Intel FALCON 8 Plus User Manual
INTEL® FALCON™ 8+
USER MANUAL
UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM
ENGLISH
AUGUST 2017
COPYRIGHT
This publication is protected by copyright. No part of the publication may be used, reproduced, or translated, in any
form, without the prior written consent of Intel Corporation.
AscTec, Ascending Technologies, the Ascending Technologies and Falcon logos are trademarks of Intel Corporation.
© 2017 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.
Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation.
Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
DISCLAIMER
The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. All statements, information and
recommendations contained herein do not constitute a warranty of any kind, express or implied. All images are for
illustration purposes only; actual items shown in the images may vary as to, without limitation, size, color, and
labeling. Please review this product guide thoroughly, paying particular attention to any safety sections, to make sure
that you use your unmanned aircraft system safely.
Intel Corporation reserves the right to change, amend or update all available documents, including this Aircraft Flight
Manual, at any time and without notice regarding the Intel® Falcon 8+ Unmanned Aircraft System. Contact your Intel
Corporation representative or go to http://intel.com/FalconManual to obtain the latest documentation for this
product.
The features and benefits of the unmanned aircraft system depend on system configuration and may require enabled
hardware, software, or service activation. Technical results may have been estimated or simulated using internal
analysis or architecture simulation or modeling of any one or more of the following companies, and are provided to
you for informational purposes: Intel Corporation, Ascending Technologies GmbH, which became an Intel
Corporation subsidiary after acquisition by Intel Corporation, or Intel Deutschland GmbH, the Intel Corporation
subsidiary into which Ascending Technologies GmbH merged after Intel Corporation acquired it. Any differences in
your system hardware, software or configuration may affect actual performance.
Learn more at http://intel.com/FalconManual.
Intel Corporation (Intel), and its subsidiaries, disclaim all other warranties, of any kind, express, implied, statutory, or
otherwise, published specifications, including, without limitation, warranties of merchantability, fitness for a
particular purpose, and non-infringement, as well as any warranty arising from course of performance, course of
dealing, or usage in trade.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, Intel disclaims all liability for any damages, direct or indirect, arising from
the use of the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) outside of its intended use, in breach of Intel Corporation's Safety
Guidelines, Safety Precautions or any other documentation for this product, in violation of any applicable laws or
regulations, or in violation of any of the operating limitations of the aircraft, or from any error of the Operator.
© 2017 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.
No license of any kind, whether express, implied, statutory, by estoppel or otherwise to any intellectual property
rights, technology, software, in each case whether in whole or part, is granted by Intel, or any of its subsidiaries, in this
User Manual.
RECORD OF REVISION
REVISION NUMBER REVISION DATE
Version 1 April 2017
Version 1.0.1 May 2017
Version 2 July 2017
Version 2.1 July 2017
Version 2.2 August 2017
Version 2.2.1 August 2017
Described Firmware Versions:
NAV/PER: 0.95
Intel® Cockpit Controller (CTR): 0.95
Cockpit Control application (on tablet): 1.1.10
USER MANUAL
INTEL® FALCON™ 8+ UAS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTEL® FALCON™ 8+ UAS ............................................................................................................. 7
1.1. SAFETY FIRST .........................................................................................................7
1.1.1. Intended Use ......................................................................................................................... 7
1.1.2. Safety Guidelines ................................................................................................................ 8
1.2. UAS AND SAFETY CHECK ...............................................................................11
1.3. PRE-FLIGHT CHECK ...........................................................................................13
1.4. POST-FLIGHT CHECK .......................................................................................16
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE SYSTEM .................................................................................................. 18
2.1. THE INTEL® FALCON™ 8+ UAV ......................................................................18
2.1.1. Central Unit ..........................................................................................................................20
2.1.2. Motor Rails Of The UAV .................................................................................................22
2.1.3. Actively Stabilized Camera Mount (Gimbal) ..........................................................23
2.2. THE INTEL® COCKPIT CONTROLLER (CTR) .............................................23
2.2.1. The Status Display ............................................................................................................27
2.2.2. The Touchscreen Tablet ................................................................................................27
2.3. THE INDEPENDENT CAMERA CONTROL (ICC) .......................................28
2.4. THE 2ND OPERATOR MONITOR ..................................................................29
2.5. PAYLOADS - CAMERA OPTIONS .................................................................30
2.5.1. Changing a Payload (Camera) ......................................................................................32
2.5.2. Payload and Compass Calibration .............................................................................34
2.5.3. Sony Alpha 7R Full Frame Camera ............................................................................37
2.5.4. Inspection Payload ...........................................................................................................41
2.6. THE INTEL® POWERPACK BATTERIES ......................................................46
2.6.1. Charging the Intel® Powerpack Batteries ................................................................49
2.6.2. Operating The BMS Menu .............................................................................................50
2.6.3. .Battery Update ..................................................................................................................53
2.6.4. Battery Information Safety Instructions And Warnings ...................................53
2.7. TRANSPORT CASES & INTEL® BACKPACK ..............................................57
2.7.1. Packing Instructions .........................................................................................................57
2.8. SOFTWARE FEATURE PACKAGES ...............................................................61
2.8.1. Activating Software Feature Packages .....................................................................62
2.8.2. Checking Activated Software Feature Packages .................................................63
2.9. INTEL® FALCON™ 8+ UAV FLIGHT LOGS ..................................................64
3. OPERATING THE SYSTEM .........................................................................................................68
3.1. PREPARING THE INTEL® FALCON™ 8+ UAV ............................................68
3.2. PREPARING THE INTEL® COCKPIT CONTROLLER (CTR) ...................70
3.3. THE TOUCHSCREEN TABLET ........................................................................72
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3.3.1. PATH Projects .....................................................................................................................76
