Version 1.2

Thanks for choosing AirStudio flight control electronics.
We have created it based on best-in-class software, hardware and our team experience in
Multi-rotors.
This is multi-rotor remote controlled aircraft flight control electronics with advanced features like integrated OSD, ultrasonic sensor (Sonar) and GPS.
AirStudio Control board (set) feature list:

Stabilized flight modes for different multicopter frames (Tricopter, X4, plus4, Y6,
Hexacopter, Octocopter, X8);



Integrated On Screen Display (OSD) for First Person View (FPV) flights;
GPS for position hold, return to home position and loiter (GPS position hold);

Magnetometer (Compass) for heading determination;

Very precise barometer for altitude hold;
Sonar sensor for automated takeoff and landing capability and altitude hold (up to
5m height);

Automated waypoint navigation using ground station software;

Mounted camera stabilization and shutter capability;

Wireless telemetry for long distance communication;

Specialized Power board for power distribution and current measuring;

User configurable LED output with possibility to inform about low battery;

Capability to use any R/C receiver;

External signal module (Status board) for visual summary of aircraft condition;
You can find latest version of this manual from http://air-studio.eu/en/content/23-support
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Specification
Input voltage:
Current consumption at 12V:
Board only:
6-18V
40mA
Board with GPS, IMU, sonar: 80mA
Switching voltage regulator for reduced heat dissipation.
Operational temperature:
Dimensions:
Mounting holes:
0°C ... +60°C
50mm x 70mm
3mm diameter, 45mm x 45mm
Receiver channel count: 5 to 8
Motor count:
Camera gimbal outputs:
Output for high current load (LED strips): up to 8 pitch, roll, shutter
8A
Firmware
MegaPiratesNG compatible multicopter hardware. http://code.google.com/p/megapirateng
DIY OSD compatible OSD hardware with LM1881 video sync separator. http://code.google.com/p/diy-osd-opensource http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1473207
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Description
Air Studio Control board
Control board is MegaPirateNG compatible hardware with
ATmega2560 and some additional features:

Dedicated output pin for high current load up to 8A (LED strips, and etc.)

Third output (besides Pitch and Roll) for camera gimbal that can be used for camera
Shutter control

Integrated OSD controller with LM1881 sync detector that is compatible with DIY
OSD and other open source OSD software that can use ATmega328P. OSD has serial connection to main controller for receiving sensor readings

Integrated voltage divider for battery voltage measuring up to 4S LiPo , input for current and RC receiver RSSI measuring
Air Studio Sense board
Sense board contains ITG-3200 gyroscope, BMA180 accelerometer, HMC5883L magnetometer, MS5611 barometer and logic level converter.
Sense board can be used with 5v host MCU and has integrated pullup resistors on both logic level lines.
Air Studio GPS board
This is low cost high performance GPS module with MediaTek
MT3339 GPS chipset.
It has built-in super capacitor for memory retention when power is disconnected. If GPS module is left without power for time less than 9 hours after power up it will get almost instant fix.
Connector pin out of this GPS module is identical to many other modules.
Pin No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
Function
Not connected
GND
Transmit data
Receive data
+5V
GND
4

Prerequisites
1.
Download and install CP210x serial port drivers from http://www.silabs.com/Support%20Documents/Software/CP210x_VCP_Win_XP_S2K3_
Vista_7.exe
2.
Download and install Arduino 1.0.1 from http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Software
3.
Download AirStudio customized copter control firmware from http://airstudio.eu/en/content/23-support
4.
Download latest Mission Planer from http://code.google.com/p/ardupilotmega/downloads/list
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Flight Control Set includes following components:
Control board
Sense board
GPS board
Status board
Power board
Schema:
6

Flight Control Kit includes following components:
Control board
Sense board
GPS board
Schema:
7

Control board
No Description
1
2
3
Receiver signal level input (RSSI)
Receiver inputs CH1 - CH8 (PPM input configurable on CH1)
Jumper for powering board from motor 1 ESC
4
5
6
7
8
Motor outputs M1 - M8
Camera gimbal outputs Pitch, Roll, Shutter
Sonar connector
Video connector
GPS connector
9 Telemetry connector (XBee, APC220, APC230 …)
10 IMU connector
11 LED connector
12 Power connector
13 Status indicator connector
14 Firmware upload target selection jumpers
15 Mini USB connector for firmware upload
16 Command line jumper (CLI)
17 Analog alternative inputs A1-A5
18 Sonar alternative connections
19 GPS alternative connections
20 ISP programming connections (for service use)
21 +5V power LED
22 Status LEDs A, B, C
23 OSD status LED
Sense board (IMU)
8

Power board (Set only)
Status board (Set only)
A (Green) Solid = Armed, motors are live; Blink = Disarmed, motors will not spin with throttle up
B (Yellow) Flash during calibration, otherwise not used
C (Red) Solid = Lock, Blink = Waiting for Lock, OFF = No GPS connected or Serial received
GPS board
Features:
MediaTek MT3339 66 channel GPS chipset
Dimensions: 38mm x 17mm x 8mm
High sensitivity: Up to -165dBm tracking
Position accuracy: < 3m
Maximum update rate: up to 10Hz
Time to fix: Hot Start 1 second typical
Warm Start 33 seconds typical
Cold Start 35 seconds typical
Very low power consumption ： 25mA acquisition, 20mA tracking
Power supply: 3.6 - 16V
9

