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23

FS8 Co-Pilot™ user guide

Symptom

Possible solution

FS8 Co-Pilot™ doesn’t seem to apply flight stabilization in

n

Operate FS8 Co-Pilot™ outside.

Normal Flight Mode.

n

Turn flight stabilization on.  Make sure remote on/off channel

isn’t reversed at transmitter.

n

Make sure Roll/Pitch Sensor is connected to FS8 Co-Pilot™.
If Vertical Sensor is installed, make sure it is connected.

n

Make sure receiver battery voltage is above 3.5V.

n

Increase Pitch and Roll Throw.

n

Repeat Flight Stabilization Setup.  (If FS8 Co-Pilot™ senses

certain problems during Flight Stabilization Setup, it disables

flight stablization in Normal Flight Mode.)

Aircraft trim changes when flight stabilization is turned on or off.

n

Trim with Throws fully off.

n

Turn on Auto Trim.

n

See “Tips for trimming” on page 19.

Aircraft shakes or oscillates in the air.

n

Reduce Throw.

n

Repeat infrared calibration every day you fly.

n

Assure airplane is vertical (or helicopter is rolled to horizontal)

during step 1 of infrared calibration.

n

Repeat infrared calibration over grass, if possible.

Aircraft takes a long time to level.

n

Increase Throws.

Flight stabilization doesn’t move the aircraft to level.

n

Clean Sensor windows with alcohol and cotton-tipped

applicator.

n

Mount Pitch/Roll Sensor where it “sees” equal amounts of
wing and fuselage on both sides.

n

Mount Pitch/Roll Sensor away from muffler and engine (which

are hot).

n

Repeat infrared calibration every day you fly.

n

Perform infrared calibration at least 100 feet from trees or

buildings.

n

Fly when the temperature difference is 3 or greater.

Flight stabilization works in warm weather, but not in cold.

n

FS8 Co-Pilot™ is more sensitive to rubber exhaust extensions
in cold weather.  Helicopters are especially susceptible to this

problem, as the Pitch/Roll Sensor may have to be located near

the muffler.  The Helicopter will tilt away from the muffler.
Remove the exhaust extension, or wrap it in aluminum tape.

Servos don’t move.

n

Black or brown wire in servo cables should be toward
component side of FS8 Co-Pilot™.

LED turns off and does not function.

n

FS8 Co-Pilot™ detected very low battery voltage.  Check for

shorted servos, bad switch and bad battery wires.  Check

battery charge state.

When in Flight Stabilization Setup Mode, there is

n

Flight Stabilization Setup Mode has three parts: Pitch Setup,

no roll compensation.

Roll Setup and Remote On/Off Setup.  To cycle through them,
press the CAL Button.

Sensor windows are dirty.

n

Clean Sensor windows with alcohol and cotton-tipped

applicator.

Elevator servo sometimes twitches when operating

n

The Vertical Sensor is seeing the warm ceiling, and is

FS8 Co-Pilot™ indoors in Normal Flight Mode.

degrading the pitch feedback.  You are seeing the digital effect

of the Vertical Sensor.  Put your hand or a hot object under the
vertical sensor to stop the twitching.

Flight Stabilization setup goes properly, but Flight Stabilization

The Vertical Sensor may be installed upside down, or is sensing

does not work correctly in Normal Flight Mode.  Symptoms

heat above the aircraft.

include:

n

Inspect the Vertical Sensor to be sure it is installed with the

n

Pitch control surfaces move in the correct direction, but roll

arrow pointing up when the aircraft is in its normal orientation.

control surfaces move in the wrong direction (or vice versa).

n

Put your hand or a hot object below the Vertical Sensor when

n

Remote on/off channel does not turn Flight Stabilization on

 verifying Flight Stabilization operation.

and off.  Instead, it changes the direction that pitch and roll

surfaces move to stabilize.

Troubleshooting

Содержание Co-Pilot FS8

Страница 1: ... Signature Recognition Failsafe Operation Infrared Flight Stabilization and Full Telemetry User s Guide FMA Inc 5716A Industry Lane Frederick MD 21704 Sales 800 343 2934 l Technical 301 668 4280 www fmadirect com Note Read this manual carefully before using FS8 Co Pilot ...

Страница 2: ...levons V tail complex transmitter mixes digital servos and CCPM n Includes Co Pilot Viewer Software for detailed receiver and flight stabilization data analysis Displays every FS8 Co Pi lot operating detail Requires Serial Interface Module available separately and a Windows 98 or later PC n Compatible with FS Flight Recorder available separately which records receiver and flight stabilization data...

Страница 3: ...r in the dark The heat infrared radiating from the Earth measured by FS8 Co Pilot provides a more stable and precise reference than light or other phenomena This gives FS8 Co Pilot much more precision than visible light sta bilization systems For example FS8 Co Pilot won t cause the aircraft to wander when a cloud comes into view Since the infrared environment is not affected by variations in visi...

