissimilarly charged packs could cause one pack to rapidly discharge into the other and damage the batteries or cause a battery fire CAUTION Only use packs that are identical in their capacity and at a similar condition Using a pack with another that is larger or has many more charge discharge cycles can damage the battery packs CAUTION Always refer t...

Page 48: ...DVIEW 1 Place battery retention strap studs at the appropriate height to hold the battery packs firmly in position 2 Adjust battery stops to fit battery packs 3 Attach the single hole end of the battery retention straps to the studs ...

Page 49: ...packs on the battery tray CAUTION Do not install batteries directly on the lower battery tray if a Toad adapter is also installed Either remove the Toad adapter or use the Quick Release Battery Tray 5 Tension and secure battery retention straps ...

Page 50: ...ick release lever Inverted landing gear that are not completely attached can rotate and unplug battery leads 1 Pinch the battery tray handles and slide to remove it from landing gear 2 Attach the single hole ends of the battery retention straps to the studs on the battery tray 3 Place battery packs onto battery tray ...

Page 51: ...51 AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL 4 Tension and secure battery retention straps 5 Slide tray with battery packs back into landing gear until the tray latches in place 6 Ensure tray and battery packs are secure ...

Page 52: ...icles In addition concrete can contain steel rebar which may influence compass calibrations WARNING Verify ALTA 8 is disarmed prior to performing a compass calibration To ensure ALTA 8 does not arm remove the Configuration Jumper set the mode switch to Height or Position or set the home switch to Set New Home Position NOTE Ensure a microSD card is installed in the GPS compass module prior to perfo...

Page 53: ...ation select Start Manual 6 Perform the following steps 1 Face North Pitch 180º 3 Pitch 180º 5 Roll 180º 2 Pitch 360º 4 Face East Yaw 90º 6 Roll 360º Boom 1 Boom 1 Boom 1 Boom 1 Boom 1 Boom 1 Boom 1 Boom 1 Boom 1 Boom 1 Boom 1 Boom 1 Boom 1 Boom 1 Boom 1 Boom 1 Boom FACE EAST YAW 90º ROLL 180º ROLL 360º Boom 1 Boom 1 Boom 1 FACE EAST YAW 90º ROLL 180º ROLL 360º Boom 1 Boom 1 Boom 1 ...

Page 54: ...s readings over time to resolve an accurate compass calibration Manual calibration is recommended when moving to a new location and an accurate compass calibration is needed immediately for using Position Mode In the ALTA App select Configurations More Compass Change the Auto Calibration setting to On ...

Page 55: ... on booms 1 3 5 and 7 spin clockwise when viewed from above ALTA 8 and the propellers installed on booms 2 4 6 and 8 spin counterclockwise when viewed from above For information on propeller installation and maintenance refer to the Maintenance section of this manual CAUTION Only use propellers supplied by Freefly on ALTA 8 Use of third party propellers can cause motor instability overheating and ...

Page 56: ...eller bolt tightness twist the propeller about its length If there is free play the propeller bolt is too loose Use the provided 2 5mm hex driver and wrench to tighten the bolt and nut that secure the propeller blade just enough to remove the play CAUTION Do not overtighten or the propeller may fail to unfold completely during motor start up leading to excessive vibration ...

Page 57: ...uctions A single camera cable is provided and is configured to run a Ready Made RC camera model RMRC 700XVN recommended This cable mates with a pre installed cable located behind the closeout panel between booms 1 8 Camera and transmitter cables follow this wiring scheme CABLE COLOR FUNCTION Red 12 VDC Black Ground Yellow Video signal WARNING It is the responsibility of the pilot to see and avoid ...

Page 58: ...out panel with a 2 0mm hex driver 2 Locate the FPV camera cable included in the ALTA 8 package 3 Pass the FPV cable through the closeout panel grommet and connect to the mating FPV camera lead inside ALTA 8 Connect the other end directly to the camera 4 Replace front closeout panel ...

Page 59: ...r on the provided carbon fiber accessory mount plate 2 Attach accessory mount to boom 2 with M3x6 flathead bolts 3 Locate the appropriate FPV transmitter cable The following cables are included a ImmersionRC Fat Shark cable with two connectors b BOSCAM SkyZone cable with one large connector c Compact BOSCAM cable with one small connector a b c ...

