Atomic Workshop Zombie Leaflet

a breakthrough for free flight models!

Specially developed to exploit the huge potential of Li-Poly cells, the amazing

‘ZOMBIE’ allows you to pre-program the flight profile on electric powered

models. Simply ‘dial-in’ the power and duration required before flying and the

‘ZOMBIE’ will obey!

Overview

The Zombie features 4 ‘trim pots’
which provide total flight control for
free flight model aircraft.Trim pots 1
and 2 regulate the first phase ‘power’
and ‘time’ settings of the flight, whilst
trim pots 3 and 4 regulate the second
phase ‘power’ and ‘time’ settings of the
flight.The trim pots can be adjusted
with a ‘jewellers’ screwdriver to give
between 0 and 100% power and 0 to
65 seconds. For instance, a typical flight
may consist of a climb at 80% power
for 20 seconds (phase1) followed by a
cruise at 45% power for 30 seconds
(phase 2)

The flight profile is initiated by pressing
the Zombie’s on-board switch.The
switch has a built in delayed start. At
the end of the cycle the Zombie will
automatically turn itself off.

Atomic Workshop have carefully
designed the Zombie to draw a very
low stand-by current. However, we do
recommend that if you are not flying
for an extended length of time to
disconnect the Zombie from the
battery.

Wiring up the Zombie

The Zombie’s wires should be
connected as follows:

Connect the motor to the 2 green
wires (the motor ‘+’ terminal attaches
to the green wire adjacent to the red
battery wire)

Connect the battery to the ‘short’ red
and black wires (red to battery ‘+’)

The zombie also comes supplied with
2 longer red and black wires for
connecting to a battery charging

socket. If these are not required they
can be cut off close to the PCB to save
weight and prevent shorting.

Although the motor leads can be
soldered directly to the motor, Atomic
Workshop recommend the use of
polarised plugs and sockets for
connecting both the battery and
charger wires (if used).

Setting the battery type

To operate correctly the Zombie
needs to know what type of battery is
connected (number/type of cells).

From the Atomic Workshop factory
the Zombie is configured to operate
from a single Li-Poly cell. If you intend
to use a different battery configuration
then the Zombie will have to be re­programed using the following simple
procedure:

Step 1:

Disconnect battery

Step 2:

Turn ‘trim pot 1’ fully anticlockwise

+ -

mot

+

bat

-

bat

+

charge

-

charge

© Atomic Workshop, Oct 2004 (rev 1)

the model or place it on the ground
ready for take-off.The switch may be
pressed to interrupt the cycle at any
time.

Typical installation

Access is required to Zombie to alter
the ‘trim pots’ and to hit the on/off
switch.To eliminate the need for
hatches we recommend the use of a
slide-out tray built into the model (see
picture of Keil Kraft Luscombe Silvaire
right).This system has many
advantages:The Zombie’s switch and
pots can easily be operated, the self
contained tray is easy to wire up and

the balance point of the model can be
adjusted by moving the items on the
tray.

Build-in two light balsa rails on the
insides of the fuselage back to the
balance point to accept the sheet balsa
tray. The tray, which is glued to the
back of the noseblock slides into these
rails.Two tiny neodymium type
magnets recessed into the back of the
noseblock are all that is required to
hold the tray in place.This system can
be used in the nose of twin engined
types as long as you leave enough
‘slack’ in the motor leads to allow the
tray to slide forward.

Flight Trimming

Trim the model using the 2nd phase
power and time settings (pots 3 & 4).
Adjust the settings so that you get a
‘powered glide’ for about 5 seconds.
When you are satisfied that the model
is flying well you can introduce the 1st
phase power and time settings (pots 1
& 2) to obtain a gentle climb.To avoid
losing your model, always increase the
settings gradually as the Zombie will
provide over 2 minutes motor run!

CAUTION - RISK OF DAMAGE!

Ensure correct polarity when connecting battery cells and never allow the green

motor wires to short together whilst the Zombie is connected to a battery.

Do not short out any part of the Zombie PCB whilst connected to a battery.

2 HARRISON’S FARM, OBY, NORFOLK, ENGLAND NR29 3BW

www.atomicworkshop.co.uk [e-mail]

TECHNICAL DATA

ELECTRICAL

No. of Control Phases: 2
Battery Level Indicator: YES
ON/OFF Switch: On-board
Supply Voltage Range: 3.15 to 10V
Recommended Battery: LiPoly (1-2 cells)

or NiMH/NiCd (3-7 cells)

ESC Max Cont. Current: 4A*
Standby Current: 30uA

PHYSICAL

Dimensions: L=14.6mm,W=11.3mm, H=4mm
Mass: 0.65g (excl. wires) 1.25g (incl. wires)
Battery Wires: 2 off 26AWG PTFE insulated,
Motor Wires: 2 off 26AWG PTFE insulated,
Charge Wires: 2 off 28AWG PTFE insulated,

* Zombie will run hot at max. current.Exceeding max.
current (e.g. motor stall condition) may cause damage.

Step 3:

Re-connect the battery whilst
simultaneously holding down the
‘on/off’ switch.At this point the
Zombie’s LED will glow deep orange.
You can now release the ‘on/off’
switch.

Step 4:

Slowly turn ‘trim pot 1’ clockwise until
the required battery type is displayed
on the flashing LED according to the
following:

The number of flashes represents the
number of cells and the colour of the
flash represents the cell type:

LiPoly = GREEN
NiMH/NiCd = RED

For example, If you intend to use a 2­cell LiPoly battery pack rotate ‘trim
pot 1’ until the LED double flashes
green. If you intend to use a 5-cell
NiMH/NiCd pack rotate until you see
5 red flashes.

Step 5:

When you have made your selection,
push the on/off switch once to store
your selection.The Zombie will then
flash back the stored selection.

The Zombie will remember this setting
even after the battery is disconnected.
You can repeat this procedure as many
times as you wish. Each time the
battery is connected the Zombie will
flash out the code for the stored
battery type.

Battery Level Indicator

The Zombie is equiped with a battery
level indicator. The battery level is
represented by the colour of the LED
during the 10 second start delay.As
the battery is discharged the LED
colour will change from green, through
deep orange to red. If the battery is
too low for operation the LED will
flash rapidly for 3 seconds and the
Zombie willl shut down.

On/Off Switch

The switch features a special delayed
start (approx. 10 seconds), this enables
the operator to close any hatches on

trim pot 1

1st phase

‘power’

on/off switch
with delayed
start feature

LED battery Level

indicator &

operation light

trim pot 2

1st phase

‘time’

trim pot 3
2nd phase

‘power’

trim pot 4
2nd phase

‘time’

(charging wires

not shown on

this photo)