Vision Aerial SwitchBlade-Elite, Flight Manual

Page 1: ...SWITCHBLADE ELITE FLIGHT MANUAL REVISION B JANUARY 2018 ...

Page 2: ...REVISION HISTORY 2 REVISION HISTORY Revision Date Description A March 2017 Initial Release B January 2018 Updated Images Flight Modes ...

Page 3: ...GHT CONFIGURATION DIMENSIONS 12 AIRCRAFT 13 BATTERY CHARGING 13 FLIGHT OPERATIONS 13 PAYLOADS 13 SETUP 14 SETTING UP THE SWITCHBLADE ELITE 15 TEARING DOWN THE SWITCHBLADE ELITE 20 BATTERY INSTALLATION 24 BATTERY CHARGING 25 BATTERY SAFETY 26 CONTROLLER 27 CONTROLLER ANTENNA CONFIGURATION 28 MISSION PLANNING APP 29 PROPELLERS 30 FLIGHT MODES 32 FLIGHT MODE SWITCHES 33 POSITION HOLD 34 ALTITUDE HOLD...

Page 4: ...ING TAKEOFF 43 FLIGHT 43 LANDING DISARMING 44 CONTROLS 45 THROTTLE 47 YAW 48 PITCH 49 ROLL 50 EMERGENCY PROCEDURES 51 AIRCRAFT ERROR 53 UNCONTROLLABLE ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE 53 MOTOR SHUTOFF DISARM 53 SUPPORT MAINTENANCE 55 APPENDIX A CONTROLLER MANUAL 58 APPENDIX B BATTERY CHARGER MANUAL 289 APPENDIX C REFERENCES 326 ...

Page 5: ...SWITCHBLADE ELITE OVERVIEW ...

Page 6: ...ation The SwitchBlade Elite manual and a flight simulator are no substitute for training with an experienced pilot particularly when it comes to learning how to safely operate the SwitchBlade Elite Novice pilots should never fly without the supervision of an experienced pilot Always check the SwitchBlade Elite and its components prior to operation see PREFLIGHT section Always maintain a safe dista...

Page 7: ...flight checks are complete use the throttle to gently rotate the propellers and check that each prop is rotating in the correct direction It is your responsibility to learn how to safely operate the SwitchBlade Elite and to adhere to all applicable rules and regulations Fly at your own risk The SwitchBlade Elite is a tuned system with custom components selected for each application Modification to...

Page 8: ...TIAL PURPOSE OF ANY LIMITED REMEDY Vision Aerial shall not be liable for damages or injuries incurred directly or indirectly from the use of the SwitchBlade Elite including but not limited to the following situations Failure of pilot to follow proper instructions and safety warnings Failure of the pilot to follow and comply with local rules and regulations Failure of the pilot to inspect the Switc...

Page 9: ...h power to weight ratio means that the SwitchBlade Elite is fast You ll be able to keep up with virtually any action shot with a top speed of over 60 MPH 100 KPH Whether in a car on an ATV or on foot the SwitchBlade Elite is light and folds up small so you ll never be unprepared When you need to fly you can transition from case to in the air in under two minutes The intent of this manual is to inf...

Page 10: ... package includes 1 SwitchBlade Elite TriCopter Ready to Fly 2 Controller Charger 3 Battery 1x Voltage Checker 4 Battery Charger 5 Hard Transport Case 6 Mission Planning Tablet Telemetry Radio 7 Video Receiver Monitor optional 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ...

Page 11: ...11 SPECIFICATIONS STORAGE CONFIGURATION DIMENSIONS ...

Page 12: ...12 FLIGHT CONFIGURATION DIMENSIONS ...

