GYRO MODULE

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

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Contents

1 Your X-3D Gyro 3

2 Properties of the X-3D Gyro 5

3 Overview of connectors and jumpers 6

4 Installation 74.1 How to uninstall the mechanical gyro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74.2 Installing your X-3D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74.3 Functional test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84.4 Possible prolems during installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

5 Operating the X-UFO using your X-3D 105.1 Selecting an operation mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

5.1.1 Beginners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105.1.2 Good-natured . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105.1.3 Fast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105.1.4 Experts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

5.2 Meaning of the LED light patterns onboard the X-3D . . . . . . . . . 115.3 Dos and Don’ts whilst turning your X-3D equipped X-UFO on . . . . 115.4 Technical hints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

5.4.1 PC-Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125.4.2 USB-Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

5.5 Uninstalling the software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125.6 Connecting the X-3D to your PC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

5.6.1 Establishing the connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125.7 Operating the program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

5.7.1 Transmitting new settings to the X-3D . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

6 Contact Information 15

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Your X-3D GyroCongratulations to your purchase of a X-3D Gyro, which will turn your X-UFO into aprofessional model aircraft within seconds! Please read this instruction manual care-fully before installing your X-3D. Warranty will be void if you didn’t follow theseinstructions.

WARNING!

Your X-UFO’s housing has to be opened to install your X-3D. If you do that, manu-facturer’s warranty of your X-UFO will be void! Only install your X-3D if you agreewith that. If not, please send it back unused within 14 days.

A motorized model aircraft is not a toy! It should only be flown by adults. Improperassembly or operating can lead to severe injuries and / or damages. Trouble with yourremote control due to interferences can occur any time without prior notice. Some-times, a model aircraft can suddenly become uncontrollable due to a failure of anycomponent. In this case, the model can rapidly move towards any direction. Makesure you always keep a safe distance to people, animals, obstacles or things of anykind, traffic roads etc.. There are country-specific laws regulating the operation ofmodel aircrafts that definitely have to be obeyed. Furthermore, we strongly recom-mend to effect a liability insurance for model aircrafts. Manufacturer and dealer ofthe X-3D do not have any influence on nor can they monitor the correct installationand proper operation of your X-3D. Thus, dangers of operating a model aircraft ingeneral are pointed out here. Always be aware of these dangers and act accordingly.There is no liability of the producer nor the dealer at all, as far as legally approved.

The X-3D Gyro enables you to even fly your X-UFO at windy locations. Make sureyour X-UFO always stays within the range of your transmitter. Please note that themaximum distance of the original X-UFO transmitter can be far less than 100 m inworst case environments.

Always be careful and do not rush. Try to learn new manoeuvres step by step. Thereis no warranty if your X-3D Gyro gets damaged by improper handling.

Warranty is limited to only the X-3D module itself, as far as legally approved. War-ranty is void if the module has been modified or damaged for example by a crash,which has not provable been caused by a malfuntion of the X-3D, by humidity, bywrong supply voltages and / or currents, by electrostatic discharges or by not follow-ing the instruction manual.

Please be aware, that every controller can only be as good as the physical condition ofyour X-UFO allows. A controller always needs enough scope to act. Especially at fast

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maneuvers with a heavy UFO the motors can be taken to their limits. This can leadto instable movements and even to a total control loss. Be aware of this phenomenonand learn how your X-UFO behaves step by step.

SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

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Properties of the X-3D GyroThe X-3D Gyro is a professional substitute of the mechanical gyro that came withyour X-UFO. It is a three-axial Heading-Lock gyro. That means, your X-UFO willalways try to keep its actual orientation at neutral control commands. It will change itsorientation in the axis corresponding to a stick moved, respectively. You will have toget used to this new control system if you are used to flying with the mechanical gyro.However, after a while you will be able to concentrate on flying - not only hovering -your X-UFO. With some more experience even loops are possible!

Temperature compensation enables your X-3D to work in summer as well as in winter.It is pretty shock-resistant due to the use of very modern piezo-sensors. With the three-axial Heading-Lock function the pilot is able to return to a stable flight position afterfast turns with ease. In addition, flying forward with high speed is very easy, as well.

The X-3D gyro offers four different modes, which can be selected by jumpers. Thepilot can always adopt the behaviour of his X-UFO to his skill level. Furthermore, thebest flight parameters for other tuning measures can be selected.

Using the USB-interface, all parameters determining flight and control behaviour canbe changed. Thus, the pilot can adopt his X-UFO to his very own preferences andneeds. The USB-interface can be purchased separately,

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Overview of connectors and jumpersThe following fotograph illustrates all connectors and jumpers of your X-3D Gyro:

Jumpers 1 and 2 determine the flight-mode:

Beginners Good-natured Fast Experts

Jumper 4 activates the so called Bootloader, which can be used to upload new firmwareversions.

