How it Works
Freefly
Loading...
Alta 8 PRO
User Manual
128 pgs8.55 Mb0

Freefly Alta 8 PRO User Manual

ALTA 8 Pro
Overview
Introduction
ALTA Pro is a professional multi-rotor aircraft designed for demanding cinematic, professional, and industrial, applications. In under five minutes, ALTA Pro can unfold from its carrying case to flying some of the most capable cinema cameras and industrial payloads on either the top or bottom of the aircraft. ALTA Pro runs the PX4 stack and has been customized for both cinema and commercial use, yielding precise yet smooth control.
This manual is not a substitute for adequate flight training. Training requirements can vary when operating in different countries or under different flight conditions. Always consult local regulations before flying ALTA Pro. In areas where there are no flight training requirements, it is the sole determination of the pilot-in-command as to whether he or she has the appropriate level of training or experience for a given flight. Always set and adhere to personal minimums and fly within your own capabilities.
Throughout the manual, warnings, cautions and notes are used to highlight various important procedures. These are defined as follows:
Warnings are used to highlight procedures which, if not strictly observed, may result in personal injury.
Cautions are used to highlight procedures which, if not strictly observed, may cause damage to equipment.
Notes are used to highlight specific operating conditions, usability tips and tricks or steps of a procedure.
Specifications
Included Items
1.
2.
Case
ALTA Pro
3. Long Range Radio Modem
a. Aerial portion mounted to ALTA
4. Isolator Cartridges
a. (6) Teal (Installed)
b. (6) Black
c. (6) Red
5. Inverted Landing Gear
6. Quick Release Battery Tray
7. ALTA Product Spares
8. USB-Futaba Power Cable
9. FPV Cables
a. Skyzone/BOSCAM
b. BOSCAM, small connector
c. ImmersionRC/Fat Shark
d. Ready Made RC
10.
5.5mm Wrench
11. Hex Drivers (1.5mm, 2.0mm, 2.5mm)
12. Electronic Luggage Scale
13. Documentation
Additional Required Components (Not Included in Base Package)
Radio Controller
ALTA Pro supports a variety of radio controllers as outlined in the Flight Controller
Specifications. A minimum of five (5) channels are required, with four (4) used for flight
control, and the remaining one (1) used for mode selection.
A radio controller with between six to ten channels is highly recommended to make use of Return-to-Land (RTH) and ALTA Pro’s other functions. It is recommended to use a radio controller with a three-way switch for Mode selection and a two-way switch for the Return-to-Land function.
Flight Battery
ALTA Pro can accommodate a variety of Lithium Polymer (LiPo) flight battery packs. Battery packs must be 6S, having a nominal voltage of 22.2 V. Only run ALTA Pro using two packs at a time. Each pack must have a continuous discharge rating of 250 amps or greater, and a peak discharge rating of 500 amps or greater. For additional information on expected flight durations, refer to the Performance Section of this manual.
The use of flight packs which do not meet the voltage and discharge rating above (22.2V nominal, 250a continuous discharge, and 500a peak discharge) can cause damage to the ALTA and the batteries.
Dimensions
Item Dimension
Unfolded Diameter
1325 mm - ALTA Pro
(does not include Props)
Folded Diameter
660 mm - ALTA Pro
(does not include Props)
Height to base of Toad In The Hole (TITH) 263 mm - ALTA Pro
Powerplant
Item Specification
Number of Motors 8 - ALTA Pro 8
Motor Type Direct Drive 3-Phase PMAC Outrunner
Motor Make and Model Freefly F45
Motor Max Continuous Power Output 350 W
Motor Max Instantaneous Peak Power Output 950 W
