Pre-Trip Checklist

These things should be performed the day before a flight for the hexacopter

Charging:

  • Charge all 4 6-Cell LiPo batteries
  • Charge all of the RC Radios
  • Charge all the GoPro batteries
  • Charge the Taranis

Mechanical:

  • Verify landing gear operational
  • Verify all motors are level
  • Verify battery mount is properly attached
  • Secure all electronics, sensors and antennas
  • Verify and bring attachments
    • Gopro gimbal
    • Sony gimbal
    • Egg grabber
    • Egg dropper
  • Ensure all propellers and propeller hardware is ready

Electrical:

  • Ensure PDB functional
  • Check ESC connection to motor, PWM, and PDB
  • Connect GPS to Pixhawk
  • Connect power to Pixhawk
  • connect PPM from reciever to Pixhawk

Firmware

  • Verify all sensors are calibrated
  • Verify failsafes
  • Verify arming sequence
  • Verify ESCs are callibrated
    • All motors should turn on at the same time and be at the same speed
    • Motors should turn the correct direction Image result for pixhawk hex x configuration
  • Verify GPS fix
  • Verify Compass
  • Verify Radio link
  • Verify motor response
    • Move sticks on the Taranis and ensure motors react properly
    • Verify tilting the airframe causes correct motors to spin up
  • Verify switch mapping
    • Killswitch
    • Landing Gear
    • Egg dropper/grabber
    • Manual/autonomous

Tuning

  • Tune roll
  • Tune pitch
  • Tune from hover
  • Take off w/ tether

Video

  • Range check
  • Video Switch Check

Miscellaneous

  • Verify and communicate flight plan
  • Verify vehicle access (Rav or other)
  • Print the Preflight and Flight Test checklists
  • Print/Bring SFOC and emergency plans