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MARS
QUADCOPTER OPERATOR'S MANUAL
MARS
Next-Generation GPS Quadcopter
Operator's Manual
The Mars is Idea-Fly's next-generation easy-to-use GPS-equipped 350mm quadcopter. The Mars features an
all-new high-power motor system with quick disconnect self-locking propellers. The battery compartment is large
and fits 3S LiPo batteries up to 6400mAh capacity (sold separately) for long flight times. Available in both Standard
and FPV (First Person View) versions, both versions include an MC6 2.4GHz 6-channel DSS transmitter and a 2-axis
brushless camera gimbal. In addition, the FPV version includes a 5.8GHz video transmitter and a color 4.3" LCD FPV
monitor with receiver and antenna. Just add an Idea-Fly WiFi Sports Cam 1080P, a GoPro HERO 3, a Boscam HD19
or other similar action camera, and you're ready to shoot smooth high-quality video or enjoy First Person View flying
fun! After familiarizing yourself with the basics of your new Mars series quadcopter, you'll be ready to use the Mars'
high-tech functions, like the GPS Flight Mode and the Return to Home function, in addition to programming your
quadcopter to ensure the best flight performance for the current flight conditions.
It's very important that you read through all of the information included with your quadcopter and fully
understand not only how to operate your quadcopter, but also to fully understand the responsibility you have
for its proper use - both for your safety and the safety of others.
If you have any questions about setting up or flying your quadcopter after you've read this Operator's Manual and
viewed the included How-To videos, please contact the Authorized Hobby People/Affiliates service department
using the information in the Service and Support section on page 3 before trying to fly your new quadcopter.
*Camera Not Included
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Related Manuals for IdeaFly MARS
Summary of Contents for IdeaFly MARS
- Page 1 First Person View flying fun! After familiarizing yourself with the basics of your new Mars series quadcopter, you’ll be ready to use the Mars’ high-tech functions, like the GPS Flight Mode and the Return to Home function, in addition to programming your quadcopter to ensure the best flight performance for the current flight conditions.
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Page 2: Table Of Contents
Gyros and Flight Controller ........12 Updating Flight Controller Firmware ......32 Calibrating the Compass ............12 Flight Controller and Receiver Pinout Diagram ..33 Flying Your Mars Series Quadcopter ........14 GPS Dome Orientation ............33 Arming the Motors ..............14 Calibrating the Control Sticks ........... 34 Propeller Safety ...............15... -
Page 3: Liability And Warranty Information
A copy of your original purchase receipt will be required. Once used, we do offer repair services as well as replacement parts for those customers who purchased a Mars series quadcopter through Hobby People, Global Hobby Distributors or one of its affiliate authorized dealers. -
Page 4: Tips And Suggestions
MARS QUADCOPTER OPERATOR’S MANUAL TiPS AND SUGGESTiONS This section includes a number of important tips and suggestions that we recommend you familiarize yourself with before flying your new quadcopter. Please read these tips and suggestions before flying. They’re important! All of these tips and suggestions are explained in greater detail throughout this Operator’s Manual. -
Page 5: Features And Specifications
Service and Support section on page 3. Contents may differ in both appearance and what’s included depending on version, and are subject to change at any time without notice. Factory-Assembled Mars Series Quadcopter Foam Rubber Battery Spacer MC6 2.4GHz 6-Channel Digital Transmitter Bind Plug (Attached to Transmitter Handle) 2-Axis Brushless Camera Gimbal with M3 x 6mm Mounting Screws (QTY. -
Page 6: Items Required
MARS QUADCOPTER OPERATOR’S MANUAL iTEMS REQUiRED The following items are required to fly your new Mars series quadcopter. Items required can be purchased through your local Hobby People retail store or online from www.hobbypeople.net. (P/N 163452) (P/N 118412) (P/N 116380) -
Page 7: Lipo Battery Safety
