User’s Guide for Model DRW676 v1523-02
Warnings & Precautions Important Safety Instructions • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Read and follow all instructions. Keep these instructions for future reference. Heed all Warnings. Intended for children ages 14 and higher. Adult supervision is required. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer. Before flying, always check the body, rotors, and battery for any damage or obstructions. Battery should be free from cracks or swelling.
Table of Contents FAA Registration–4 Which UAS Must Be Registered? Who Can Register? What Do You Need to Register? Additional Info Orientation–5 Includes Overview Remote Control Batteries & Charging–7 Battery Info Remote Control Battery Installation Battery Charging Procedure Pre-Flight Calibration –10 Hexacopter/Remote Link Trim Adjustment–12 Setting Trim & Countering Drift WiFi Mode –16 Sky Rider Drones App WiFi Flight Start Screen Flight Screen Intuitive Mode Attaching the Smartphone Cradle Factory
FAA Registration As of December 21, 2015, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has mandated that all Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) of a certain weight must be registered with the FAA before flying outdoors. This includes aircraft commonly referred to as drones, quadcopters, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), and the like. Owners not in compliance are subject to civil and criminal penalties.
Orientation Includes • • • • • • Remote control: requires 4 AA batteries (not included) 2 rechargeable lithium polymer batteries USB cable for battery recharge 6 replacement rotors Screwdriver Detachable smartphone cradle Overview Rotors Hexacopter Chassis Landing Skids Rotor Guard White rotors indicate front of hexacopter. Battery/Camera (under side) LED Formation Lights (under side) White LEDs indicate the front of the hexacopter.
Orientation Remote Control Antenna Power/Status Indicator Flip Press and push Right Control Stick to perform a flip. Left Control Stick Right Control Stick Increase Throttle: push forward Decrease Throttle: push backward Yaw/Spin: push left or right Lights/Flight Control Sensitivity Push forward to turn lights ON or OFF. Push downward to adjusts the control speed and sensitivity.
Batteries & Charging Battery Info BATTERY TYPE SPECIFICATION DURATION CHARGE TIME Hexacopter Li-Po Battery 3.7V/750mAH 6 to 8 minutes flight time Approx. 120 minutes Remote AA Batteries 1.5V Approx.
Batteries & Charging Battery Charging Procedure The hexacopter’s lithium-polymer battery must be charged before the unit can be flown. Before charging, be sure the hexacopter and remote control are powered off. Failure to do so may result in injury. Step 1 Make sure the hexacopter is powered OFF, then open the battery cover by gently pulling towards the rear of the craft. Step 2 Disconnect the battery and hexacopter power plugs. Slide the battery out of its bay for easier access or replacement.
Step 4 Connect the USB charging cable to the USB port of a powered ON computer. While charging, the red light in the USB charging cable will be ON. When charging is complete, the red light in the USB charging cable will be OFF. LIGHT STATUS Red Light ON Charging Red Light OFF Ready Step 5 When charging is complete, reconnect the power plugs, and close the battery cover. Be sure to match the plugs correctly or damage may occur.
Pre-Flight Calibration Hexacopter/Remote Link Before flying, the hexacopter and the remote must be linked together, and the gyroscopes on the hexacopter must be allowed to calibrate to ensure smooth and level flight. Begin with the hexacopter and remote powered off. Step 1 Place the hexacopter on a flat, level surface before you begin. Step 2 Power the remote control ON. The light on the remote will blink as it searches for the signal from the hexacopter. Step 3 Power the hexacopter ON.
Step 4 Push the Left Control Stick directly forward, wait for a chime to sound, then pull the stick directly backward, and wait for a second chime. When this last chime has sounded, the hexacopter is calibrated and ready to fly. Step 5 Attempt a stable hover, low to the ground or surface you started on. If you notice a tendency to drift, you may need to adjust the trim controls to fine tune the handling (see next section).
Trim Adjustment Setting Trim & Countering Drift Even after the hexacopter is calibrated, it may show a tendency to drift while airborne. Adjusting the trim will help counter this effect and allow you to better control the craft. To avoid potential damage, adjust the trim while in a stable hover, and do not make any sudden movements with the flight controls. Adjust one trim setting at a time to avoid confusion. Remember, the white propeller blades/LEDs indicate the front of the hexacopter.
