AERO Congratulations on your purchase of an Aero! Please read the following sections of this manual to get started with your new autonomous aircraft.
airspeed sensor battery compartment electronics compartment (under wings) left aileron right aileron rudder elevator If the terms above are unfamiliar to you, visit 3dr.com/learn, and dive into the exciting world of planes with our Introduction to Flying Fixed-Wing Aircraft. RC transmitter Spektrum If you did not order an RC transmitter with your Aero, visit 3dr.com/learn for instructions.
) ! Safety Before you fly, always determine the boundaries of your safe flying area. If the Aero moves outside the designated area or exhibits instability in flight, switch to fly-by-wire mode and land the plane manually. The Aero will not avoid obstacles on its own, including during missions. As the operator, it’s your job to recognize and avoid obstructions while flying. Always be ready to regain manual control of the plane in the event of an unsafe situation.
Charge battery The Aero is powered by a rechargeable lithium polymer (LiPo) battery. Store the battery at half charge, then charge fully before flying. Batteries must ship at half charge, so please charge before your first flight. Each full battery provides approximately 40 minutes of flight time. battery charger Connect the charger to the power adapter cable and a wall outlet. Connect the red cable to the + port and the black cable to the - port. + – Set the charger to LiPo and 3A.
Connect the white connector to the 4S port. Join the two yellow connectors together. Secure the battery inside the guard bag while charging, and charge until the status indicator displays green. 4S Charging Complete guard bag ! Battery safety Protect the battery from extreme heat, extreme cold, puncturing, and flammable surfaces. Always transport, charge, and store the battery in the guard bag. Charge the battery using a designated LiPo balance charger only. Always monitor the battery while charging.
Setup Follow these instructions to take the Aero from travel configuration to flight configuration. 1 Slide the horizontal stabilizer into the vertical stabilizer along the orange groove. Make sure not to stress any of the components on the tail. horizontal stabilizer vertical stabilizer complete tail assembly On the top of the horizontal stabilizer, open the blue clasp at the end of the servo rod.
Insert the pegs on the clasp into the open space in the servo horn, and close the clasp. servo horn Slide the blue rubber ring over the clasp to secure it in place. Turn the plane over and insert the provided tail screw into the horizontal and vertical stabilizers. tail screw 2 Locate the wing spar (long rod) and the two wings. Slide a wing onto the spar.
Slide the other wing onto the spar. Do not twist the wing or the spar so as not to stress the foam. complete wing assembly Locate the two cables inside the electronics compartment marked AILE. Connect these cables to the two cables on the wings marked AILE. (Either of the wing cables can connect to either of the plane cables; the order doesn’t matter.
Locate the four large rubber bands. Use the bands to secure the wings to the body of the Aero by the four orange knobs on the body around the wings. Attach two of the bands to the two knobs on one of the short sides and opposite knobs on the opposing side. add first band add second band orange knobs Repeat on the other short side with the remaining two rubber bands, resulting in two pairs of opposing right triangles.
3 Locate the rings inside the propeller package. Remove the ring with the second-largest internal diameter, and insert it into the back of the propeller hub. Remove the nut and the washer from the motor, add the propeller with the writing on the propeller facing towards the nose of the plane, add the washer and the nut over the propeller, and tighten the nut.
The tail boom arrives attached to the Aero. Follow these instructions to remove the tail boom for travel. Disconnect the RUDD and ELEV cables inside the electronics compartment. Remove the screws on the body and the tail indicated below. body tail Pull out the tail boom to remove. To reattach, reverse these steps.
Setting flight modes On 3DR transmitters, use the two-position switch and the three-position switch shown below to select a flight mode.
The Aero includes six flight modes. Manual mode, two assisted flight modes (stabilize and fly by wire), autonomous mission mode, and two command modes (loiter and return to launch). The following sections of this manual describe the behavior of each mode. The Aero’s six modes are assigned to your transmitter’s mode switches according to model.
Manual mode Fly with fine-tuned manual control without autopilot assistance. Manual mode gives you the most direct input to the control surfaces, resulting in precise in-flight adjustment. Try manual mode if you’re an experienced RC plane operator. X no GPS lock required GPS Manual mode RC controls throttle yaw pitch roll Left Stick Throttle up Increase motor speed. Left Left Stick Stick Throttle down Decrease motor speed. Left Stick Left Stick Throttle fully down Stop motor.
Left Stick Yaw left Left Stick Turn left. Left Stick kcitS tfeL Yaw right Turn right. kcitS tfeL Pitch up Pitch up. Left Stick kcitS tfeL Pitch down Pitch down. Left Stick kcitS tfeL Roll left Left Stick Roll left. kcitS tfeL kcitS tfeL Roll right Roll right.
Stabilize mode Stabilize mode provides manual control with an added autopilot safeguard: Release the right stick and the Aero will automatically return to a level flying orientation. Use stabilize mode for the freedom of manual control with return-to-level stabilization. X no GPS lock required GPS Stabilize mode RC controls throttle yaw pitch roll Left Stick Throttle up Increase motor speed. Left Stick Stick Left Throttle down Decrease motor speed.
Left Stick Yaw left Left Stick Turn left. Left Stick kcitS tfeL Yaw right Turn right. kcitS tfeL Pitch up Pitch up. Left Stick kcitS tfeL Pitch down Pitch down. Left Stick kcitS tfeL Roll left Left Stick Roll left. kcitS tfeL kcitS tfeL kcitS tfeL Roll right Roll right. Roll and pitch center Automatically level.
