Dragonfish Lite User Manual
Legend keys Please pay attention to the legend keys in this Manual. Warning: Remind the possible danger. Important: Matters needing attention in flight operation. Remark: supplementary information. Reminding: Reminding information to get the best operating experience of Aircraft. References: Page numbers to help you find chapters that contain relevant information. Product User Terms Thank you for your interest in the industry aircraft products provided by Autel Robotics Co.
through Autel Voyager, Autel Robotics customer service team has no right to access to the flight log data. With the authorization, it is only allowed to access to the flight logs within the selected time. Various still images, motion images and data from the aircraft sensor will be stored in the internal drive of aircraft. If your UAV needs repair, then the information stored in the internal memory unit can be used for problem diagnosis.
temperature will affect the battery life. Too high temperature may cause fire or spontaneous combustion; too low temperature may cause permanent damage of battery. When the battery is at a temperature lower than 10°C, the battery needs to be preheated before taking off. Do not use the battery in a strong electrostatic or electromagnetic environment. Do not expose the battery to fire, explosions or other dangers. Never place the battery in a microwave oven or pressure cooker.
Do not fly in dangerous situations or severe weather conditions such as tornadoes, rain, hail and snow. Fly in an open and safe area. Stay away from obstacles that may interfere with GPS signals, such as buildings and trees.
Contents Chapter 1 About the Manual ........................................................................................................... 8 1.1 Instructions for the first flight ...............................................................................................8 1.1.1 Documents of start guide ...........................................................................................8 Chapter 2 Be familiar with your Dragonfish Lite ...........................................................
Chapter 5 Maintenance and service ..............................................................................................40 5.1 Firmware update ................................................................................................................. 40 5.2 Solutions to common faults ................................................................................................ 40 5.3 Storage and maintenance .....................................................................................
Chapter 1 About the Manual Thank you for purchasing your Dragonfish Lite UAV from Autel Robotics. With this Manual, you can understand the features of Dragonfish Lite products and learn to operate this aircraft and remote controller optimally. Before first use of Dragonfish Lite products, please read this Manual and attached documents. Use this Manual for reference if needed during flight. 1.1 Instructions for the first flight 1.1.
Chapter 2 Be familiar with your Dragonfish Lite The Dragonfish Lite integrates intelligent flight control technology, gimbal technology and imaging technology from Autel Robotics. It adopts a unique tilt-rotor design, easy disassembly and efficient aerodynamic design.
2.1 Product overview 2.1.1 Aircraft The aircraft is mainly composed of four main parts: the fuselage, the left wing, the right wing, and the tail wing. Internally, it contains an automatic driving system, a power system, a data transmission system, a positioning system, an intelligent power supply system, a load system, etc.
⑧ Wingtip propellers ⑨ Rear landing gear ⑩ Wing lock ⑱ Dust Net ⑲ PTZ installation interface ⑳ Millimeter-wave Radar 2.1.2 Gimbal camera Dragonfish Lite is equipped with a high-precision 3-axis stabilization gimbal to ensure stability and clarity of high-altitude and high-speed aerial pictures. It is compatible with a variety of mounts, and supports multiple loads of dual-lens cameras, triple-lens cameras, multi-spectral cameras, third-party cameras, etc.
Base station main body ① Frequency pairing indicator ② Wi-Fi indicator ③ RTK indicator ④ Power indicator ⑤ USB-C charge interface ⑥ Frequency pairing button ⑦ Power button ⑧ Port cover ⑨ Antenna N-shaped connector ⑩ Turntable mounting hole ⑪ Cooling hole Tripod ① Fixing screw ② knob ③ Telescopic rod ④ Foot pin Use method Turn on The base station has 2 working modes:normal mode and disabled RTK mode, which can be used in different operating scenarios.
normal mode. 2. With the base station turned off, press and hold the power supply button for 3s to enter into the disabled RTK mode. You will hear 3 beeps when entering into the mode, and the RTK indicator will be red. Turn off Press and hold the power supply button for 1s to turn off. connect the ground station or aircraft Using the normal mode as example, the specific operations are as follows: A. Frequency pairing of the base station with the aircraft 1.
2.1.4 Aircraft battery The rechargeable lithium polymer battery used in the Dragonfish Lite is high energy and high capacity, and should be charged with the provided special charger. ① Disconnect button ② Battery level indicator ③ Power button/power level check Check battery level When the battery is turned off, press the power button for 1 second and then release it quickly to check the battery level. LED will indicate the current battery level, as shown below.
