Aircraft Setup
Radio Calibration and Channel Mapping
Alta X can be used with a variety of radio controllers. Different radio controllers can map functions to different channels, so properly mapping controller channels to ALTA X functions is an important step before flying. Radio calibration and channel mapping are performed using the Alta X QGroundControl program or app. Pilot Pro's will also not require additional calibration after binding with ATLA X so you do not have to perform calibration or channel mapping.
If you are uncertain about your radio channel mapping, obtain assistance from an experienced pilot or from Freefly Customer Support.
Calibrating Radios Using ALTA X QGroundControl App
Calibrating any compatible radio is done using the ALTA QGroundControl app. This only needs to be done when using a new radio with the ALTA; ALTA's that were bought with a radio have already gone through the Calibration and Mapping procedures.
Power the ALTA X by plugging in a USB-C cable to the expansion port.
The expansion port is located under the closeout between booms 1 and
Once connected, the ALTA electronics will be powered and you may turn on the radio.
Open the ALTA QGroundControl program, navigate to the Radio tab in the Vehicle Setup menu, and then initiate the radio calibration.
Make sure to reset all trims and sub-trims to zero before continuing with calibrating and mapping your radio.
Set the transmitter mode radio button that matches your radio configuration (this ensures that QGroundControl displays the correct stick positions for you to follow during calibration).
Move the sticks to the positions indicated in the text (and on the radio image). Press Next when the sticks are in position. Repeat for all positions.
When prompted, move all other switches and dials through their full range (you will be able to observe them moving on the Channel Monitor).
Press Next to save the settings.
Mapping Channels Using ALTA X QGroundControl App
Radio channel mapping is accomplished with the Alta X Qgroundcontrol App. Prior to mapping channels, ensure your radio controller and receivers are properly installed and calibrated. Refer to the Radio Installation section of this manual and your radio controller’s documentation.
Power the ALTA X by plugging in a USB-C cable to the expansion port. The expansion port is located under the closeout between booms 1 and 2
Once connected, the ALTA electronics will be powered and you may turn on the transmitter.
Open the ALTA QGroundControl program, navigate to the Flight Mode tab in the Vehicle Setup menu for access to the channel mapping.
Channel mapping can be customized by the user on this menu to fit their preferences. Below is a quick description of the items mapped to the transmitter and suggested channels for each mapped item.
Function Descriptions
The following functions can be mapped to radio controller channels. These are found in the Radio section of the Configurations menu in ALTA QGroundControl. Each function is also represented by a chart that responds to control input allowing for quick verification of mapping settings.
Pitch/Roll/Yaw/Throttle
The Pitch, Roll, Yaw and Throttle controls are the basic flight controls and are mapped to the two radio controller sticks.
Mode
The required Mode Switch selects between the three different flight modes: Manual, Altitude, and Position. A three-position switch is recommended to select the three different modes. However, a two-position switch may be used, but will only allow for selecting between Manual Mode and (depending on radio controller mixes) either Altitude Mode or Height Mode
Return to Home Switch
The optional Return to Home Switch selects between the different Return-to-Land (RTH) functions. At minimum a two-position switch is required for the Home Switch functions to select between RTL Off, and initiate RTL functions.
Typical Channel Mappings
The following radio channel mapping configurations are recommendations only and can be set in ALTA QGroundControl. Depending on exact radio models, these may help as an initial configuration. However, it is up to the pilot setting up ALTA X for flight to determine if these settings are appropriate.
Pilot Pro
To integrate Pilot Pro on Alta X use the integration instruction found here.
For more details on Pilot Pro refer to its wiki!
Futaba 14SG/8FG
Our Stock Futaba configuration and instructions on how to install are available on our knowledge base page.
Function | Channel Number | Direction |
Pitch | 2 | Normal |
Roll | 1 | Normal |
Yaw | 4 | Normal |
Throttle | 3 | Reverse |
Mode Switch | 5 | Normal |
Home Switch | 6 | Normal |
Display Voltage Telemetry on 14SG
The Futaba Receiver on the Alta X has the ability to transmit voltage telemetry back to the hand controller. To view the telemetry display window press the "Home/Exit" button on the left-hand side. Press once again to return to the default home screen.
Recommended Landing Voltage
We recommend landing the Alta X at 44v under load. Under electrical load the voltage will sag, when the voltage load is removed the voltage number will rise again. When the voltage reads 44v on QGoundControl or the transmitter while in flight you should be landing your aircraft and replace the batteries.
Landing voltage recommendations assume customer is using Freefly Alta X batteries that are kept in reliable condition. Battery performance can change over time and performance can change between manufacturers.
Binding the Futaba Radio
14SG
Begin with the aircraft unplugged.
Press the LNK button.
Navigate to the SYSTEM option and select it.
Select the LINK option on the left. The controller should start beeping.
Plug in Alta X. The aircraft will beep when it turns on and the controller should stop beeping.
Press the Home/Exit button 3 times. If there is a value under EXT-VOLT RECEIVER, the aircraft is bound.
16IZ
Power on the transmitter.
Click LINKAGE MENU.
Click SYSTEM TYPE.
Click LINK on the right side of the menu.
Once the radio chimes and a pop-up opens, power on your aircraft or receiver.
