IMPORTANT Read before flying! X8 + Operation Manual
Meet the X8+ Thank you for purchasing an X8+! The X8 is a powerful octocopter platform for aerial video. Review this manual in its entirety before your first flight. Additional instructions can be found in the X8 information portal at 3DR.com/X8/info.
Contents Parts 2 Setup 4 Assembly 4 Ground Station 5 Power Management 7 Charging 8 Safety 8 Controller Battery 9 Powering the X8 10 Connecting to a Ground Station 11 Flight Basics 12 Safety 12 Operating Limits 13 Controls 14 Modes 17 Return to Launch 19 Failsafes 20 Status Indicators 22 Flight Procedures 24 Takeoff 24 Landing 26 Monitoring 27 Missions 28 Planning 29 Saving 30 Initiating 31 Ending 31 Appendix 32 Troubleshooting 32 Mai
Parts RC Controller Propellers Battery Kit Ground Station Radio Tool Kit Flight Checklist Return to Launch Return to Launch Full Autonomy Full Autonomy Loiter Loiter X8+ Flight Checklist 1 Go outside to an open area! 3 Place the X8 at launch point. Flight battery Radio 4 Press and hold safety button until solid red.
X8+ GPS mast Pixhawk autopilot Front arms (blue) Rear arms (black) Antenna Safety button Status LED Micro-USB port (not pictured, side of Pixhawk) 3
Setup: Assembly The X8 arrives in travel configuration. Complete these steps to prepare the X8 for flight. 1 Unfold Arms Remove the bolts and thumbnuts outside the two folded black arms (1). Unfold the black arms, re-insert the bolts, and secure with the thumbnuts (2).
2 Unfold Legs 3 Attach Propellers Remove the bolts and nuts to the inside of the folded legs (1), unfold the legs, re-insert the bolts, and secure with the nuts (2). The X8 uses SF and SFP propellers. These labels can be found on the individual propeller packages and on the propellers themselves. See the diagram below for which motors require SF or SFP propellers. The accuracy of this assembly is critical for the X8 to fly correctly.
Ground Station A ground station is a laptop or tablet running an ArduPilot-compatible mission control application. In the field, a ground station helps you monitor the X8 during flight, plan missions, and troubleshoot issues. We recommend using a ground station at all times with the X8. To set up a ground station, choose a platform below and visit 3DR.com/download_software to install the application.
Power Management The X8 is powered by a rechargeable lithium polymer (LiPo) battery. When fully charged, the battery provides up to 15 minutes of flight time depending on payload, environmental conditions, and flying style. Flying with a gimbal, GoPro, and FPV system can reduce flight time by up to 5 minutes. Flying aggressively or in high winds can affect power consumption and reduce flight time. Monitor power consumption using the flight data display on the controller (press and hold the DN button).
Charging Safety Charge the battery before your first flight! 1 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. ! 2 Set the charger to LiPo and 3A. Flying with a low battery is a safety risk and can render the battery permanently unusable. Always fly with a fully charged battery.
Controller Battery The controller is powered by 8 AA batteries (included). The controller’s flight data display allows you to monitor the voltage of the controller. When fully charged, the controller will display 12 V; when completely out of charge, the controller will display 9 V. Replace the batteries when the controller displays 9.1 V. Press and hold the DN button to view flight data.
Full Autonomy Full Autonomy Full Autonomy Powering the X8 Follow these steps to power the X8. 1 Ensure thatLoiter the switches Loiter Turn on the controller. Loiter are set to CH 7 OFF, STD, and RTL OFF. Altitude Hold RC controller Altitude Hold Altitude Hold Mode switch CH 7 switch RTL switch 2 Join the yellow connector on the battery with the yellow connector Stabalize on the X8; this will Stabalize power on the Stabalize X8.
Connecting to a Ground Station To connect the X8 to a ground station, connect the ground station radio to your laptop or tablet, and power the X8. Laptop (Mission Planner/APM Planner) 1 Connect the ground station radio to your laptop using the USB adapter. Open Mission Planner or APM Planner. 2 Select 57600 and AUTO, then select CONNECT. (When connecting directly to Pixhawk’s micro-USB port, set the rate to 115200.
visual line of sight Flight Basics: Safety 400 ft (120 m) To ensure safe and successful flying, always fly in accordance with your location regulations and these best operating practices. visual line of sight Before you fly, determine the boundaries of your safe flying area. If the X8 moves outside the designated area or exhibits instability in flight, switch to standard mode and land the X8 manually. 400 ft (120 m) Always fly at least 100 feet (30 m) away from people, vehicles, and buildings.