There is overcurrent, overload or short circuit problem in the case of discharging. - Indicator is flashing - Off Battery level indicator status (charging status) LED 1 LED 2 LED 3 LED 4 Battery level 0-25% 25-50% 50-75% 75-100% - Indicator flashes in green - Indicator is normally on green Additional functions Follow these steps to protect and prolong the battery service life.
The battery will stop charging if the charging current exceeds 16A. Overcharge protection The battery will automatically stop charging after it is fully charged. Balanced protection Each battery unit shall maintain voltage balance to avoid overcharge or overdischarge. Overdischarge protection The battery will automatically disconnect the power output function when it is not used and completes the self-discharge procedure. This function is disabled in flight.
Ultrasonic sensor Measure the distance between aircraft and ground. Flight Mode According to GPS availability and flight conditions, Dragonfish Lite can automatically switch between two flight modes. Flight Mode Flight Mode Description Automatic flight The ground station is switched to gear A, and the aircraft performs a fully autonomous task flight without remote control.
In any of the following low battery situations, the fail-safe will be activated. A. The aircraft will continuously calculate the battery level required to the return point. When the battery level reaches the maximum level required to the return point, The fail-safe will be activated and start the return process. B. When the aircraft battery level reaches the set threshold (25% by default), you will receive one low battery alarm, and the fail-safe will be activated to start the auto return of aircraft.
② Mode switching indicator ③ Gimbal pitch control thumbwheel ④ Manual/automatic mode switching key ⑤ Rocker ⑥ Return button ⑦ Power status indicator ⑧ Optical sensor ⑨ Touch display screen ⑩ Hook ⑪ Microphone ⑫ Shooting/video recording key ⑭ Gimbal levelness control thumbwheel ⑮ Tripod mounting interface ⑯ Power button ⑰ Charging interface ⑱ USB interface ⑲ SD card slot ⑳ SD card slot ㉑ HDMI interface ㉒ User-defined key ㉓ Headphone jack ㉔ Air outlet Ground station setting Rocker mode The rocker mode i
App main interface Flight status bar Missions: Waypoint task, polygon task and rectangular task can be added. Manual flight: Switch the ground station to the gear M to enter into the manual control mode. Mission history: Old tasks can be searched, and managed and edited. Settings: Check the connection status of the base station, download offline maps, check software\firmware version updates, and report flight logs.
Camera interface Symbol Information Start/exit tracking task One-key takeoff One-key landing Gimbal angle switching 21
Task interface Symbol Information Map mode switching: Normal, hybrid, satellite Rapid positioning: Remote controller position, aircraft position Search: To search place name or address In the center: Make the return point in the center of the screen Elevation preview: Waypoint preview, check flight planning, turn on/off terrain following Edit current task Takeoff key, start the task 22
Chapter 3 Flight preparation Dragonfish Lite has a convenient rapid disassembly design. To ensure the safe operation of the UAV, please read the following instructions and warnings before the first flight. 3.1 Battery preparation 3.1.1 Aircraft battery charging Charging Please connect one end of the charger to a 100-240V AC power supply, and connect the other end to the aircraft battery, as shown in the figure below.
Always place the charger in stable and safe position. During charging, do not touch the metallic casing of the charger, to avoid high-temperature scalding. 3.1.3 Base station charging When using it for the first time, be sure to fully charge the battery. Please use dedicated charger to charge the base station. 1. Plug the Type-C power cord into the Type-C port of the base station. The base station will automatically enter into the charging mode (either when it is turned on or off). 2.
3.2.2 Turn on/off ground station Power on Press and hold the power button ( ) for 2s until you hear a short beep. The flight information panel will light up, and startup inspection will commence. Important Always turn the remote controller on before turning on the aircraft’s power. Power off Press and hold the power button ( ) for 2s until you hear a short beep. Important Always turn off the aircraft power before turning off the remote controller. 3.2.
3.2.4 Ground station calibration If the rocker is abnormal (for example, the ground station falls on the ground or the flight direction of the aircraft is not consistent with its operation direction), it is recommended to recalibrate the controller. You can calibrate the remote controller by using Autel Voyager App, or calibrate by the following steps. 1. Enter the aircraft setting interface, select the option of remote controller, and open the option of remote controller calibration. 2.