Page 60: ...V transmitter lead between booms 1 2 using the 2 0mm hex driver 5 Pass transmitter cable through the underside of the hinge and connect to the FPV transmitter lead 6 Replace side closeout panel 7 Zip tie the FPV transmitter lead to the boom cable bundle for strain relief ...

Page 61: ...gured to display as big or small letters or no letters effectively turning off the display NAME DESCRIPTION Height Displays the height of ALTA 8 from its starting point in meters or feet Vario Displays the vertical speed of ALTA 8 in meters per second or feet per minute Heading Displays the magnetic heading of ALTA 8 and is measured in degrees Distance Displays the horizontal distance along the gr...

Page 62: ...movements Pitch and Roll Scaling 10 20 30 40 Allows for scaling of the artificial horizon markings to compensate for FPV cameras of different field views Pitch and Intervals 10 20 30 40 Sets the number of degrees between pitch markings when the artificial horizon ladder is used OTHER COMPONENTS The following components can be turned on or off These components do not have adjustable settings NAME D...

Page 63: ...FLIGHT MANUAL Sideslip Displays a bar on the bottom of the screen that scales with the side to side velocity component The bar will extend left to indicate leftward velocity or right to indicate rightward velocity ...

Page 64: ...perating ALTA section of this manual Tuning should take place as an iterative process by making only small changes test flying the changes observing the new flight behaviors and repeating Only tune a single parameter at a time during this process for best results To tune ALTA 8 open the ALTA App and select Configurations Aircraft Dynamics WARNING Tuning can change the fundamental flying characteri...

Page 65: ... that are too high can cause instability or oscillation WARNING Excessively high stiffness values can cause ALTA 8 to become unstable and difficult or even impossible to control Lower Stiffness values give less responsive control Values that are too low can cause a vague or disconnected control response HOLD STRENGTH Hold Strength controls how much ALTA 8 will try to maintain a pitch roll angle co...

Page 66: ...ting to a desired climb or descent rate in Height mode HOLD STRENGTH Hold Strength Gain tunes how much ALTA 8 will attempt to stay on a desired altitude in Height Hold mode only A higher value will result in height being held more precisely A value too high can cause ALTA 8 to overreact to winds gusts or turbulent air CLIMB RATE STRENGTH Climb Rate Strength adjusts how much ALTA 8 will attempt to ...

Page 67: ...ol the ALTA 8 response to stick inputs Kinematic Mode is intended to make the ALTA 8 flight characteristics feel more like Manual Mode control while still benefiting the user with GPS assist KINEMATIC MASS This is the primary tuning parameter to adjust the feel of the ALTA 8 when Kinematic Mode is enabled Tuning Kinematic Mass to higher values makes the ALTA behave as an object with more inertia i...

Page 68: ...ngle ALTA 8 will be allowed to fly in any flight modes and in all flight conditions MAXIMUM YAW RATE This is the maximum rate ALTA 8 will yaw pan when at full stick deflection HEIGHT HOVER THROTTLE Hover Throttle is a parameter that adjusts ALTA 8 s thrust at center throttle stick and ensures ALTA 8 does not climb or descend at the center stick position while flying in Manual Mode A Hover Throttle...

Page 69: ...te Clamp is mapped to a radio controller channel the parameter will adjust the fastest climb speed available to the Climb Rate Clamp feature POSITION MAXIMUM G This sets the total maximum acceleration in G s that the controller will place on the airframe It is recommended to use lower G settings with heavier payloads This setting has no effect in Manual Mode MAXIMUM GPS ANGLE This sets the maximum...

Page 70: ...n to Home AUTOLAND DESCENT RATE This adjusts the descent rate of the ALTA 8 during Autoland in meters per second This value is applied to the Autoland descent profile for the final 15 meters above the ground until landing The Autoland descent profile is hard coded and adjusts automatically as a function of height when the ALTA 8 is above 15 meters RTH SPEED This adjusts the ground speed at which A...