3.3.2. AscTec Navigator Software Projects .........................................................................84
3.4. AUTOMATED START-UP CHECKS ..............................................................88
3.4.1. Magnetic Field Warning ..................................................................................................88
3.5. LINK LOSS PROCEDURE ..................................................................................90
3.6. FLIGHT MODES ....................................................................................................93
3.6.1. GPS-Mode ............................................................................................................................95
3.6.2. Height-Mode .......................................................................................................................99
3.6.3. Manual-Mode ...................................................................................................................100
3.7. STARTING AND STOPPING THE MOTORS ........................................... 101
3.8. TAKING OFF ....................................................................................................... 101
3.8.1. Launching In GPS-Mode .............................................................................................102
3.8.2. Launching In Height-Mode ........................................................................................102
3.8.3. Launching In Manual-Mode .......................................................................................103
3.9. THE FLIGHT ........................................................................................................ 103
3.9.1. Controlling The Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV From The CTR .................................105
3.9.2. Mission Planning ............................................................................................................106
3.9.3. In-Flight ..............................................................................................................................107
3.9.4. General Operating Tips ...............................................................................................107
3.9.5. Battery Warnings ............................................................................................................108
3.10. IN-FLIGHT EMERGENCIES .........................................................................110
3.11. LANDING ........................................................................................................... 117
3.11.1. Landing In GPS-Mode ...............................................................................................117
3.11.2. Landing In Height-Mode ...........................................................................................117
3.11.3. Landing In Manual-Mode .........................................................................................118
3.11.4. Switching OFF The UAS ............................................................................................119
3.12. WARNINGS ....................................................................................................... 119
3.12.1. Magnetic Field Warning ............................................................................................121
3.12.2.Critical Battery Levels & Warnings Of The UAV And The CTR ..................123
3.12.3. Data Link Warnings .....................................................................................................125
3.12.4. GPS Warning .................................................................................................................126
3.12.5. Motor Failure Warning ..............................................................................................127
3.12.6. CTR Warnings ...............................................................................................................127
3.12.7. AscTec Trinity Control Unit System Warnings ...............................................129
3.13. OPERATIONAL LIMITATIONS .................................................................. 137
4. STATUS DISPLAY ................................................................................................................... 138
4.1. STATUS DISPLAY OVERVIEW .................................................................... 138
4.1.1. Status Display Menu Structure .................................................................................139
4.1.2. The Main Information Screens .................................................................................150
5. SPECIAL FUNCTIONS ...............................................................................................................155
5.1. CIRCLE OF INTEREST (COI) ..........................................................................155
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5.2. PANORAMA ........................................................................................................ 156
5.3. QUICK SURVEYING ASSISTANT ................................................................ 160
5.4. WAYPOINT NAVIGATION Using AscTec Navigator Software ....... 164
6. MAINTENANCE, TROUBLESHOOTING, AND SUPPORT ...............................................................165
6.1. MAINTENANCE .................................................................................................165
6.1.1. Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAS Firmware Updates ...........................................................165
6.1.2. Caring for the Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV ....................................................................170
6.1.3. Propeller Replacement ................................................................................................171
6.2. TROUBLESHOOTING ..................................................................................... 172
6.2.1. Establishing A Connection Between The CTR And The UAV ......................172
6.2.2. Analyzing Data Link Connection Issues ................................................................173
6.2.3. No Preview Video On The Touchscreen Tablet Of The CTR .......................174
6.2.4. Flight Logs .........................................................................................................................174
6.3. SUPPORT ............................................................................................................176
7. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION .....................................................................................................178
LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................................ 184
LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................................... 186
INDEX ........................................................................................................................................187
© 2017 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved 6
USER MANUAL
INTEL® FALCON™ 8+ UAS
1. INTEL® FALCON™ 8+ UAS
Thank you very much for choosing the Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAS!
The Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV is the first-choice drone for the most challenging
professional UAV inspections and surveying operations. Small and portable with a
maximum take-off weight of only 2.8 kg, but with a payload weight of 0.8 kg, the Intel®
Falcon™ 8+ UAV can carry professional cameras like the Sony Alpha 7R, offering the full
quality of an airborne image studio. The in-house developed AscTec Trinity Control
Unit - the world's first triple redundant, fully adaptive control unit for multi-rotor
aircrafts - makes the Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV the most advanced and reliable unmanned
aerial vehicle. Thanks to the modular concept, you can spontaneously exchange the
payload at any time, and get the very best out of each project by using the most
suitable camera.
In the following text, Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) is used if the whole system
(including Intel® Cockpit™ Controller, payload, etc.) is referenced; Unmanned Aerial
Vehicle (UAV) is used when only the aircraft itself is referenced.