Hexacopter pitches/angles forward or backward. Use Pitch Trim buttons left of the Right Control Stick. (Front) Hexacopter rolls/banks left or right. Use Roll Trim buttons under the Right Control Stick.
Flying Tips & Features Tips for Safe Operation • Only fly in large, open spaces, such as a field or a very large indoor area, free of obstacles like power lines, trees, ceiling fans, etc. • When flying indoors, avoid walls and ceilings, as the hexacopter will be drawn towards them if closer than 2 to 3 feet. • Stand behind the hexacopter when first taking off, so that you and the hexacopter are facing the same “forward” direction. This will make it easier to know which direction the unit is flying.
Auto-Return To enable Auto-Reverse, press down (into the body of the remote) on the Right Control Stick. The remote will emit a chime, and the craft will begin flying in the reverse of the direction it was originally flying. Throttle control will still function, but any directional change from the remote will immediately disable this feature. Headless Mode Headless Mode disables the default orientation of the hexacopter, where the white rotors/LEDs indicate the front of the craft.
WiFi Mode Sky Rider Drones App The hexacopter features a WiFi flight mode that lets you fly using a smartphone and the craft’s on board camera. Scan the appropriate QR code below to download and install the free app software. The app can also be found on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store by searching for Sky Rider Drones. WiFi Flight Note that WiFi control may be disabled if the flying area is experiencing interference from nearby 2.4G equipment.
Step 3 Open your phone’s WiFi settings and activate WiFi, then search for and select Sky Rider from the WiFi networks menu. Once connected, open the app and click on the Play or Start icons to begin flying. When WiFi mode is active, you can save video and images directly to your smartphone. Start Screen Help Press to access Help Screen. Settings Customize settings for the app. Play Press to begin using the app and fly the hexacopter.
WiFi Mode Flight Screen Note that the airplane and runway graphic (pictured below) is replaced by the view from the hexacopter’s on board camera when using the app. Photo Take a photo. Video Take a video. Gallery Access pictures and video. Hexacopter Speed 30/60/100% Back Return to Start Screen. Intuitive Mode See description below. Screen Controls Enable/disable flight controls. Rev Flight & Trim Controls Flips camera image. Operate exactly as on the Remote Control.
Attaching the Smartphone Cradle You can use your smartphone and the remote control together by attaching the included smartphone cradle to the top of the remote. This can be useful for photography and video, or for flying the hexacopter just by watching the screen. Step 1 Slide the cradle into position on the remote antenna and handle. Step 4 Place your phone in the cradle and release the top portion. Your phone should sit firmly in place. Step 2 Gently press on the cradle until it locks into place.
Factory Reset Reset Procedure If for any reason the craft is experiencing difficulty flying or is behaving erratically, and there is no physical damage to any of the mechanical components, the unit may need to be reset to the factory default settings. Step 1 Power ON the remote control. Step 2 Power on the hexacopter.
Step 4 Place the hexacopter on a flat horizontal surface, then push both control sticks on the remote all the way down and left, and hold for 2-3 seconds. The lights will begin quickly flashing again. When the lights stop flashing and are solid again, the craft has been reset and is ready to fly.
Repair REMINDER: Pilots are responsible for any damage caused by improper use. Parts Replacement Standard parts such as extra batteries and remotes are available online for purchase when in stock. However, any non-standard parts such as cameras, screws, bodies, SD cards etc. can be ordered by placing an inquiry with our parts department at: partsinfo@dpiinc.com. Rotor Replacement The hexacopter comes with 6 replacement rotors, to be used if the originals are broken or badly damaged.
Troubleshooting If you are experiencing problems using or flying the hexacopter, consult this table.
Company Information Contact Information Warranty Website: www.gpx.com See included 30 Day Warranty for warranty information. Warranty and the most up-to-date version of this User’s Guide can also be found at: Email Support: prodinfo@dpiinc.com Email Parts: partsinfo@dpiinc.com Phone Support: 1-888-999-4215 www.gpx.com International Support To download this User’s Guide in English, Spanish, and French, or to get answers to frequently asked questions, visit the support section at: www.gpx.
