50/180 Mini Instruction manual International edition Rev 1.
Thank You! The team that designed the Vortex Mini would like to thank you for purchasing this product. Many hours of development, and testing time went into the product, we truly hope that this is reflected in your experience with the product.
WARNING Congratulations on your purchase of one of the hobby’s first ARF pure-bred racing quadcopters. A product designed by FPV Racers, for FPV Racers. Do not expect it to fly like a DJI Phantom™ .
Getting Started for Newcomers to Race Drones This manual focuses on preparing your 150/180 Mini for first flight, and how to maintain it in the future. One step that is highly recommended for newcomers to the world of racing drones is to take the first flight within the safety of a simulator.
Getting Started, ARF Version The separate Getting Started guide should be used when setting up your Vortex 150/180 Mini for the first time. It includes sections on choosing an appropriate battery, and R/C receiver, and also the operation of the setup wizard.
The Anatomy of a Vortex 150/180 Mini Connectors and Switches 1) USB connector, used to configure the flight controller and upgrade the Vortex firmware. Note that when used with most USB hosts, a separate battery connection is not required when connecting to the USB connector. Please be careful not to put too much strain on this connector.
WARNING: Be careful how much pressure is placed on this small button. It is a surface-mount part which may easily be damaged with a heavy-hand. Use an appropriate tool to access the recessed button (a bent paper-clip works fine), and do not push harder after the first ‘click’ is felt. 3) Synergy FC/OSD button, used to enter firmware update mode in the case of a ‘bricked’ OSD.
Note that a piece of double-sided tape may be used to secure the receiver on top of the metal can beside the connector. Receiver antennas may be routed through one of the 6 available slots. Two at the back of the quad in the LED diffuser, and four in the side-plates.
5) XT-30 Battery Connector In order to reduce weight (and to arrive below the 250g weight limit for un-registered drones in the USA, and other countries) XT-30 Battery connectors are used instead of the more popular XT-60s. It is highly recommended to stick with this connector, and purchase batteries with XT-30s pre-installed. .
Arm Assembly When changing an arm, a soldering iron is required, to remove the ESC + and - battery cables, along with the signal cable. Note: The choice of soldered connections here, instead of the much more convenient connector option may not seem ideal, but this is the best way to transmit the 20+ Amps of battery juice to the ESCs and motors without losses.
Note that the camera tilt is adjustable. Loosen the two upper-screws and tilt the camera to the desired angle, before re-tightening them. Cool Feature Alert: The 150/180 Mini has a cool way to control the camera settings directly from the Vortex OSD.
The Touch’n’Race (TNR) Tag The Touch’n’Race tag is located behind the plastic side-plate of the right-side of the quad (looking from the back). A TNR Wand may be used to not only query the video transmission frequency before powering-up the quad, but also to set it to any of the supported channels before powering up.
The On Screen Display (OSD) The Welcome Screen Each time the Vortex is powered up, and before sticks are moved, the following welcome screen is displayed. This shows various pieces of status information, including the Flight Controller version number, and Flight Controller API version which is fairly important for OSD compatibility.
The Main Menu For Mode 2’ers, holding the throttle stick down and to the left will enter the main menu. Note that this stick position needs to be held for a few seconds before the menu appears. Note that some menus are multi-page, take a look in the top-right corner of the display to see how many pages in the current menu, and which is selected.
The OSD Setup Menu Various OSD setup parameters are available in this menu. The Landscape, defines the elements that are shown on the main screen in flight, including an EzOSD-type landscape (the default), a clutter-free landscape for hardcore racers, and a gaming mode which is currently in Beta form (documented later in this manual). The Pseudo lets you name your quad.
Alarms may be enabled and disabled in the Alarms Setup menu. It is highly recommended to start flying with all alarms enabled, and disable them if required after getting used to the quad.
The LED Setup Menu The RGB LEDs on the rear of the Vortex are fully programmable, with colors, and various patterns. For Parameter Mode = Intensity, the intensity of the LEDs will reflect the current throttle position. For Parameter Mode = Frequency the blink rate of the LEDs will reflect the current throttle position.
The Flight Controller Menus In-field tweaking of flight-controller menus is possible without a laptop and USB cable. All of the critical parameters, PIDs, Expos, Loop time, etc. are available. General configuration settings should not need changing, except to enable Air Mode (which is highly recommended).
Note that the PID Settings menu is a two page menu, keep moving the caret down to access the second page.
Note that all of the Flight Controller parameters can be preset by loading one of the installed Pro-Tunes.
The Video Tx Menu The Video Tx menu shows, graphically, the 5.8GHz frequency band, from low (left) through high (right) frequency. 5 bands are supported, covering the standard ImmersionRC/FatShark frequency bands, plus all of the ‘Boscam’, Team Black Sheep bands, and also the new ImmersionRC ‘RaceBand’.
