The Flight - Intel Falcon 8+ User Manual


The UAV will lift off very quickly. Therefore be prepared to reduce thrust quickly
after a safety distance to the ground is reached. The actual safety distance depends
on the specific circumstances of the take-off spot (wind, distance to obstacles,
etc.). 
Be aware that all axes have to be controlled manually!
The left control stick is now controlling the motor speed directly, so to ascend you must
move the left control stick up with rather strong movements, but very carefully down to
descend, because the UAV will automatically descend when there is not enough thrust.
Normally you have to give at least approximately 50% thrust to maintain your height
(depending on the attached payload).
3.9

The Flight

Figure 3-15. Basic flight principles
Roll
Caution: Downwash
Try to avoid flying through the downwash (turbulent air under the UAV caused
by the propellers) to save energy and to ensure a smooth descent. It can be
avoided by descending and simultaneously flying sideways or backwards.
®
TM
Intel Falcon F8+
For redundancy the Intel Falcon 8+ UAV has eight
propellers. Four propellers turn clockwise, four turn
counterclockwise as shown in the image. This
eliminates the torque of the single propellers as much
as possible. Nevertheless the UAV has no inherent
stability, and a control circuitry needs to constantly
monitor and control the UAV to keep it stable.
By varying the turn rate of the different propellers,
there are four controllable directions along three axes
Yaw
on which the UAV can be controlled:
• Roll axis: movement to the left or right. For
example when rolling to the right, the propellers
of the left motor rail are turning faster than the
propellers on the right motor rail.
• Pitch axis: movement forwards or backwards. For
example, to fly forward, the four back propellers
turn faster than the four front propellers. The
UAV takes a certain angle along the pitch axis
and flies forward.
• Yaw axis: adjust the heading of the UAV. When
yawing to the left (clockwise), all left turning
Pitch
propellers turn faster than the right turning
propellers.
• Thrust: ascend or descend along the yaw axis. All
propellers turn faster or slower to ascend or to
descend.
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