Page 13: ... AC DC FLIGHT OPERATIONS Manual Flight Range 4 km 2 5 miles Autonomous Flight Range Over 25 km 16 miles Max Operational Wind Speed Over 48 KPH 30 MPH Max Operational Altitude 4500 m 14 800 ft Above Sea Level Operational Temperature Range 5º C to 40º C 23º F to 104º F GPS Accuracy 2 5 meters 8 feet typically less than 1 meter Position Hold Accuracy 2 5 meters 8 feet typically less than 1 meter Live...

Page 14: ...SWITCHBLADE ELITE SETUP ...

Page 15: ... safety The arms are secured with red spring loaded pull knobs underneath the chassis IMPORTANT Do NOT manually operate the retractable landing gear Doing so may cause damage to the landing gear servos Remove the SwitchBlade Elite from case Select one arm and pull out on the corresponding red knob Rotate the arm away from the tail ...

Page 16: ...16 Once reaching the stop release the knob to allow locking Gently move the arm back and forth to verify the knob is engaged and seated thoroughly ...

Page 17: ...17 Repeat process with other arm Raise and secure the GPS mast Unfold each rotor so the blades point in opposite directions along the long dimension of the blade mount for all three rotors ...

Page 18: ...l electrical mechanical connections Before powering the transmitter be sure all the switches are in their default positions Power up the transmitter select On on the touch screen menu to activate the radio and check transmitter battery level Power up the aircraft by plugging the battery connector in Leave the aircraft motionless for 10 seconds to allow the gyroscopes to calibrate indicator light w...

Page 19: ...pp and connect to the aircraft Check battery level of connected telemetry device tablet phone PC Again survey the flight environment power lines people wind birds etc Arm aircraft by holding the throttle at zero and full right yaw for 5 seconds be sure not to hold more than 15sec or the aircraft will enter AutoTrim mode Smoothly slowly bring up the throttle and initiate take off ...

Page 20: ...he landing gear NOTE Do not manually raise or lower the retractable landing gear This can cause permanent damage to the servos If using telemetry disconnect it from the tablet phone or PC Disconnect the battery from the aircraft Power down the transmitter and return the switches to their preflight positions If using payload accessories power them down i e monitor Visually survey all electrical and...

Page 21: ...il rotor so the blades point forward Note It may be helpful to manually tilt the tail mechanism to allow enough clearance to prevent the blades from touching Select one arm and pull out on the corresponding red knob ...

Page 22: ...22 Rotate the arm towards the tail Once reaching the stop release the knob to allow locking ...

Page 23: ...seated Repeat process with other arm Check the battery voltage with the supplied voltage checker and note the flight time 3 60V cell is lowest recommended discharge level if lower than 3 60V cell reduce flight time on future flights Place aircraft in case and secure latches ...

Page 24: ... flight The battery position will likely have to be adjusted when applying or removing different payloads After optimizing battery placement always make sure to secure the Velcro strap that wraps around the battery pack The electrical connection between the craft and battery is made using an XT60 connector Making this connection powers on the SwitchBlade Elite IMPORTANT Always disconnect the batte...

Page 25: ...he charger to a wall outlet and attach the battery cell balance connector to the battery charger It is recommended to always use the Balance charge cycle It is recommended to not charge the pack at a greater rate than its capacity rating o Aka 1C o For example A 13Ah pack at max charge current equals a max 13A charging current ...

Page 26: ...ected behavior do not use the battery These can be signs of serious damage that can cause the battery to catch fire To prevent a hazard in case of fire or explosion disconnect the battery and place the battery in a safe area outside of any buildings or vehicles and away from flammable materials Do not dispose of the battery in the trash dispose of the battery at local battery recycling center as s...

Page 27: ...oller on before powering on the SwitchBlade Elite and turn off after un powering the SwitchBlade Elite Never turn the controller off during flight For additional information see Appendix A Keep the controller away from liquids fire microwaves and other hazardous or combustible materials Don t expose the controller to extreme temperatures If the controller is hot to the touch wait for it to cool be...

Page 28: ...28 CONTROLLER ANTENNA CONFIGURATION For the strongest connection to the SwitchBlade Elite position the antenna as shown below ...

