User Manual

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Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Specifications 1

How to Get Help 1

Terms and Symbols used in the Manual 1

Main Features 2

Overview/Quick Start 2

Guardian Physical Connections/ Controls 3

The Receiver Connection Harness 4

Receiver Requirements 4

Mounting the Guardian in your Model 5

Preflight Checks 6

First Flight 6

Tuning Stabilization Gains 6

Status LED 8

Mode/Config Switch Behavior 8

The Guardian PC Software 10

Guardian Configuration Page Software

Reference 11

Troubleshooting / F.A.Q. 12

Limited Warranty

Guardian 2D/3D Stabilizer

Document Version 2.0

Assembled in Taiwan

Introduction

Thank you for your purchase! Based on Eagle Tree's proven inertial stabilization technology, the Guardian 2D/3D Stabilizer (the Guardian) stabilizes just about any type of

fixed wing model, and works with any radio. Unlike most “gyro stabilizer” products on the market, the Guardian provides true wing leveling stabilization as well as precise

fly-by-wire control. This lets you configure the Guardian to return to level flight in an emergency, by just flipping a radio switch!

This instruction manual will guide you through the installation and operation of your Guardian. The latest version of this manual is available in the Product Manuals

section of the Support tab on http://www.eagletreesystems.com. The online manual is in full color, and includes any updates that were made after this manual was

produced. Please read the entire manual carefully before proceeding. If, after you read the manual, you have further questions or problems, see the “How to Get

Help” section below.

Packing List

Your package should include the following: The Guardian, the receiver connection harness with labeled

connectors, the quick reference card, and a printed version of this manual.

Specifications (approximate)

• Input Voltage Range: 4.5v to 16v

• Current Draw: Approximately 31mA

• Dimensions: 41mm x 22mm x 11mm (1.62 inches x 0.86 inches x 0.42 inches)

• Mass: 11 grams (0.4 ounces) including harness

• Maximum Servo Current through Guardian: 5 Amps

How to Get Help

Eagle Tree is committed to providing great customer service. If you’ve read the manual and something is not clear,

just ask. We’d much prefer to take the time to answer your questions, rather than having you waste your valuable

time struggling with an issue.

To get help, visit the Eagle Tree Guardian support thread at

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1596644. Chances are someone has posted a solution to your

problem already. If not, posting your problem there will get a very quick response from the Eagle Tree community.

If you prefer to not post on the forum, or you feel there is a problem with your Eagle Tree hardware, please open a

support ticket with us at http://ticket.eagletreesystems.com and we will respond to your support ticket as soon as we

can. Note that when you create a support ticket, you will be emailed a link that will let you check the status of the

ticket. If you do not receive the email, this most likely means that a spam filter is intercepting emails from Eagle

Tree.

Also Eagle Tree greatly values your feedback on how we can improve our products. To leave us feedback for a

new feature request or improvement, either post the feedback on our support thread above, create a support ticket

with your feedback, or send feedback at http://www.eagletreesystems.com/Feature/feature.html

Terms and Symbols used in the Manual

Warning or Caution

Helpful Note

Pitch – Lift or descent of the nose and tail of the model. Normally controlled by the elevator, or

movement of elevons in same direction.

Roll – Rocking movement of the wings, side to side. Normally controlled by ailerons, or

movement of elevons in opposite directions.

Yaw – Turning of the airplane without banking. Normally controlled by the rudder.

Axis – an imaginary line drawn horizontally through your model’s wing (for Pitch), horizontally

through your fuselage (for roll), or vertically through the center of your fuselage (for yaw).

Control Stick – The stick on your radio that controls elevator and aileron functions (pitch and roll).

Attitude – The orientation of the model with respect to the horizon.

2D Mode – A mode where the model is brought to a level attitude (level flight and level wings) by

the Guardian when the control stick is centered.

3D Mode – A mode where the Guardian attempts to hold the model’s present attitude when the

Control Stick is centered, by moving the model’s control surfaces automatically.

Heading – The present direction of travel of the model with respect to North.