Page 71: ...aximum ceiling is exceeded in Manual mode the Status Light will illuminate white NOTE The maximum ceiling parameter can be turned off in the ALTA App and the maximum height of the ALTA 8 will be unconstrained in all flight modes RANGE Range sets the maximum distance ALTA 8 may fly away from the home point while in Position mode If the range is exceeded in Manual mode the Status Light will illumina...

Page 72: ...and wait until boot is complete 2 Quickly press the Pan Freeze Button 8 times 3 Power cycle MōVI WiFi Adapter 1 Press and hold the reset button 2 Power on and and keep the reset button held for 10 seconds 3 Power cycle MōVI M10 M15 WiFi Edition 1 Power on 2 Within 3 seconds of powering on press and hold the reset button for 10 seconds 3 Power cycle Reset button orange is located on the front face ...

Page 73: ...73 AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL OPERATING ALTA 8 ...

Page 74: ...ble only during certain situations For additional information refer to the sub section associated with each emergency control mode WARNING Height Mode and Position Mode are assistive only and are not a replacement for pilot skill and ability Pilots should be proficient in Manual Mode flight in order to react to emergency situations as required CAUTION Always center the control input sticks on the ...

Page 75: ... will command fore aft and left right ground speeds respectively Controlling altitude in Position Mode is the same as in Height Mode With pitch and roll controls centered ALTA 8 will enter Position Hold In Position Hold ALTA 8 will maintain its position over a given point on the ground and correct for disturbances Position Mode requires a strong GPS signal and communication with a minimum of 6 sat...

Page 76: ...LTA 8 to point towards the center point as the pilot uses roll left or roll right commands to traverse the flight path The pilot maintains throttle control in order to ascend or descend as desired The radius of the circular orbit can be adjusted real time using pitch forward or pitch backward commands RETURN TO HOME Return to Home Mode will command ALTA 8 to fly back to the starting point of the f...

Page 77: ...d automatically if RTH is selected as Signal Loss Action in the ALTA App and an S Bus S Bus2 or DSM2 DSMX radio system is in use ALTA 8 will first check its current altitude against Safe Height If ALTA 8 is below the Safe Height it will climb to Safe Height If ALTA 8 is above Safe Height it will remain at its current altitude Next ALTA 8 will fly back to the home position at the RTH Speed set in t...

Page 78: ... 148ft ALTA 8 descends at 8m s 26ft s 15 to 35m 49 to 115 ft ALTA 8 descends at 3 m s 10 ft s 15m to ground 49 ft ALTA 8 descends at the Autoland Descent Rate defined by the pilot until touchdown Autoland will only initiate if one of the following conditions is met Loss of Signal LOS occurs and Land is selected as the Signal Loss Action in the ALTA app At the end of a LOS Return to Home event when...

Page 79: ... point Momentarily moving the Home Switch to the Set Home position sets a new home point When a new home point is set the Status Light will turn white to indicate the new home point was successfully set RTH OFF This is the normal switch position and does not initiate an RTH command RTH ON This manually initiates the RTH function In a manual RTH the pilot maintains control of height while the SYNAP...

Page 80: ... mode While in Position Mode after having first set the orbit center point fly the ALTA 8 to the desired orbit radius and turn the switch to Orbit On ALTA 8 will automatically yaw towards the center point While Orbit On is enabled use the cyclic roll left and right commands to circle around the target point Use cyclic pitch forward to decrease the radius of the orbit and pitch back to increase the...

Page 81: ...in manual mode It may be mapped to a two or three position switch To set up the Disarm Safety Switch refer to the Radio Mapping section of this manual 3 POSITION SWITCH FUNCTION 1 On Disarming is not possible 2 Off Disarming is possible 3 Off Disarming is possible 2 POSITION SWITCH FUNCTION 1 On Disarming is not possible 2 Off Disarming is possible ...

Page 82: ... in the various flight phases FLIGHT PHASE LIGHT COLOR MEANING Booting Flashing Red White Flight controller is booting Standby Flashing White Flight controller is running and disarmed Flashing Red Flight controller is running and not ready to arm Solid Red Flight controller boot unsuccessful Armed Off Ready for Flight Flight all modes Solid Red Flight critical alarm Land immediately ...