3.3 Base station preparation 3.3.1 Base station construction Set up the base station in a place with a wide view and mark it (align the center of the tripod with the center of the mark point), so that the base station can be accurately reset after being moved. 1. Unfold the tripod, extend three telescopic rods to proper lengths, and screw up the knob, to ensure that the tripod is firm. 2.
may intensively interfere with satellite signal receiving, to reduce influence of multi-path effect. The base station must not be moved while the aircraft is in operation, otherwise the aircraft may be disconnected, and unexpected loss may occur. 3.4 Aircraft preparation 3.4.1 Assemble aircraft 1. Install left and right wings Align and buckle 2. Install tail wing Align and buckle 3. Install wingtip propeller Confirm that the aircraft has been turned off.
Wear protective gloves when installing or disassembling the propeller. Put into base Press and rotate paddle Install in locking position Locking direction: rotate in indicated direction to lock the propeller. Unlocking direction: rotate the propeller as indicated to unlock it. Install marked propeller on marked motor. Install unmarked propeller on unmarked motor. 4.
6. Install intelligent aircraft battery When the aircraft battery is installed or removed, be sure to turn off the aircraft power. Align the battery port with the battery port on the fuselage, put in the battery until you hear a click. 3.4.2 Activate aircraft 1. Turn on the ground station power supply Press and hold the power supply button for 1s to turn on the ground station power supply. 2. Turn on the base station power supply Press and hold the power supply button for 1s to turn on the base station.
4. Activate aircraft Turn on Autel Voyager and click the activation button to activate the aircraft. 5. Airspeedometer calibration 1. Enter the aircraft setting interface, select the airspeedometer option. 2. According to the prompt, cover the airspeed tube with calibrator. 3. Click “Confirm” after completing the above operations on the App interface, then click “Start calibration” and wait for calibration completion. 3.5 Flight Enter the Autel Voyager safe flight interface display.
1. Switch the ground station to the gear M 2. Check the aircraft system state 3. At the same time, press the left and right rockers inwards or outwards, and hold for 2 seconds to unlock the motor or 4. Push the accelerator rocker up, then the aircraft will rise.
Warning The manual mode is not recommended for non-professionals. 3.5.2 Automatic takeoff 1. Switch the ground station to the gear A 2.
3. Check the aircraft system state 4.
Chapter 4 Flight Operation 4.1 Precautions Check list before flight Perform comprehensive check before flight by the following steps: Fully charge the aircraft battery, the ground station battery and the base station battery. Confirm that the propeller is intact and correctly installed. Set the position of the ground station antenna. Pair the aircraft, the ground station and the base station. Check that the firmware has been upgraded to the latest version indeed.
4.2 Ground station and flight operation This aircraft includes three rocker modes: Mode 1, Mode 2 and Mode 3. Each mode has different control on the aircraft. The default mode is the Mode 2.
Remark The accelerator rocker is used to control the aircraft to raise and descend. Reminding The rocker modes, which can be switched in the Autel Voyager, can be selected according to operation habits, and the American manipulator is recommended for the beginner. Basic flight 1. Place the aircraft in an open area. Stand at least 5 m (15 ft) from the tail of the aircraft. 2. Turn on the ground station. 4. Start the motor with the ground station to take off. 5.
Warning Motor will generate heat during operation. Please operate with care. 4.2.2 Manipulator control (Mode 2) Reminding If you are the first time to control the aircraft, please move the rocker gently till that you are familiar with its operation. Left rocker Raising/descend Push the rocker up and down to control the ascent and descent of the aircraft. Rotate leftwards/rightwards Push the rocker leftwards or rightwards to rotate the aircraft left or right.
When the aircraft lands on the ground, select one of the following methods to turn off the motor: or Push two rockers inwards and hold in the position for 2s Push the throttle rocker to the bottom and hold in the position for 2s Automatic landing Click the One-key landing ( ), on the App camera interface. The aircraft will automatically descend, land and turn off the motor. During the descending process, you can adjust the aircraft position by using the right rocker.
Chapter 5 Maintenance and service 5.1 Firmware update In order to optimize the system performance of Dragonfish Lite aircrafts, Autel Robotics will update relevant firmware when necessary. When the system detects a new firmware version, Autel Voyager APP will open a prompt box after it is connected with the aircraft to remind you to download and install the new version. 1. Turn on the ground station power supply and the power supplies of the base station and the aircraft. 2.
