Autel DRAGONFISH Series - User Manual

The Autel Robotics Dragonfish is an advanced unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed for professional applications, integrating intelligent flight control, gimbal technology, and imaging capabilities. Its innovative tilt-rotor design combines the extended endurance of fixed-wing aircraft with the vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) convenience of traditional multi-rotor drones. This hybrid design allows for flexible operation in various environments, eliminating the need for runways and enabling deployment from confined spaces.

Function Description

The Dragonfish is engineered for high-precision data acquisition and surveillance, making it suitable for a wide range of missions including mapping, inspection, and security. It boasts a robust self-check system that ensures operational readiness within a mere 5 seconds, facilitating rapid deployment. The aircraft is designed for quick assembly, allowing operators to set up and take off in minutes. With a maximum flight time of up to 120 minutes and a video transmission range of 30 km, the Dragonfish is capable of covering extensive areas and providing real-time data over long distances.

Key intelligent features include automatic takeoff and landing, intelligent tracking, and terrain-following capabilities, which enhance operational efficiency and reduce pilot workload. These autonomous functions allow the Dragonfish to execute complex missions with minimal human intervention, ensuring consistent performance and data quality. The aircraft's IP43 protection rating signifies its resilience against dust and water splashes, enabling reliable operation across diverse and challenging terrains, from arid landscapes to humid environments.

The Dragonfish features a modular payload mount with an integrated quick-release function, offering versatility in mission planning. Operators can easily switch between different payloads, such as dual-sensor, triple-sensor, or multispectral cameras, to suit specific mission requirements. This adaptability makes the Dragonfish a highly flexible tool for various data collection tasks, from detailed visual inspections to agricultural monitoring and environmental surveys.

To ensure precise, centimeter-accurate data, the Dragonfish is equipped with a GNSS Base Station and integrated Dual RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) modules. These components provide additional redundancy and enhance positioning accuracy, allowing the aircraft to operate confidently in complex environments, including those with strong magnetic interference from power lines or near large buildings. The RTK system corrects GPS errors in real-time, delivering highly accurate positional data crucial for professional mapping and surveying applications.

The accompanying 9.7-inch TFT-LCD touch screen ground station serves as the primary control interface. With a brightness of 1000 cd/m2, it ensures clear visibility of images even in direct sunlight, a critical feature for outdoor operations. The ground station includes a built-in 256GB memory for convenient storage of critical mission data. Its impressive image transmission range of 30 km and a battery life of 4.5 hours ensure optimal performance and reliability throughout extended missions.

Usage Features

Operating the Dragonfish involves a streamlined process, starting with charging the intelligent flight battery, ground station, and base station. The base station setup is crucial for achieving high-precision positioning. It involves unfolding a tripod, installing the base station tray, and securely locking it. The base station body is then mounted onto the tray, with the lock tightened to ensure stability and level positioning. Finally, the antenna is installed on the tripod and connected to the base station antenna port, establishing the necessary communication link.

Aircraft assembly is designed for ease and speed. Operators install the left and right wings by aligning and fastening them securely. The tail section is then installed using a similar align-and-fasten method. Propeller installation involves mounting the wingtip propellers onto their respective motors. It's essential to power off the aircraft before installing or removing propellers. The propellers are locked by pressing and rotating them in the indicated direction and unlocked by rotating them in the opposite direction. Marked propellers are to be mounted on marked motors, and unmarked propellers on unmarked motors, ensuring correct configuration.

Mounting the gimbal camera involves aligning the red dots on the gimbal mount with the red dots on the fuselage interface, then rotating the lock ring to secure it in the locked position. To unlock and remove the gimbal, the unlock button is pressed, the lock ring is rotated to the unlocked position, and the mount is lowered vertically. Installing the intelligent flight battery requires aligning it with the battery interface on the fuselage and ensuring the aircraft is powered off before installation or removal.

Powering on the system involves short-pressing the power button on the base station and ground station for one second each. The aircraft is powered on by pressing its power button for three seconds. For first-time use, the aircraft must be activated through the Autel Voyager application by clicking the activation button, which also initiates warranty service.

Flight operations begin by entering the Autel Voyager safe flight interface. Before takeoff, the aircraft should be placed on a flat surface with its tail facing the operator. For manual takeoff, the ground station gear is switched to 'M' mode. A system status check is performed to ensure all components are functioning correctly. To arm the motors, both joysticks are simultaneously moved inwards or outwards and held for two seconds. Takeoff is initiated by pushing up the left stick (in mode 2). For automatic takeoff, the ground station gear is switched to 'A' mode, and the "Create Mission" button is clicked to plan the flight path. After another aircraft system status check, the flight interface displays the mission parameters and real-time flight data.

Maintenance Features

While the manual primarily focuses on setup and operation, the modular design of the Dragonfish inherently supports easier maintenance and component replacement. The quick-release mechanisms for payloads and the straightforward assembly process for wings and tail suggest that individual components can be accessed and serviced with relative ease. The inclusion of a "Repair tool kit" in the item list further indicates that basic maintenance and minor repairs are anticipated and supported by Autel Robotics.

The IP43 protection rating, while not a maintenance feature itself, contributes to reduced maintenance needs by protecting internal components from environmental ingress, thereby extending the lifespan of the aircraft and its electronics. The robust construction ensures durability, minimizing wear and tear under normal operating conditions.

Regular checks of the aircraft system status, as part of the pre-flight routine, serve as a proactive maintenance measure, allowing operators to identify and address potential issues before they escalate. This includes verifying wing and tail connections, and confirming the removal of the airspeed meter protective cover. The comprehensive documentation provided, including quick guides for the Dragonfish, base station, ground station, charger, and battery, offers valuable resources for troubleshooting and understanding the device's components, which is essential for effective maintenance.

The manual also notes that the content may be updated without prior notice, and users are encouraged to check the official Autel Robotics website for the latest version. This commitment to ongoing updates suggests continuous improvement and support, which can include updated maintenance procedures or information on new features.