MARS QUADCOPTER OPERATOR’S MANUAL wARNiNGS AND SAfETy NOTES LiPO bATTERy SAfETy To ensure your safety, please read and carefully follow the guidelines in this section and any safety information included with your LiPo battery. It’s important that you follow these warnings closely. LiPo batteries are significantly more volatile than Alkaline or NiCd and NiMH batteries. -
Page 8: General Warnings
RF signal. TRANSMiTTER OvERviEw The transmitter comes paired and programmed from the factory to work with your Mars series quadcopter. Read this section to familiarize yourself with the transmitter’s functions. -
Page 9: Functions Overview
MARS QUADCOPTER OPERATOR’S MANUAL TRANSMiTTER OvERviEw fUNCTiONS OvERviEw If it’s ever necessary to pair the transmitter and receiver again, see the Binding the Transmitter and Receiver section on pages 31 and 32. *Disregard any Flight Mode numbers printed on the transmitter. -
Page 10: Quadcopter Overview
QUADCOPTER OPERATOR’S MANUAL QUADCOPTER OvERviEw Use the information in this section to familiarize yourself with the basic layout of your Mars series quadcopter, including motor direction, front, back, left and right orientation, control connections and the LED Condition Indicator. Clockwise Rotation Counter-Clockwise Rotation ‘Black Hub’... -
Page 11: Preparing For Flight
PREPARiNG fOR fLiGhT Follow the information in this section to install the transmitter batteries, install the propellers, install your fully charged LiPo flight battery, initialize the gyros and flight controller, and calibrate the compass to prepare your Mars series quadcopter for flight. -
Page 12: Installing Your Lipo Battery And Initializing The Gyros And Flight Controller
MARS QUADCOPTER OPERATOR’S MANUAL PREPARiNG fOR fLiGhT iNSTALLiNG yOUR LiPO bATTERy AND iNiTiALiziNG ThE GyROS AND fLiGhT CONTROLLER 1) Open the battery door, then turn the quadcopter upside down and install your fully charged LiPo flight battery into the battery tray, making sure to push your LiPo battery as far forward as possible into the body. - Page 13 MARS QUADCOPTER OPERATOR’S MANUAL PREPARiNG fOR fLiGhT CALibRATiNG ThE COMPASS, CONTiNUED..Horizontal Calibration: The quadcopter should be sitting on a flat, level surface with the front of the quadcopter pointing away from you and you should have completed steps 1 through 5 in the Installing Your LiPo Battery and Initializing the Gyros and Flight Controller section on the previous page.
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Page 14: Flying Your Mars Series Quadcopter
LiPo battery, turn the transmitter OFF, then repeat the calibration steps from the beginning. fLyiNG yOUR MARS SERiES QUADCOPTER After calibrating the compass, your quadcopter is now ready for flight. Follow the steps in this section to arm the motors and fly your quadcopter in the Manual Flight Mode. -
Page 15: Propeller Safety
MARS QUADCOPTER OPERATOR’S MANUAL fLyiNG yOUR MARS SERiES QUADCOPTER PROPELLER SAfETy The quadcopter’s propellers are thin and very sharp. Although they are somewhat flexible to prevent damage during minor mishaps, they can still be very dangerous. • Do not attempt to fly the quadcopter if one or more of the propellers are damaged. Flying with damaged propellers is not safe and can make the quadcopter fly uncontrollably. -
Page 16: Manual Flight Mode Flying Tips
MANUAL fLiGhT MODE fLyiNG TiPS Your Mars series quadcopter is a powerful, high-performance quad-rotor heli and you must use caution at all times when flying it. In this section we’ve provided some basic flying tips to help you get started. -
Page 17: Flight Trimming The Quadcopter
MARS QUADCOPTER OPERATOR’S MANUAL fLyiNG yOUR MARS SERiES QUADCOPTER MANUAL fLiGhT MODE fLyiNG bASiCS, CONTiNUED..Practice Patterns: Once you become comfortable with the basics, start practicing the different patterns described below to help you increase your skills and confidence flying the quadcopter. - Page 18 MARS QUADCOPTER OPERATOR’S MANUAL fLyiNG yOUR MARS SERiES QUADCOPTER fLiGhT TRiMMiNG ThE QUADCOPTER, CONTiNUED..Moves Left If the quadcopter moves left, push the Roll Trim Switch RIGHT several times until the quadcopter stops moving left. Push Right Moves Right If the quadcopter moves right, push the Roll Trim Switch LEFT several times until the quadcopter stops moving right.