Under "Rx1" you should have a new serial number populated, this is the PID of the matching receiver.
Alternatively, you can use an 850-00115 Futaba-to-USB cable to power the receiver if this is to be bound offline from the aircraft.
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Arming and Disarming
Definitions | |
Armed | Aircraft will spin propellers, ready to fly |
Disarmed | Safe mode, no spinning propellers |
Arming
To arm ALTA, put the throttle stick in the bottom right corner for 1.5 seconds. Upon arming, the propellers will start spinning and the boom LED indicator lights will turn bright green/red.
If the ALTA does not arm, please check QGroundControl for errors or warnings.
When armed, propellers will spin! Please follow all precautions and stay a safe distance away from ALTA X. Before arming, make sure to stay clear of the propellers.
Disarming
To disarm ALTA, put the throttle stick on the bottom left corner for 1.5 seconds, you can also hold the stick straight down to initiate the land detector and disarm after once the UAV confirms it has landed. Upon disarming, the propellers will stop spinning and the boom LED indicators lights will dim. The aircraft will only disarm in flight in manual mode. Once landed, it can be disarmed in altitude and position modes.
Holding the throttle/yaw stick low and left in manual mode while flying can disarm the aircraft!
Auto Disarm Modes
Under some conditions, ALTA will automatically disarm
Conditions | ALTA X Behavior |
Ground timeout before taking off | If ALTA has not taken off after 2 minutes idling armed on the ground, it will automatically disarm. This timeout can be changed in parameter COM_DISARM_PRFLT (units are in seconds, a value of “0” disables this timeout entirely). |
Ground timeout after flight | If ALTA has been previously flown but not power cycled, after 5 seconds idling armed on the ground, it will automatically disarm. This timeout can be changed in parameter COM_DISARM_LAND (units are in seconds, a value of “0” disables this timeout entirely). |
Autoland | If ALTA detects landing in Autoland mode, it will disarm after 5 seconds following the logic above. See section “Landing Modes” for more information on the Landing Detector feature. |
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Flight Modes
ALTA X has three primary flight control modes which are selected using the Mode Switch: Manual Mode, Altitude Mode, and Position Mode. ALTA X also has two emergency control modes, Return-to-Land and Autoland, which are available only during certain situations. For additional information, refer to the sub-section associated with each emergency control mode.
Altitude Mode and Position Mode are assistive only and are not a replacement for pilot skill and ability. Pilots should be proficient in Manual Mode flight in order to react to emergency situations as required.
Always center the control input sticks on the radio controller when switching between control modes to prevent unexpected movement of the ALTA X.
Manual Mode
In Manual Mode, ALTA X will only stabilize its attitude. At neutral control input (middle pitch and roll stick position), ALTA X will attempt to remain level. Throttle control is direct. In this mode, it will blow with the wind, and will require constant throttle adjustment to hold altitude.
Altitude Mode
Altitude Mode changes the throttle stick behavior to command climb and descent rates. The higher the throttle stick position, the faster ALTA X will climb. Conversely, the lower the throttle stick position, the faster ALTA X will descend.
When the throttle stick is centered, ALTA X will enter Altitude Hold. In Altitude Hold, ALTA X will maintain a target altitude and try to correct for vertical drift. If a disturbance moves ALTA X away from this target altitude, ALTA X will climb or descend to return to the target altitude.
Altitude Mode is assistive only and is not a replacement for pilot skill and ability. Pilots should be proficient in Manual Mode flight in order to react to emergency situations as required.
Position Mode
Position Mode changes the pitch/roll stick behavior to command ground speeds. Pitch and roll stick deflection will command fore/aft and left/right ground speeds respectively. Controlling altitude in Position Mode is the same as in Altitude Mode.
With pitch and roll controls centered, ALTA X will enter Position Hold. In Position Hold, ALTA X will maintain its position over a given point on the ground and correct for disturbances.
Position Mode requires a strong GPS signal and communication with a minimum of 6 satellites. If a weak signal is present, ALTA X will not enter Position Mode
Position Mode is assistive only and is not a replacement for pilot skill and ability. Pilots should be proficient in Manual Mode flight in order to react to emergency situations as required.
Flight using Position Mode in areas of degraded GPS signal, such as near buildings or under dense tree cover, is not recommended. The automatic reversion to Manual Mode can cause unexpected, abrupt changes in flight behavior.
Waypoints Mode
Waypoints mode allows ALTA X to execute a predefined autonomous waypoint missions that have been uploaded to the flight controller via ALTA QGroundControl (QGC). For more information on all of the different options and abilities built into the Waypoint functionality you can read more in the PX4 Literature.
ALTA X must have a GPS lock before takeoff to set a valid home position in order to start a waypoints mission. Waypoint mode will be unavailable if the aircraft took off before GPS lock was achieved. Operator must land and rearm with GPS lock to enable.
Return-to-Launch
Return-to-Launch Mode will command ALTA X to fly back to the defined Home Point. When ALTA X first acquires a GPS position, it sets this as the Home Point of the flight. See the Radio Channel Mapping section in this manual for more information on setting up the Return-to-Launch Switch.
RTL can be initiated automatically with a LOS event if it is selected as the Signal Loss Action in ALTA QGroundControl. RTL can also be initiated manually while flying in any Mode and setting the Home Switch to RTL.
