Quick Start

• The Pilot Pro ships with a 45W USB-C charger and a USB C-C cable (note- some initial Pilot Pro controllers shipped with slower charger model)

• To charge your controller, plug into the USB power port on the left side of the controller bottom that is also labeled "USB CHARGE

Internal Batteries

• Controller comes with 50Wh internal batteries that can power the system for up to 5+ hours of operational time

External Batteries

• Controller system allows for a wide variety of external power inputs. Some of the options are:

  • Fxlion NANO ONE 50Whr - Adds up to 4 hours of operational time

  • Freefly SL8 - Adds up to 14 hours

  • Freefly SL4 - adds up to 7 hours

  • USB C PD battery bank (60W+ PD output recommended)

Charging

• Internal batteries fully charge in 1 hour (charges at 1C) when using a power supply that can deliver >60W

• Tablet fully charges in ~1.5 hours (5000 mAh at 15W charge capability)

  • Note: If charging via the microfit connector, the controller will not autostart charging. Manually power on the controller to start charging.

• Fxlion NANO ONE 50Whr - Charges in ~1 hour

• We often use SL8's that have already been flown to charge Pilot Pro - usually there is ~20% charge left on these packs that can be used to run Pilot Pro indefinitely.

Power Consumption

Specs of Ports

• USB C Device Ports → 5V at 1.5A output

• UART Ports → 5V at 1A output

• Radio Power → 24V/20V/15V/12V/9V/5V at 1.25A to 3A (30W max)

• USB C Charge Port → 100W input

• Molex External Power Input → 5-26V up to 100W input (12V-26V recommended for powering while in use or fast charging)

Consumption Table

Refer to this table for typical power consumption of various devices on the controller system

Troubleshooting

If the controller is failing to charge and is completely unresponsive, connect a USB C charger and hold the power button (on the controller, not the tablet) down for 15 seconds to reset. This might require an additional power cycle for regular operation.

The Pilot Pro has a modular interface on the back to allow for different radio modules to be installed. We currently offer a Herelink Module, and a Doodle Labs Module.

The Pilot Pro drone controller is the perfect companion for your next mission.

Combining US-made craftsmanship, modular radio transmitter options, and the latest in onboard emergency safety features, you'll be ready to take flight with confidence.

Enjoy precise camera and gimbal control with high-resolution rockers. Control all key user actions discreetly with the physical inputs. The custom-configured 8" Samsung Tab Active5 and user neck harness round out the platform for mission success.

Pilot Pro is available with Herelink Radio (2.4 GHz) which is used for Alta X and Astro, Doodle Radio that's used for NDAA/Blue compliant Astro, and RFD900 that's used for NDAA/Blue compliant Alta X.

User Interface Overview

• Green and Yellow inputs are mapped to Freefly defaults (as called out in parentheses) when it ships with Astro

• Gray inputs are not mapped at all when the controller ships with Astro.

• Refer to Input Output Mapping for details

Tablet

• 8 inch display

• Tablet is dedicated. Not designed for user swap.

• USB C port of the Tablet is dedicated to connection with the Controller and not accessible.

• All other tablet buttons, ports and camera are exposed and accessible

Joysticks

• High precision hall sensor Joysticks

• Collapsible stick

• Replaceable sticks

OLED Screen

The onboard OLED screen on Pilot Pro displays redundant and flight-critical information. It is designed to give pilots the info they need to fly safely in an emergency, even if the tablet were to fail or disconnect.

Power Button and LED indicator

Pilot Pro is designed to be powered on and off through the tablet's power button by default. The power button on the controller should not be used under the normal workflow.

• Powering on the Samsung tablet will turn on controller. Powering off the tablet will turn off controller

• Once the Pilot Pro is powered on, use this button to toggle screens to view controller information.

• Press the power button 7 times to enter debug screen for advanced troubleshooting.

• Controller can still be force powered on/off independently by pressing and holding the power button until the progress bar fills up.

