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4
D.
Startup
1.
Leave servos switched off until you are ready to use the Autopilot in flight. Always power up the
AUTOPILOT circuit first.
2.
Make sure you are outside with a view to the sky. Upon startup the AUTOPILOT will connect to
the Flight Controller, maintaining a heartbeat (ignore the login prompt). If the Flight Controller is
not able to lock onto more than 5 satellites, the AUTOPILOT will keep trying, via a countdown. If
it still cannot get a good lock after the countdown, it will start up anyway, and you will be able
to see the satellite count for yourself. It will be red if below 6, otherwise green. A red cross will
appear if the satellite count is less than 5. (A flashing green light on the GPS antenna also
indicates satellites have been acquired). If the satellite count is zero you will need to restart.
3.
Make sure the Flight Controller remains stable during startup. Once the AUTOPILOT has started
it will lock in the current GPS location, and use this as its Home reference.
4.
If either the Flight Controller link is broken (loss of heartbeat) or the satellite count falls below 5,
you will see a large red cross appear on the display and the AUTOPILOT will disengage. The AHRS
is still working, but the flight data readings cannot necessarily be trusted. Once the AUTOPILOT
has reconnected, and/or the satellite count goes back up to 5 or above, the AUTOPILOT will
resume normal operation.