Page 29: ...ram Mission Planner Mission planning using a non iOS mobile device interface is recommended through the use of Tower App Additional mission planning information can be found in Appendix C For more information on Mission Planner visit the Mission Planner home at http ardupilot org planner index html For more information on Tower App visit the Tower App home at https play google com store apps detai...

Page 30: ...ply Loctite 243 BLUE to the bolts when reattached to keep them from loosening during transport or operation All blades in folding propellers arrive from Vision Aerial at the correct attachment screw torque but a simple way to check if they have become too loose is to hold up the propeller assembly vertically and see if the blades in the propeller sag due to gravity This is an indication that the b...

Page 31: ...ellers always disarm the SwitchBlade Elite before handling When prompted to start motors before takeoff always ensure that the propellers are clear of any obstructions and at least 5 meters 16 5 feet away from any people animals or property before activating Do not touch moving propellers or approach the SwitchBlade Elite while the propellers are spinning Do not approach the SwitchBlade Elite unti...

Page 32: ...SWITCHBLADE ELITE FLIGHT MODES ...

Page 33: ...ltitude Hold the joystick movements are not directly proportional to the motion of the SwitchBlade Elite All joystick movements are proportional to maximum programmed speed in the direction the joystick is moved For example If the roll joystick is moved left say half of its travel the SwitchBlade Elite will choose its own roll angle in order to achieve 50 of the programmed max ground speed for tha...

Page 34: ...de is initiated by moving the left switch to the away position and the right switch away from the right control stick NOTE It is important to note that the throttle does not directly correlate to the RPM of the motors rather the throttle correlates to a desired climb or descend rates For example when the throttle is in the center position the target climb descend rate is zero When the throttle is ...

Page 35: ...rol stick When in Altitude Hold mode the aircraft will not resist external forces like wind it will rather drift with the wind Altitude Hold is useful when GPS signal cannot be reached or the pilot prefers a more manual piloting feel NOTE It is important to note that the throttle does not directly correlate to the RPM of the motors rather the throttle correlates to a desired climb or descend rates...

Page 36: ...th the sole difference that the control sticks are deactivated completely This mode may be useful when the pilot wishes to set the transmitter aside for a moment and reduce the risk of an unintentional control input NOTE It is important to note that it is best to never leave the aircraft airborne unattended ...

Page 37: ...executed by the use of the AUTO flight mode switch It is recommended as a best practice to design the missions such that the pilot launches in Position Hold mode and then once airborne execute the mission This increases the pilot s ability to adapt to unpredicted events during launch ie undesired non participants sudden changes in flight environment etc Autonomous Flight mode is initiated by movin...

Page 38: ...st near to the right control stick Land mode is also a failsafe protocol and will be activated if the battery becomes critically low This failsafe will in most situations prevent the aircraft from uncontrolled descents from altitudes of 10m It is recommended not to fly the SwitchBlade Elite lower than 20 of its available flight time as to create a flight time safety buffer NOTE If at any time duri...

Page 39: ...han the launch location the 15m climb altitude may not be adequate If 15m is not adequate for your flight environment the setting can be easily changed in the parameters section of the Mission Planner software Additionally if the launch location itself is moving say from a moving vessel it is best to avoid the use of Return to Launch Return to Launch mode is also a failsafe protocol and will be ac...

Page 40: ...40 SWITCHBLADE ELITE OPERATING PROCEDURES ...

Page 41: ...ions such as rain very high winds snow or fog Extreme weather conditions can permanently damage the SwitchBlade Elite or cause instability in flight Before flying determine the boundaries of the safe flying area at your location Be aware of any risks including bodies of water structures trees power lines etc and designate a few areas where you can land the SwitchBlade Elite in case of an unsafe si...