When initiated manually using the Home Switch, ALTA X will climb to the configured return altitude, fly back to the Home Point, and descend to 10m. ALTA X will hover above the home point and wait for a set amount of time and then land. The pilot can cancel the RTL procedure by returning the Home Switch to off.
During an LOS event, RTL followed by Autoland will be initiated automatically. ALTA X will first check its current altitude against configured RTL altitude. ALTA X will climb to Safe Height. Next, ALTA X will fly back to the home position at the default waypoint speed set in the ALTA X QGroundControl. Finally, upon reaching the home position, ALTA X will loiter for 45s and then begin to Autoland.
The Autoland function will land in place. The vertical speed at which the ALTA will descend during an Autoland varies as the ALTA approaches the ground. Higher above the elevation of the home point, ALTA X descends at a faster rate and gradually slows to the user-defined Autoland Descent Rate before landing. By default, the aircraft will descend at 0.7m/s until touchdown is detected.
Autoland is intended to be a failsafe in case of loss of RC control only. If control is available, the operator should land in manual mode. High wind, sloped ground, and narrow landing gear on the current payload can make the aircraft prone to tip over when auto landing. Reducing the autoland velocity may result in missed land detection for some weight combinations, which can have unpredictable results, so it is advised not to change this value.
The RTL switch on the radio will override all other modes, and prevent any mode switches. To return to a normal flight mode, make sure to toggle the RTL switch to OFF.
Ensure that the RTL switch is OFF before takeoff.
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Landing Modes
It is suggested that the operator lands in Manual mode, as it offers the most control for a precise touchdown. However it is possible to land in Altitude and Position modes as well. The aircraft behaves a little differently in each mode:
Manual Mode
In manual mode, the operator will maneuver the aircraft over the landing spot, and descend slowly using direct throttle control. As the aircraft nears the ground and enters ground effect, the pilot will often need to reduce throttle a little bit to keep the aircraft descending. Once touchdown is achieved, the operator should reduce throttle to zero promptly so that it settles on the ground instead of possibly bouncing or dragging the gear. Disarm as normal.
Altitude Mode
Landing in altitude mode is different than manual because the throttle stick now controls descent velocity rather than throttle directly. The aircraft will automatically adjust throttle through ground effect to maintain the same descent velocity. The operator will still need to manually control pitch and roll to maintain position over the desired landing site. Once the aircraft is on the ground, bring throttle stick to minimum, and then switch to manual mode and disarm. The aircraft will automatically disarm after 5 seconds if left running.
Position Mode
Landing in position mode uses the same altitude control as in Altitude mode, but additionally will control the position. This can be useful as it will fight the wind and drift automatically, but the aircraft may maintain a pitch and roll to do so, requiring care to avoid a prop strike on the ground or a tipover when using narrow landing gear. As the aircraft nears the ground, the maximum angle will be reduced to prevent large scale reactions to stick moments, but the operator should keep pitch and roll motions to a minimum when near the ground. Once the aircraft is on the ground, bring throttle stick to minimum, and then switch to manual mode and disarm. The aircraft will automatically disarm after 5 seconds if left running
Autoland Mode
It is possible to command the aircraft to autoland, as described above. It is not recommended in cases other than failsafe, or after careful testing. Autoland is not as precise as a human pilot, and certain payload combinations can result in tipovers or bouncing. Tall, narrow landing gear is particularly susceptible to tipover on autoland in high winds.
If the aircraft tips over with the props running, ALWAYS power cycle the aircraft before attempting takeoff again. If the motors or props hit the ground, they may not start on next arm and cause it to tip again.
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RC Disarm lockout
Introduced in FW 1.3.0, users can now configure a switch on their transmitter that, when enabled, will prevent manual disarm. Currently, users can disarm the aircraft in manual mode by holding the throttle all the way at zero, and the yaw stick all the way left for 1.5 seconds. In some cases, such as aggressive flying, this could happen inadvertently in flight, causing an inflight disarm and crash.
Please note this feature does exist when using Pilot Pro with Alta X.
This feature only prevents disarming via RC command. Disarm via Alta QGroundControl still works the same, and an inflight disarm can still be forced through that interface. That mechanism requires a second confirmation step, so it is not able to be accidentally triggered.
Configuration
To configure, follow these steps while connected to the aircraft with Alta QGroundControl:
On the radio screen, toggle the switch that you want to act as the disarm lockout. Note on the channel list which channel number is changing when the switch is toggled.
Using the parameter screen, set RC_MAP_ARMLK_SW to the RC channel found in step 1.
Restart the aircraft
Test functionality, as described in the use section below. It is recommended to always test it before takeoff.
Use
Before every takeoff, it is advisable to test the operation of the switch while idling on the ground to ensure it is functioning. Follow these steps:
Set to manual mode
Set disarm lockout switch to OFF
Arm the aircraft, keeping throttle at minimum, idling on the ground with props spinning.
Set the disarm lockout switch to ON
Attempt to disarm the aircraft. It should not disarm, and a warning in Alta QGroundControl will show indicating that disarm was blocked by the switch.