Q3. If the aircraft cannot take off after the motor is started, please check the following: Whether the aircraft is in a restricted area. Whether the aircraft is on a flat surface. Q4. The flight time is shortened: The most common reason for shortened flight time is the influence of low ambient temperature, wind strength, etc. Q5. The aircraft does not respond to the remote controller during pairing: Confirm that there is no metallic object, mobile device or other remote controller nearby. Q6.
the date of delivery), the Company will repair or replace products or parts for you free of charge according to actual situations with the proof of purchase.
Website: www.autelrobotics.com China Tel: 0755-2690 8091 Email : after-sale@autelrobotics.com Website: www.autelrobotics.cn 5.5.2 Maintenance service If you want to return your equipment for repair, please mail to Email : after-sale@autelrobotics.com or call Autel Robotics’ customer support: 400-800-1866.
Chapter 6 Annex 6.1 Restricted area and indexes of laws and regulations 6.1.1 Diagram of restricted area Dragonfish Lite UAV can automatically identify restricted areas and avoid these areas by default during flight. This function ensures that the aircraft complies with the legal flight area requirements. Flight restrictions are only enforced in some countries with mandatory legal requirements, such as China. China is the only country that requires manufacturers to enforce flight restrictions.
Class II: Sensitive area or organization & military area & border between countries Ⅰ: Warning area APP will give a warning information when the aircraft enters the area of 2 km from the airport. Ⅱ: Restricted area A circular area centered on this area and with a radius of 1km. Remark When the aircraft enters any takeoff restricted area, it will land automatically. When the aircraft enters the altitude restricted area, its maximum allowable altitude will be lowered accordingly.
2019. 2. Normative documents Civil Unmanned Aircraft System Air Traffic Management Measures MD-TM-2016-004 (Bureau Invention Electric (2016) No. 2630), promulgated on September 21, 2016, and implemented on September 21, 2016. Regulations on the Operation of Light and Small UAVs (Trial) AC-91-FS-2015-31, promulgated on December 29, 2015, and implemented on December 29, 2015.
6.2 Specifications Aircraft Size 965*1600*350 mm Weight (including two batteries, excluding the gimbal) 4.5 kg Weight of single battery 0.75 kg Maximum takeoff weight 1.0 kg Max. loading capacity 5.5 kg Working frequency 902-928 MHz； 2.4000-2.4835 GHz； 5.725-5.755 GHz Transmit power (EIRP) 900MHz FCC：< 30 dBm； 2.4 GHz FCC：< 30 dBm SRRC/CE/MIC：< 20 dBm； 5.8 GHz SRRC/FCC：< 22 dBm CE: < 14 dBm Max. flight environment) time (wind-free 75 min Max. horizontal flight speed 30 m/s Max.
GNSS GPS+GLONASS+BeiDou+Galileo Hover precision(P-GPS) Vertical: ± 0.1 m (vision positioning works normally) ± 0.5 m (GPS works normally) ± 0.1 m (RTK positioning works normally) Horizontal: ± 0.3 m (vision positioning works normally) ± 1.5 m (GPS works normally) ± 0.1 m (RTK positioning works normally) RTK position accuracy In RTK FIX: 1 cm+1 ppm(horizontal) 1.
2.400 - 2.4835 GHz 5.150 - 5.250GHz 5.650 - 5.755GHz 5.725 - 5.850 GHz Working frequency Others specs of ground station Name: lithium polymer battery Capacity: 8200mAh Voltage: 11.4 V Battery type: Li-Po Energy: 93 Wh Charging time: 120 minutes Battery Battery life About 3 hours (maximum brightness) About 4.
Vertical: 1.5 cm+ 1 ppm(RMS) 1 ppm: For every increase of 1km, the accuracy is decreased by 1mm. For example, the precision is 1.1cm when the aircraft is 1km away from the base station. Positioning update rate 1Hz, 2 Hz, 5 Hz, 10 Hz and 20Hz Cold startup ＜40s Warm startup ＜10s Recapture ＜1s Initialization reliability > 99.9% Differential format RTCM 2.X/3.X data transmission Data link Image transmission link; WiFi Image transmission of base station Working frequency 2.4000-2.
Base station and aircraft: 30km(FCC) Base station and ground station: 200m (FCC) (no interference, no blockage;the base station erection height, namely the height from the antenna to the tail end of the tripod, is 2m, the height difference with the ground station is within 10m, and the height of the ground station from the ground is 1.2m). Communication distance Electric features of base station Power consumption 7.