Summary of content (13 pages)

PAGE 1
Guardian 2D/3D Stabilizer Document Version 2.0 Assembled in Taiwan Introduction Thank you for your purchase! Based on Eagle Tree's proven inertial stabilization technology, the Guardian 2D/3D Stabilizer (the Guardian) stabilizes just about any type of fixed wing model, and works with any radio. Unlike most “gyro stabilizer” products on the market, the Guardian provides true wing leveling stabilization as well as precise fly-by-wire control.
PAGE 2
Control Surfaces – Your model’s elevator, ailerons (or elevons) and rudder (if equipped). Receiver Connection Harness – The cable included with your Guardian that lets you connect your Guardian to your receiver’s outputs. Mode/Config Switch – A two or three position switch on your radio transmitter which you have configured to control the “Mod” input on the Guardian’s Receiver Connection Harness. Toggle – One fairly rapid movement the Mode/Config Switch between its extents.
PAGE 3
• To reduce the possibility of extreme servo deflection, it is recommended that you disable stabilization during initial setup. There are 3 ways to disable stabilization: o If you are using a 3 position Mode/Config switch, move it to the center (disabled) position. The Guardian’s LED should be OFF when in the Mode/Config switch is in the disabled position. If you are controlling overall Guardian gain with a knob on your transmitter, set your Gain dial to -100% servo deflection (~1.
PAGE 4
The Receiver Connection Harness Receiver Connection Harness Pinout The lightweight receiver connection harness with labeled connectors should make it easy for you to hook up the Guardian to your receiver. A diagram of the harness is shown in Figure 2, for your reference. It has the following labeled receiver connections: • Ail – (required) Connects to your receiver’s Aileron output channel. Note that this channel also supplies power and ground to the Guardian and the servos connected to the Guardian.
PAGE 5
Wing Type Configuration The Guardian is configurable for most common wing types. By default, it is configured for traditional wing control. Please refer to Figure 4, which shows the receiver and servo connections for typical wing types. The Guardian requires unmixed control inputs from your receiver, even if you have a V-Tail or Elevon model.
PAGE 6
If permanently mounting the Guardian, ensure that the USB port is still accessible for PC configuration and firmware update. Preflight Checks Before every flight, it is strongly recommended that you perform the following steps: • Perform your normal preflight check. Ensure your servos respond correctly to your RC control stick commands. • To test that the Guardian is working, hold the airplane level. Now, pitch, roll and yaw the model. Please see Figure 6.
PAGE 7
When in 3D Mode, Orientation Stabilization is used in the Pitch, Roll and Yaw axes to keep your model on track. When in 2D Mode, Orientation Stabilization is only used on the Pitch and Roll axes, leaving the Yaw axis (Rudder) only with Rate Stabilization. This will make the Rudder appear to be stabilizing less than the Elevator and Ailerons (or Elevons) in 2D Mode. This is expected behavior.
PAGE 8
If the model is not structurally capable of pulling out of a steep dive very quickly, some configuration may be needed to prevent excessive G-Forces. Reduce the Overall Gain (if connected) during high speed maneuvers or limit the travel of the servos through the PC software’s Expanded / Custom Servo Ranges configuration tool under the “Servo Config” tab. Test your changes carefully and conservatively.
PAGE 9
Here is a table of available configuration gestures, and what each does: Reset Level Flight and Trims: 1 Toggle (up-down if the switch is presently down, or down-up if presently up) After changing the trims on your controller or mounting orientation, you must let the Guardian know about this change so it can best control your airplane. Without this information, 3D Heading Lock will not work and stabilization performance will be degraded.
PAGE 10
2: Elevon – The Guardian does the elevon mixing internally. Dual Aileron / Flaperon support is not available. 3: V-Tail – The Rudder and Elevator channels are mixed internally. Dual ailerons / flaperons are supported. 2. Center Stick Stabilize Only Mode This feature is primarily for those who don’t have the Mode/Config switch connected, but want the benefits of 2D mode while also being able to perform acrobatics.
PAGE 11
Firmware update, quick and easy configuration of the Guardian, and the ability to save and restore configuration profiles are supported via our powerful Guardian configuration software. Some advanced features ures beyond fixed fixed-wing operation are also only configurable in the software. The Guardian connects to your Windows PC or laptop through its integrated USB Micro B connector. A standard “Micro B” USB ca cable ble is required to use the software, but is not included.
PAGE 12
The 2D Mode Tab 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Controls the 2D Heading Hold gain. When set above zero, this option determines how hard the Guardian will assert a roll to keep k the airframe on its locked 2D Heading. 0: Off; 1: Low; 10: High. See: 2D Heading Hold Gain Controls the Automatic Turn Coordination gain. In 2D Mode, this feature will automatically coordinate your turns for you. 0: Off; 1: Low; 10: High.
PAGE 13
Issue: Reset Level Flight doesn’t seem to work. Solution: Make sure the Guardian is mounted approximately level. Mounting offsets in excess of 25 degrees from flat or upside-down can reduce performance and will cause the Reset Level Flight to fail. Solution: Make sure the endpoints of the switch you are using with the Mode input are configured to approximately -100%, 100%. This is required for the Reset Level Flight and other Mode switch Configuration Gestures to work correctly.