1.1. SAFETY FIRST
The following sections contain important safety information. Any personnel operating
the UAS must read, understand and accept these warnings and guidelines before
operating the Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV.
1.1.1. Intended Use
This product is an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) that is intended for commercial
use only, such as for visual inspection of infrastructure, surveying and mapping. It is not
intended for any consumer or recreational use. Acrobatic flight is prohibited.
You must read, understand, and agree to all documentation before using the Intel®
Falcon™ 8+ UAS. By using the Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAS, you certify that you have read and
understand all the material in this document, as well as all user documentation, and
agree to abide by said materials.
Use the Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAS only as intended. Always operate in accordance with the
operating limitations stated in the later sections of this User Manual.
Operating the system while ignoring these guidelines and warnings may be illegal and
subject to fine.
© 2017 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved 7
USER MANUAL
INTEL® FALCON™ 8+ UAS
1.1.2. Safety Guidelines
Failure to adhere to the following guidelines and warnings and to operate within the
limitations of the UAS could result in an accident and death, serious injury, property
damage, or damage to the UAS.
• You are responsible for knowing and complying with all laws and regulations
applicable to the airspace in which you operate. Jurisdictions have different
safety rules pertaining to authorization for flying UAVs; flying near airports,
manned aircrafts, or people; operation within visual line of sight; altitude limits;
operation at night or twilight; operation of multiple UAVs at the same time; and
airspace usage. Know and understand all applicable laws before you fly. Follow
applicable laws at all times.
• Some jurisdictions also have rules that may affect your operation of UAS, such
as laws relating to receipt of wireless signals, aerial photography, aerial
surveying, privacy, and trespassing. You must know and follow all laws and
regulations applicable to your region.
• In some jurisdictions, the operator may be required to have a pilot certification
from the aviation authority or advance approval from the aviation authority or
air traffic control. Check your local laws before operating the UAS. You are
always responsible for operating the UAS safely and responsibility, and in
compliance with all laws.
• Professional drone operators must comply with all applicable insurance and
aviation-specific liability requirements.
• Completion of a UAS safety check, pre-flight check, and post-flight check
according to the following sections before every operation is compulsory for
every flight.
• Rotating propellers can cause serious personal injury and property damage.
Keep a safe distance and/or wear appropriate safety equipment (e.g. safety
goggles, gloves).
• Our UAS, like all comparable aircraft systems, can in rare cases, suffer electrical,
mechanical, and/or other failures. This may lead to a partial or complete loss of
flying capability. Therefore, the pilot is responsible for conducting all flights at a
safe distance from people, moving vehicles, etc. such that in the event of loss of
flight control no personal injury or property damage will occur.
• Operating the UAV close to power lines, power transformers or other areas with
high electromagnetic disturbances, or in urban canyons, can have severe effects
on the GPS stability and/or the magnetic field sensor, which ultimately also
effects GPS stability. The Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV is designed to compensate for
these errors in most cases, but the function is not guaranteed in any scenario.
Therefore, a pilot must have the training and ability to fly the Intel® Falcon™ 8+
UAV in Height-Mode in any situation. Only operate in these environments if you
have sufficient training!
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INTEL® FALCON™ 8+ UAS
• Risk of fire or explosion: Do not operate the UAV in potentially explosive
environments such as fueling stations, fueling areas, fuel or chemical storage
facilities, or areas where the air may contain chemical or dust particles, such as
grain particles or metal powders.
If possible, and if you can do so safely, physically remove this product from any
such environment. Do not connect any accessory cables or press any of the
product's buttons until outside of these environments.
• GPS-Mode will limit your maximum speed. Flying the Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV at
wind speeds above 12 m/s is not recommended. Please note that wind
conditions on the ground and in the air can differ.
• Do not fly the UAV outside the specified temperature range, see “TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATION” on page 178 for further details.
• The UAS and payloads are not waterproof. Do not operate the UAS in adverse
weather (sand storm, rain, fog, snow, etc.) or at night.
• Only operate the UAV on clear days and during daylight hours. The UAV has LED
position lights, but not anti-collision lights.
• The UAV is not equipped with a sense-and-avoid system. The operator is
responsible for seeing and avoiding all other traffic, persons, structures, and
obstacles. We recommend two-person operations (pilot and observer). All sense
and avoid is done by the pilot and observer.
• Avoid placing the UAV or the Intel® Cockpit Controller (CTR) next to heat
sources, leaving it in the direct sunlight for extended periods, or leaving it in a
place where the temperature may exceed the specified range (such as a parked
car on a hot day).
• Do not disassemble the UAS.
• Do not transport the UAS in transport containers not approved by Intel.
• Do not modify the UAS. Any modifications may compromise safety features,
increasing risk of injury, death, or property damage. There are no user
serviceable parts inside this UAS. Refer all service to your local support.
• Using devices in combination with the UAS other than those approved by Intel
(e. g. batteries, battery chargers, cameras, etc.) is prohibited. Any unapproved
modification of the UAS is prohibited.