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Page 19: Using The Gps Flight Mode
USiNG ThE GPS fLiGhT MODE Your Mars series quadcopter features a GPS Flight Mode that provides Auto-Hover, Auto-Hover with Head Lock Position Hold and Auto-Hover with Head Free Position Hold. You are able to manually fly the quadcopter to the desired altitude and position, then use the GPS Flight Mode to hold that altitude and position, allowing you to control the camera gimbal to shoot amazing, stable aerial video. -
Page 20: Gps Flight Mode Warnings
MARS QUADCOPTER OPERATOR’S MANUAL USiNG ThE GPS fLiGhT MODE GPS fLiGhT MODE wARNiNGS Please read and understand the warnings in this section prior to flying your quadcopter using the GPS Flight Mode. Failure to follow these warnings can result in erratic performance or worse, a crash. -
Page 21: Flying Using The Gps Flight Mode
USiNG ThE GPS fLiGhT MODE fLyiNG USiNG ThE GPS fLiGhT MODE 1) Prepare your Mars series quadcopter for flight as summarized below: • Transmitter turned ON and Flight Mode Switch in the Manual Mode (1) Position • LiPo battery plugged in and Gyros and Flight Controller Initialized •... -
Page 22: Using The Return To Home Function
QUADCOPTER OPERATOR’S MANUAL USiNG ThE RETURN TO hOME fUNCTiON Your Mars series quadcopter features a Return to Home function, that when activated, commands the quadcopter to automatically return to its Home Point and land, all automatically. RETURN TO hOME fUNCTiON wARNiNGS Please read and understand the warnings in this section prior to using the Return to Home function. -
Page 23: Autopilot Configuration Programming
For more information, see the Calibrating the Control Sticks section on page 34. The latest version of the Autopilot Configuration program can be downloaded from the Mars series quadcopter’s product page at www.hobbypeople.net. -
Page 24: Saving Programming Values
The Autopilot Configuration program is used for several different types of quadcopters. If you press the Default button, the programming values will default to general values that are not used for your Mars series quadcopter. FAILURE TO ENSURE THE PROGRAMMING VALUES MATCH THE RECOMMENDED VALUES IN THE PROGRAMMING VALUE DEFINITIONS SECTION BELOw CAN RESULT IN YOUR QUADCOPTER NOT FLYING PROPERLY OR NOT FLYING AT ALL. - Page 25 PTZ SERVO FREQUENCY (Default Value: N/A) - The PTZ-SERVO FREQUENCY value is for use with servo-controlled camera gimbals, so it’s Not Applicable to the Mars Series quadcopter, which uses a brushless camera gimbal. Changing this value will not have any effect.
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Page 26: Failsafe Function
This function only changes the Stick Layout screen. It does not change the actual transmitter Mode. fAiLSAfE fUNCTiON Your Mars series quadcopter features a Failsafe function, that when activated, commands the quadcopter to return to its Home Point and land (Return to Home function). The Failsafe function will activate automatically if the quadcopter should exceed the altitude and/or distance limits in the Autopilot Configuration programming or if the RF signal between the transmitter and receiver fails. -
Page 27: Maximum Altitude And Distance Limits
USiNG ThE bRUShLESS CAMERA GiMbAL - bOTh vERSiONS Your Mars series quadcopter includes a 2-axis brushless auto-stabilization camera gimbal that can be used with an Idea-Fly WiFi Sports Cam 1080P, a GoPro HERO 3, a Boscam HD19 or other similar action camera (not included). -
Page 28: Controlling The Camera Gimbal
USiNG ThE fPv SySTEM The Mars FPV version quadcopter includes a 5.8GHz video transmitter and a color 4.3” TFT LCD FPV monitor with receiver. Just add an Idea-Fly WiFi Sports Cam 1080P, a GoPro HERO 3, a Boscam HD19 or other similar action camera, connect the Micro USB FPV Video Cable (available separately, or included with the Idea-Fly WiFi Sports Cam 1080P) to the micro USB video port in your camera, and you’re ready to enjoy First Person View flying fun! -
Page 29: Fpv System Overview