Bootloader deactivated Bootloader activated

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Installation4.1 How to uninstall the mechanical gyro

The mechanical gyroscope is mounted to the X-UFO’s mainboard using three screws.Remove the upper and lower plastic cover before unscrewing the gyro. You can simplypull off the lower plastic plate, whereas you should use the back of a knive or a thinscrewdriver to remove the hood. After that, please use a small Screwdriver to loosenthe three screws. You can reach them through the plastic part of the X-UFO’s frame, soyou do not have to unscrew the mainboard itself. Once the screws have been removedyou can simply take off the gyroscope by pulling it straight upwards.

4.2 Installing your X-3D

Please note that possible solutions for any problems occuring during the installationprocess can be found in chapter 4.4.

First of all, you have to mount the three black spacers, which came with your X-3D,to the lower side of your X-3D board. Simply put three of the screws through therespective holes and screw the spacers from below.

After that, carefully plug the X-3D gyro to the X-UFO’s mainboard. All spacersshould touch the board.

Now you can attach the other screws by carefully poking them through the main-board’s holes from below. Your X-3D should now be mounted parallel to the X-UFO’smainboard being tightly fastened. Figure 4.1 shows the X-3D in its desired position.

After mounting the X-3D, you need to attach the blue cable coming with a black anda white connector on its ends. Connect the black plug to the corresponding blackreceptacle at the X-3D board. After that, the white connector has to be plugged tothe black pin header behind the white receptacle on the X-UFOs mainboard. Do notuse any force! The plug only fits in one direction, whereby the blue cable is pointingoutwards. Figure 4.2 shows the cable connected correctly.

Once you are perfectly sure that your X-3D is mounted correctly you can reattach theplastic covers. You could use doublesided tape or glues like ”UHU-Por” for that.

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Figure 4.1: X-3D module mounted correctly

Figure 4.2: Serial connection

4.3 Functional test

Please make sure that throttle is in zero-position before you turn on your remote. Allthe trimmers should be centered. Connect your battery and place your X-UFO on aplane surface. Hold it down with one hand, so that it can not take off accidently, butmake sure the rotors are free to spin. Turn on your X-UFO and watch the light patternunderneath the motors. The lights should ”spin” much faster than with the mechanicalgyro. After two to three seconds the LEDs should signalize ”Ready to fly”. Duringthe initialization process the X-3D gyro displays the following LED-patterns:

• All LEDs should flash when the X-UFO is switched on.

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• After that, the red LED should light up for about 0.8 seconds.

• Thereafter, there might be both, the green and the yellow LEDs on.

• Finally, only the green LED should be lighting up.

If only the green LED is on after initializing, your X-UFO is ready to fly. In all othercases please consult chapter 4.4.

Now you can step back and carefully give some throttle, but please do not let yourX-UFO lift off at this point. If all rotors are spinning in the first moments, everthingshould be fine. Now, you are done with the installation and ready to fly! Pleasecontinue reading chapter 5.

4.4 Possible prolems during installation

• Parts of the X-UFO mechanicly prevent you from installing your X-3D gyrocorrectly:It sometimes happens that parts like capacitors soldered to the X-UFO’s main-board get bent during a crash. If this was the case, very carefully bend therespective part back to its original position.

• The white connector of the blue cable does not fit to the pin header on theX-UFO’s mainboard:Carefully bend parts, which inhibit the plug to fit onto the pin-headers, back totheir intended position.

• The X-UFO boots up as before (showing the same slow light patterns un-derneath the motors):Please make sure your X-3D is connected correctly and that it is lying parallelto the X-UFO’s mainboard. Furthermore, make sure that the bootloader-jumper(chapter 3) is not set!

• The X-UFO boots up, but the X-3D keeps flashing the red and the greenLED:Please make sure the blue cable is connected the right way and that it is notoff-centered. At your transmitter, the modes ”Auto” and ”AUX Y” have to bedeactivated!

• Only 2 or 3 propellers start spinning at the first moment giving throttle:Please make sure that all trimmers are in center position. Turn your X-UFOoff and on while you should try not to move it at all until the booting-sequencehas ended and the X-3D signalizes ”ready to fly” by lighting up the green LED,only.

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Operating the X-UFO using your X-3D5.1 Selecting an operation mode

The X-3D offers four differnt modes, to enable adaptation to your individualized X-UFO (heavy or lightweight) as well as to the pilot’s skills. Controlling the X-UFO withthe X-3D installed is different from operating it with the mechanical gyroscope, as itdoes no longer measure an absolute angle. It now tries to hold its current orientation,if there is no stick-command. Thus, you have to actively steer your X-UFO back toa leveled position after each maneuver. You will have to get used to this new kind ofcontrol, but you will notice that it offers much more possibilities to perform complexmaneuvers.

5.1.1 Beginners

This setting is optimized for the standard X-UFO with standard battery. The X-UFOwill react very gentle in this mode, making it the perfect choice for beginners to prac-tive flying indoors. After the trimmers are adjusted correctly, hovering can be done byvery short control commands in pitch and roll axis.

5.1.2 Good-natured

This mode is a bit more nippy than the beginners mode, but it is as well intended fora standard X-UFO with standard battery. This is also a mode for flying indoors oroutdoors at calm weather.