• The UAS is equipped with a 2.4 GHz radio link for remote control and a 5.8 GHz
radio link for video transmission. Please note that local laws may apply and
restrictions in using radio equipment may exist in your area. The UAV may only
be used for flight with the original accessories and under the defined
environmental conditions.
• The UAV is equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) or Assisted GPS
(AGPS) technology, which may be used to determine the approximate location
of the UAV. Please check the settings of any installed applications to ensure that
© 2017 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved 9
USER MANUAL
INTEL® FALCON™ 8+ UAS
you manage these location-based services in accordance with your privacy
preferences.
• The pilot of an Intel UAV should always act according to his or her best
judgment focusing on the safety of the populace and the environment within
which he or she is flying.
• Every pilot must undergo intensive training to operate the UAV in all flight
modes and to maintain the UAV in a safe and airworthy condition - this is
mandatory.
• Do not operate the UAS under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
CAUTION: HAZARDOUS MOVING PARTS; KEEP FINGERS AND OTHER
BODY PARTS AWAY. THIS PRODUCT USES REPLACEABLE
BATTERIES; THERE IS RISK OF EXPLOSION IF BATTERY IS REPLACED
WITH AN INCORRECT TYPE. DISPOSE OF USED BATTERIES
ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS.
CAUTION: ALWAYS FLY SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY.
THIS MEANS, FOR EXAMPLE:
• Always keep a safe distance between the UAV and people.
• Do not fly too close to obstacles (e.g. houses, trees, etc.). The UAV could damage
third party property and/or the GPS signal might suffer from shadowing and
worsen the positional accuracy.
• Do not fly beyond the line of sight.
• Never fly in closed or restricted areas.
• Always keep both hands on the control sticks. You must be able to react at any
time, to prevent critical situations.
• Be aware of dogs or birds as they might attack your UAV.
• Always give way to other aircrafts! Watch out for low flying helicopters!
• All control inputs are given to the UAV as if you were sitting in the UAV as a pilot.
• We strongly recommend attending the basic training and to frequently practice
Height-Mode.
• Never exceed a speed of 16 m/s (35 mph) in Height-Mode.
• Never descend faster than 10 m/s (22 mph) in Manual Mode.
• In case of any problems close to the ground, ascend to a safe height.
• Always keep the left control stick, controlling the altitude, completely down
when the UAV is on the ground and the motors are running.
© 2017 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved 10
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INTEL® FALCON™ 8+ UAS
These safety guidelines are subject to change without prior notice. Errors and
omissions excepted.
Privacy and Property Rights
As the operator of a UAS, you must comply with all applicable laws, especially privacy,
property, and copyright laws. This includes the below common types of rules that may
apply in the jurisdiction in which you operate. Always consult the laws of your
jurisdiction before operating the UAS, as jurisdictions have different laws.
• Monitoring and filming public areas where individuals are staying may be only
permitted under limited circumstances, e.g. for safety reasons and provided
sufficient notice is provided.
• Monitoring and filming private areas may require the consent of the owner and,
potentially, any residents or visitors.
• Filming individuals and using their pictures (such as sharing them) may infringe
an individual's rights of his/her own image.
• Under copyright laws, some pictures may only be used for private purposes. In
addition, taking pictures of buildings may breach copyrights.
• Take-offs and landings of the UAV may only be allowed with consent of the
owner of the property on which take-offs / landings occur.
Violations of the laws and regulations referred to above may lead to penalties, damage
claims from individuals, or even criminal prosecution.
This information is provided for informational purposes and is not an exhaustive
description of legal requirements. This information is not designed to provide any legal
advice or include any kind of warranty regarding the usability of the UAS. Please
contact legal counsel for any specific and binding advice on the use of the UAS in your
jurisdiction.
1.2. UAS AND SAFETY CHECK
The UAS and safety check must be performed once per day before the first flight or any
time it may be necessary (e.g. after any incident like a hard landing). If you notice
anything unusual (any loose part, strange noise from the motors, or any other unusual
occurrence), please contact support through your reseller, if you purchased through a
reseller, or support at Intel, if you purchased directly from Intel. Please include a
detailed description of your observation and photos if applicable.
© 2017 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved 11
USER MANUAL
INTEL® FALCON™ 8+ UAS
You must follow these steps to complete a close UAS and safety check:
Table 1.1: Safety Check List
1. Is the transport case free
of visible damage?
2. Is the UAV free of visible
damage?
3. Are all the propellers in
good condition?
4. Are all the propellers
firmly mounted to the
motors?
If there is new visible damage from the last
transport, please take special care during the
check of the complete UAS.
If there is visible damage, please contact your
support as noted directly above this table.
Replace propellers if there are any cracks,
breaks or other damages.
Move each propeller gently while holding the
connected motor. The nut on top of the propellers is self-tightening. It only needs to be
finger tight (20 Ncm +- 5 Ncm). Never tighten
it with too much force, as it might damage
the motor.
To tighten the nut, use the supplied screwwrench. Put the screw wrench on the nut,
hold the motor head with thumb and index
finger of one hand, and use the index finger
of the other hand to turn the screw wrench.
As soon as the motor head starts turning as
well, sufficient force has been applied
□
□
□
□
5. Nudge every single
propeller so that it turns,
and check if any unusual
sound can be heard, or if a
propeller spins slower
than the others and stops
spinning abruptly.
