Getting Started Guide International edition Rev 1.0 - May 2015 Every Vortex is flight tested before leaving the factory.
WARNING To use dogs as a good analogy, if the DJI Phantom™ is a white fluffy Poodle , the Vortex is a Pitt Bull , bred for fighting, and ready to bite you at any minute :-) This is a race quad. It does not come with GPS hold (in fact, it has no GPS at all), and it does require a fair amount of skill to pilot it, this isn’t a quad built for strolling around the local park at walking pace.
4 Steps: Unboxing to Racing To get your ARF Vortex ready to race, follow the simple 4-step process below.
1) Install a Suitable Battery The Vortex has a flexible battery mounting system, and uses an industry-standard XT-60 connector. This allows it to use a wide range of different batteries. To help select a suitable battery for your flying-style, read this section carefully: Voltage First things first, voltage. For starting out with the Vortex, a 3s (11.1V) pack is recommended. A Vortex running 4s (14.8V) is an extremely fast race-quad, which can easily get a pilot into trouble.
of the Vortex. The COG is not that critical on a quad of this class, but it doesn’t hurt to respect it if possible. The addition of a heavy GoPro, or Mobius camera, on the nose of the quad may need a heavier battery to re-balance the quad. Note that the largest battery that can be installed safely on the Vortex is approx. 86mm long, by 50mm wide. These larger packs are not generally recommended, due to the damage that the extra mass can do in a crash.
2) Install Compatible R/C Receiver The Vortex is compatible with CPPM (all PPM channels down one single cable) receivers out of the box, and can support S-Bus, or Spektrum receivers with an optional cable. It is not compatible with standard R/C receivers with multiple channels of PWM out (standard servo hookups). The receiver should be mounted on the rear of the quad, on the shelf provided. A velcro strap, or a piece of double-sided tape is the best way to mount the a receiver.
3) Setup the Video Link To avoid the traditional ‘dip-switch chaos’ at race events, the Vortex does not use a DIP switch to define Video Tx channels. Instead, the OSD is responsible for setting the channel, and band. The Vortex ships with a default Tx frequency of 5740MHz , which corresponds to ImmersionRC/FatShark frequencies, Channel 1. If you are running ImmersionRC receivers, or a FatShark headset using the standard 5.8GHz module, just select Channel 1, and the wizard image should be shown.
4) Run the Wizard In the world of R/C, there is little standardization between equipment manufacturers as far as control stick to channel mapping. There is also little agreement between users as to which of the 4 control modes should be used. Since in the Vortex, both the OSD, and the Flight Controller need to know the channel mappings, a ‘Tx Setup Wizard’ is included to greatly simplify the process.
Mode 2 Controls Mode 2, arguably the most common stick mode, is common in the USA, and is a natural fit to helis, and multirotors. A Mode 2 transmitter is easily identified with the un-sprung (i.e. doesn’t return to center) throttle control on the left stick. For this mode, the multi-rotor controls are typically as follows: Throttle Pitch Yaw Roll Mode 1 Controls Mode 1 is common in Europe. A Mode 1 transmitter is easily identified with the un-sprung (i.e.
Following the Wizard The wizard is used primarily to let the Vortex learn the flight channel order, and R/C Tx mode (1, 2, 3, 4). ‘Left’ refers to moving the stick left, and ‘Back’ refers to moving the stick back towards you. Follow the prompts, ensuring that the correct stick is moved each time. As each control is recognized, it’s name will appear to the left of the servo bar.
NOTE : To restart the wizard at any time, power up the quad, and press, and hold, the button on the LED board for approx. 8 seconds. Once the wizard is finished, various Cleanflight settings will be configured, including enabling oneshot, motor_stop, and failsafe. Another setting which is automatically made is the assignment of CH5 to the flight mode, Acro, Horiz, and Angle. To complete the setup, configure your R/C Tx to link CH5 to a 3-position switch.
All Done, Time To Fly At this point in the Getting Started manual, the Vortex should be ready for its maiden flight. The Wizard has setup the flight controller with our default Pro-Tune, generated by one of our expert team pilots. PIDs and gains are unlikely to require major changes to achieve precise flight. If the props were removed during setup (as we highly recommend), please re-install taking care of the prop directions below: Take it easy for the first few LiPos , and get used to your new Vortex. P.
Specifications Flight Controller IMU Invensense 6050, 3 axis Gyro, 3 axis Accelerometer Altimeter Bosch BMP180 CPU STM32F103 32-bit ARM processor Firmware Cleanflight compatible (with API version matching that of the OSD) OSD CPU STM32F373 32-bit ARM processor Resolution 440H x 280V Style White, with black surround around all pixels Output Programmable Black/White levels Video Tx Features Transmitter Module Socketed, Custom NexWaveRF 5.
ESC Type ImmersionRC EzESC Rating 12A continuous, 17A peak Features OneShot125, and Motor Braking Processor 32-bit ARM R/C Receiver Channels Required Absolute minimum four. Five recommended to support mode switch. Interface Standard 3.3v-5v PPM Sum (all channels in one PPM stream) Receiver Power +5v @ 200mA max. (3.
Support First line of support is handled by the reseller. If you encounter any problems with your ImmersionRC product please contact them first. For support on issues involving equipment from other brands and also general support for ImmersionRC products, the best place to go is the ImmersionRC section of FPVlab.com . We actively monitor this forum and provide support here.
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