Maximum RPM (flat rated) 6300 RPM
Equivalent Kv 384
Electronic Speed Controller Freefly Silent-Drive Sine Wave ESC
Propellers
Item Spec
Make and Model Freefly ALTA Propeller
Material Carbon fiber with balsa core
Propeller Orientation (4) CW and (4) CCW Props - ALTA Pro 8
Propeller Type 18 × 6 Folding
Battery
Item Spec
Nominal Battery Voltage 6S / 22.2V
Maximum Battery Size (GroundView) 240 × 175 × 80 mm
Maximum Battery Size (SkyView) 220 x 156 x 64 mm
Maximum Battery Quantity 2 Battery Packs (Parallel)
Minimum Battery Quantity 2 Battery Packs (Parallel)
Item Spec
Battery Connectors 2× EC5 (Parallel)
Required Minimum Battery Discharge Rating (Per Pack) 250A / 500A Peak
Weight
Item Spec
Maximum Gross for Takeoff 18.1 kg (40.0 lbs) - ALTA Pro 8
Maximum Useful Load 12.0 kg (26.4 lbs) - ALTA Pro 8
Maximum Payload 9.1 kg (20.0 lbs) - ALTA Pro 8
Typical Standard Empty Weight 6.2 kg (13.6 lbs) - ALTA Pro 8
Specific Loadings
Item Spec
Typical Specific Power 145 W/kg
Thrust Ratio at MTOW1 1.85 : 1
Flight Controller
Item Spec
Autopilot Name PX4
Manual, Height Mode, Position Mode , Return-to-Land
Flight Modes
(RTH), Autoland, Waypoint Mission mode
Supported Inputs: DSMX, DSM2, S.Bus, S.Bus2
Supported Radios Futaba S.Bus & S.Bus2, DSMX, DSM2 (Spektrum/JR)
Supported Radio Controller
Futaba w/ built-in voltage sense port
Telemetry Systems
Minimum Radio Controller Channels Required
5
Item Spec
Supported GNSS GPS, GLONASS, Galileo
Supported Satellite-based
QZSS, WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS
Augmentation System
First-Person View System Video
NTSC, PAL
Formats
Supported First-Person View
Skyzone, BOSCAM, ImmersionRC, Fat Shark
Transmitters
Ready Made RC
Supported First-Person View Cameras
First-Person View OSD Telemetry User Configurable
RMRC-700XVN (Recommended), Runcam Eagle 2 Pro, or similar
RFD900/868X Long Range Telemetry System
Installed Transceivers
Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz b/g/n
Default Data Logging Rate 25Hz
Lighting and Indication
Item Spec
Status Light 1 Watt Red, 1 Watt White LED
Orientation Lights 3-Watt RGB LED
Orientation Light Color Options Off, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Cyan, Purple, White
FPV Ability FPV SD with OSD overlay
Isolation Systems
Item Spec
Vibration Isolation System O-Rings
Option 1: Soft / Light Payloads Red O-Rings
Option 2: Medium / Medium Payloads Teal O-Rings
Option 3: Stiff / Heavy Payloads Black O-Rings
External Systems Mounting
Item Spec
FPV Transmitter Mount
Mounting Locations
Mounting System
FPV Camera Mount Between Booms 1 & 8 - ALTA Pro 8
FPV Transmitter Mount Boom 2 - ALTA Pro 8
GPS Mount Boom 7 - ALTA Pro 8
Telemetry Radio Mount Boom 3 - ALTA Pro 8
GPS Mount
Telemetry Radio Mount
Freefly Toad In The Hole (TITH) Quick Release
Dimensions / Drawing
Expansion Port Pin-outs
UART Port
Pin Signal Voltage (V)
1 VCC +5V
2 TX (Out) +3.3V
3 RX (In) +3.3V
4 CTS (In) +3.3V
5 RTS (Out) +3.3V
6 GND GND
GPS2 Port
Pin Signal Voltage (V)
1 VCC +5V
2 TX (Out) +3.3V
3 RX (In) +3.3V
4 I2C1 SCL +3.3V
5 I2C1 SDA +3.3V
Pin Signal Voltage (V)
6 GND GND
CAN Ports
Pin Signal Voltage (V)
1 VCC +5V
2 CAN_H +5V
3 CAN_L +5V
4 GND GND
I2C Port
Pin Signal Voltage (V)
1 VCC +5V
2 I2C1 SCL +3.3V (1.5K pull-up)
3 I2C1 SDA +3.3V (1.5K pull-up)
4 GND GND
Limitations
Limitations
These limitations are advisory in nature and do not extend or restrict limitations provided by governing aviation authorities.
Powerplant Limitations
Item Spec
Maximum RPM 6300 RPM
Item Spec
Maximum Battery Voltage 25.2 Volts
Minimum Average Battery Voltage 19.2 Volts
Environmental Limitations
Do not fly ALTA Pro in temperatures exceeding 45ºC (113ºF) or below -20ºC(-4ºF).