6. Is the User SD card of the
“Black Box” (flight logger)
correctly inserted?
© 2017 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved 12
If there is a scratching sound or if a propeller
spins slower than the others without any
unusual sound, this might come from an
obstacle inside the motor. Please try canned
pressurized air to clean the motor. If there is
a rattling sound this might come from a propeller which is not attached tightly enough. In
this case, carefully check the self-tightening
nut on top of the propeller.
Tighten the nut as described in step 4.
Check the User SD card in the back of the
Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV. If on the Status Display of the CTR there is the message No user
SD card, please take out the card, make a
backup copy, format it and re-insert it into
the Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV
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INTEL® FALCON™ 8+ UAS
Table 1.1: Safety Check List (Continued)
7. Is the gimbal correctly
attached, and its
thumbscrew installed in
the back of the Intel®
Falcon™ 8+ UAV?
Make sure that the camera mount is pushed
all the way in and that the thumbscrew is
installed finger tight.
□
8. Is the payload adapter
firmly connected to the
central unit?
9. Are all the batteries fully
charged?
WARNING VIOLATION OF THESE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS RESULTS IN
THE LOSS OF WARRANTY!
Make sure that the connector plug of the
adapter is connected to the equivalent at the
front side of the UAV.
Make sure that the ball of the ball link connector of the roll servo is fixed in the respective slot in the payload adapter.
Voltage level can easily be checked using the
BMS of the batteries. It will be shown by the
LEDs on the front of the batteries.
1.3. PRE-FLIGHT CHECK
You must follow these steps for a close pre-flight check:
Table 1.2: Pre Flight Check List
□
□
1. Is the UAS in proper condition (according to the points listed in “UAS AND
SAFETY CHECK” on page 11)?
2. Make sure to have an empty and correctly formatted SD card inserted in
the camera.
3. Are there two batteries fully inserted into the Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV, with
the colored label facing upwards and secured by the retaining clips?
4. Is the battery of the Intel® Cockpit Controller (CTR) fully inserted, with the
colored Intel label facing downwards?
5. Is the Intel® Cockpit Controller in proper condition (no loose parts) and the
antenna panel folded out?
© 2017 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved 13
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Table 1.2: Pre Flight Check List (Continued)
6. Place the UAV on the take-off location and verify the following:
• There is enough space to take-off and land (no people, animals or
obstacles within a radius of 10 m).
• There are no obstacles around that could shadow the GPS signal.
• The surface allows all propellers to spin freely.
• There are no small rocks, dust or sand which could be sucked into the
motors.
• There are no magnetic fields to be expected.
CAUTION: TO AVOID INTERFERENCES WITH THE UAS PLEASE SET
YOUR SMARTPHONE TO AIRPLANE (FLIGHT) MODE AS THEY USE
THE SAME 2.4 GHZ AND 5.8 GHZ FREQUENCIES.
Table 1.3: Pre Flight Checklist (Continued)
□
7. Always switch on the UAS in the following order:
1. Payload
2. Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV
3. Touchscreen tablet
4. Intel® Cockpit Controller (CTR)
Wait for the link to be established.
8. The end of the boot process is marked by a triple beep emitted by the
Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV. During boot up, the Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV does not
need to stand still. It can be moved - for example, it can be started from a
moving boat.
9. The start-up process is finished when camera mount stabilization starts
working. A gentle buzzing sound can be heard from the gimbal.
10. Make sure to comply with all points in the checklist presented on the
touchscreen tablet. Confirm the checklist on the tablet.
11. Confirm the preview video image is visible on the touchscreen tablet of
the Intel® Cockpit Controller.
12.Choose a Link Loss Procedure, which is suitable for the current flight
mission.
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□
□
□
□
□
13.Confirm the displayed battery capacity of the CTR is sufficient for the
planned mission (displayed in minutes in the Status Display - see “STATUS
DISPLAY” on page 138).
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INTEL® FALCON™ 8+ UAS
Table 1.3: Pre Flight Checklist (Continued)
14.Confirm the battery capacity of the UAV is at least 80% (displayed in the
top line of the tablet).
15.The bottom line in the Status Display shows OK.
16.Is the GPS quality greater than or equal to 4 bars? This is mandatory if you
want to fly in GPS-Mode.
17.Confirm the wind speed is within the operational limits: 16 m/s in HeightMode or 12 m/s in GPS-Mode.
18.Choose the correct flight mode (usually GPS-Mode or Height-Mode).
19.Switch the motors on (with both hands, only in idle mode).
While the Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV is on the ground with running motors,
always keep the left control stick, which controls the height, in the fully
downward position.
□
□
□
□
□
□
20.Are all the motors running correctly?
21.Ready for take-off!
WARNING VIOLATION OF THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS RESULTS IN THE
LOSS OF WARRANTY!
□
□
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INTEL® FALCON™ 8+ UAS
1.4. POST-FLIGHT CHECK
You must follow these steps closely for a post-flight check:
Table 1.4: Post-flight Check List
1. Before landing the Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV, adjust the camera to a horizontal
position.