Operating Limits Always fly within the X8’s operating limits. X8+ Operating Limits Maximum Altitude* 100 m (328 ft) Range* 300 m (984 ft) from launch point GPS Lock GPS lock required at all times Maximum estimated flight time 15 min Payload capacity 800 g (1.
Controls left stick: throttle & yaw Maneuver the X8 in flight Left using the LeftStick Stick controller’s two joysticks. Throttle Left Stick Move the left stick vertically to control altitude. left stick To take off and to gain altitude, raise the throttle stick slightly above center position. Left Stick Set the throttle stick to center to maintain the current altitude. Lower the throttle stick below center to decrease altitude.
ver + Land Yaw ver + Land wer just slightly wer justMove slightly the left stick horizontally to rotate the X8 and change orientation. hover LeftStick Stick the stick slightly away from the center hover For a slow rotation, move Left Left Left in either direction. Moving the stick farther from the center creates a faster rotation. left stick ft Yaw ft Yaw Righ Righ Move the stick to the left to rotate counterclockwise. ght Yaw ght Yaw Move the stick to the right to rotate clockwise.
Pitch and Roll The right stick allows you to control the X8’s position in the air. Move the right stick to tell the X8 to move in that direction: forward (toward the blue arms), back (toward the black arms), left (toward the left arms), or right (towards the right arms). How far you move the stick from the center before releasing it tells the X8 how fast to move. right stick Move the right stick forward to fly forward. Forward Forward Forward Forward Back Move the right stick back to fly backward.
Modes Full Autonomy mode switch The X8 includes three flight modes: manual flight (STD-altitude hold), hover mode (LTR-loiter), and mission flight (AUTO). Use the switch on the right side of the controller to select a flight mode.Return to Launch Loiter Standard (altitude hold mode) STD Full Autonomy fly manually Altitude Hold Start your flight in standard to select altitude hold mode, and fly manually using the controller.
Auto mode AUTO Altitude Hold fly a mission Select auto mode to fly an autonomous mission. The X8 will automatically fly the series of waypoints saved to the autopilot. See the Missions section on page 28 for instructions on planning and flying missions. Loiter ! Do not activate auto mode unless you have saved a mission to the X8 using a ground station application.
Return to LaunchAltitude Hold land at the launch point Set the RTL switch to ON to end your flight and return the X8 to the launch point automatically. Once you activate RTL, set the throttle stick fully down, and the X8 will automatically disarm after landing. The X8 will not disarm automatically unless the throttle stick is set fully down. Ensure thatLoiter the RTL switch is set to OFF before takeoff.
Failsafes The X8 is programmed with a set of failsafe behaviors to prevent a crash in the event of a loss of one of the data or communication channels required for flight. Although certain failsafes have assigned LED indicators and tones, it is unlikely that you will be able to see these at a distance. Monitor the ground station for failsafe indications. If a failsafe is triggered, the assigned behavior will activate.
GPS Failsafe The X8 requires GPS lock before takeoff. Enclosed areas, physical obstructions, and lack of available satellites can affect GPS strength. If the X8 loses GPS lock in flight, it will trigger a GPS failsafe, indicated by a blinking blue and yellow LED with a high-high-high-low tone, and automatically switch to manual control (standard - altitude hold mode). Always be prepared to regain manual control at any time while flying and choose an unobstructed flying area to improve GPS signal strength.
Status Indicators LED The Pixhawk LED indicates the status of the X8. During flight, the LED won’t be visible, so you will need to use a ground station to view the status of the X8. Visit 3DR.com/X8/info to listen to Pixhawk’s status tones.
Safety Button The safety button indicates the status of the motors to allow you to arm and disarm the X8 safely.
Flight Procedures: Takeoff Follow these steps to take off. Checklist »» »» »» »» »» 24 Propellers are attached tightly to the motors in the correct order and the GPS mast is oriented vertically. The X8 is powered with the battery secured to the underside of the vehicle. (Remember to hold the X8 still and level while the sensors initialize.) The controller is set to CH 7 OFF, standard (STD) mode (loiter mode for beginners), and RTL OFF.
