Pilot Pro Public
  • Intro
  • Getting Started
  • Operating Handbook
    • User Interface
    • Ecosystem
      • RTK
    • Power and Charging
    • Radio Modules
      • Herelink Radio
      • Doodle Labs Radio Module
        • Doodle Pro Tips
        • Doodle Channel Selection
        • Doodle RJ45 Ethernet Port
        • Doodle Binding / Pairing
    • Input Output Mapping
      • Advanced Input Mapping
  • Maintenance
    • Troubleshooting
    • Software and Firmware Updates
      • Software Release Notes
  • Specs
    • Technical Specs
    • Radio Technical Specs
    • Testing and Certification
    • Compliance
  • Interfaces
    • Electrical Interfaces
    • Mechanical Interfaces
    • Software Interfaces
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On this page
  • Pilot Pro Configurations + Use Cases
  • On the Move
  • Mobile Station
  • Command Station
  • Radio Modules
  • Accessories
  • Mechanical Accessories
  • Connectivity
  • Wifi
  • LTE
  • RJ45 / ethernet cable
  • Multi-Device Ops
  • Connecting a Computer to the drone
  • Adding a second tablet / iPad
  • Screen Mirroring
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  1. Operating Handbook

Ecosystem

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Last updated 2 months ago


Pilot Pro Configurations + Use Cases

On the Move

  • Operate Pilot Pro as it ships.

    • This solution will give you a controller that is light enough to take with you when constantly on the move, but still has everything you need to make it through 6hrs of flight.

    • Pilot Pro ships standard with a Neck Strap, Handle Grips, Tablet Guard, and a SKB Protective Case.

    • Capably of being fully charged in 1 hour. (2 hours if Pilot Pro is in use.)

  • Weight: 1.9Kg

  • Additional Accessories: 45W charger and USB-C cable

Mobile Station

  • Add a V-Mount Battery Plate Kit to operate all day long using your choice of V-Lock Battery.

    • This solution will allow you to swap external batteries

  • Rig up with lanyard harness, and adjust the monitor into the up position for better view.

  • Tablet Guard/handle rests on your body for comfort during extended flight time.

  • Weight: 2.3Kg (w/FXLion Nano One)

Command Station

  • Set up Pilot Pro as a full ground control station by adding a second screen and mounting to a tripod or Pilot's Station.

    • This solution will allow you to have the ultimate pilot command center. Connecting to additional tablets, 3rd Party Applications, and computer to suite all your needs.

  • Weight: Variable based on setup.

  • Available Accessories:


Radio Modules

  • Freefly currently offers a Herelink radio module and a NDAA/Blue compatible Doodle radio module.

  • Pilot Pro architecture allows radio backpack to be swappable (not hot-swappable).

  • Radio backpacks have a RJ-45 Ethernet connector that allows external devices to directly join the radio network. This enables use cases such as using the ESRI Site Scan on an iPad.


Accessories

Mechanical Accessories

Part Number
Name

910-00714

910-00716

910-00717

910-00718

910-00719

910-00724

910-00757*

Battery Mount

910-00758

V-Mount Battery Plate Kit

910-00759

Pilot Pro Spare Parts Kit

910-00761

Replacement Neck Strap

910-00784


Connectivity

Wifi

Pilot Pro's tablet can connect to external hotspots via wifi as normal.

  • Use the Android wifi settings screen to select the hotspot.

  • It is advised to use a 5ghz hotspot rather than a 2.4ghz one, as the 2.4ghz one may work poorly in the presence of the drone's point-to-point radio, and may interfere with the drone's connection to the Pilot Pro

LTE

The tablet can accept an optional nano SIM card from a number of providers and get internet access using cellular networks. This will allow downloading of maps and other data while not connected to wifi.

RJ45 / ethernet cable

NEVER CONNECT TWO PILOT PROS TOGETHER WITH ETHERNET CABLES.

This will cause an ip conflict which will cause networking problems with the drone. Internal networking components use static IP addresses.

The RJ45 connector on the back of the radio module is used to connect to the drone, not the internet. It is controlled by the ethernet settings in the Android app and is preconfigured by Freefly. They can be changed, but doing so will break the connection to the drone. Should this happen, the steps to restore the connection are:

  • Go to connection settings in the Android settings menu

  • Go to more connections

  • Select ethernet

  • Disable the ethernet connection (required to make changes)

  • Go to the configuration screen

  • Select Static IP (selecting DHCP would allow a user to connect this to an external network and give the tablet internet access, at the expense of comms to the drone)

  • In the static IP settings, set these in THIS ORDER:

    • IP address = 192.168.144.11

    • Netmask = 255.255.255.0

    • Gateway = 192.168.144.12

    • DNS = 8.8.8.8

  • Use the Android back button to hide the keyboard, then select save

  • Reenable the ethernet slider


Multi-Device Ops

Here are the most common use cases:

  • Connecting a computer to the drone

  • Adding a second tablet / iPad

  • Screen mirroring to an external monitor

Connecting a Computer to the drone

A computer can control the drone by joining the radio network on the Pilot Pro. This opens up possibilities for diverse scenarios, including the operation of a mission control application like AMC on a laptop. The RJ45 port, located on the Pilot Pro radio module, serves as a gateway for the computer to tap into the drone's internal radio network.