Page 83: ...ge Land immediately Flight Height Hold Off Nominal flight status Height hold inactive Slow Flashing White Height hold active Solid or Flashing Red Flight critical alarm Land immediately Flight Position Hold Off Nominal flight status Height hold inactive Position hold inactive Slow Flashing White Height Hold or Position Hold Active Fast Flashing White Height Hold and Position Hold Active Solid or F...

Page 84: ...gs of the light colors in the various operational phases FLIGHT PHASE LIGHT COLOR MEANING Booting Blue ESC booting Standby Flashing Green ESC booted normally Armed User defined Nominal Status Flight User defined Nominal Status Flashing User defined Flight critical alarm or battery voltage alarm Land Immediately Flashing Red only occurs if user has defined all lights to be Off Flight critical alarm...

Page 85: ...an cause loss of control Never continue a flight when ALTA 8 indicates an alarm During an alarm the Status Light will turn red and the boom end mounted Orientation Lights will flash in the user specified color If the pilot has set all Orientation Lights Off they will flash red in the event of an alarm WARNING Monitor the Status Light and Orientation Lights frequently during flight If ALTA 8 displa...

Page 86: ...er a position lock is ready indicating a valid GPS fix and good heading This is required before the SYNAPSE will allow switching into Position Mode Height displays the current height control mode Manual Vario if in Height or Position mode and climbing or descending and Hold Attitude displays the current attitude control mode Position displays the current position control mode Manual Velocity if in...

Page 87: ...or flight Data is recorded as a csv file at a rate of 25 Hz on a microSD card installed on the top of the GPS Compass module A table of recorded data is included in Appendix B Summarized flight data from an individual flight can also be viewed immediately after landing in the ALTA App s Monitor Flight Data menu ...

Page 88: ...88 AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL NORMAL PROCEDURES ...

Page 89: ...en and closed detented positions Unfolding the booms is most easily accomplished by unfolding opposite pairs partially Then unfold the opposite boom pairs completely ALTA 8 can become unbalanced while unfolding booms individually so unfolding opposite pairs reduces the possibility of tipping Once unfolded push on the boom latches until they audibly click indicating the booms are secure There shoul...

Page 90: ...ARNINGS 20 Compass Calibration CALIBRATE as required 21 Radio Control Range Check AS REQUIRED AMPLIFICATION Check that the payload is secure by checking that the Toad In The Hole quick release lever is pushed in and that the payload does not slip Check that all isolator cartridges are locked in place especially if they have been recently replaced A microSD card is required to be installed in the G...

Page 91: ... to initialize ALTA 8 without movement such as booting on a boat Motion Booting can be used It is not recommended to use Motion Booting regularly since it bypasses error checking processes During initialization the Status Light will quickly flash a sequence of red and white lights At the end of this process it will begin slow flashing white indicating SYNAPSE is ready for arming The Orientation Li...

Page 92: ...rea to ensure people and objects are clear of ALTA 8 and its props Also ensure that there are no people or objects between the ALTA 8 s takeoff location and its intended flight path WARNING ALTA 8 s props spin at a high RPM and the ends of the blades move at high speeds ALTA 8 s props can cause severe injury or death or cause damage to objects while they are rotating Always ensure the area surroun...

Page 93: ...ce the throttle directly from idle to hover throttle Prior to takeoff do not advance throttle stick above idle until prepared for flight as this can spool up motors undesirably While throttling up for takeoff do not loiter in ground effect Once in flight enter a stationary hover and turn on the Disarm Safety to prevent accidental motor stops while flying If desired use the Mode Switch to select He...

Page 94: ...CAUTION Only land in Manual Mode Attempting to land in Height or Position Modes may cause ALTA 8 to tip over Upon landing disarm the motors by holding full low throttle and full left yaw This is typically done on the left radio control stick by moving it to the bottom left corner with mode 2 controllers Disarming can only be done while in Manual Mode Switch the Disarm Safety to off to allow the mo...

Page 95: ...ere is no damage to the propeller blades and that the motors still spin freely and quietly Take extra care when operating in areas with large amounts of debris such as in sand dirt or gravel After flight is also a good time to check the condition of battery packs Always refer to the battery manufacturer s recommendations for inspection and replacement intervals or requirements ...