The Camera Settings The Camera Settings menu allows the camera settings to be modified using the camera’s built-in OSD. Ideal for tweaking settings to optimize the camera for challenging lighting conditions. A confirmation prompt appears before entering the camera’s OSD menu. When selecting YES, the OSD controls will change slightly from those used in the Vortex OSD.
Video Transmitter The Vortex 150/180 Mini flight controller/OSD board contains an embedded ‘Tramp’ 5.8GHz Video Transmitter.
DSMX Mode For the DSMX mode, several of the more recent Spektrum™ radios (see table below) can set the video transmitter channel using the LCD directly on the radio. An example of the settings from the DX9 are shown below. Set the channel, band, and power level from the LCD, and select ‘Send’ to send the settings to the Vortex.
Flight Controller R/C Transmitter Control Modes Mode 1 - Common in Europe Pitch Throttle Yaw Roll Mode 2 - Common in the USA Throttle Pitch Yaw Roll Mode 3 Pitch Throttle Roll Yaw Mode 4 Throttle Pitch Roll Yaw 25
Flight Modes Three flight modes are configured by the Vortex Wizard, and are mapped by default to channel 5 of the R/C Tx. These modes are as follows: Acro This mode is the preferred mode for the more advanced mini-quad pilot. In many ways it is the simplest mode, but also the hardest mode to learn. In Acro mode, the accelerometer part of the IMU is not used, only the Gyro.
Betaflight Open-Source The development of the Vortex would not have been possible without the effort of a large team of individuals who invested in the open source flight controller software that running on the Vortex.
Flight Controller Stick Commands Enter Menu/Disarm Flight Controller: Mode 2: Mode 1: Throttle stick left, and down (normal flight controller disarm control) Yaw left, Throttle stick down Arm Flight Controller: Mode 2: Mode 1: Throttle stick right, and down Yaw right, Throttle stick down Reset vTx Channel: Mode 2: Mode 1: Throttle Down, Rudder Left + Elevator Up, Aileron Left Throttle Down, Rudder Left + Ele
ESCs - The 16A Vortex 150/180 ESC Overview The ESCs used in the Vortex Mini are a full-custom design, which uses a potent 32-bit ARM processor. They are small enough to be enclosed completely in the plastic ESC covers of the Vortex 150/180 Mini, where they are well protected against the elements, and from physical damage from passing tree-branches.
Pro-Tuning During the development of the Vortex, a team of pro-quad pilots spent countless hours, tweaking the tuning (PIDs) of the flight controller, using various ‘PID Controllers’ supported by the Cleanflight firmware Each pilot fed back this data to the ImmersionRC team, and we incorporated it into the OSD firmware.
R/C (Uplink) Receiver Selection The Vortex 150/180 Mini is shipped with three receiver interface cables, supporting 4 commonly used interfaces. a) b) c) 3-Pin 0.1” Servo Cable, for S-Bus, and CPPM (5V) 5-pin Picoblade for FrSky XSR receivers (5V) 3-pin JST-ZH for Spektrum DSMX receivers (3V) Receivers may be mounted externally on the tail-end of the quad, or internally.
Notes on Receiver Selection One critical parameter to keep to a minimum in a race quad setup is latency. Latency from what the camera sees to the display device, and also from the control stick to the flight controller. For minimum latency, with reasonable range, the Spektrum™ radios and satellite receivers are a great choice.
Receiver Auto-Detection A unique feature of the Vortex family of quadcopters is that the receiver type is auto-detected by the OSD when running the wizard. R/C Transmitter Configuration The advanced wizard used in the Vortex 150/180 Mini is cable of detecting most transmitter configurations. Channel ordering, stick range, center position, etc. are all learned by the wizard.
Diagnostics - Motor Test The Vortex 150/180 Mini has a built-in diagnostic motor test. It can be useful to diagnose problems with ESC and\or Motors. It’s located in Vortex Menu>Diagnostics>Motor Test WARNING: This test can be extremely dangerous, great care is required. The Vortex should be securely anchored to an immovable object, ideally one which doesn’t block the airflow under the props.
Motors will be tested independently in sequence, and then all together.
To exit the test move the Roll stick to the left. Hardware Upgrades The Vortex 150 Mini was intentionally equipped with brushless motors which are suitable for beginners to the hobby, or for more advanced pilots to enjoy themselves around some tight tracks. For experienced pilots who want a bit more performance there are a slew of available motor upgrades.
Appendix A: Firmware Upgrades Both the OSD, and the Flight Controller, are updated using the USB port on the rear of the Vortex. Prior to any upgrade, please remove all Props!. If for any reason the props spin up during a firmware upgrade, serious damage to persons and/or property is very likely.
