• Home
  • What do I need?
  • Where to buy?
  • Updates
  • IRIS Quadcopter UAV
    • Iris Manual >
      • Iris Introduction
      • Before you Fly
      • Flying
      • Advanced
      • Support
  • Have any Questions?
  • ArduCopter QuickStart
    • All Arducopter Guides

Radio Control

IRIS+ can be controlled using only an RC transmitter or through a combination of RC and a laptop or tablet ground station. You manoeuver IRIS+ in flight using the controller sticks shown on the left. 
We start with an explanation of what the left stick controls, which is the throttle and the yaw. 
Move the left stick up and down to control altitude.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Move the left stick horizontally to rotate IRIS+ and change orientation. For a slow rotation, move the stick slightly away from the center
in either direction. Moving the stick farther from the center creates a faster rotation.
Picture
Picture
The right stick controls the pitch and roll of the IRIS+. Move the right stick to tell IRIS+ to move in that direction: forward (toward the blue arms), 
back (toward the black arms), left (toward the left arms), or right (towards the right arms). How far you move the stick from the centre before releasing it tells IRIS+ how fast to move. 
Picture
Picture
Flight Tip: IRIS+ moves according to its orientation. The blue arms and white lights face forward, and the black arms and red lights face backward. Before using the right stick, use yaw to keep IRIS+ facing in outward orientation so that the black arms and red lights face towards you and the blue arms and white lights face away from you.

Flight Modes

IRIS+ includes three main flight modes: manual flight (STD-altitude hold), hover mode (LTR-loiter), and mission flight (AUTO). Use the switch on the right side of the controller to select a flight mode.
Picture
Picture
Standard (altitude hold mode), STD
Start your flight in standard to select altitude hold mode, and fly IRIS+ manually using the controller.
Loiter mode, LTR
Select loiter to set IRIS+ to hover in place automatically. Use the controller to adjust IRIS’ position then release the sticks to hold that position. Loiter is a great way for beginners to learn how to fly! If you’re new to flying, start your first flight in loiter instead of standard.
Picture
Picture
Auto mode, AUTO
Select auto mode to fly an autonomous mission. IRIS+ will automatically fly the series of waypoints saved to the autopilot. 
Caution: Do not activate auto mode unless you have saved a mission to IRIS+ using a ground station application.
Land, CH 7
There is also an additional flight mode called Land. In this mode, set the CH 7 switch to ON to end your flight and land IRIS+ at its current position. Once you activate land, set the throttle stick fully down, and IRIS+ will automatically disarm after landing. IRIS+ will not disarm automatically unless the throttle stick is set fully down.
Picture
Picture
Return to launch (RTL)
This is a useful mode if you find yourself in any trouble and wish to return IRIS+ to the launch point for any reason. When this mode is activated (setting the RTL switch to ON), IRIS+ will automatically fly itself back to the lauch point. Ensure that the RTL switch is set to OFF before takeoff.
When commanded to RTL, IRIS+ will:
1 Achieve minimum altitude of 15 m (50 ft) or maintain current altitude if above 15 m.
2 Move to launch point and loiter for 5 seconds.
3 Land at launch point.

Note: RTL returns IRIS+ to the location where IRIS+ was armed. Always arm IRIS+ in a safe, unobstructed launch point.
Picture
Picture
Gimbal control, TILT
This is an option when the Tarot Gimbal (sold separately) is connected to IRIS+. Use the TILT knob to control the angle of the camera in flight. Visit 3dr.com/iris/info for instructions.

Geofence

There is a new safety feature of the IRIS+ called the geofence. This restricts IRIS+ to within 300 meters (980 feet) of the launch point and under 100 meters (320 feet) in altitude. If IRIS+ reaches the edge of the geofence, it will initiate an automatic return to launch.
Picture
Caution: In the event of a GPS failsafe, the horizontal geofence will be disabled. If IRIS+ breaches the vertical geofence during a GPS failsafe, it will land at its current position.

Mission Planner

Mission Planner is an open-source ground station for the APM autopilot platform. Connect IRIS+ to a laptop using Mission Planner and the telemetry radio ground module to view data and execute commands in flight.

See the install software section to download Mission Planner 
for Windows or APM Planner for Mac and Linux. APM Planner is a 
developing version of Mission Planner for all three platforms; instructions for Mission Planner can also be used for APM Planner.
Picture
Connect to Mission Planner
  1. Connect the telemetry radio to your laptop’s USB port.
  2. Connect battery to IRIS+.
  3. After drivers automatically install, select the available COM port, set the baud rate to 57600, select ArduCopter (if offered), and select Connect.
Picture
Mission Planner Flight Data: Attitude
  1. Heading direction
  2. Bank angle
  3. Altitude (black) and rate of climb (blue bar) 4 Ground speed
Picture
Actions
  1. Change waypoints or restart a mission
  2. Change modes
  3. Change altitude
Picture
Status
  1.  Telemetry signal
  2.  GPS time
  3.  Currently enabled mode
4.  Distance to current waypoint > current waypoint number
5.  GPS status
6.  Battery status
Picture
Flight Map
  1.  Current heading
  2.  Direct path to current waypoint
  3. GPS-reported direction of travel
4 . Actual flight path
5.  Latitude & longitude
6.  Altitude

Using a Tablet

View in-flight data from your Android tablet! This exciting functionality is available using the Andropilot and DroidPlanner apps, developed by the open-source community for the APM autopilot platform. The provided Android tablet adapter cable and telemetry radio ground module allow 
you to connect IRIS+ to Andropilot or DroidPlanner and access many of the same features found in Mission Planner as well as some features unique to tablets. Visit the Google Play store to download the apps and view a list of compatible devices.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
  1. Connect the colored end of the Android adapter to your tablet.
  2. Connect the black end of the adapter to the telemetry radio ground module.
Back to Contents