Page 42: ...ansmitter battery level Power up the aircraft by plugging the battery connector in Leave the aircraft motionless for 10 seconds to allow the gyroscopes to calibrate indicator light will flash red blue during calibration Confirm the radio link is active by changing the flight mode an audible tone will sound Deploy the landing gear by lifting the aircraft off the ground by hand and flip the gear swi...

Page 43: ...ck that the propellers are turning in the correct directions The leading rotor edge is smoother and thicker shown in blue below The trailing edge is thinner and sharper then the leading edge the trailing edge is shown in red below Gently bring up the throttle and initiate take off FLIGHT Fly safely remaining in line of sight LOS while staying aware of your flight environment ...

Page 44: ... to the servos If using telemetry disconnect it from the tablet phone or PC Disconnect the battery Power down the transmitter Return transmitter switches to default positions If using payload accessories i e monitor power them down Visually survey all electrical mechanical connections Pull red pull pins down and fold the arms in Unsecure and lower the GPS mast and then fold the tail propeller inwa...

Page 45: ...he SwitchBlade Elite is a precision machine designed to be controlled with very gentle and smooth inputs IMPORTANT Take care especially when familiarizing oneself with the aircraft to make VERY small smooth and gentle control inputs NOTE All controls are given from the perspective of a tail in orientation with respect to the pilot ...

Page 46: ...46 The controller features and control inputs are shown below ...

Page 47: ...47 Move the left stick vertically to control the SwitchBlade Elite s altitude and acceleration THROTTLE ...

Page 48: ...48 Move the left stick horizontally to rotate or yaw the SwitchBlade Elite and control orientation YAW ...

Page 49: ...ck left and right These movements are relative to the SwitchBlade Elite s current orientation so always maintain awareness of SwitchBlade Elite s forward facing direction before using right stick controls Move the right stick vertically to control pitch PITCH ...

Page 50: ...50 Move the right stick horizontally to control roll ROLL ...

Page 51: ...51 SWITCHBLADE ELITE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES ...

Page 52: ... procedures 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 Maintain aircraft control o 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 ...

Page 53: ...e until the environmental adjustment is properly addressed and normal flight can resume For more drastic uncontrollable environmental adjustments such as pilot incapacitation the following steps should be taken Switch to Return To Launch mode For more information on Position Hold mode please see the associated section on page 36 For more information on Return to Launch mode please see the associat...

Page 54: ...54 SWITCHBLADE ELITE SUPPORT MAINTENANCE ...

Page 55: ...st through our website visit visionaerial com contact MAINTENANCE BEFORE EVERY FLIGHT 1 Arm Locks o The arm locks should move freely and lock solidly both in the storage and flight configurations 2 Yaw Mechanism o Inspect all four connection points of the control links between the servo and yaw motor cradle are securely attached and move freely o Inspect that the yaw motor cradle moves unobstructe...

Page 56: ... unfold the propeller and hold the aircraft on its side The propeller should be clamped just tightly enough ensure adequate friction such that gravity does not cause the propeller to rotate on its hub but loose enough to be comfortably rotated by hand For more information see the Propeller section on page 30 An example of a healthy rotor is shown below o Once preflight checks are complete use the ...

Page 57: ...thout the use of lubricants as they attract dust and can cause fouling If binding is present compressed air may be used to clear the joints of any debris When reattaching the servo horn be sure to move the leg to the retracted position and match the servo horn to the noted orientation Then apply Threadlocker to the servo horn screw DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP and reassemble the servo horn Blue 243 Locti...

Page 58: ...58 APPENDIX A CONTROLLER MANUAL The following attachment is the controller manual for the included Graupner MZ 18 controller ...

Page 59: ...289 APPENDIX B BATTERY CHARGER MANUAL The following attachment is the manual for the included IMAX B6AC battery charger ...

Page 60: ...NDIX C REFERENCES PixHawk flight controller https pixhawk org Mission Planner site http ardupilot org planner index html Tower App site https play google com store apps details id org droidplanner android hl en ...