Takeoff and fly mission
Land
Set disarm lockout switch to OFF
Disarm aircraft as normal
Note that to prevent confusion, the lockout switch must be set to OFF for the aircraft to arm also.
Troubleshooting
Switch reversed - If the behavior of the switch is reversed it can be corrected by reversing the switch output on the transmitter, or by setting parameter RC<channel>_REV to -1, where <channel> is the RC channel number for the switch in question. For example, to reverse channel 8, set RC8_REV=-1
Threshold - The switch usually maps between 0 and 1. The default threshold is set to 0.75, so that on a 3 position switch, lockout is not enabled until all the way in the 3rd position. If this needs to be adjusted, it is set by the parameter RC_ARMLK_TH
If the aircraft crashes or otherwise needs to be disarmed quickly, do not forget to toggle the lockout switch to allow disarming.
When using Pilot Pro, the kill switch will instantly trigger an aircraft disarm.
The aircraft can also be emergency disarmed using Alta QGroundControl over the radio link. Select ARM at the top and then it will ask for a swipe to confirm in a box labeled "EMERGENCY STOP". WARNING: This will stop the motors immediately, even if flying.
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Alta Q Ground Control
Alta Q Ground Control is the free mission planning software used with the Alta X. In addition to mission planning it can be used to update parameters and settings. The latest version of Alta QGC can be found on our support page.
You can connect your Alta X to QGroundControl using USB or the FRX modem.
Never power your drone with batteries with propellers on when not ready to fly. When powering the Alta X over USB C the motors are not able to arm.
Loading Default Parameters
1. | Important: Make sure your aircraft is on the most recent firmware and you are using the latest Alta QGroundControl on your controller (Pilot Pro and UXV) or your computer | |
2. | Open Alta QGC and wait for aircraft to connect. | |
3. | Navigate to the Vehicle Setup page on the top left of QGC (3 gear icon) and find the Parameters tab on the left side of the screen. (2 gears icon) | |
4. | In the search tab, search for "SYS_AUTOSTART" | |
5. |
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6 a. | If using Pilot Pro or UXV, select the Tools button on the top right of parameters tab, and select load defaults. | |
6 b. | If using a computer, search for "SYS_AUTOCONFIG" and set this to 2 . (you may need to click on "manual entry", then "force save") | |
7. | Reboot Aircraft. | |
8. | Calibrate Sensors. Always remember to select "No Rotation" for your External Compass Orientation. |
Loading Temp Cal Parameters
Alta X flight control software contains functionality to calibrate and compensate rate gyro, accelerometer and barometric pressure sensors for the effect of changing sensor temperature on sensor bias. Each flight control has a unique calibration saved on the SD card of the flight computer. In the event the temp cal is removed and needs to be re-installed, follow these directions.
1. | Plug in a USB cable to your computer. Leave the other end unplugged from ALTA X for now. | |
2. | Remove the chassis closeout between Booms 1 and 2 to reveal the expansion board. | |
3. | Continually hold down the USB MSC Button on the expansion board while plugging in the USB C to the expansion board on your ALTA. The Nav lights on the Alta should remain blue. Your ALTA will now show up in your file browser as a USB disk named FF-ALTA. | |
4. | You should see a file name containing the aircraft SN followed by Tempcal.params. Download or copy this file to your computer. | |
5. | "Eject" the USB Disk from you computer and remove USB-C Cable. | |
6. | Plug in the USB C into the expansion board. (no button press) ALTA X should display Blue lights, then white, then display red and green directional lights on the motors. | |
7. | Open Alta QGC and wait for aircraft to connect. | |
8. | Navigate to the Vehicle Setup page on the top left of QGC (3 Gears Icon) and find the Parameters tab on the left side of the screen. (2 Gears Icon) | |
9. | Select the Tools button on the top right of parameters tab, and select load from file. Load the Tempcal.params file. | |
10. | Reboot Aircraft, connect to QGC and confirm parameters saved by navigating to Parameters page and selecting Thermal Compensation tab on the bottom left. The majority of the parameters should be non-zero values. | |
11. | Reboot aircraft |
If the temp cal has been removed from the SD Card- freefly support can provide you with the temp cal associated with the serial number of your drone. Email support with your serial number if needed.