• Pressing and holding the power button for more than 15 seconds will hard reset the controller in case of a problem with the MCU or the firmware.

LED Colors

• Green - Powered On, and Ready to fly

• Blue - Powered On, but not ready (No link to Drone)

• Orange - Warning (ex: low battery)

• Red - Critical Error

Ports

Bottom of the controller

This quick-start guide assumes you purchased an Astro + Pilot Pro Kit from Freefly

1. Power on Pilot Pro. The controller and radio will power on, then the Samsung Tablet.

2. Start AMC app located on the tablet home screen

3. Power on Drone

4. Confirm valid connection on tablet and Pilot Pro LED display

   1. LED will say "No Conn" if there is no connection to drone

5. Unfold joysticks and secure in place

6. Attach neck strap

7. Select desired Flight mode (Manual, Altitude, Position)

8. Fly!

Preflight Checklist

Things you need:

• Astro / Alta X

• Pilot Pro with Herelink / Doodle Labs

• Freefly RTK Base Station

• Laptop / computer

• Ethernet Cable

• USB to Ethernet adapter (only if your laptop does not have an ethernet port)

• USB-C cable (USB-C on the RTK side, whatever your computer accepts on the other)

Setting Up Hardware Connections

First, connect all required devices. You will need to connect the following connections:

• Pilot Pro connected to the computer with an ethernet cable

• Freefly RTK Base Station connected to the computer with a USB cable

Setup Computer Networking

• On the computer, configure ethernet adapter IPv4 properties to a static IP:

  • IP: 192.168.144.199

  • Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

Configure AMC/QGC

The Doodle Labs Radio is our fully Blue Compliant radio offering that transmits RC control, video, and telemetry.

Visual for Default Functions

Configuring the Pilot Pro Buttons

The Pilot Pro has a few buttons that are not mapped to any input by default and can be assigned in the GCS software to provide additional functions

The following elements are not specific to drone functionality and can be remapped in AMC:

When using AMC, these inputs are available under Controller > Joystick, and can be assigned through each button's dropdown menu. To see what number a button is associated with, just press the button or flip the switch and look for which number turns blue

Input Mapping On Various Output Types

This is the latest with Astro v1.6 and Pilot Pro v1.3

SBUS Mapping (Detailed)

The Doodle Labs Radio Backpack includes an RJ45 ethernet port on the bottom of the module. This interface is disabled by default as a security measure. To instructions below will go over enabling or d

Enable/Disable Ethernet on the Doodle Labs Module

1. Open the Pilot Pro App and open the side menu

1. Navigate to 'Radio Settings'

1. Go to the 'Advanced' tab, and enable/disable RJ45 Access

Binding

• Prepare tweezers or paperclip.

• Power on Herelink Air unit by powering on the aircraft
• Using tweezers, press and hold the Herelink Air Unit's "Pair/Reset" button until LED2 blinks (hold approximately 3 seconds).

• Repeat this step on the Pilot Pro's Herelink Radio.

• Ensure the light goes solid.

• Open the flight app on Pilot Pro (AMC for Astro) and verify the connection to the aircraft

Pro Tips for Resolving Radio Connectivity Issues

1. Too Close? Ensure that your air and ground radios are at least 2 feet apart. Doodle radios are powerful, and if they are too close, they may create interference with each other.

2. Too Soon? Give it time. Each radio takes about 60 seconds from power-up to fully boot its system. Ensure both the air and ground radios have been powered on for at least 60 seconds before checking connectivity.

4. Determine Which Path is Broken Pilot Pro and the tablet have separate communication links. It’s possible for one to be connected while the other is not. If the Pilot Pro’s LED is blue, it indicates no connection. A green LED means it’s connected.

Channel Selection

Unlike the Herelink radios that automatically hop channels to avoid interferences, the Doodle radios operate on a fixed channel.

It is important to select an optimal channel to maximize radio range and performance.