Page 96: ... ALTA 8 Keeping ALTA 8 on the payload or landing gear easily facilitates the folding process as ALTA 8 may be turned on the Toad In The Hole adapter while folding the propellers and booms Folding the booms in opposing pairs can help maintain balance and reduce the likelihood of tipping Make sure that the handle is aligned front to back with the battery leads facing to the right when putting ALTA 8...

Page 97: ...97 AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL EMERGENCY PROCEDURES ...

Page 98: ...ocedures are not a substitute for a thorough understanding of aircraft systems and sound pilot judgment In general if an emergency occurs three basic actions can be applied to most situations 1 Maintain aircraft control Small emergencies can quickly escalate if the pilot is distracted attempting to determine or troubleshoot the problem Always maintain visual contact with the aircraft during an eme...

Page 99: ...can adversely affect the safety of the flight Alarms are indicated by the Status Light turning or flashing Red depending on the flight mode and the Orientation Lights flashing Land as soon as possible when the Status Light and or Orientation Lights indicate a warning and investigate the problem while ALTA 8 is safely on the ground It is best practice to set the mode switch to Manual when an Alarm ...

Page 100: ...t so neutralize controls by centering the throttle yaw and pitch roll sticks to stabilize motion If a good GPS signal is available enable Position Mode so ALTA 8 will stay in one place Use yaw only to reorient ALTA 8 so the nose is pointed away then use the roll control to verify the orientation of ALTA 8 WARNING Position Mode may not function as expected if Position Lock has not been achieved It ...

Page 101: ...alize controls by centering the throttle yaw and pitch roll sticks and observe ALTA 8 If it is still flying in an uncommanded manner in either Height or Position Mode switch to Manual Mode In most cases unexpected behavior is due to erroneous sensor readings degraded GPS signal reception or compass issue If the unexpected behavior occurred while in Manual mode land as soon as possible and check th...

Page 102: ...ell voltage drops below the Alarm Voltage the Status Light will turn solid red in Manual Mode or flash red if in Height Hold or Position Hold The orientation lights will flash in the user defined colors If all orientation lights have been specified off the orientation lights will flash red Terminate the flight and land as soon as possible If the battery cell voltage drops below the Land Voltage th...

Page 103: ...ink with ALTA 8 to keep the pilot in control of the aircraft Move the antenna orientation for best signal strength Ensure the radio antenna matches the direction of the receiver antennae Move the radio away from objects to get a clear line of sight to ALTA 8 Set the Mode switch to Position and the Home switch to Return to Home so ALTA 8 will continue to approach the home point if the signal is mom...

Page 104: ...the aircraft either with the pilot seeing the aircraft or by the use of a visual observer Yawing the aircraft can help signal reception if the body of the aircraft is blocking the line of sight between the transmitter and receiver antennas If FPV signal or visual contact cannot be maintained setting the Mode switch to Position Mode and enabling Return to Home can be used to bring the aircraft back...

Page 105: ...105 AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL PERFORMANCE ...

Page 106: ...106 AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL WEIGHT ENDURANCE PERFORMANCE DATA Conditions Altitude Sea Level ISA Winds Zero ...

Page 107: ...33 0 31 8 30 6 29 5 28 4 27 3 26 3 25 3 16 7 16 1 15 5 15 0 14 4 13 9 13 4 12 9 12 4 11 9 11 5 Maximum Gross Weight kg Maximum Gross Weight lb Maximum Gross Weight kg Maximum Gross Weight lb Maximum Gross Weight kg Maximum Gross Weight lb Maximum Gross Weight kg Maximum Gross Weight lb Maximum Gross Weight kg Sea Level 305m 1000ft 610m 2000ft 914m 3000ft 1219m 4000ft 1524m 5000ft 1829m 6000ft 2134...

Page 108: ...108 AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL MAINTAINING ALTA 8 ...

Page 109: ...Toad In The Hole adapter In addition fasteners that attach to nuts with a nylon locking feature nylock nuts do not require threadlocker All structural fasteners require the use of threadlock This includes chassis screws lower male Toad In The Hole adapter motor attachment fasteners and the four M3 x 8 socket head bolts that attach the folding propeller to the motor Typically a low strength threadl...

