3D Robotics X8 Plus User Manual
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X8
Operation Manual
IMPORTANT
Read before
flying!
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.
Happy flying!
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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
Maintenance 32
Specs 33
Resources 34
Parts
Choose a clear launch
point, and face the X8
away from you.
Place the X8 at
launch point.
Go outside to
an open area!
X8
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RC Controller Battery Kit Tool KitPropellers Flight Checklist
SF propellers (4)
SFP propellers (4)
Flight battery
Charger and accessories
Ground Station Radio
Radio
USB adapter
Propeller wrench
Pixhawk micro-SD card
adapter
Flight Checklist
Connect
Power on controller;
2
charged battery.
1
set to STD and RTL OFF.
Hold the X8 still
and level while
powering on.
Press and hold safety
Arm
Check
button until solid red.
4
5
3
6
motors.
LED.
The motors are
now active.
!
Hold left stick down-
Stand back!
right until motors spin.
LED
Loss of RC signal, automatic landing
Initializing, hold the X8 level
Low battery, automatic landing
Acquiring GPS, please wait
Loss of GPS signal, switch to manual
Autopilot ready, GPS locked
Armed
Pre-arm safety check failure
Safety Button
Motors inactive, safe to
Motors active, deactivate before
handle
handling (see reverse)
Flight Modes
Standard position
Loiter mode
LTR
(altitude hold mode)
STD
fly manually
hover
Return to launch
Auto mode
RTL
AUTO
land at the launch point
fly a mission
Land
Control gimbal
CH7
TILT
land at the current position
tilt the camera down and up
©2014 3D Robotics. vA. All rights reserved.
Android adapter
Guard bag
2
X8
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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).
1
2
X8 Assembly: Unfold Arms
4
2 Unfold Legs
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).
1
3 Attach Propellers
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.
To attach each propeller, remove the nut and washer from the motor,
and add the correct type of propeller with the writing on the propeller facing
the sky. (This will be a tight fit; apply pressure and twist the propeller
onto the motor.) Replace the washer over the propeller, and tighten the
nut on top using the propeller wrench.
top motor: SFP
top motor: SF
bottom motor: SF
top motor: SF
bottom motor: SFP
X8 Propeller Order
bottom motor: SFP
top motor: SFP
bottom motor: SF
2
!
Ensure that the writing on all
propellers faces the sky.
X8 Assembly: Unfold Legs
X8 Propeller Assembly
5
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.
DroidPlanner 2
Android
Important Note About Vehicle Setup in Mission Planner and APM Planner:
Your X8 has been pre-configured at the factory and is ready to fly. Re-performing the
calibrations on the Initial Setup screen, including the mandatory hardware configurations
and setup wizard, can adversely affect the performance of your aircraft.
iOS? There are currently no ground station applications available for iOS.
Mission Planner
Windows
APM Planner
OS X
6
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).
When the battery reaches the low voltage limit, the X8 will initiate a low battery failsafe
and land automatically at the current position. (See page 20 for more information about
failsafes.) To avoid a low battery failsafe, monitor battery voltage during flight on the
controller’s flight data display, and end your flight before the battery reaches the low
voltage limit.
flight battery level
Full battery: 16.8 V
Low battery limit: 14 V
End your flight at 14.1 V.
!
flight battery mAh consumed since armed
Press and hold the DN
button to view flight data.
Controller
Controller Flight Data Display: Screen 1
Another way to monitor power consumption is by using milliamp-hours (mAh).
Monitor the mAh on the controller, and ensure that it does not exceed 8,000
mAh (80% of the battery’s available capacity). Exceeding 8,000 mAh can
render the battery permanently unusable.
Do not exceed 8,000 mAh for a fully charged X8+ battery.
!
7
Charging
Charge the battery before your first flight!
Safety
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.
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–
Charger with power cable and
split-wire charging cable
3
Connect the white connector to the 4S port, and
join the two yellow connectors together.
4S
Flight battery charging wiring
2
Set the charger to LiPo and 3A.
LiPo 3A
Charger settings
4
Secure the battery inside the guard bag,
and charge until the status indicator
displays green.
Charging
Charging in process
Complete
!
Flying with a low battery is a safety
risk and can render the battery
permanently unusable. Always fly
with a fully charged battery.
Charge the battery using a designated
LiPo balance charger only. Always
monitor the battery while charging.
Protect the battery from extreme
heat, extreme cold, puncturing, and
flammable surfaces. Always transport,
charge, and store the battery in the
guard bag.
Inspect the battery for damage before
and after flying. If you observe any
swelling of the package or the battery
ceases to function, do not use the
battery; locate your local battery
recycling center, and dispose of the
battery. In the US and Canada, visit
call2recycle.org to find a location.
Do not dispose of the battery in the
trash.
8
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.
controller battery level (9-12 V)
Press and hold the DN
button to view flight data.
Controller
Controller Flight Data Display: Screen 1
Replace controller batteries at 9.1 V.
!
9
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