5.1.3 Fast

After you know how to fly your X-UFO using modes ”Beginners” and ”Good-natured”you can switch to ”Fast”. Using this mode, you are able to fly precise and yet very fastindoors and outdoors. There is also the so called ”fast-yaw” mode activated, enablingfast rotation in yaw. Please be aware that this mode is for lightweight X-UFOs only(e.g. using a LiPo battery).

5.1.4 Experts

In order to fly real stunts - even loops are possible! - outdoors, you can switch tothe ”Experts” setting. But please make sure you master to fly in all the other modes

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before that. Use a very lightweight battery for flying in this mode (e.g. LiPo 3s470mAh 20C), as you will take your X-UFO to its physical limits. This mode is notsuited for flying indoors, as the X-UFO can accelerate very fast.

5.2 Meaning of the LED light patterns onboard the X-3D

RED YELLOW GREEN Blinking MeaningOn On On No LED test at start-upOn On Off Yes X-UFO is booting upOn Off Off Yes Sensor calibration (Do not move your

X-UFO within this period!)On Off On Yes X-3D is running, but it does not

receive data from the mainboard.Off On On No X-3D is running, connections OK,

R/C offOff Off On No Ready to fly!

5.3 Dos and Don’ts whilst turning your X-3D equippedX-UFO on

Do not at all move your X-UFO whilst it is powering up. In this initial boot phasethe gyroscopes are being calibrated. If you do move your X-UFO before the LEDssignalize ”Ready to fly” it will randomly fly into one certain direction. If this is thecase, please restart your X-UFO and make sure you do not move it during bootup.

5.4 Technical hints

• If you are using your X-UFO with a different transmitter than the one, whichcame with it, unpredictable behaviour can occur if your transmitter is not pro-grammed correctly. If this is the case, please switch back to the original (me-chanical) gyroscope in order to set up your transceiver so that it can control theX-UFO in its original configuration. Once this is the case, your transmitter willwork with your X-3D gyro, too.

• All computed angles of the X-3D are being reset to zero, if throttle is zero (i.e.left stick of the X-UFO transmitter is completely down). Thus, the X-UFO willalways keep it’s actual orientation directly after launch. If this is not the case

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and your X-UFO always flys in any direction, most probably the angles haven’tbeen reset correctly. In this case it might help to move the trimmer for thethrottle-control further down.

5.4.1 PC-Software

The PC-Software is freeware and can be downloaded at www.x-3d.eu. To install thesoftware simply unzip the archive (*.zip) using e.g. WinZIP, WinRAR or simply thetool that comes with Windows XP. You can start the contained .EXE-file from anydirectory by double-clicking on it.

5.4.2 USB-Driver

Before using the USB adaptor you have to install a driver for the USB-Chip used(FT232R). The driver can be downloaded from its producer’s (FTDI) website:http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm.Please make sure you install the VCP (Virtual COM Port) Driver for the FT232R.

5.5 Uninstalling the software

To uninstall the software simply delete the .EXE-file and the .INI-file which has beencreated in the same directory.

5.6 Connecting the X-3D to your PC

Please connect the USB cable to your computer’s USB-port. After that, connect theUSB adaptor to your X-3D as shown in figure 5.1.

5.6.1 Establishing the connection

After starting the application the COM-Port associated to the USB adaptor has to beselected. Press the ”Connect”-button to connect to your X-3D and to automaticlydownload the current settings. A fotograph of the X-3D together with your firmwarerevision and the unique part number of your module signalizes that the connection hasbeen successfully established. Press one of the buttons next to the picture to continue.

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Figure 5.1: USB module connected correctly

5.7 Operating the program

You can change the settings of your X-3D using two different modes: ”Easy” or ”Ex-pert”. Using the ”Easy” mode ensures that your X-UFO definitely stays controllable,whereas in the ”Expert” mode all parameters can be changed arbitrary. You shouldonly do changes using the ”Expert” mode if you are exactly aware of what you do.However, there is an online-help window when using the ”Expert” mode. Further-more, there are ”tooltips” displayed if you do not move your mousecursor for a fewseconds whilst it is pointing to one of the values. We strongly recommend to do abackup of the original parameters using the ”Export” button, before you change anyparameters. Besides all controller parameters, you can also determine which side ofyour X-UFOs is front, in other words, you can determine the direction your X-UFOwill travel to if you push your ”forward” stick. Simply click on the correspondingcheckbox.

5.7.1 Transmitting new settings to the X-3D

After changing the parameters as desired please click on ”Ready”. You will be promptedif you want to transmit all changes to your X-3D, or if you want to close the connec-tion without transmitting any parameters.

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WARNING: Changing parameters happens at your own risk! After any alterationcarefully test if all functions are working as desired. If this is not the case, you shouldreset your X-3D to the previous parameters, e.g. by using the ”Import” function.

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Contact Information

www.xufo-shop.dePC-Quadrat GmbH

Aussere Bayreuther Str. 57DE - 90409 Nuremberg

GERMANY

Phone: +49 911 995140Fax: +49 911 99514-66

E-Mail : bestellung@x-ufo.de

Software and instruction manual downloads: www.x-3d.euSupport forum: www.xufo.de

Venue: NurembergRegister no.: HRB 15803

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