Страница 4: ...Co Pilot It is recom mended that you turn off FS8 Co Pilot before attempting un usual attitudes for example inverted flight FS8 Co Pilot specifications Operating voltage 3 5 to 9 volts DC Operating current 10 milliamps servos may draw more current from rapid movement and stabilization Weight With Button LED Module supplied cables and optional Vertical Sen sor 1 9 oz With Button LED Module and sup ...

Страница 5: ...n trol the aircraft s flight path n FS8 Co Pilot is for recreational use only Do not install Co Pilot in aerial photographic aircraft where there is a possibility of flying over people n You must mount the FS8 Co Pilot Sensor securely Care fully follow the instructions in Installing which tells you to roughen the surface with sandpaper then clean the surface with rubbing alcohol n Keep fuel off th...

Страница 6: ...d light stabilization work with and require a completely installed and correctly operating aircraft radio control system transmitter FS8 Co Pilot battery pack and servos An airplane with elevons may also need an on board mixer if mixing isn t provided in the transmitter Before you work with failsafe settings and flight stabiliza tion install and set up your entire radio system Be abso lutely certa...

Страница 7: ... to the roughened area on the aircraft 5 Attach a 1 piece of fuzzy Velcro to the bottom of the Pitch Roll Sensor WARNING You must mount the Sensor securely so it won t come loose in flight If it comes loose you may lose control of the aircraft Other mounting methods can be used as long as the Sensor re mains securely in place during all flight conditions 6 Mount the Pitch Roll Sensor in the follow...

Страница 8: ... Locate a mounting spot for the Vertical Sensor typically on side of the fuselage or helicopter cockpit Follow these guidelines n The windows on the Vertical Sensor must point directly up and down when the airplane is in straight and level flight n The lower window on the Vertical Sensor must have a clear view of the ground The upper window must have a clear view of the sky n The sensor must be aw...

Страница 9: ...utton LED Module on a helicopter 1 Select a spot to mount the Module It should be convenient to press the buttons and you must be able to see the LED 2 Attach the Module using two cable ties through the holes in the PC board Note The Low Profile Button LED Module is laid out and marked differently than the standard name plate When you see REC Button and CAL But ton in this manual substitute R and ...

Страница 10: ...h Roll Sensor cable into FS8 Co Pilot 8 Plug the Vertical Sensor cable into FS8 Co Pilot 9 Plug the Button LED Module into FS8 Co Pilot 10 Connect the switch harness to FS8 Co Pilot 11 Connect the receiver battery to the switch harness If you aren t installing the FS Flight Recorder you can connect the switch harness to the Telemetry Battery pins on FS8 Co Pi lot 12 Wrap FS8 Co Pilot in 3 8 or 1 2...

Страница 11: ...ilsafe move to positions you preset When FS8 Co Pilot detects good transmitter data the re ceiver leaves Failsafe Mode and returns to Normal Flight Mode n Receiver Setup Mode lets you tell FS8 Co Pilot how to handle each channel when it is in Failsafe Mode Using a simple procedure see Set up the receiver you can set any channel to move to a preset Failsafe position during Failsafe Mode Channels no...

Страница 12: ...d on your particular aircraft and how it behaves in the air Start with the settings below then test and adjust them as needed For an airplane your goal is to have the plane circle and gently descend without stalling during a failsafe condition Good starting failsafe positions are n Ailerons neutral n Elevator neutral or slight up n Rudder moderate right turn n Throttle 1 4 to 1 3 n Flight stabiliz...

Страница 13: ...lled 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 n The channel 2 servo shakes three times to confirm n The LED twinkles but not continuously when FS8 Co Pi lot is in Flight Stabilization Setup Mode n The LED blinks 1 time and repeats slowly indicating FS8 Co Pilot is in Flight Sta...

Страница 14: ...he Vertical Sensor is disconnected while power is on flight stabilization is disabled FS8 Co Pilot assumes the sensor is defective b Place the bottle s of hot water above the Vertical Sensor to simulate inverted flight Pitch stabilization should be re duced when heat is above the Vertical Sensor Roll stabili zation is not affected Turn off FS8 Co Pilot CAUTION Be certain you get the responses de s...

Страница 15: ...el This means that you should calibrate over an area repre sentative of the general infrared environment such as grass the Sensor will see when the model is airborne Once calibrated large variations in terrain or weather can affect FS8 Co Pilot s ability to stabilize the aircraft If these occur you may need to recalibrate The calibration procedure recommends that you not cali brate for example ove...