Astro's Doodle radios operate on the 2.4 GHz band, which is also commonly used by other WiFi systems. By default, units are shipped from factory with channel 3 selected. This is a channel that avoids most of the typical WiFi routers.

How to scan and change channels

• Go Pilot Pro App > Radio Settings > Channel, then press "Start Channel Scan"

• After the app starts scanning, a visual is displayed after 5 scan samples, and continues to scan.

  • It is recommended to run the scan for up to 3 minutes for accurate results.

  • Losing connection is expected when scanning/changing channels.

• After scanning, the best channels available in the current radio space is highlighted with green.

• Tapping on any of the channel numbers will initiate a channel switch.

  • It will take up to a minute for the system to change channels on both sides and confirm that change has been applied successfully.

• To stop scanning, do one of the following: Change a channel, stop scanning manually, go to a different menu, or exit app. This will take a few seconds.

Doodle Channel Allocation

Each channel is a 10MHz channel and follows the same center frequency as 2.4GHz Wifi with the following allocations:

Input mapping is a critical step in customizing your Pilot Pro Radio for use with non-Freefly hardware. Whether you're piloting drones, RC planes, or other remote-controlled models, input mapping allows you to configure and assign channels, switches, and controls to suit your unique needs. The Pilot Pro Radio’s robust features make it easy to tailor inputs to your specific preferences, enhancing responsiveness and control precision. In this guide, we’ll explore the fundamentals of input mapping, walk through step-by-step instructions, and share tips for getting the most out of your setup. By the end, you’ll have the skills to unlock the full potential of your Pilot Pro Radio.

Custom Configuration File

The custom configuration YAML file is your gateway to unparalleled flexibility and personalization with the Pilot Pro Radio. This powerful file format allows you to define and fine-tune every aspect of your radio’s setup, from channel assignments and switch functions to advanced input mappings and flight modes. By editing the YAML, you can create a tailored configuration that perfectly matches your flying style, equipment, and mission objectives. In this guide, we’ll introduce the structure and purpose of the YAML file, explain how to edit it safely, and provide tips for crafting configurations that elevate your piloting experience to the next level.

Below we have example configuration YAML's for our radios along with a blank variant for easy setup from scratch

Examples:

General Configuration

The configuration file begins with general information needed to parse and label the configuration:

Parameter Configuration

The parameters define the base layer for communication with the module and some default settings.

Parameter List:

Input Configuration

The INPUTS section defines all available inputs on your device. Each input has a value range of 1 to -1. Boolean inputs will be 1 when high/true, -1 when low/false. The input value will be scaled to the range defined in the output configuration. Each input type is grouped under its respective category, and the full list of available inputs are listed below:

Input Types:

For each analog input, there are a variety of settings that can be configured.

Analog Input Settings:

Output Configuration

The OUTPUTS section defines how inputs are mapped to various output types. Each output type has its own subsection which will apply to it’s respective type of commands it can send:

Output Types:

For each output, you will have a combination settings that can be adjusted.

Output Settings:

Mapping Inputs to Outputs

To map an input to an output:

1. Find the desired output in the OUTPUTS section.

2. Set the inputName to the exact name of the input you want to map.

3. Adjust minValue and maxValue to set the range of the output if needed.

Using Scalar Outputs

Scalar outputs can be used to modify input values that are mapped to an input. Scalar outputs follow the same output settings as all other outputs, but give an additional point to modify the output

Pilot Pro Input Mapping Processing

To assist with custom configurations, below is a flowchart of how inputs are processed into a usable output. This chart shows how we have mapped the left rocker by default. The rocker is both scaled by dial 1, and uses switch s1 to invert the direction it moves the gimbal.