2. Land the Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV.
Always keep the left control stick, which controls the height, in the fully
downward position when the system is on the ground with running
motors.
3. When the system is on the ground, switch off the motors.
Always switch off the system in the following order:
• Camera (depending on the payload, wait at least 10 seconds until the
camera has stored all data and is fully powered down).
□
□
• Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV
• Push and hold the power button.
The LED position lights will increase brightness.
The LED position lights will decrease brightness and
simultaneously there will be a short beep from the UAV.
• After the beep, let go of the button.
• Touchscreen tablet
• Push and hold the power button until “Slide to shut down your
PC” is shown.
• Let go of the button.
• Follow the instructions on the tablet to fully power down the
touchscreen tablet.
• Intel® Cockpit Controller (CTR)
• Push and hold the POWER button.
The CTR will vibrate a few seconds later.
• Let go of the button.
4. Remove all batteries of the Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV.
□
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5. Store the UAV safely in the transport case or in the backpack.
□
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Table 1.4: Post-flight Check List (Continued)
6. Remove the battery of the CTR.
7. Fold in the antenna panel of the CTR.
8. Remove the shoulder harness of the CTR.
9. Store the CTR and all accessories safely in the transport case or in the
backpack.
CAUTION: ALWAYS REMOVE ALL BATTERIES FROM BOTH THE
INTEL® FALCON™ 8+ UAV AND CTR WHEN THE SYSTEM IS NO
LONGER IN USE.
□
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WARNING VIOLATION OF THESE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS RESULTS IN
THE LOSS OF WARRANTY!
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2. DESCRIPTION OF THE SYSTEM
In this chapter, you find a description of the whole system and its components:
• The Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV
• The Intel® Cockpit Controller (CTR)
• Payloads/Cameras
• The Intel® Powerpack Batteries
2.1. THE INTEL® FALCON™ 8+ UAV
The following section describes the single parts of the Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV.
Figure 2.1: The Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV Components
The Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV consists of
several components:
(1) Actively stabilized camera mount
(gimbal) with camera
(2) Motor rails
(3) Central unit
(4) Carbon cross
The Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV bottom view:
(1) Actively stabilized camera mount with
camera
(2) Motor rails
(3) Center cross piece with LEDs
(4) Carbon cross
(5) Landing feet
For orientation reasons, the UAV has
three LED position lights:
• white at the bottom
• green on the right side
• red on the left side
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Data
Data
Video
Video
INTEL® FALCON™ 8+ UAS
Figure 2.1: The Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV Components (Continued)
The Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV bottom view,
Carbon Cross with center cross piece,
antenna arrangement:
The data link antennas (2.4 GHz) as well
as the video link antennas (5.8 GHz) are
integrated into the landing feet.
They are diagonally arranged as shown
in the image to the left.
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2.1.1. Central Unit
The following figures describe the single parts of the Central Unit.
Figure 2.2: Central Unit Back View without Gimbal (Camera Mount)
The Central Unit consists of:
(1) Carbon fiber chassis
(2) USB stick slot (supports up to 16 GB,
file system: FAT32, allocation unit
size: 32 kilobytes) for firmware
updates
(3) Hole for the camera mount’s carbon
rod, see “Units of the Gimbal” on
page 23
(4) Battery compartments with retaining
clips (7) for batteries
(5) Power button
(6) Micro SD-card slot (SD card: speed
class 10 minimum, supports up to 16
GB, file system: FAT32, allocation unit
size: 32 kilobytes), for flight logs
(“Black Box”), must be inserted
contacts upwards
(7) Retaining clips for the batteries
(8) Place for the label with the serial
number of the UAV
Built inside:
• The electronics for flight
stabilization and power supply
• Diversity Data Link modules
• Video Transmitter module
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Figure 2.3: Central Unit Front View without Gimbal (Camera Mount)
Front view:
(1) Hole for the camera mount’s carbon
rod
(2) Connector slot for the plug of the
payload adapter, (see no. (1) in “Units
of the Gimbal” on page 23
(3) Retaining clip for the payload adapter
(4) Cable tube (contains the cabling of
the antennas)
(5) Fan for the internal cooling behind
the slots
(6) Vibration dampers
Figure 2.4: Central Unit Side View, Left Side without Gimbal (Camera Mount)
Side view (left):
(1) LED position light (red when UAV is
running), same on the right side
(green when UAV is running)
(2) Vibration dampers
(3) Cable tube (which contains, e.g., the
cabling of the antennas)
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2.1.2. Motor Rails Of The UAV
The following figure shows the front part of the left motor rail.
Figure 2.5: Motor Rails and Equipment
The motor rails and the related elements
consist of:
(1) Propellers, mounted directly on the
motors
(2) Brushless motors, mounted directly
onto the motor mounts
(3) Motor mount
(4) Carbon fiber tube
(5) Connector between carbon cross and
motor rails
(6) Landing foot (front left shown): the
video link antenna (or data link
antenna as applicable) is integrated
(see “The Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV
Components” on page 18).
Each motor rail consists of four motor
controllers seated within the carbon tube.
CAUTION: HAZARDOUS MOVING PARTS, KEEP FINGERS AND OTHER
BODY PARTS AWAY.