Upgrade procedure 1) Remove props, connect a Lipo. 2) Attach the Vortex to a Windows PC or a Mac using a standard Micro-USB cable ( ensure that this is a full USB cable, and not a power-only cable shipped with some products) 3) Start vortex-configurator from chrome://apps/ 4) Make sure the right COM port is selected and press the Flash Firmware button. 5) Point to the update file (OSD_vX.X.X.X.
Appendix B: The Wizard - What else does it setup? On startup the wizard will reset Betaflight configuration to its default state.
ITU Region 2: Americas, Greenland, eastern Pacific Islands Assuming that the user has a Ham license, the 5650 - 5925 MHz band may be used. Note that all 8 channels of ImmersionRC’s RaceBand are legal in in this region, with a Ham license.
ITU Region 1: Europe, Africa, Middle East, Iraq, Soviet Union Without a license, only the 25mW Tx module may be used, and then only in the ISM band from 5725 MHz thru 5875 MHz.
Appendix D: LED Board - Status report The RGB LEDs on the rear of the Vortex 150/180 Mini are used by the OSD during the startup phase to report flight controller sensor status, FC API compatibility, and video link status information. From left to right the bottom led board will turn green ( or red if a problem is detected) one after another as follows: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Note that even if the Vortex survives a salt-water bath, long term corrosive effects of the salt on any exposed copper surfaces may result in the product failing at some point in the future. The Sun The camera use in the Vortex (or any camera for that matter) does not appreciate being left staring at the sun for long periods of time.
Specifications Flight Controller IMU CPU Firmware Invensense SPI Gyro/Accelerometer, 8kHz loop speeds STM32F303 32-bit ARM processor Betaflight compatible (with API version matching that of the OSD) OSD CPU Resolution Style Output Video Tx Features STM32F373 32-bit ARM processor 440H x 280V White, with black surround around all pixels Programmable Black/White levels Transmitter Module Custom, integrated into the FC/OSD boar
ESC Type Rating Features Processor R/C Receiver ImmersionRC EzESC 16A continuous, 20A peak OneShot125, OneShot42, MultiShot, rotorSENSE, Motor Braking 32-bit ARM Channels Required Absolute minimum four. Five recommended to support mode switch. Receiver Power +5V, or +3.3V @ 200mA max.
Spare parts and Upgrades Several crash kits, and upgrades, are available for the Vortex 150/180 Mini, including the following: Part Numbers EZESC16A Replacement ESC, 16A V15MSYN Replacement Synergy (which includes the vTx) V15MPDB V15MCK1RD V15MCK2 V15MCK3 V15MCK4 V15MCAB V15M130632 V18MCK2_02 V15MCK1WT V15MCK1BK V15MCK1PK V15MCK1CT V15MCK1RT V15MCK1BT V15MCK1GN V15MHDSUP Replacement PDB Replacement plastic parts, Red Crash Kit 2,
As a last resort, ImmersionRC runs a global network of repair and support centers. These handle warranty repairs, supply hard-to-find spare parts, and also handle non-warranty work. Send an email to repairs@immersionrc.com to open a support ticket. Frequently Asked Questions Q.
Q. My Vortex is playing Crazy Train song The tunes is emitted by ESC when overvoltage is detected (> 17.4 V). For the 16A ESCs, the maximum voltage tolerated is that supplied by 4s HV LiPo packs. Note that if the ESC gets wet, it can cause it to believe that an overvoltage condition exists. Q.
Directions on safety ImmersionRC advocates the safe use of their products, always make sure you equipment is in proper working order, is checked prior to every flight and that your are familiar with and respect the equipment's capabilities and limitations.
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Index Thank You! Getting Started for Newcomers to Race Drones Getting Started, ARF Version The Anatomy of a Vortex 150/180 Mini Connectors and Switches Connector Part Numbers and Sources Arm Assembly Camera Mounting Flight Camera Lost Model Alarm The Touch’n’Race (TNR) Tag The On Screen Display (OSD) The Welcome Screen The Main Menu The LED Setup Menu The Flight Controller Menus The Video Tx Menu The Camera Set
Betaflight Open-Source Betaflight Configurator Connection Flight Controller Stick Commands Overview RotorSENSE Pro-Tuning R/C (Uplink) Receiver Selection Notes on Receiver Selection Receiver Auto-Detection Race Guidelines - Flying with Friends Diagnostics - Motor Test Hardware Upgrades Appendix A: Firmware Upgrades OSD Firmware Upgrades Upgrade procedure Upgrade procedure for bricked OSD Flight Controller Firmware Upgrades Appendix B:
Specifications Spare parts and Upgrades Support Frequently Asked Questions Q. How do I calibrate my 150/180 Mini ESCs? Q. Can I fly in the rain? Q. I dunked my 150/180 Mini in the ocean/lake/pond, what do I do? Q. My motors are ‘stuttering’, and the quad falls out of the sky under full throttle Q. My R/C Receiver isn’t auto-detected by the wizard Q.