Important Parameters
Parameter | Function |
MPC_THR_HOVER | Controls the throttle setpoint required for hovering. This depends on the weight of the aircraft, and is about 29% for no payload. Default is 40% for a 15lb payload. Setting this parameter correctly will eliminate drops or climbs when switching between manual and either altitude or position mode with the throttle stick at 50%. It is also important to set this parameter correctly to prevent bunny hops when landing in automated or in position modes. |
BOOM(1-4)_COLOR | Controls the color of each boom LED. |
OSD_(*****) | All parameters starting with 'OSD_' configure how the OSD looks and acts. |
OSD_BAT_ALARM | Sets what cell voltage the aircraft will flash the Boom lights and the OSD battery symbol to indicate low battery to the user. |
MPC_MAN_TILT_MAX | Defines how far the aircraft is allowed to tilt while being controlled in manual mode. This can be reduced for a little less aggressive feeling for a pilot. Recommended to leave at 45 degrees for maximum performance. Reducing to 35 degrees will give a more gentle and slow flight handling. This parameter only affects manual mode. In position and automodes, the aircraft angle is set to 45 for performance. |
MPC_VEL_MANUAL | Defines how fast the maximum speed the aircraft will fly in position mode. This can be reduced for more fine control at lower speeds. |
MPC_XY_CRUISE | Defines the default waypoint speed, as well as the RTL speed. This can be increased up to 20m/s, however it is suggested to set waypoint velocity separately for missions. If setting this high and commanding slow waypoint velocities may result in the aircraft slowing down too far in advance of a waypoint. |
*_EXPO | Controls stick expo in different modes, can be used to adjust the feel of the aircraft while flying. More expo will require more stick input to get the same angle or speed when near zero stick, and will increase rapidly to maximum once the stick is at higher deflections. |
MPC_Z_VEL_MAX_(UP/DN) | Controls maximum climb and descent velocities in altitude, position and waypoint modes. |
Failsafe Settings
Alta X has a number of safety features to protect and recover your vehicle if something goes wrong:
Failsafes allow you to specify areas and conditions under which you can safely fly, and the action that will be performed if a failsafe is triggered (for example, landing, holding position, or returning to a specified point). The most important failsafe settings are configured in the QGroundControl Safety Setup page.
To adjust failsafe settings connect to QgroundControl and navigate to Vehicle Setup page and then the Safety Tab on the left sidebar.
For more information on Failsafe settings visit PX4 Page.
By Default battery failsafe action is set to warning- which means an audible warning on QGroundControl and flashing lights on the drone.
Adjusting battery, RC Loss, or Data Link Loss failsafe triggers should be done with care and a full understanding of the parameters and actions. If you're not sure don't change from default or contact support for clarification.
It is possible to recover from a failsafe action (if the cause is fixed) by switching flight modes. For example, in the case where RC Loss failsafe causes the vehicle to enter Return mode, if RC is recovered you can change to Position mode and continue flying.
Software Reboot from Alta QGC
If you need to reboot the aircraft but don't want to disconnect power, you can reboot through Alta QGC. This is good for when you don't want to power down your payload or accessories but the flight controller needs a reboot.
In Alta QGCS click the "Vehicle Setting" button on the top left. (3 Gear Icon)
From the option displayed on the left-hand side click the "Parameters" button (2 Gear Icon)
Click the "Tools" button in the top right.
Click "Reboot Vehicle " option.
Select "OK" option.
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Mission Planning
Creation/Modification/Execution
Missions can be created, loaded, saved, and modified from the Plan View. An overview of Plan View can be found in public QGC documentation. Click on (+) sign at the toolbar left of the screen to enter waypoint addition mode. In this mode, users can add waypoints by tapping or left clicking on the 2D map. A new plan can be created by clicking File -> New -> Yes when in Plan View.
To modify a waypoint, first click on it. The selected waypoint will turn green. Click and hold on clicking for a second time to drag the waypoint around the map. Latitude and longitude values will change automatically.
When the initial waypoint is added, a Planned Home indicator is automatically added. Initial waypoint will automatically be named as “Takeoff”. Planned Home is where the aircraft will land if a return to home signal is sent, unless there are rally points. Takeoff location is the first waypoint the vehicle will move towards as soon as mission mode is entered.
Users can observe mission specific values such as total mission time or total mission distance from the panel at the top of the screen. Once users are finished modifying a mission the mission needs to be uploaded to the vehicle. If a vehicle connection is established with the QGroundControl, a button named “Upload Mission” will be highlighted as soon as user makes a modification to the mission itself. Click on “Upload Mission” to load the mission file. Afterwards, go to “Flight View”. Uploaded mission can be executed from the Flight View by sliding the mission start slider or taking the vehicle into mission mode.
Detailed Mission Items
Waypoint specific Variables | Waypoint specific values -such as speed, altitude or commands- can be modified by selecting a waypoint and using the detailed waypoint list at the right hand side of the screen. |
Planned Home | Planned Home (a.k.a Mission Start) item in the detailed waypoint list can be used as a settings item. The altitude and flight speed values will be passed to all other waypoints along the list. |
Mission Ending | Mission ending characteristics can be customized by toggling “return to home” option. |
Home Position | The home position can be changed and centered to the middle of the map from the settings item. |
Advanced Users
Detailed waypoint list can be used to give commands at each waypoint. Command menu can be accessed by clicking on the three horizontal lines (top right of waypoint details panel). These commands will add an extra waypoint. The point of this waypoint is to indicate that there will be a command executed, it’s not really a physical waypoint. These commands include the following options: return to home, go to another waypoint, land and takeoff. Since the addition of the “command waypoint” might cause confusion, users are advised to get hands-on experience with simpler missions.
The Flight Speed variable inside the detailed waypoint list assigns a speed value that will be executed after vehicle passes the waypoint. For example, if default Flight Speed is set to 5 m/s and it is re-set to 20 m/s at third waypoint, vehicle will start to increase its speed from 5 m/s to 20 ms/ as soon as it passes waypoint three. So the target flight speed between waypoint 3 and waypoint 4 will be 20 m/s. Unless flight speed is reset back to 5 m/s at waypoint 4, 20 m/s value will be passed to rest of the waypoints.