The motor rails are connected by a carbon cross which consists of four carbon tubes
connected by a center cross piece.
The antenna cabling is found inside the tubes of the carbon cross.
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2.1.3. Actively Stabilized Camera Mount (Gimbal)
The following figure describes the parts (or sub-assemblies) of the gimbal.
Figure 2.6: Units of the Gimbal
The actively stabilized camera mount
consists of:
(1) Circuitry for controlling the camera
(2) Payload (e. g. Sony Alpha 7R)
(3) Pitch servo
(4) Carbon fiber structure
(5) Knurled securing nut for the actively
stabilized camera mount
(6) Payload adapter (see below for
details). The payload adapter is the
connection between the camera
mount and the central unit of the
UAV. It is movable when mounted on
the rod of the camera mount and
connected by a cable.
The payload adapter (backside)
(1) Connector plug, should be connected
to the equivalent at the front side of
the UAV (see no. (2) in “Central Unit
Front View without Gimbal (Camera
Mount)” on page 21).
(2) Adapter slot for the ball link
connector of the roll servo
(3) Releasing clip
(4) Hole for the camera mount’s carbon
rod
2.2. THE INTEL® COCKPIT CONTROLLER (CTR)
The CTR is the main control hub for the Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV and the attached
payloads/ cameras. It is designed to be carried and operated by one person and
displays all relevant flight information.
The communication between the CTR and the Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV is ensured by two
independent 2.4 GHz digital data links. The preview video is transmitted digitally on 5.8
GHz. The CTR uses the same battery type as the Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV. The battery is in
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the battery compartment which can be accessed from the bottom of the CTR (see
“Preparing the CTR” on page 70).
The CTR serves as an interface device to the flight system. It is pre-programmed and
ready to use.
The Status Display is used for communication between the CTR and the Intel® Falcon™
8+ UAV.
The touchscreen tablet displays the live video preview from the attached camera.
Figure 2.7: Intel® Cockpit Controller (CTR) Overview
Front view, with unfolded antenna panel.
The CTR can be divided into (from bot-
tom to top):
(1) Remote control unit
(2) Touchscreen tablet (for preview video
and more, see “THE TOUCHSCREEN
TABLET” on page 72), displayed
without sun shade
(3) Antenna panel (unfolded). All
communication between CTR and the
Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV is sent and
received by the antenna panel. It
features 2.4 GHz antennas for all
control and telemetry communication
and 5.8 GHz antennas to receive the
preview video.
Overview, side view right side.
(1) Remote control unit
(2) Touchscreen tablet, displayed
without sun shade
(3) Antenna panel (unfolded)
To avoid reflections, there is a sun shield
permanently attached to the touchscreen tablet. It folds away for storage
and transport.
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Figure 2.7: Intel® Cockpit Controller (CTR) Overview (Continued)
The functional elements of the CTR
remote control unit are:
(1) START/STOP button: starts/stops the
motors when the left stick is
simultaneously held down (see
“STARTING AND STOPPING THE
MOTORS” on page 101).
(2) GPS button: GPS-Mode ON
(3) HGT button: Height-Mode ON. When
both buttons are switched ON/lit
Manual-Mode is activated
(4) Left rocker switch (R1) controls the
camera pitch angle, right rocker
switch (R2), controls different camera
functions depending on the attached
payload
(5) Left and right control sticks
(6) Status Display (see “STATUS
DISPLAY” on page 138).
(7) Left push button (B1) sets the camera
to predefined angles +/- 90°, +/- 45°
and 0° when the left rocker switch R1
(4) is pushed simultaneously, right
push button (B2) controls different
camera functions depending on the
attached payload
(8) Four function buttons for the Status
Display
(9) RETURN TO HOME button
(10)POWER button
(11)Integrated shoulder harness holders
There are different connectors on the
back of the CTR:
4 X USB
1 X HDMI
The USB port labeled USB 1 can only be
used to perform firmware updates from a
USB stick. The other USB ports can be
used to connect the Independent Camera Control (ICC) or USB sticks with preplanned flight missions.
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Figure 2.7: Intel® Cockpit Controller (CTR) Overview (Continued)
A headphone port (mini jack) is located
on the lower right-hand side of the CTR
remote control unit (1). It is possible to
connect headphones, which might be
helpful under noisy conditions.
Without headphones connected, acoustic warnings are played back through a
small loudspeaker (2) inside the CTR.
CAUTION: RISK OF PERMANENT HEARING LOSS FROM USING
EARPHONES OR HEADPHONES WITH THIS PRODUCT AT HIGH
VOLUME.
BEFORE PLACING HEADPHONES OR EARPHONES NEAR THE EAR, 1)
FIND A QUIET ENVIRONMENT, 2) TURN THE VOLUME DOWN ON
THIS PRODUCT TO THE MINIMUM SETTING, 3) CONNECT THE
EARPHONE OR HEADPHONE TO THE PRODUCT, 4) PLACE THE
EARPHONE OR HEADPHONE NEAR OR ON THE EAR AND 5) SLOWLY
INCREASE THE VOLUME ON THE PRODUCT TO A COMFORTABLE
LEVEL. AVOID INCREASING THE VOLUME ABOVE THIS LEVEL.
