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PitLab Dedalus User Manual

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Dedalus autopilot– user's manual
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing Dedalus Autopilot. We have put our many year
Dedalus autopilot
experience in electronics, automatics and control of model planes into this
device.
User's manual
Dedalus was designed to stabilize the flight and save your model in case
you're out of your RC radio range, lose eye contact with the model or get
stuck in the thermals and is pulled into clouds. When you lose control over
the model, you can turn on automatic "return to base" function using spare
channel on your transmitter. It is also highly recommended to program Fail-
Safe mode in your receiver as to automatically switch to the return to base in
case the receiver loses signal.
In addition, Dedalus can stabilize the model's flight, which is helpful when
flying on the edge of visibility with the model becoming a small dot in the sky.
Small size (30 x 60 x 10mm) and less than 55g weight of the kit allows you to
place it in almost every model. All basic airframe systems with T-tail, V-tail
and tailless designs like delta or flying wing are supported. It may be useful for
flight stabilization during air tow operations, to secure glider against escape
into thermals or controlling fast flying models with a very short reaction time,
where short moment of inattention results in the loss of the model.
© PitLab 2015
http://www.pitlab.com/dedalus-autopilot.html
page 1 of 20

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Summary of Contents for PitLab Dedalus

  • Page 1 User's manual Dedalus was designed to stabilize the flight and save your model in case you're out of your RC radio range, lose eye contact with the model or get stuck in the thermals and is pulled into clouds. When you lose control over the model, you can turn on automatic “return to base”...

  • Page 2: Electrical Connection

    What you find in the box? The operator's panel can be connected and disconnected at any moment of A complete kit of Dedalus autopilot consist of following components: autopilot work. Using it is not necessary, but it is useful to check GPS status and readiness to work.
  • Page 3 Dedalus autopilot– user's manual Serial connection of the receiver Parallel connection to receiver If you use a receiver equipped with serial PPM output (CPPM or SBus), Usual remote control receivers with separate outputs of all signals (parallel) connection of all channels to the autopilot can be made by a single signal 3-...
  • Page 4 Dedalus autopilot– user's manual decoder. In this case it may be necessary to build suitable cable with +5V used linear voltage regulators that built in motor speed controllers are often power for powering the devices on these extra channels. unable to supply enough current to servos . This may cause brownouts or even damage the ESC.
  • Page 5 Dedalus autopilot– user's manual Figure 5 Connection if the GNSS receiver module Location of autopilot board inside a model Autopilot has an integrated inertial measurement unit (IMU), which allows determining the attitude of the autopilot board. By using this information the autopilot can maintain the level flight of the model.
  • Page 6 The magnetometer sensor is placed on the autopilot board near the „a” sensors: accelerometers and gyroscopes). If needed, you can use special character of the Dedalus logo. If you have to place wires near autopilot, place dampers, sponge, thick double-sided tape or other methods. Dampers should them near opposite side like on picture below.
  • Page 7 Dedalus autopilot– user's manual Figure 9 Way of placing current wires in the model: a) worst possible – big loop, b) better – without a loop but still close to the sensor, c) optimal. © PitLab 2015 http://www.pitlab.com/dedalus-autopilot.html page 7 of 20...
  • Page 8 Dedalus autopilot– user's manual When one stick is attached to two servos and two control surfaces (delta, V- tail, flaperons), we can choose between two options of servos concurrency, Reverses and alignment of servos (aligned) and (opposite), depending on whether for the proper control the Adjusting RC apparatus for controlling a particular model means setting opposite –...
  • Page 9 Dedalus autopilot– user's manual Figure 12 Incorrect setting of the reverse (correct concurrency setting) Figure 10 The correct setting of concurrency and servos reverses Since the rudder is not used for the stabilization of flight, it is not possible to set its reverse on the basis of observation of the reaction of the model to movements.

  • Page 10: Autopilot Modes

    Dedalus autopilot– user's manual Autopilot modes Easy Setup Autopilot mode control is done by a three-position RC channel connected to The simplest way of correct configure the model is use the menu command the MODE input as follows: Settings->Easy Setup. The wizard helps setting all parameters (servos alignment, mixers, reverses) in 4 simple steps by asking for moving sticks in ...
  • Page 11 Dedalus autopilot– user's manual STAB mode - stabilization of the model Stabilization of model is used in order to prevent unexpected or uncontrolled changes of model attitude, both as reaction to control inputs and to wind gusts. It is also useful when a model is very responsive to stick deflection, which could end up in stalling the model, a spin or flipping over and, consequently, loss of control and crash.
  • Page 12 Dedalus autopilot– user's manual Small values of pitch stability may cause phugoid long-period vertical oscillations of the model and too rapid climb when applying throttle. Too high inclination stabilization force can cause quick, short oscillating up and down, especially at higher speeds, and also cause stall of the model without engine power, and poor ascending on power (model accelerates, without ascending), causing problems in autonomous flight.
  • Page 13 Dedalus autopilot– user's manual AUTO mode -automatic return to start place In autonomous mode, the autopilot controls the model flight on its own, maintaining the correct attitude and altitude, as well as preventing too rapid model banking, which could cause loss of control (framing the wing, corkscrew, etc.).
  • Page 14 Dedalus autopilot– user's manual The greater the deviation of the course, the stronger the deflections of Force of getting back on course ailerons and rudder that cause getting back on course. This means that if When the model is in the autonomous flight and the current heading is...
  • Page 15 Dedalus autopilot– user's manual The slowdown in turn can be set in the menu Autonomous->Turn slowdown. The slowdown the turn Since small values of the maximum model banking can cause problems in the event of strong winds, it is necessary to use average values of the banking...
  • Page 16 Dedalus autopilot– user's manual Maintaining altitude Maintaining the altitude of the autonomous flight is performed depends situation. If the model is above the limit the model use elevator to descend. Figure 19 Ascending of the model on engine flight Figure 18 The use of the elevator during descent from a high altitude If the model is below requested altitude then autopilot expects that model flying would climb at after increasing throttle.
  • Page 17 Dedalus autopilot– user's manual Throttle limit stabilization off) in order to correctly observe the behavior of the model in free flight. The Autopilot use constant level of throttle during autonomous flight set by The GPS course parameter Throttle. Value set in this parameter should ensure ascend the model above terrain obstacles like a trees or descending thermal currents.
  • Page 18 The device is seen in Windows flight altitude in AUTO mode. as Pitlab & Zbig AP. Once the FPV manager application is started, go to the Autopilot tab. If the device is connected to your computer, it will be the automatically identified.

  • Page 19: Software Update

    Dedalus autopilot– user's manual RC Setup Configuration and the correct connection of the receiver verification can be made in the FPV_manager application, Autopilot->Radio PPM. In the PPM Input panel current signal levels from each receiver channel or decoded PPM (CPPM or SBus) signals are presented.

  • Page 20: Service And Warranty

    Declaration of Conformity the autopilot. If, despite that, some things are not clear, please ask. Together The Dedalus autopilot is conformed with essential requirements in the range: with a group of experienced users we are available online on RC Groups.

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