Terrain Follow Mode
To ensure the safe use of Terrain Follow Mode on the Alta X, please adhere to the following safety guidelines:
Minimum Flight Height: Always maintain a minimum height of 20 meters above terrain to safely account for unexpected terrain changes.
Terrain Type: Best used over smooth terrain; the system may not accurately navigate large or sudden elevation changes.
Know Your Terrain: Familiarize yourself with the flight area. Do not solely rely on navigation data for flight planning and execution.
Data Use: The elevation data, provided by Airbus from the Copernicus Digital Elevation Model, is to be used at your own risk. Recognize that environmental changes and data inaccuracies can affect flight safety.
Important: Safe operation of the Alta X in Terrain Follow Mode requires careful planning and judgment by the pilot. The guidelines above are designed to assist but not replace pilot responsibility.
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Tuning
ALTA X is pretuned by Freefly, and can be flown without changes. However, each user may have a different preference or use case for their aircraft. This section gives some guidance for how to tune some of the behaviors of the aircraft to suit individual needs. It is NOT recommended to tune low-level control parameters, as they could cause instability or control issues which could result in a crash.
Issue | Tuning Resolution |
My aircraft is too aggressive in manual mode | Reduce MPC_MAN_TILT_MAX to 30-35 degrees. Do not reduce it further as it may not be able to handle wind. |
My aircraft is too fast in position mode | Decrease MPC_VEL_MANUAL - this value defines the maximum speed at full stick in position mode. If a more precise, slow velocity is required, reducing this will cap the speed and give more stick sensitivity at lower speed |
Increase MC_XY_MAN_EXPO to decrease sensitivity for small stick motions. | |
My aircraft climbs or descends too quickly/slowly in altitude and position mode | Adjust MPC_Z_VEL_MAX_DN and MPC_Z_VEL_MAX_UP. They control the maximum speed |
My aircraft accelerates too slowly or quickly in position mode | Adjust parameter MPC_ACC_HOR to increase or decrease the acceleration used to reach the desired velocity. Value is m/s^2 |
Adjust parameters MPC_ACC_UP/DOWN_MAX to control how fast the aircraft accelerates vertically. |
Loading the default parameters or known-good presets will allow you to quickly return to a functional and safe configuration if there is ever uncertainty about changes to the tuning properties.
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Sensor Calibration
ALTA X features redundant, highly sensitive 3-axis magnetometers, gyroscopes, and accelerometers that measure specific force, angular rate, and earth’s magnetic field to infer heading and maintain stability. Occasionally, the sensors will require re-calibration.
ALTA X’s compass may require calibration if locations have changed. For best results, it is recommended to perform manual compass calibrations away from ferrous objects, buildings and vehicles. In addition, concrete can contain steel rebar which may influence compass calibrations.
Perform calibration without a payload attached and all motor booms extended and latched. Folded booms will cause an inaccurate calibration.
It is recommended to use two people to perform the compass calibration as it requires handling and rotating ALTA X.
Alta X has 4 magnetometers, one in the GPS mast, and 3 internally used as backups. In cases where a payload is mounted that affects the onboard magnetometers more than the external one, QGroundControl will notify the user that magnetometers are inconsistent. Users can calibrate the aircraft with the payload attached to solve.
If the payload is causing enough corruption that calibrating with it on does not work, contact Freefly support for alternative solutions.
Please note, you will have to disable wifi to complete a compass calibration.
Sensor Calibration Prep
1. | Mount a pair of batteries onto ALTA X. | |
2. | Plug in the batteries to power up the aircraft. | |
3. | Open the ALTA QGroundControl and connect to ALTA X. | |
4. | Navigate to the Sensors tab under Vehicle Setup. | |
5. | Available sensors are displayed as a list of buttons beside the sidebar. Sensors marked with green are already calibrated. Sensors marked with red require calibration prior to flight. | |
6. | Click on the button for each sensor to start its calibration sequence and follow the instructions provided in the ALTA X QGroundControl. | |
7. | Start by selecting Set Orientations and set the autopilot orientation
OR
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Compass Calibration
Follow the instructions below to perform a compass calibration on ALTA X. Compass calibrations should be done when flying in a new location or when ALTA QGroundControl prompts a calibration.
1. | Click the Compass sensor button. | |
2. | Click OK to start the calibration. | |
3. | Place the vehicle in any of the orientations shown in red (incomplete) and hold it still. Once prompted (the orientation-image turns yellow), rotate the vehicle around the specified axis in either/both directions. Once the calibration is complete in that orientation the associated image on the screen will turn green. | |
4. | Repeat the calibration process for all vehicle orientations. |
Accelerometer Calibration
Follow the instructions below to perform an accelerometer calibration on ALTA X. Accelerometer calibrations should only be done when prompted by ALTA QGroundControl.
1. | Click the Accelerometer sensor button. | |
2. | Click OK to start the calibration. | |
3. | Position the vehicle as guided by the images on the screen. This is very similar to compass calibration. |
Level Horizon Calibration
Follow the instructions below to perform a level horizon calibration on ALTA X. Horizon calibrations should only be done if the horizon (as shown in the HUD) is not level after completing Accelerometer calibration and the aircraft is sitting on a level surface.