INCREASING THE VOLUME TO BE LOUDER THAN A NOISY
ENVIRONMENT, SUCH AS A CITY STREET, MAY EXCEED SAFE
LISTENING LEVELS. IF YOU EXPERIENCE DISCOMFORT OR BUZZING
IN YOUR EARS, REDUCE THE VOLUME OR DISCONTINUE USE OF
YOUR EARPHONES OR HEADPHONES.
RISK OF PERMANENT HEARING LOSS FROM USING THE
LOUDSPEAKER IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE EAR.
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2.2.1. The Status Display
The Status Display shows all relevant information for flying. It is built into the CTR
remote control unit. For further information about the handling of the Status Display
see “STATUS DISPLAY” on page 138).
Figure 2.8: Status Display
Via the Status Display you can view the
current settings and adjust specific functions of the UAV. In order to do so, use
the four buttons under the lower left corner of the Status Display.
Escape (left side) is used to leave
menus / sub-menus and to clear
functions. In the following text, it is
displayed as ESC.
With the arrow LEFT button (middle,
left side)
and the arrow RIGHT button (middle,
right side) you can scroll through
menus or alter parameters.
Enter (right side) is used to enter
menus and activate functions. In the
following text, it is displayed as ENT.
2.2.2. The Touchscreen Tablet
The Intel® based Windows® touchscreen tablet has an 8.3-inch screen with a resolution
of 1920 X 1200 pixels. It is directly mounted on the remote control unit of the Intel®
Cockpit Controller (CTR) and cannot be removed.
The tablet is powered by the battery of the CTR and must be switched ON before the
CTR is powered ON.
The touchscreen tablet serves as a video monitor, displays flight information and gives
access to extended functionality (see “THE TOUCHSCREEN TABLET” on page 72).
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Figure 2.9: The Touchscreen Tablet
Power button on the top edge, right side
(1)
2.3. THE INDEPENDENT CAMERA CONTROL (ICC)
The Independent Camera Control (ICC) is an optional part of the Inspection Package
(see “SOFTWARE FEATURE PACKAGES” on page 61). Thanks to the ICC, a camera
operator can control the main camera functions from a gamepad, which is connected
to the CTR via a USB port (USB port 2 – 4). The USB ports are in the back of the CTR in
the upper left corner (see “Intel® Cockpit Controller (CTR) Overview” on page 24).
Figure 2.10: Independent Camera Control (ICC)
The following table presents an overview of the function assignment:
Table 2.1: Operating a Camera By ICC
BUTTON
REFERENCED
ON ICC
SONY ALPHA 7R INSPECTION-PAYLOAD TZ71
CAMERA
(1) Start/Stop video /
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Table 2.1: Operating a Camera By ICC (Continued)
(2) Trigger photo Trigger photo (both cameras)
(3) View last image /
(4) /
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8) Shutter speed -
(9) Shutter speed +
(10) Camera tilt velocity - Camera tilt velocity -
(11) Camera tilt velocity + Camera tilt velocity +
Camera tilt (up/down)
Yaw (left/right)
Camera tilt (up/down)
Yaw (left /right)
Horizontal tilt (adjust camera
horizon) (left/right)
Exposure compensation +/- (up/
down)
Change color palette (when FLIR
is active)
Camera tilt (up/down)
Yaw (left/right)
Camera tilt (up/down)
Yaw (left/right)
Horizontal tilt (adjust camera
horizon) (left/right)
Switch camera (up/down)
Zoom - (when RGB camera is
active)
Zoom + (when RGB camera is
active)
2.4. THE 2ND OPERATOR MONITOR
The 2nd operator monitor is an optional part of the UAS and can be delivered as an
additional accessory.
It can be used as a video preview monitor for the 2nd pilot, especially when used with
the ICC (see “THE INDEPENDENT CAMERA CONTROL (ICC)” on page 28). There is no
further (flight) information shown on this monitor.
Thanks to the 2nd monitor, a camera operator can control the video preview of the
camera used. It is connected to the CTR via the HDMI port by a cable. The HDMI port is
in the back of the CTR in the upper left corner (see “Intel® Cockpit Controller (CTR)
Overview” on page 24).
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Figure 2.11: 2nd Operator Monitor Package
The elements of the 2nd operator monitor package are:
(1) Tripod
(2) Sunshield
(3) Adapter plate for tripod
(4) Battery adapter
(5) Monitor adapter
(6) Frame for sunshield
(7) Monitor
(8) HDMI cable
Not shown:
• Battery
•Charger
The 2nd operator monitor fully assembled.
2.5. PAYLOADS - CAMERA OPTIONS
Because of the deep integration of cameras, it is possible to change settings like
aperture, shutter speed or zoom (depending on the camera) directly from the Intel®
Cockpit Controller (CTR), while the system is airborne. To ensure complete integration
into the Intel® Falcon™ 8+ UAV, every payload must undergo mechanical and electrical
modifications. Therefore, only payloads approved by Intel are allowed. Payloads which
have not been integrated might affect the compass calibration due to magnetic
emissions by the camera and could have detrimental effects on the flight performance.
If you require assistance with determining which payload to choose for your
application, please contact our support team: support@intel.com.
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