Copyright © 2019 Xflight Technologies LLC, Florida, USA
33
M.
CRUISE and HOME Flight Tests
The final flight test will be to test pitch and roll together as well as return to HOME location.
Again, pick a clear area on a good weather day with very little wind for this test and fly at a safe altitude
away from populated areas.
Make sure to do clearing turns before any maneuver to ensure there is no other traffic in the area.
1.
Prior to takeoff power up the AUTOPILOT.
Leave the pitch and roll servos switched off.
2.
Takeoff and fly straight and level at a typical cruise speed at a safe altitude. The AHRS display
should be straight and level.
3.
Select
AP ON
and power up the pitch and roll servos.
4.
Select
CRUISE ON
to enter Cruise mode.
The AUTOPILOT should maintain the current heading and altitude.
Immediately switch the
AUTOPILOT off (AP OFF) or power down the servo(s) if you experience any adverse reaction.
5.
Fly at least 3 miles away from the airport.
6.
Return to Home Test:
Select
HOME ON
to enter RTL (Return to Land) mode. The AUTOPILOT should now display the
Home heading as the
Target
heading (the
Track
is your actual heading) and acquire this heading
with a maximum bank angle of
20
degrees while maintaining current altitude.
Immediately
switch the AUTOPILOT off (AP OFF) or power down the servos if you experience any adverse
reaction.
The maximum bank angle is configurable:
LIM
LIM_ROLL_CD
2000
In cdeg (centi-degrees)
7.
Once you are within 2 miles of the airport the
HOME
button will start to flash. The aircraft will
then enter a 1-mile radius left hand loiter circle above the airport at current altitude until the
HOME mode is disengaged, or the AUTOPILOT has been switched off. The loiter circle
parameters are configurable. This needs to be set to a value your aircraft can easily achieve (see
the following section).
RTL
RTL_RADIUS
-1609*
In meters
Negative for counter-clockwise
Positive for clockwise
*Note 1,609 meters is 1 mile
8.
When complete allow servos to return to a neutral position, then switch the AUTOPILOT off (
AP
OFF
) and/or power down the servos.