Importing / Exporting Configurations

Configurations can be imported or exported through the Pilot Pro app's Input Mapping page

In System Presets, this will include all Freefly Preset configurations:

Under the User Presets, this will be where you can add or create your own configurations. Creating a New configuration will make a copy of your current configuration. Importing a configuration allows you to import a YAML configuration file from anywhere on your device. Importing will copy the configuration to Tablet Storage > Documents > Pilot Pro App > CONFIGURATION PRESETS. To remove a configuration, delete the YAML file from this location

Latest Software Versions

App Updates

Pilot Pro uses the Freefly Updater that comes installed on the Pilot Pro to manage app updates.

To install latest apps, make sure that the Pilot Pro is connected to the internet. Then, go through the following steps.

• Open the Freefly Updater app

• Click on the Latest tab at the bottom of the app

• For each app on the page, click on it and hit the UPDATE button for the app if it is available.

• If requested, provide permissions to the Freefly Updater app to install the app.

If you need to install an app that has been uninstalled, you need to go to the Latest tab, tap on the app you want to install, and then tap the INSTALL button. If that does not work, scroll down, tap to expand the Versions drop-down section, and tap the INSTALL button there.

How to update Pilot Pro Firmware?

Updating Pilot Pro firmware is as easy as clicking a button from the Pilot Pro App. There will be a persistent notification to remind you if Pilot Pro’s firmware is not the latest.

Go to Pilot Pro App > FW STATUS to access the FIRMWARE STATUS page.

The Pilot Pro App that is updated via Freefly Updater will contain the latest Pilot Pro firmware. Firstly, make sure to update the Pilot Pro App by following the instructions in the App Updates section above.

If there is an update available, there will be an “UPDATE TO VERSION <version>” button. Click on the update button and the Pilot Pro App should automatically update your Pilot Pro firmware. Though Android pop-ups are not expected, if there are any requests for permissions from the Pilot Pro app, make sure click the “Always open" check-box and hit Accept on the pop-up.

To ensure that the Pilot Pro firmware has been updated, go back to Pilot Pro App > FW STATUS and ensure that the version name has been updated to the latest and that the UPDATE button has been replaced with a REVERT button.

The REVERT button is there in case you encounter issues on the latest firmware and you would like to go back to the firmware that was stable for you. We highly recommend you to stay on the latest firmware version to have the latest and best features and bug fixes.

Tips:

• If the Pilot Pro controller gets stuck in the bootloader mode, you can restart the Pilot Pro app and then force FW update by going to the FW STATUS page and then updating to latest.

Android OS Updates

OTA Android updates are disabled on the Pilot Pro tablet. We will occasionally release Android OS updates as needed. You can find more information on the Pilot Pro SW page when that is available.

Current Versions

Previous Versions

All radio backpacks use the Freefly Standard Radio Mounting Pattern

Pilot Pro (950-00140-04) is NDAA compliant. We offer several radio options for Pilot Pro, some of which are not compliant. We’ve made this list here to help you understand which components are compliant:

Astro Blue ships with special firmware that makes internet connectivity inoperable via wifi or bluetooth. We only recommend this variant for DoD users as it also doesn’t include Remote ID.

Here is a list of Engineering Tests that were conducted during the course of Pilot Pro Development.

Pilot Pro Flight Hours: 95hr (as of 10/1/23)

Pilot Pro Flights: 996 (as of 10/1/23)

Radio FCC Info

Herelink FCC ID: 2A7W3-HX406210

Troubleshooting Table

How to share logs with Freefly?

Suppose you encounter a bug with your Pilot Pro and need Freefly support. How can you get quick help from our team? By sharing your Pilot Pro logs with Freefly!

To use this feature, make sure it is enabled by going to Pilot Pro App > ADVANCED and ensure the toggle displays “APP LOGGING ENABLED”. To ensure a bug is properly captured in the logs, logging must have been enabled when the bug occurred.

