Zenmuse Z15 User Manual V1.0 www.dji-innovations.
Warning & Disclaimer Z15 is specialized for Camera and Lens before it leaves the factory. Please mount your camera to Z15 when get it. No adjusting or amending is allowed to Z15. Neither shall the camera be added up with any other device (such as filter, lens hood, etc.), which would otherwise end up with low performance or even internal malfunction. Z15 can only work with Autopilot system specified by DJI (Ace One/ Ace WayPoint/ WooKong M), so as to ensure the highest stability and precision.
Product Profile DJI Z15 is an excellent gimbal designed for AP. The gimbal has built-in slip ring in the mechanical structure, preventing wire rod from winding up. It also has built-in independent IMU module, special servos drive module, HDMI- AV module, etc. Excellent job can be done by Z15 in any working mode, including Orientation-locked control, Non orientation-locked control and FPV Mode (Reset).
In Box Gimbal ×1 In the mechanical structure, the gimbal has built-in slip rings, preventing wire rod from winding up, which also enables free rotations for the 3 axes rotating rods. The gimbal has built-in DJI gimbal special servos drive module, independent IMU module and HDMI－AV module. Gimbal Controller Unit (GCU)×1 Connect the gimbal controller to the autopilot system by CAN bus. The GCU will control the gimbal’s pan, roll and tilt axes rotation.
Gimbal Video Power Cable×1 For gimbal controller and Wireless Video Transition Unit connecting, transmitting AV signal. Micro-USB Cable×1 For adjusting parameter and upgrading firmware via PC. Use CAN-Bus to power and communicate with the autopilot DJI DJI CAN-Bus Cable×1 system. Spare Package×1 Damping units, Spare Screw, and Mounting Bracket.
Contents WARNING & DISCLAIMER ...............................................................................................2 PRODUCT PROFILE ..........................................................................................................3 IN BOX ............................................................................................................................4 CONTENTS ......................................................................................................................
Matters Need Attention For safety reasons, please pay serious attention to all following items: Ensure nothing blocks the servo driver module rotation, to avoid motor damage. Camera’s HDMI resolution should be set to 1080i. Ensure to mount the side of servo driver module1 without ports to the aircraft nose direction. The gimbal center of gravity has been set, whose position directly determine gimbal performance. Please do not adjust the gimbal center of gravity by yourself.
Gimbal Description Pan ±360° continuous rotation Mounting Bracket Motor Command Input Port (To GCU G6) Servo Driver Module 1 Damping Unit 8-Pin Cable (To GCU G8) Servo Driver Module 3 Servo Driver Module 2 HDMI-AV Port Cameral Mount Position Lens Retaining Ring Lens Retaining Ring Shim Camera Mount Screw-hole Roll Shutter Control Moudle ±40° (±360° mechanic continuous rotation) HDMI-AV Module Gimbal LED Indicator IMU Module Servo Driver Module Port ±360° continuous rotation Tilt Motor Command In
Camera Setup Configure your camera by following the settings, meeting the requirements of Z15. Sony NEX-5N /7 Menu Shot Mode Camera Image Size Brightness/ Color Playback Setup Shot Mode Camera Manual Exposure Drive Mode M AF/MF Select Shutter Aperture 1/60 Brightness/Color Remote Cdr. ISO MF Not use Auto White Balance Not use Auto F3.5 Setup Lens Comp: Shading Off Lens Comp: Chro.Aber Off Lens Comp: Distortion Off HDMI Resolution Please set Shot Mode as Manual Exposure M.
Mount Mount Lens Follow the procedures to obtain better experience. Step1 Step2 Step3 Screw L-Connector Jackscrew Camera Retaining Ring Lens Mark align align Shim Step1: Put retaining ring through lens before mounting onto camera, accurate the alignment by matching the mark. Step2: Slip the shim between lens and retaining ring, fix in (but not tighten) screws (M2.5*5 Screw×2). Step3: The L-Connector is active.