Fly-by-wire mode Let the autopilot manage the control surfaces, and navigate based on where you want the Aero to fly. Fly-by-wire mode* (FBW) is the easiest way to fly and is the recommended mode for new fliers. *APM:Plane mode FBWA X no GPS lock required GPS FBW mode RC controls throttle yaw stabilized pitch stabilized roll Left Stick Throttle up Increase motor speed. Left Stick Stick Left Throttle down Decrease motor speed. Left Stick Left Stick Throttle fully down Stop motor.
Left Stick Yaw left Left Stick Turn left. Left Stick kcitS tfeL Yaw right Turn right. kcitS tfeL Pitch up Pitch up. Left Stick kcitS tfeL Pitch down Pitch down. Left Stick kcitS tfeL Roll left Left Stick Fly to the left. kcitS tfeL kcitS tfeL kcitS tfeL Roll right Fly to the right. Roll and pitch center Automatically level.
Command modes Use command modes to enter into an automatic flight pattern. Once set to a command mode, the Aero will continue to follow the specified pattern until otherwise directed. Command modes require GPS lock prior to takeoff. Loiter mode: GPS-positioned circling »» The Aero will enter into a circle pattern with a radius of 60 meters at the current altitude. »» Move the right stick to adjust the position of the circle.
Missions Use a ground station computer with the provided Telemetry Radio to fly a fully autonomous mission. To download software and learn how to plan a mission, visit 3dr.com/learn. laptop ground station with 3DR Telemetry Radio Once you have saved a mission to the Aero, ensure that the autopilot acquires GPS lock during the preflight steps, and take off in manual, stabilize, or fly-by-wire mode. Fly to the approximate altitude of the first waypoint, and switch into autonomous mode to start the mission.
Preflight steps Select an open area for flying, away from people and buildings, and remember to bring the flight checklist and a fully charged battery. Follow these steps every time you fly. Flight Checklist Preflight 1 » » » » » » Go outside to an open area, and inspect aircraft. Wings and tail attached Tail boom secure Servos and rods secure Airspeed sensor secure Propeller tight Transmitter on 3 2 Connect charged battery. » Hold aircraft still while powering on. » Secure lid.
Check that the airspeed sensor is secured to the side of the Aero and the tube is free from obstructions. airspeed sensor If any of the components or assemblies in these checks are not secure, tighten the screws or use CA glue (super glue) to secure the components to the foam. Power on the RC transmitter, and set the throttle fully down. 2 Open the battery compartment by sliding the knob on the orange switch and lifting out the foam lid.
Secure a charged battery to the velcro strip within the marked lines, and attach the yellow connectors. ! Hold the Aero still and level while it powers on. Secure with the velcro strap. Close lid by aligning the orange notches at the nose. 3 24 With the battery connected and the lid secured, check that the Aero is correctly balanced for flight. Hold the Aero with one finger on each of the clear, plastic balancing points shown below. These points indicate the Aero’s center of gravity.
If the plane balances on your fingers, then the center of gravity is correct. If it won’t balance, adjust the position of the battery until you can balance the plane on two fingers as shown below. 4 Check the LED for the status of the autopilot. If you plan to use loiter, return-to-launch, autonomous, or any other GPSrequired modes during your flight, wait to see the blinking green light, indicating GPS lock, before proceeding.
6 Place the plane on the ground, and set the mode switches to select manual mode. Move each of the sticks as shown, and check for the corresponding movement of the motor or control surfaces. Raise the throttle slightly until the motor spins, then immediately set the throttle back to fully down position. Left LeftStick Stick Motor spins.
kcitS tfeL Roll left Left Stick kcitS tfeL Left aileron tilts down, right aileron tilts up. kcitS tfeL Roll right Left aileron tilts up, right aileron tilts down. Left Stick Yaw left Left Stick Rudder tilts left. Left Stick kcitS tfeL Yaw right Rudder tilts right.
7 Set the mode switches to stabilize, and hold the plane in front of you. Move the plane as shown, and check for the stabilization response from the control surfaces. Test: Tilt the plane left. Result: Left aileron tilts down, right aileron tilts up. Test: Tilt the plane right. Result: Left aileron tilts up, right aileron tilts down. Test: Tilt the plane down. Result: Elevator tilts up. Test: Tilt the plane up. Result: Elevator tilts down.
Takeoff & landing Now you’re ready for takeoff! If you’re new to planes, we recommend having a friend help you launch the Aero. Have your friend throw the Aero while you control the transmitter. Left Stick We recommend setting the Aero to fly-by-wire mode for takeoff. Find a launching area with at least 100 feet of clear space in front of you. Face into the wind, and hold the Aero at the center of gravity. Raise the throttle to center position to start the motor.
When you’re ready to end your flight, follow these steps to land: »» Fly a circle pattern above your landing area. »» Come in on a final approach, flying into the wind at an altitude of 20 to 40 meters. »» When the plane reaches an altitude of 10 meters, set the throttle fully down to turn off the motor and glide down on a 15 to 20 degree down-pitch angle. »» When the plane is one meter above the ground, pitch up (flare) to land the Aero on the body of the plane instead of the nose.
Postflight steps 1 To disarm the motor, press and hold the safety button until it displays blinking red. safety button 2 Disconnect battery 3 Turn off transmitter. Inactive, motor disarmed Active, motor armed Your flight is now complete. Always following the preflight and postflight steps described in this manual when you fly.
FPV/OSD video If you received an FPV/OSD video system with your Aero, visit 3dr.com/learn for instructions on operating your video system. Learning more Visit 3dr.com/learn for more instructions on flying, configuring, and using a ground station with the Aero. To learn more about the APM:Plane platform, including adding new flight modes and flying autonomous missions, visit plane.ardupilot.com. Support For customer support, contact us at help@3dr.