Page 110: ...edge that is large enough to catch a fingernail indicates that the pro peller should be replaced If the blade composite structure becomes delaminated the propeller should be replaced Freefly makes folding propeller assemblies available that include the blades and propeller hub fully assembled and factory balanced They are available in clockwise and counterclockwise orientations CAUTION Only use pr...

Page 111: ...ller rotation direction and correct propeller prior to flight Propellers that spin in the incorrect direction will cause ALTA 8 to be uncontrollable REPLACING PROPELLER BUMPERS Under normal use propeller bumpers see exploded view figure on the next page may split and fall out of the folding propeller assembly Six spare bumpers are provided with the ALTA 8 To replace the bumper disassembly of the f...

Page 112: ...lon washer is smaller in width and thicker and is installed between the nut or bolt head and the two prop adapters The PTFE washer is wider and thinner and is installed between the prop blades and prop adapters NOTE Propeller blades are balanced and paired individually Do not mix and match individual propeller blades when reassembling Unbalanced propellers can affect flight performance ...

Page 113: ...loose EVERY 15 FLIGHT HOURS The following should be checked after every 15 hours of flight FASTENER TIGHTNESS Check the tightness of the following fasteners Motor mount bolts Prop hub bolts Prop bolts Top and bottom chassis bolts Closeout panel bolts FPV camera mounting plate bolts Accessory mounting plate bolts GPS Compass mounting bolts INSPECTION Inspect the following items Replace if worn Prop...

Page 114: ...irmware 1 Provide power to ALTA 8 a Install and plug in a fully charged flight pack or b Plug in the USB Futaba cable to an available receiver port Futaba and PPM receivers only 2 Open the ALTA App 3 Open Monitor Updates 4 The latest firmware included with the app release is compared with the ALTA 8 firmware If a new release is available the app will provide a notification 5 Tap the Install button...

Page 115: ... be realigned follow the realignment procedure then verify realignment was successful using the ALTA Flight Data Viewer available at www freeflysystems com To perform a realignment Freefly recommends using a small digital angle gauge with a flat surface so it can rest on the bottom of the motor mount for example the Wixey WR300 angle gauge MOTOR REALIGNMENT PROCEDURE 1 Place ALTA 8 on a level surf...

Page 116: ...NOTE When rotating the motor do not pull outwards on it 6 Apply threadlock as required Loctite 222 recommended and tighten the motor mount bolts to 0 8 N m 7 in lbs Do not over torque the bolts 7 Repeat steps 2 through 6 for the additional motors 8 After aligning motors recheck motor mount alignment and clamping bolt tightness MOTOR ALIGNMENT VERIFICATION FLIGHT TEST PROCEDURE 1 Complete the Unpac...

Page 117: ... on to the ALTA Flight Data Viewer window 7 Under the Data Seeker section select Hover from the Seek Event drop down box 8 In the Flight Statistics section look at the Yaw CW Bias value It should be within 5 It Yaw CW Bias is outside 5 recheck motor alignment NOTE If the ALTA Flight Data Viewer is unavailable or cannot be used on your operating system yaw bias can be found at the bottom of the csv...

Page 118: ...become damaged or adversely affected by crashes tip overs propeller strikes with solid bodies or other abnormally stressing events Freefly recommends contacting Customer Support immediately for guidance in case of any of these events Field inspections are no substitute for consultation and direct inspection and repair of damage by Freefly Typical inspection points after an accident may include but...

Page 119: ...119 AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL TROUBLESHOOTING ...

Page 120: ... necessary Compass readings out of limits Check surroundings and boot in an area away from ferrous objects Recalibrate the compass Compass Warning microSD card is missing Check the microSD card is installed microSD card is corrupt Remove the microSD and reformat FAT32 If problem persists replace with a new card Invalid compass calibration Recalibrate the compass GPS Warning GPS Compass Unit has be...

Page 121: ...ssful Power cycle ALTA 8 Ensure it does not move during boot If ALTA 8 must move during boot such as on a moving platform use Motion Booting Motors will not stop Mode Switch not in Manual Move Mode Switch to manual Disarm Safety On Move Arm Enable Switch to Allow Disarm FLIGHT BEHAVIOR SYMPTOM POTENTIAL CAUSE POTENTIAL SOLUTION Unexpected flight behavior Tuning too high or too low Revert tuning to...