Built-in supercap for RTC backup power to decrease Time To Fix after power reconnection
Built-in patch antenna for reduced size
Serial TTL Interface with default baud rate 38400 bps
NMEA and Binary protocol
Includes cable adapter
Weight: 10 g
10

Uploading OSD firmware
1.
Select Arduino target with jumpers to OSD
2.
Connect USB (Picture above)
3.
Copy DIY_OSD_v0_18_1 folder to your arduino sketchbook folder
4.
Run Arduino 1.0.1
5.
Open "DIY_OSD_v0_18_1"
6.
If needed configure parameters in "config.h"
7.
Select correct serial port and board "Arduino Nano w/ ATmega328"
8.
Upload
Uploading Controller firmware
9.
Select Arduino target with jumpers to CTR
10.
Run Arduino 1.0.1
11.
Select sketchbook location in Preferences "MegaPirateNG_2.7_R3_AIR" folder and restart Arduino software
12.
Open "ArduCopter"
13.
If needed configure parameters in "APM_Config.h" a.
Frame type tri, quad, hexa, octa FRAME_CONFIG & FRAME_ORIENTATION b.
PPM Sum SERIAL_PPM c.
Receiver type TX_CHANNEL_SET (see step 20.)
d.
…
14.
Select correct serial port and board "Arduino Mega 2560"
15.
Upload
11

Configure board
16.
Take off all propellers
17.
Connect Sense board to IMU connector (10)
18.
Decide how to power your board:
From battery (3S; 4S LiPo)
From Motor 1 ESC (connect jumper “ESC POW”)
WARNING!!! Do not use both power sources! Disconnect “ESC POW” jumper if powered from battery.
19.
Connect at least one ESC to M1 connector to power receiver
20.
Connect RC receiver
R5
R6
R7
R8
Chanel mapping configurable in “APM_Config.h” (see step 13.c)
Graupner/Spectrum Robbe/Hitec/Sanwa
TX_standard some
Hitec/Sanwa/others
TX_set2 TX_set1
R1/PPM Yaw
R2
R3
R4
Roll
Throttle
Pitch
Roll
Pitch
Throttle
Yaw
Pitch
Roll
Throttle
Yaw
Mode
Cam Pitch
CH7
CH8
Mode
Cam Pitch
CH7
CH8
Mode
Cam Pitch
CH7
CH8
MultiWii layout
TX_mwi
Throttle
Roll
Pitch
Yaw
Mode
Cam Pitch
CH7
CH8
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21.
Connect Sense board (IMU)
22.
Run Mission Planer (tested with 1.1.54), choose serial port and speed 115200
23.
Connect
24.
Select Configuration > Setup
25.
Calibrate radio (follow instructions)
26.
Configure modes on your control channel:
“Stabilize” should be your default mode unless you are experienced and know what you are doing.
You can also set failsafe on your radio to match “Return To Launch”.
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27.
If you have enable sonar (LV-EZ0) in Hardware tab
28.
Set declination in Hardware tab
29.
If you have AirStudio Power board Select Battery monitoring "4: Volts & Current"
30.
Connect cables from ESC’s to motor pin headers on board
14

Motor layout and propeller rotation directions:
31.
Balance your propellers! Unbalanced propellers induce vibrations that reduce copters ability to correctly detect attitude and the copter may lose stability in the air.
32.
Calibrate your ESC’s a.
Safety First! - Remove the propellers! b.
Disconnect USB. c.
Put the throttle high and connect the Lipo to power the control board. d.
When the board boots the lights will cycle continuously. e.
Disconnect the Lipo and reconnect it. High PWM will be sent to the ESCs triggering calibration. f.
Drop your throttle stick to the lowest position. You should hear a confirmation/arming beep or two. Move the throttle to confirm all ESCs are armed and working in sync. g.
Unplug the battery. Your ESCs are now calibrated. No further action is required.
33.
To reduce 5v power consumption used from Control board voltage regulator that is designed for 300mA current and for increased electric noise stability some external components are powered from motor ESCs: a.
Motor 1 ESC powers Receiver , Telemetry transceiver.
If ESC POW jumper is shorted Motor 1 ESC also powers Control board b.
Motor 2 ESC powers camera gimbal Pitch servo and Status board c.
Motor 3 ESC powers camera gimbal Roll servo and Shutter servo
15

Before flight
34.
Connect battery
35.
Put your copter on level surface
36.
Configure level for sensors by holding RC transmitter throttle stick down-left for approximately 15 seconds (status LEDs flash) (must be done once, repeat if needed)
37.
Hold throttle stick down right (approx. 3s) to arm motors and then take-off
38.
After flight hold throttle stick down-left (approx. 3s) to disarm motors
39.
PIDs should be tuned for each type of multicopter frame to have best stability.
OSD
Control board has integrated OSD that receives data about sensor values from main controller and overlays them on video.
No Description
1
2
3
4
Coordinates (decimal degrees with N/S, E/W letters)
GPS satellite count used
Speed (km/h)
Distance and direction home (m)
5
6
7
8
9
Altitude (m)
Armed/Disarmed status
Low Battery warning
GPS fix warning
Controller flight mode
10 Flight timer
11 Orientation heading
12 Receiver signal level (RSSI %)
13 Current consumed from battery
14 Battery voltage
15 Battery mAh consumed
PID tuning
PID settings depend on many factors and it is advisable to tune them for every copter configuration individually. Please see those online resources for information about PID tuning: http://code.google.com/p/arducopter/wiki/AC2_Tweaks
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Connecting OSD
Connecting LEDs
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