Mount Gimbal to Bi-pod Following diagram shows mounting gimbal to DJI S800 bi-pod. You may mount the gimbal to a bi-pod prepared by you referring to the following diagram. Screws Mounting Bracket Parallel N raft Airc ose Camera Gimbal Lens X Y Step7: Z DJI S800 Bi-pod Install gimbal to a bi-pod with mounting bracket; tighten up screws (2.5*8 Head-cup screw×8) with appropriate screw glue. Notices: Ensure to mount the side of servo driver module1 without ports to the aircraft nose direction.
Camera Wiring/Shutter Control Camera Wiring Connect the camera correctly, since the gimbal works with a HDMI-AV module for converting video signal format and transforming TX signal into shutter control signal. Ensure camera is setup first, and then follow the procedures to connect camera and gimbal.
Position-1 Position -2：First shooting Position -2Position -1：Second shooting 2-Positon Switch 1 2 Tx Notices: Current version can only enable capturing photo, but not for video. Tips: Following diagram shows how the shutter control works. If the shutter control works abnormally, please check each step.
Video Signal Transition A wireless video transition module is necessary for video signal accessing remotely. Gimbal Video Power Cable Wireless Video Transition Module Power Air End Video Signal Port Video Signal Power(Red:1A@12V) GND Video Signal(Yellow:AV) GND(Black: Step1: ) Respectively solder the Power/Video Signal/GND cables to wireless video signal transition module (Air End). Step2: Plug the gimbal video power cable head into the GCU Video Signal Port.
Gimbal Controller Wiring GCU Wiring WKM USB Port PC connection for configuration and firmware upgrades with an USB cable. RC Receiver Any spare CAN port on DJI autopilot system (Aircraft control) Battery 2-Position Switch (4S~12S) 2-Position Switch AUX2 RUDD ELEV AILE RC Receiver (JR) 8-Channel Or Wireless Video Transition Module Air End 1 2 4 7 8-Channel RC Receiver (Futaba / Hitec) 2-Position Switch Heat Sinks 2-Position Switch G8 G6 Ensure the side with copper contacts is face upward.
GCU Ports Indication Following table shows GCU channels and TX channels connection. TX channels GCU Indications JR Futaba/Hitec Channels AILE 1 ROLL ELEV 2 TILT For tilt axis control. Velocity is zero if disconnection. RUDD 4 PAN For pan axis control. Velocity is zero if disconnection. AUX2 7 MODE For roll axis control (left/right). Velocity is zero if disconnection. For Working Mode switch. For camera shutter control.
Working Modes/HDMI Switch Setup Gimbal Working Mode Switch Set Whichever 3-position switch selected as working mode switch, wire the right channel of receiver to MODE port. At each switch position, use end-point fine tuning, set the channel AUX2(JR) /7(Futaba/Hitec) for the three Working modes.
Assistant Install Driver and Software STEP1: Make sure driver is installed correctly, which has been installed before your use WKM，ACE ONE or ACE WAYPOINT. STEP2: Please download assistant software ZenmuseInstaller.exe from DJI website. STEP3: Double click ZenmuseInstaller.exe file and follow the steps to finish installation. STEP4: Run DJI Zenmuse Assistant. GUI Connect GCU and PC via USB cable, power on GCU. 1 2 1 DJI · Tools: Upgrade.
Firmware Upgrade Please strictly follow the operation procedures for firmware upgrade, otherwise Z15 might not work properly: Step1: Make sure your computer is connected to the Internet. Step2: Please close all the other applications during firmware upgrade, including anti-virus software and firewall. Step3: Make sure the power supply is securely connected. DO NOT un-plug the power supply until firmware upgrade has finished.
ROLL/PAN/ TILT: Push the joystick on TX to obtain the stick direction and the gimbal rotation direction. The following diagram shows the gimbal rotation direction and the cursor slide direction on assistant. PAN axis rotation Cursor slide right Cursor slide left Cursor slide right TILT axis rotation Cursor slide left Cursor slide right Cursor slide left ROLL axis rotation MODE: Toggle the 3-position switch, the corresponding slider of cursor will turn red .