1. | Click the Level Horizon sensor button. |
2. | Place the vehicle in its level flight orientation on a level surface. |
3. | Click OK to start the calibration. |
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GPS Lights
The GPS module includes multi-color LED status lights that provide extra indication of aircraft status on the ground.
Between 2019 and Spring of 2021 the Alta X Shipped with the Here2 GPS. (pictured below) In May of 2021 the Alta X started Shipping with the Freefly F9P GPS as a standard offering. If The GPS on your Alta X does not look like the one pictured below you can see more info on your GPS on the RTK GPS Page.
GPS Color | Meaning | Description |
Solid Blue | Armed, No GPS Lock | Indicates vehicle has been armed and has no position lock from the GPS. Position, Mission and RTL flight modes are not available. Warning! When armed, propellers will start spinning! |
Pulsing Blue | Disarmed, No GPS Lock | Indicates vehicle is disarmed armed and has no position lock from the GPS. Position, Mission and RTL flight modes will not be available until GPS lock is acquired. |
Solid Green | Armed, GPS Lock | Indicates vehicle has been armed and has position lock from the GPS. All flight modes are available. Warning! When armed, propellers will start spinning! |
Pulsing Green | Disarmed, GPS Lock | Indicates vehicle is disarmed and has position lock from the GPS. All flight modes will be available. |
Solid Purple | Failsafe Mode | Indicates an error has been encountered during flight and the vehicle will enter RTL mode. |
Solid Amber | Low Battery Warning | Indicates a battery voltage below threshold. |
Flashing Red | Error / Setup Required | Indicates an error, typically an issue with sensor calibration or autopilot configuration. |
Flashing Purple | System Resource Utilization Too High | This light is encountered when system RAM/memory usage is above 98%. See Service Bulletin SB006 |
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WIFI and FRX Connectivity
ALTA X provides two main connectivity methods for wireless telemetry: WIFI for short range, FRX Pro (optional) for long range. The wireless connectivity allows users to define parameters, monitor ALTA and configure missions.
WIFI
There is an active service bulletin regarding WIFI for Alta X 1.3.6 and older firmware.
We currently recommend only enabling FRX connectivity (enabled by default) or WIFI connectivity. The steps below will configure either WIFI or FRX connectivity for you.
Please familiarize yourself with the Service Bulletin and contact Freefly Support if you have further questions.
WiFi is most useful during preflight planning. WIFI is disabled by default, please see the next section for enabling WiFi.
After enabling the WIFI, connect your ground control device to the SSID (“ALTAX-[SN]"). Once connected, open QGroundControl, and it will automatically detect the connection and connect to the ALTA.
If operating multiple ALTAs, please make sure you connect to the correct one. It is advised to set different passwords for each aircraft to minimize chance of erroneous connections.
Enable and configure WIFI
ALTA X allows users to update the system’s WiFi password and SSID. All ALTA Xs initially come with WiFi disabled for safety reasons. To enable WiFi connectivity follow the steps below!
Please read this entire section if you intend to use the WiFi feature of ALTA X.
When flying multiple aircraft with WiFi enabled, take extreme caution to ensure that the aircraft connected to the laptop/mobile device is the desired craft. Failing to connect to the correct device may result in an inadvertently arming a aircraft or disarming one that is inflight .
You may enable WIFI using the steps below, or by loading the ALTAX-enablewifi.param file located on the Alta X support page.
1. | Connect to ALTA X using the FRX Pro or USB |
2. | Go to the System Parameters under the Parameter tab in the Vehicle Setup menu and find the FF_WIFI_ENABLE parameter |
3. | Change the FF_WIFI_ENABLE parameter to 1 and MAV_0_CONFIG to "TELEM2" and restart ALTA X |
4. | Re-download the parameters by selecting Tools... Refresh in the parameter screen |
5. | Check (or set) the following parameters to configure wifi: MAV_0_MODE=Normal, MAV_0_RATE = 20000, MAV_0_FORWARD=Disabled, and SER_TEL2_BAUD=921600 8N1 |
6. | Restart the Alta X and connect with a wifi device. |
1. | Connect to ALTA X’s WiFi using the initial password listed below
| Note that this connection won't provide internet, and some devices may disconnect if not internet is detected. Users will have to disable this feature to use Alta X WIFI |
2. | Open your preferred web browser and go to 192.168.4.1 | |
3. | Select setup, then update the SSID and password as necessary. Make sure to make the password is eight characters long, secure, and noted down somewhere in case you forget!
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4. | Once the password and SSID have been updated, hit the save button at the bottom of the menu. | |
5. | Power cycle ALTA X and ensure you can connect to ALTA X using the new password. |
Configure WIFI settings
ALTA X passwords must be longer than eight characters and should be unique for each ALTA X. Do not use the same password on multiple machines!
We suggest not selecting ‘Connect Automatically’ when using WiFi to connect to ALTA X and clearly labeling each FRX Pro pair.
Reset Wifi
To reset the wifi, follow these steps:
1. | Power off Alta X | |
2. | Hold MSC button and connect USB power, wait for it to load into USB file mode | |
3. | With the aircraft still powered on in USB file mode, press and hold the BOOT button for 10 seconds. | |
4. | The Wifi will default to SSID: ALTA with password "altaalta" | |
5. | Change the wifi settings as described above in "Configure WIFI Settings" |
The optional FRX Pro long range radio provides telemetry and aircraft control out to much longer range than the WiFi connection.