Flight Controller Limits
Item Spec
Maximum Pitch/Roll Angle 45°
Maximum Yaw Rate 150° / second
Weight Limits
Item Spec
Maximum Payload 9.1 kg (20.0 lbs)- ALTA Pro 8
Maximum Takeoff Weight See following tables
ALTA 8 Pro Max Allowable Gross Weight
Abbreviations and Terminology
Meteorological Terminology
Term Definition
International Standard Atmosphere in which:
The air is a dry, perfect gas;
The temperature at sea level is 15° Celsius (59° Fahrenheit);
ISA
The pressure at sea level is 1013.2 mbar (29.92 inches Hg);
The temperature gradient from sea level to the altitude at which the temperature is -56.5°C (-69.7°F) is -0.00198°C (-0.003564°F) per foot and zero above that altitude
Mean Sea Level is the average height above the surface of the sea for all
MSL
stages of tide
AGL Above Ground Level is the height of the aircraft above the ground
Outside Air Temperature is the free air static temperature surrounding the
OAT
aircraft
Altitude measured from standard sea level pressure (1013.2 mbar, 29.92 in.
Pressure Altitude
Hg) by a pressure or barometric altimeter
It is the indicated pressure altitude corrected for position and instrument error. In this Manual, altimeter instrument errors are assumed to be zero
Power Terminology
Term Definition
Maximum Continuous Power Output
Maximum Instantaneous Peak Power Output
The maximum typical power output of a motor averaged over the entire flight
The maximum power output of a motor during any phase of flight, such as when maneuvering
Flight and Powerplant Control
Term Definition
The radio controller stick responsible for throttle control. For Mode 2
Throttle Stick
Yaw Stick
Pitch Stick
Roll Stick
controllers, this is the vertical movement of the left control stick. For Mode 1 controllers, this is the vertical movement of the right control stick
The radio controller stick responsible for yaw (also called pan) control
For Mode 2 and Mode 1 controllers, this is the lateral movement of the left control stick
The radio controller stick responsible for pitch control. For Mode 2 controllers, this is the vertical movement of the right stick
For Mode 1 controllers, this is the vertical movement of the left stick
The radio controller stick responsible for roll control. For Mode 2 and Mode 1 controllers, this is the lateral movement of the right control stick
Pitch/Roll Stick or Cyclic Stick
The radio control stick responsible for both pitch and roll control
For Mode 2 controllers, this is the right stick
Weight and Balance
Term Definition
Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) Maximum allowable weight at liftoff
Standard Empty Weight Weight of a standard aircraft
Basic Empty Weight Standard empty weight plus optional equipment
Difference between take off weight and basic empty
Useful Load
weight
Term Definition
Payload Useful load less battery weight
General Terminology
Term Definition
LOS Loss of Signal
RTH Return-to-Land
Small Unmanned Aircraft System includes all components of the system required
sUAS
for the flight of an unmanned aircraft, including the radio controller, data link and other related support equipment
Systems Diagrams
Overview
Flight Control
****
Power System
****
FPV Equipment
****
ALTA 8 Pro Ground Control Desktop and Mobile App
Getting QGroundControl up and running is quick and easy! Use the ALTA Pro QGroundControl program to change ALTA Pro’s parameters, monitor statuses, and set up waypoint missions.
1.
Download and install the application.
2.
Start QGroundControl and ALTA Pro.
3.
Connect your vehicle to the ground station device.
1.
WiFi
1.
To connect to ALTA Pro via WiFi, find the ALTA Pro’s WiFi connection by searching for it in your device’s WiFi menu and then connect to it like you would any other device.
2.
You may have to enable the WiFi feature on ALTA Pro if it is your first time connecting.
2.
900/868MHz
1.
Simply plug in the 900/868MHz radio into your computer using the attached USB cable. If ALTA Pro is turned on the two radio’s will automatically connect!
New Features
QGroundControl
The implementation of QGroundControl into the ALTA Pro system results in new features.
1.
By harnessing the full power of the PX4 autopilot controller architecture, ALTA Pro has all the features of a modern drone: waypoints, autonomy, telemetry/C2, autoland, etc.
2.
Advanced, high-bandwidth position hold offers unprecedented precision, repeatability, and stability.
3.
PX4 integration will allow users to create and fly complicated waypoints missions with ease.
4.
The use of Mavlink and Dronecode protocol makes drone software integration possible and creates straightforward path to custom sUAS solutions for both cinema and business.
5.
ALTA Pro has a built in 900/868MHz radio which will allow for a range of up to 2 miles between the aircraft and ground station.
The ALTA Pro QGroundControl App will be actively maintained, and additional functionality may be added over time. For information on individual app updates, refer to the App release notes.
For a more indepth review of QGroundControl’s capabilities and workflows, please visit the QGroundControl User Guide.
Loading...
+ 98 hidden pages
Buy Points How it Works FAQ Contact Us Questions and Suggestions Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Terms of Use