Co-Pilot II reference manual
8
FMA Direct
Programming Co-Pilot II
About the IRNet Programmer
The IRNet Programmer is your “window” on the Co-Pilot™ II
system. It enables you to interact with the Computer to configure
the system and assure that it is working correctly.
Programming covers a wide range of settings, organized in four
areas accessed via the Main Menu:
n
Preflight
n
Preferences
n
Quick Setup
n
Do Field Calibration (available only if the Vertical Sensor
Module is not detected)
The “Overview” diagram on the next page shows the general
structure of the programming screens. Flowcharts on the fol-
lowing pages will help you navigate the Programmer’s screens.
Notes in the flowcharts provide additional information about
many of the screens.
Use the buttons on the Programmer to select options, adjust set-
tings and move from screen to screen. In general, this is what
each button does:
n
INC
(“increase”) selects the next Main Menu option or in
-
creases a value within a screen.
n
DEC
(“decrease”) selects the previous Main Menu option or
decreases a value within a screen.
n
ENTER
moves to the next screen in a menu. If the current
screen displayed a value you set, that value will be stored. If
the current screen asks you to choose the next activity (using
the
INC
and
DEC
buttons), pressing
ENTER
will display the
screen for that activity.
n
BACK
moves to the previous screen. If the current screen
displayed a value you set, that value will be stored.
Additionally:
n
Press and hold the
BACK
button to move up one level in the
menu structure.
n
Simultaneously press
DEC
and
ENTER
to scan for IRNet de-
vices (see next section).
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Simultaneously press
INC
and
BACK
to access the contrast
adjustment screen. Press
INC
or
DEC
change contrast, then
simultaneously press
INC
and
BACK
to exit.
Using the Programmer
1. Turn on the IRNet Programmer by pressing
ENTER
. The
screen will show:
IRNet Display
Vx.x FMA Inc.
2. Turn on the Co-Pilot II Computer (by turning on the aircraft
receiver).
3. In general, hold the IRNet programmer so its infrared trans
-
ceiver can “see” the infrared transceiver on the IRNet Router,
but be aware of the following:
n
The infrared transceivers are very powerful. Indoors, the
signals will bounce off of floors, walls and ceilings.
n
Outdoors, especially in direct sunlight, range will be short-
enened and the Programmer will be more “directional”—it
will need to be aimed more directly at the Router to get the
best reception.
n
To prevent swamping, don’t aim the Programmer directly at
the Router when the two are within 1-2 feet of one another.
4. As shown in the “Link Up” flowchart:
a. Simultaneously press the
DEC
and
ENTER
buttons. The
screen may briefly show:
Searching...
for a Device
b. When the Programmer identifies the IRNet Router, the
screen will show:
IRNet Router
Vx.x
c. Simultaneously press the
DEC
and
ENTER
buttons. The
screen may briefly show:
Searching...
for a Device
Note:
If other IRNet devices are connected to the Router, you
may see screens identifying them. Simultaneously press
DEC
and
ENTER
until you see the Co-Pilot II screen (step d, below).
d. When the Programmer identifies Co-Pilot II, the screen will
show:
Co-Pilot II
Vx.xx
e. Press the
ENTER
button to connect to the Co-Pilot II Com-
puter. The screen will show the Main Menu:
CHOOSE TASK?
>[task]
(You’ll find the Main Menu in the “Link Up” flowchart.)
5. Press
INC
or
DEC
to select a programming task—“Preflight,”
“Preferences” or “Quick Setup” (or “Do Field Calib.” if the
Vertical Sensor Module is not detected)—then press
ENTER
to view screens for that task. Use the corresponding flowchart
to help you navigate the screens.
6. If this is the first time accessing the Computer, navigate to
“Quick Setup” and follow the on-screen instructions to config
-
ure Co-Pilot II.
The general approach to programming
n
Use the “Quick Setup” screens to initially set up Co-Pilot II to
work with the aircraft on which it is installed. Return to the
“Quick Setup” screens if the sensor installation, radio system,
servos or flight surfaces change. Also use “Quick Setup to
configure Flight Modes the first time.
n
Use the “Preferences” screens to configure how Co-Pilot II op
-
erates. Also use “Preferences” to change Flight Modes with
-
out having to navigate all the screens in “Quick Setup.”
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Use the “Preflight” screens to check Co-Pilot II, the receiver
battery voltage, sky-to-ground temperature differential and
other functions before each flight.
n
If the Vertical Sensor Module is not installed, use the “Do
Field Calib.” screens to perform a manual infrared calibra
-
tion at the beginning of each flying session, or whenever the
weather changes significantly. See “Preparing to fly,” later in
this manual, for details.