There are a couple of ways to get logs from your Pilot Pro. Firstly, if you are currently seeing issues with your Pilot Pro, go to Pilot Pro App > ADVANCED, and tap the “SAVE LOG SNAPSHOT” button to ensure your log file for the current session is immediately available to share. The tap will save the log of the current session up to that instant in a timestamped file that has the tag “USER-TRIGGERED” in the log file name. Otherwise, only logs from previous Pilot Pro sessions will be available to share.

To get access to Pilot Pro logs, go to the Pilot Pro App > ADVANCED > OPEN PILOT LOGS. It will open up the logs folder in the My Files app. Sort the logs and select the logs you want to share. You can press and hold on a log file to select it. Remember that if you want to share logs from the current Pilot Pro session, you need to have tapped the “SAVE LOG SNAPSHOT” button, and then you can choose the newest *-USER-TRIGGERED.ulg to share.

To copy the logs to a thumb-drive, insert a USB-C thumb-drive into one of the Pilot Pro USB-C data ports, and then copy over the selected files into the USB-C thumb-drive. Then, you can proceed to emailing over the logs to Freefly Support through your regular PC.

Also, note that the Pilot Pro App will manage storage taken up by the logs to use no more than 3 GB. It will delete the oldest logs to make room for new logs. You can also manually delete the logs from the My Files app. Although, you need to make sure to reboot Pilot Pro if you want to immediately resume logging properly.

Pilot Pro

CAD

Drawings

Radio Modules

Herelink Radio Module

CAD

Drawings

Doodle Radio Module

CAD

Drawings

RFD900 Radio Module

CAD

Drawings

Accessories

Cheese Plate

CAD

Drawings

Apps

The Pilot Pro controller runs a modified Android firmware on its Samsung tablet, and provides users with the opportunity to customize their setup. Apps can be installed on the tablet to enhance functionality. The Samsung device is running an Android 13 base image. Most APK files will be compatible with it, offering a variety of possibilities such as installing a weather app, or a flight restriction app, or even a custom app to interact with the drone.

The user will need to enter their google credentials and use the play store, or download an apk and install by using a trusted installer app the user has assigned.

Google account

The Pilot Pro's tablet does not ship with a default google account. This somewhat restricts the ability to communicate with the google appstore and other google services. Users can opt in to this functionality by providing their google account information to the tablet, which will allow appstore, personalized settings, and all the other Google ecosystem benefits of having an account logged in.

Debugging

USB debugging is available on this device, but it is not enabled by default. Users can enable it at their peril...

Pilot Pro has a Host Swap mode that will activate the bottom right USB port as the host, and make the Tablet a device in the USB hub. This allows for:

• ADB access over USB to the Tablet for App development

• HID device access for reading joysticks, rockers and buttons

To enter Host Swap mode, either select ‘Restart Controller with Host Swap’ from the Advanced Menu in the Pilot Pro App OR force power on the controller while holding the L1 trigger. While in this mode, the screen will display "External USB Host". To exit Host Swap mode, simply reboot the controller.

Drone connection

Payload connection

It is also possible to connect a payload to the network as well and access it directly on some drones such as Astro.

• Ensure that your air and ground radios are at least 2 feet apart. Doodle radios are powerful, and if they are too close, they may create interference with each other.

• Power on Astro with one battery.

• Power on Pilot Pro.

• Give it time. Each radio takes about 60 seconds from power-up to fully boot its system. Ensure both the air and ground radios have been powered on for at least 60 seconds before checking connectivity.

• Open the Pilot Pro App and open the side menu

• Navigate to "Radio Settings". Then open "Pairing Manager"

• Find the bind button under Astro. Its next to the yellow XT connector on the IO Panel.
• Also locate the external compass module (on boom 4).

• Press on the bind button 3 times. Then make sure the LED on the external compass module starts to blink fast in white/pink.

• Wait 30 seconds (for Doodle to fully switch to pairing mode). Then press Scan in the Pilot Pro App. From the list of results, find the one that matches Astro's serial number. Then press pair.

• Wait 60 seconds for process to complete.

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

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

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.

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.

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