Arm After completing the checklist, you’re ready to fly! Arming and disarming are important steps that must be completed before takeoff and after landing. There are two steps to arming the X8: the safety button and the controller. 1 Press and hold the safety button until it displays solid red. This indicates that the X8 is now active.
Landing If you end your flight using the Ch 7 land command or RTL, the X8 will disarm automatically; wait for the motors to stop, and proceed to powering off. Attempting to disarm the X8 in either land or RTL can cause the cause the copter to flip. Disarm For manual landing in standard or loiter mode: 1 Press and hold the safety button until it blinks red. The motors are now inactive, and the X8 is safe to handle. 2 To disarm the motors, hold the left stick down/left until the motors stop.
Monitoring Monitor the X8 in flight using the controller’s flight data screens. Press and hold the DN button to access the flight data screens. Press DN again to toggle between screens. Controller GPS status current flight mode GPS signal strength in # of satellites connection strength altitude in meters speed in m/s flight battery level (14-16.8 V) flight battery mAh consumed since armed meters from launch point flight time current latitude current longitude ! End your flight at 14.1 V.
Missions The X8’s Pixhawk autopilot is capable of flying an autonomous mission without operator input. Ensure that you feel comfortable operating the X8 manually before attempting an autonomous mission. Environmental Awareness Power Before you fly, assess the features of your flying area. Determine the boundaries of the safe flying area, and be prepared to recover the copter manually if it goes outside this area. Be aware of any risks at your location, including bodies of water, structures, trees, etc.
Planning To plan a mission, power the X8 and connect to your ground station. Ground station applications require an Internet connection to access maps. Tablet (DroidPlanner) Laptop (Mission Planner, APM Planner) Select the DroidPlanner icon, select Editor. Tap to add waypoints, or select the brush tool and draw a path for the X8 to follow. Select Flight Plan, and click to add waypoints. Select the green arrows at the bottom of the screen to configure altitude and change waypoint types.
Saving After planning the mission, save the mission to the X8. The Pixhawk autopilot can store one mission at a time. When you initiate the mission, the X8 will start the mission stored to the autopilot at the time. Tablet (DroidPlanner) Laptop (Mission Planner, APM Planner) Select the option menu in the top-right corner, and select Send Mission. This will save the mission to the X8. On the Flight Plan screen, select Write WPs to save the mission to the X8.
Initiating Ending Once you’ve saved the mission to the X8, follow these steps to fly the mission. End the mission according to the type of landing configured in the mission. Left Stick 1 Perform a pre-mission test flight. Follow the standard takeoff procedure, and fly a brief test flight to verify that all controls (throttle, yaw, roll, and pitch)Stabalize are responding normally. 2 Arm in standard mode. When you’re ready to start the mission, arm the X8 in standard (STD) mode. 3 Switch to auto mode.
Appendix: Troubleshooting Pre-Arm Safety Check Failure ` If the status LED displays blinking yellow, the X8 is failing one the pre-arm safety checks. To determine the specific failure, check the heads-up display on the ground station. There will be an error message specifying the failed check.
Specs Battery: 4S 14.8V 10,000 mAh 10C Battery Dimensions: 6.6 in x 2.6 in x 1.4 in (16.7 cm x 6.5 cm x 3.5 cm) Battery Weight: 803 g Autopilot hardware: Pixhawk v2.4.5 Autopilot firmware: ArduCopter 3.2 GPS: 3DR u-blox GPS with Compass (LEA-6H module, 5 Hz update) Ground Station Radio: 3DR Radio v2 (915 MHz or 433 MHz) Motors: SunnySky V2216-12 KV800 II Frame Type: X Propellers: APC Propeller 11x4.7 SF (4) APC Propeller 11x4.7 SFP (4) Vehicle Dimensions: 13.7 in x 20.
Resources Thank you for being a responsible drone operator. For more information about the X8, visit the pages below. Online information portal: 3DR Support: Terms and Conditions: Happy flying! 3D Robotics 1608 4th Street, Suite 410 Berkeley, CA 94710 3DR.com X8+ Operation Manual DCT0004 v.A 2014 ©3D Robotics 3DR.com/X8/info help@3DR.com 3DR.