MARS QUADCOPTER OPERATOR’S MANUAL USiNG ThE fPv SySTEM fPv SySTEM OvERviEw FPV Monitor Specifications: FPV Receiver Specifications: • Screen Size/Type ....4.3” TFT Long Life LCD • Sensitivity ................-90dBm • Resolution ............... 480x272 • Frequency Range ......5658MHz to 5945MHz • Aspect Ratio ..............16:9 •... -
Page 30: Mounting The Fpv Monitor
MARS QUADCOPTER OPERATOR’S MANUAL USiNG ThE fPv SySTEM MOUNTiNG ThE fPv MONiTOR 1) Carefully thread the mushroom-style antenna onto the antenna mount and tighten it gently. 2) Using a small Philips head screwdriver, remove the screw from the lower corner of the FPV monitor, then install the mounting arm bracket onto the FPV monitor, using the screw you removed. -
Page 31: Maintenance
QUADCOPTER OPERATOR’S MANUAL MAiNTENANCE In general, your Mars series quadcopter doesn’t require much in the way of maintenance or adjustments; however, there may come a time when you need to replace the propellers, bind the transmitter and receiver, calibrate the transmitter control sticks, update the flight controller firmware and calibrate the camera gimbal etc. -
Page 32: Updating Flight Controller Firmware
Downloading the Current Flight Controller Firmware: Download the current flight controller firmware version to your desktop from the Files section of the Mars series quadcopter’s product page at www.hobbypeople.net. Both the standard and FPV versions use the same firmware. -
Page 33: Flight Controller And Receiver Pinout Diagram
MARS QUADCOPTER OPERATOR’S MANUAL MAiNTENANCE UPDATiNG fLiGhT CONTROLLER fiRMwARE, CONTiNUED..Updating the Flight Controller Firmware, Continued: 2) Press the Select Firmware button, then navigate to the location that you saved the firmware download. 3) Click to highlight the firmware file, then press the Open button. The firmware update process will proceed as follows: ERASE >... -
Page 34: Calibrating The Control Sticks
MARS QUADCOPTER OPERATOR’S MANUAL MAiNTENANCE CALibRATiNG ThE CONTROL STiCkS This function allows you to calibrate the operation of the transmitter control sticks. Over time, it’s possible that the end points and/or the neutral positions of the control sticks may change slightly, affecting the control operation of the quadcopter. -
Page 35: Calibrating The Brushless Camera Gimbal
Gimbal Tools application) on your desktop or in your taskbar. If you’re using a downloaded version (available from the Mars series quadcopter’s product page at www.hobbypeople.net, you can skip steps 1 and 2. Simply unzip the downloaded folder to your desktop. -
Page 36: Replacement Parts
QUADCOPTER OPERATOR’S MANUAL REPLACEMENT PARTS This section lists the replacement parts that are available for your Mars series quadcopter. Replacement parts can be purchased directly through your local Hobby People retail store. If you don’t have a Hobby People retail store near you, replacement parts can be ordered online through our website at www.hobbypeople.net... - Page 37 MARS QUADCOPTER OPERATOR’S MANUAL GLOSSARy Of TERMS Binding: The act of pairing the transmitter and receiver to prevent RF signal interference from transmitter’s operated by other pilots. Bind LED: Displays the current operating status of the receiver. Bind Plug: Used in the process of binding the transmitter and receiver. The bind plug is installed onto the bind port in the receiver to place the receiver in bind mode.
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Page 38: Notes
The transmitter included with your Mars series quadcopter is Mode 2. Position Hold: An option with the GPS Auto-Hover function that also holds the quadcopter in the same position while hovering. - Page 39 MARS QUADCOPTER OPERATOR’S MANUAL NOTES ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________...
- Page 40 MARS QUADCOPTER OPERATOR’S MANUAL Shenzhen Idea-Fly Technology Co., Ltd. 6th Floor, A3 Building, China Rich Crown Industrial Park, Longhua New District, Shenzhen, China. Phone: 008-755-61267080 Fax: 008-755-61267081 Email: ifly@idea-fly.com www.idea-fly.com Features, Specifications and Contents are Subject to Change Without Notice. Revision 1B 11.18.2015. Made in China...