Disabling WIFI
You may disable WIFI using the steps below, or by loading the ALTAX-disablewifi.param file located on the Alta SD card or from the Alta X support page.
1. | Connect to ALTA X using the FRX Pro or USB |
2. | Go to the System Parameters under the Parameter tab in the Vehicle Setup menu and find the FF_WIFI_ENABLE parameter |
3. | Change the FF_WIFI_ENABLE parameter to 0 and MAV_0_CONFIG to "TELEM1" and restart ALTA X |
4. | Check (or set) the following parameters to configure wifi: MAV_0_MODE=Normal, MAV_0_RATE = 1200, and MAV_1_FORWARD=Enabled |
5. | Restart the Alta X and connect with a wifi device. |
FRX Pro
Overview video on how to install, bind, and configure FRX Pro for Alta X
Using FRX Pro
1. | Plug the ground FRX Pro into a laptop or portable device using a USB-C cable
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2. | Power up ALTA X, if bound the FRX's will connect automatically and begin sending data back and forth. |
Binding FRX Pro
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1. | Power up the ALTA that has the FRX Pro using batteries (powering up with USB will not provide power to the FRX) |
2. | Plug the ground FRX Pro into a laptop using the USB-C cable |
3. | If the FRX Pro modules are already bound and connected to a ground station FRX Pro, the status lights on both FRX Pro modules will turn green after a few seconds.
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4. |
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5. | Repeat the binding steps above if a binding attempt fails. |
FRX Pros configured for use in non-ALTA products (ie, Mōvi) need to be reconfigured before they can be used in ALTA. Please contact Freefly for instructions to reconfigure the radios. The symptom for mis-configured radios is that only one radio shows a Green LED and rebinding does not reestablish communications.
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Datalogging
ALTA X provides comprehensive logging capabilities, which are enabled by default. In the default configuration, logging starts when the aircraft is armed, and ends when the aircraft is disarmed. These logs are stored on the onboard SD card, and can be downloaded to provide information about the flight.
Downloading Datalogs
Logs are stored on the onboard SDcard. To download them, follow the following steps.
1. | Ensure the ALTA X's battery is unplugged. |
2. | Hold down the button labeled “MSC” on the expansion board while plugging in a USB-C cable that is attached to a computer. Hold the MSC button for 5 seconds. |
3. | The aircraft should enumerate as a USB drive on the host computer. This may take another 10-15 seconds depending on the host PC. |
4. | Open the new USB drive in a file manager. |
5. | The “logs” subdirectory contains all the logs. |
6. | In the logs directory, there are subdirectories labeled with a date. In each folder is a time stamped file with a “.ulg” extension. These are the logs |
7. | Download whichever logs are of interest. There may be some logs with very small file sizes, less than 1MB. These are typically generated by arming and then immediately disarming. |
If the aircraft never acquired GPS, the aircraft may not have good time information and may label the folder as “sess002” or equivalent. In this case, the largest number is the most recent.
Logs can be downloaded using QGroundControl over the datalink, but this is discouraged as it is VERY slow and the logs are often corrupt. USB mode is recommended.
View Datalogs
Log files are in “ulog” format. This format is binary, and contains extensive information about the flight and the vehicle. The easiest way to view the logs is to browse to http://logs.px4.io and upload the ulg file. It will present many plots showing data such as angles, position, speed, GPS quality, vibration, etc. It will also show the build information, current configuration, and any errors detected in the flight.
Log Cleanup
The onboard SD card holds between 8GB - 32GB of data, which is able to store logs for hundreds of flight hours. The ALTA X will start to delete old logs if it runs out of space, so it is useful to periodically clean out the logs if you don’t want them to be lost. Download all the logs as shown above, and then delete all (or some) of the folders in the “logs” subdirectory.
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MAVLink
ALTA X supports MAVLink connection via two connectors, with one on the communications expansion panel on the outside of the aircraft (labeled UART) and one inside the aircraft.
External Expansion Panel UART
The external UART connection uses 57600 baud 8-N-1. This port is packet switch multiplexed with an OSD module, which means that there will be some periodic MAVlink parameter streams present by default for OSD use. Because it is packet switched, the user does not need to account for multiplexing their transmitted messages themselves, but instead just needs to plan for the fact that there will be some unrequested traffic received from the flight controller.
Internal Expansion UART
The internal port is prewired with a cable made available inside of the chassis. The connector is a JST GH 6 pin connector matching the standard dronecode/PX4 pinout. It is paired with a standard 4 pin GH CANbus connector for peripheral CANbus connections.
The internal port is shared with the WIFI module. To enable it for external communications use, you must ensure WIFI is disabled using the parameter “FF_WIFI_ENABLE”. WIFI is disabled by default, which means external communications are enabled. The internal port uses 921600 baud 8-N-1 by default but is modifiable using parameter “SER_TEL2_BAUD”.
This UART can be configured as a MAVLink “onboard” port, which enables a group of standard MAVLink streams for communication with an onboard companion computer.
See this for more details: https://docs.px4.io/main/en/peripherals/mavlink_peripherals.html
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