This can be potentially dangerous and cause issues with the connection to the drone

Connecting AMC on a laptop to Astro

  • Ensure the drone is on the ground and disarmed

  • Change the computer's IP address for the RJ45 connection to:

    • IP address: any value in the following range 192.168.144.100-150 (this range is not used by the internal components)

    • Netmask 255.255.255.0

    • Gateway - do not populate, can use 192.168.144.12 if required

    • DNS - do not populate

  • From a command prompt, the computer should be able to ping components in the system:

    • 192.168.144.20 - Aircraft Skynode

    • 192.168.144.10 - Aircraft side radio

    • 192.168.144.12 - Pilot Pro side radio module

    • 192.168.144.11 - Pilot Pro tablet

  • To make a connection to the drone,

    • Open AMC on the connected computer

    • Go to settings, then Comm Links

    • Add a new connection with the following properties

      • Connection type TCP

      • IP address 192.168.144.20

      • Port 5790

    • Save and click connect, and AMC should connect to the aircraft.

Connecting Alta X or Generic Vehicle to Herelink's Serial Port

In this configuration, there is no IP connection to the drone directly. However, it is still possible to connect to the data stream with a computer via the Mavlink router on the herelink. To do so:

  • Connect to the RJ45 port and configure the network as listed for Astro above.

  • Open AMC

  • Go to settings, Comm Links

  • Add a new connection and edit it as shown

  • Click connect

  • AMC should be connected to the drone.

Be careful about data usage in this mode- This stream is going through a 57600 baud serial link and has extremely limited bandwidth.

Adding a second tablet / iPad

Screen Mirroring

Starting with Pilot Pro App Version 2.0.24 and Firmware 2.0.27, you can now mirror the screen of the Pilot Pro. To start a screen mirror, go to Android's settings > Connected devices > Smart View

Your tablet will automatically start a search for other devices that it can cast to

Screen Mirroring Protocols

Not all screen mirroring protocols are enabled by default. In order to enable additional protocols, follow the steps below:

The Tab 5 has a green button and the Tab 3 has a red button

Enable 'Chromecast Support' under Smart View Labs Settings

Open the Android settings and navigate to Connected devices > Smart View

Tap on the 3 dots in the corner to access the Smart View settings

In Smart View settings, navigate to the Labs option

Toggle on Chromecast support

Enable Chromecast Support via Settings > Connected devices > Smart View > Smart View Settings > Rapidly tap "Smart View" > enter "#00rtsp00" for the password > Enable Google Cast

Open the Android settings and navigate to Connected devices > Smart View

Tap on the 3 dots in the corner to access the Smart View settings

In Smart View settings, navigate to the "About Smart View" option

Rapidly tap "Smart View" until you have a password prompt appear

In the password prompt, type in:

#00rtsp00

Enable your desired protocol for Screen Mirroring

Connect a laptop to the controller via RJ45 (example accessories: , )

Mounting: We have the following set of accessories to make it easy to mount second screen/tablet on top of the pilot pro: .

Cables: If you are using a tablet/iPad, you can have it join the radio network to access data through the RJ45 connector on the Pilot Pro's Radio Module. You'll need accessories like an , .

Connecting: Setup will depend on the software you use. However it will most likely be very close to the .

Tripod Adapter (Pilot Pro)
Freefly Adjustable Accessory Mount
Tablet Clamp Mount
https://a.co/d/06ZZ3kP
https://a.co/d/663glnm
Tripod Adapter (Pilot Pro),
Freefly Adjustable Accessory Mount,
Tablet Clamp Mount
RJ45 cable
Ethernet adapter
following
NATO Rail 62mm
NATO Rail 90mm
Freefly Adjustable Accessory Mount
Tablet Clamp Mount
Phone Clamp Mount
FXLION Nano One 14.8V 3.4Ah/50Wh
Right Angle Tripod Mount
Smart View option for Screen Mirroring
Smart View searching for devices
Enabling Chromecast support on the Tab 5
Smart View option under Connected devices
Smart View settings menu location
Smart View Labs Setting
Enabling Chromecast Support
Enabling Chromecast support on the Tab 3
Smart View in Android settings
Smart View settings location
Smart View about page navigation
Smart View hidden developer options
Smart View password entry for developer options
Enabling Additional Screen Mirroring Protocol