18 Correcting Problems - Motor Controls

False Launch

Our main safety feature is to prevent the motors from running while the airplane is not in the air.

For that, a G sensor reports when the airplane is launched, and when the airplane hit the ground.

However, the G sensor can interpret an intended slight of the hand as a launch, which leads to running motors while the airplane is still in your hand. Moreover, the autopilot is operating now, and can cause the motors to work, even if you command the throttle to zero. For example, the moment the airplane sensed a launch, the autopilot tries to maintain the heading it is at, and every change in direction will cause the motors to run.

If this happens, the best practice is to shake the airplane forward, to cause another G sense, to imitate the land.

Undetected Landing

The same issue can happen after a soft landing, that did not trigger the G sensor. In that case, your motors will keep on running on the ground.

To stop them, set your throttle to zero, and slide the roll stick for a very short period of time. As the roll stick returns to zero, the airplane goes to Heading control, and both motors will stay shut.

When you pick your airplane, be aware that the motors can start to run again. Shake the airplane once to trigger the landing protocol, and set your airplane to preflight state.

Failed Take Off 

Secure state - If you launch the airplane without the blinking LEDs, the airplane is still in a secure state, and the motors won't run!

This can happen right after a soft landing, when you try to relaunch the airplane, without going through the Abort/Launch process.

Of course this can also happen if you didn't press the Launch button.

Go to the next page - Correcting Problems - Vertigo

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