Страница 16: ...ded on page 21 n Helicopters require extra precision to hover For that reason you should only use flight stabilization on a helicopter when the calibration reading is 3 or greater About infrared field calibration The infrared field calibration enables FS8 Co Pilot to measure the environment in which it will be flying The calibration has two parts 1 FS8 Co Pilot determines the infrared temperature ...

Страница 17: ...ight stabilization setup turn off Auto Trim and or l Disconnect the Pitch Roll Sensor from FS8 Co Pi lot and or l Rotate both Throw potentiometers fully counterclock wise 2 Set level orientation After step 1 the servos will cycle slowly During this period a Place the model level on the ground as shown in the next column It s important to make the aircraft absolutely level so take your time If the ...

Страница 18: ...re Pitch Roll Sensor and Vertical Sensor windows are clean If necessary clean windows with alcohol and cotton tipped applicator 10 Check failsafe operation Turn off the transmitter Servos with failsafe presets should move to those positions Turn on the transmitter The receiver will count this as one failsafe FS8 Co Pilot preflight check IMPORTANT n Perform the preflight check outside and after the...

Страница 19: ...ator response is reduced when the aircraft is inverted l Without the Vertical Sensor the aircraft may loop from in verted back to its normal attitude if it is high enough CAUTION If the aircraft is too low it will crash l To intentionally fly inverted including in loops half loops and other maneuvers where the aircraft is inverted or in knife edge orientation Turn off flight stabilization n Overwh...

Страница 20: ... of fly ing with FS8 Co Pilot It is not a substitute for flight instruction from an experienced pilot n If you are a beginner obtain help from an experienced mod eler FS8 Co Pilot makes it easier to learn to fly but it can not teach you how to fly only an experienced flyer can do that n FS8 Co Pilot cannot correct for reversed controls binding linkages a balky engine or any other problems Make cer...

Страница 21: ...ut the helicopter won t roll and crash When you can keep the helicopter in one place you ll realize that FS8 Co Pilot is doing most of the work Flying on windy days takes little effort n The hardest part of flying a helicopter is getting it trimmed After calibration is complete remember to add in a little right roll trim for clockwise blade rotation Once the helicopter is properly trimmed it is ve...

Страница 22: ...he ground 2 Fully extend the receiver antenna and position it vertically above the receiver tape the antenna to a wooden dowel for example 3 Connect one servo to receiver channel 1 4 Fully collapse the transmitter antenna 5 Turn on the transmitter 6 Connect a battery pack directly to the receiver Do not use a switch harness for this test since a switch harness may reduce range 7 Walk away from the...

Страница 23: ...ions in cold weather Helicopters are especially susceptible to this problem as the Pitch Roll Sensor may have to be located near the muffler The Helicopter will tilt away from the muffler Remove the exhaust extension or wrap it in aluminum tape Servos don t move n Black or brown wire in servo cables should be toward component side of FS8 Co Pilot LED turns off and does not function n FS8 Co Pilot ...

Страница 24: ...lsafe preset may help keep the airplane close to the field It s probably a good idea to drop the landing gear al though for some airplanes a belly landing may be less costly than bent landing gear Q How do I test failsafe operation A First do a check on the ground 1 Turn on your transmitter then turn on FS8 Co Pilot 2 Move the transmitter sticks to make sure the aircraft con trols respond correctl...

Страница 25: ...irplane into a stable attitude that will al low it to circle and descend slowly to the ground Because you can t control the plane expect a hard landing That however is much better than the plane drilling itself into the ground or flying out of sight Q My FS8 Co Pilot usually records a dozen or two bad frames during flights Is that bad A No In fact it indicates your radio system is performing very ...

Страница 26: ...et for Last Good Frame Hold Mode move slowly back and forth n Servos set for Failsafe Mode move to their preset failsafe positions and don t move back and forth Leave Receiver 1 Turn off FS8 Co Pilot Setup Mode 2 Turn off transmitter Set up flight stabilization Do this 1 Disconnect cable from Vertical Z Sensor if sensor is installed 2 Turn on transmitter 3 Press and hold CAL Button turn on FS8 Co ...

Страница 27: ...ight Stabili turn on FS8 Co Pilot zation Setup Mode LED twinkles Do not turn off transmitter during Flight Stabilization Setup Mode Press CAL Button Move to next Setup Mode in this order 1 Setup Mode 1 pitch 2 Setup Mode 2 roll 3 Setup Mode 3 remote on off Press and hold CAL Button FS8 Co Pilot sets all flight stabilization for 10 seconds channels to neutral factory defaults REC Button in Normal F...

Страница 28: ... flight stabilization is on 8 Set dual or tri rates to high 9 Assure all sensor windows are clean 10 Check failsafe operation turn off transmitter servos with failsafe settings should move to those positions 11 Test all transmitter controls including stabilization on off 12 If using a buddy box activate it for 2 seconds before each flight To do this Do this Check for interference 1 Turn on FS Co P...

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