Page 122: ...k the position of the slider clamps on the Radio controller Increase as required ALTA 8 ascends or descends when switching between flight modes Hover Throttle set incorrectly Follow the instructions listed in the ALTA 8 Flight Parameters section of this manual to adjust Hover Throttle ALTA 8 does not maintain heading Yaw during boot Re initialize SYNAPSE while keeping ALTA 8 stationary in all dire...

Page 123: ...n process Set Mode switch to Position Mode Set Home switch to RTH ALTA 8 does not enter Orbit mode when commanded Position Lock not achieved Monitor the ALTA App to ensure position lock has been achieved with strong GPS signal Incorrect initiation process Set Mode switch to Position Mode Fly over the desired orbit point and toggle Orbit switch to set the center point Fly to desired radius and set ...

Page 124: ...124 AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL APPENDIX ...

Page 125: ...m 0 Maximum Pitch Roll Angle 40 Maximum Yaw Rate 100 sec Height Vertical Stiffness 9 Hold Strength 80 Hover Throttle 14 0 volts Climb Rate 3 meters sec Position Horizontal Stiffness 35 Hold Strength 40 Maximum G 0 3 GPS Angle 30 GPS Speed 5 meters sec Kinematic Mode Off Kinematic Mass 7 Safety Alarm Voltage 3 5 volts Land Voltage 3 2 volts Safe Height 15 meters Autoland Descent Rate 0 8 meters sec...

Page 126: ...d track of ALTA in degrees from true north GPS Position North meters The distance ALTA traveled north from the starting point A negative number indicates southward travel GPS Position East meters The distance ALTA traveled east from the starting point A negative number indicates westward travel GPS Position Up meters The distance ALTA traveled above the starting point A negative number indicates d...

Page 127: ...eration East meters second 2 The IMU derived eastward acceleration IMU Acceleration Up meters second 2 The IMU derived upward acceleration without gravitational acceleration IMU Delay Acceleration North meters second 2 The IMU derived northward acceleration filtered IMU Delay Acceleration East meters second 2 The IMU derived eastward acceleration filtered IMU Roll degrees The IMU derived roll angl...

Page 128: ...ding derived from the compass Position Command North meters The position control loop set point in a Northerly direction referenced to take off location Position Command East meters The position control loop set point in an Easterly direction referenced to take off location Position Command Up meters The position control loop set point in an Upwards direction referenced to the take off location Ve...

Page 129: ...lues are rotating clockwise looking from the machine top Radio Roll microseconds µs RC pulse width 1000 2000µs where increasing values are for roll right Radio Pitch microseconds µs RC pulse width 1000 2000µs where increasing values are for pitch up Radio Yaw microseconds µs RC pulse width 1000 2000µs where increasing values are for yaw to the right Radio Throttle microseconds µs RC pulse width 10...

Page 130: ...lation for lifting thrust Motor Command 1 8 unitless Scaled 0 1 representing demanded thrust from motor Motor speed 1 8 revolutions per minute rpm Propeller speed at last telemetry update Motor Voltage 1 8 Volts Bus voltage measured at ESC from last telemetry update Motor Current 1 8 Amps Motor field current measured at ESC from last telemetry update Motor Power 1 8 Watts Measured ESC power consum...

Page 131: ...ted flight times Power Watts Total battery power Energy Watt hours Integrated battery power to be used in conjunction with battery recharge measurements ascertaining battery health and expected flight times 5V Monitor Volts Measured voltage of the 5 volts bus Microcontroller Temperature ºC Flight controller PCB temperature Barometer Temperature ºC Barometric sensor temperature Barometric Altitude ...

Page 132: ...s indicating position control mode Height Mode register Status indicating height control mode Target Mode register Status indicating orbit control mode CRC Failures number Internal communication errors I2C Timeouts number Count of the number of internal I2C communication bus drops CAN Fails number Count of the number of failures within the CAN communication bus Global CAN Fails number Count of the...

Page 133: ...133 AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL Z Vibration g Parameter used for monitoring the health and control of ALTA Checksum number Parameter recorded to detect errors in data recording ...

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