Test Check Before Flight Notices: Gimbal is installed firmly to bi-pod, and camera mounted correctly and stably. All cables are in correct connection, without anyone in backwards. Gimbal video power cable is in good soldered condition if wireless video transition module used. Correct TX settings. Camera shutter control module is correctly mounted. Correct camera setups. Correct connection between GCU and RC receiver. Normal connection between GCU and autopilot system.
Notices: If the gimbal is abnormal (unlike the diagram shows) after initializing, please turn to Trouble Shooting in Appendix.
Appendix 1-Pilot Solution 3-Position Switch 3-Position Switch 3-Position Switch 3-Position Switch 2-Position Switch 2-Position Switch Gimbal Control Aircraft Control 1(AILE) Tx RC Receiver (Futaba) 2(ELEV) 3(THRO) 4(RUDD) 7(AUX2) · · 14-Channel This is example connection. Prepare one 14-channel TX/RC receiver for aircraft and gimbal control.
2-Pilot Solution Rx1 2-Position Switch 2-Position Switch AUX2 RUDD ELEV AILE RC Receiver (JR) 8-Channel Or 1 2 4 7 Tx1 8-Channel RC Receiver (Futaba / Hitec) 2-Position Switch 2-Position Switch Rx2 AUX2 RC Receiver (JR) RUDD ELEV AILE THRO AUX2 Or Tx2 1 2 3 4 7 RC Receiver (Futaba / Hitec) Or Futaba S-Bus S-Bus Prepare 2 TXs and 2 RXs. TX1 and RX1 are for gimbal control. TX2 and RX2 are for aircraft control. Please refer to Gimbal Controller Wiring for more details.
Port Description Gimbal Controller ROLL For roll axis control TITL For tilt axis control PAN For pan axis control MODE For Working Mode switch SHUT For camera shutter control AUX1 For HDMI switch To wireless video transition unit, transmitting AV signal XT60 To battery (To GIMBAL if DJI S800 used) G6 To Gimbal, transmitting motor command G8 To Gimbal, transmitting video signal Micro-B USB port: PC connection for configuration and firmware upgrades CAN-Bus port: Use CAN-Bus to connect GCU to
Gimbal LED Indicator Description LED Indicator Camera and gimbal connected Camera and gimbal disconnected Gimbal Label Description Camera Type _ Lens Type For example NEX5N_16 Camera Type SONY NEX-5N Lens Type E 16mm f/2.
Trouble Shooting NO.
Specifications General Built-In Functions Three Working Modes Orientation-locked control Non orientation-locked control FPV mode (Reset) Built-in independent IMU module DJI gimbal special servos drive module HDMI- AV module Wireless video transition support Camera shutter control support Wide range voltage input support SONY NEX-5N SONY NEX-7 Peripheral Supported Camera Supported Lens Currently SONY：E 16mm f/2.
Maximum Controlled Rotation Speed Pan axis: ±130°/s Tilt axis: ±130°/s Roll axis: ±30°/s Controlled Rotation Range Pan axis control: ±360°continuous rotation Tilt axis control: ±360°continuous rotation Roll axis control: ±40°(±360°mechanic continuous rotation) Regulatory Approvals FCC (USA) Yes IC (Canada) Yes ROHS(EU) Yes 29
Zenmuse Z15 ©2012 Dajiang Innovation Technology Co. Ltd. All Rights Reserved. 6/F, HKUST SZ IER Building, No.9, Yuexing 1st Rd., South District, Hi-Tech Park, Shenzhen, 518057, Guangdong, China Tel: +86-755-2665-6677 Sales ext: 201, 202, 203 Fax: +86-755-8306-7370 Service hotline: +86-755-2267-3777 Sales: sales@dji-innovations.com Technical support: support@dji-innovations.com Others: info@dji-innovations.com DJI and Zenmuse is registered trademark of Dajiang Innovation Technology Co. Ltd.
