Assembling PRISM

This section discusses preparing the PRISM aircraft for flight, assembling the battery payload, and configuring and attaching payloads to the 12mm rail system.

Assembly for Flight

Remove the main aircraft body from its transport container and place it on a flat, level surface.
Slot the T-shaped landing gear into their receptacles on the underside of the central airframe and turn the cam locks for each strut until they are in the locked position.
Depress the release pin on each of the collapsible GPS masts and tug gently on the GPS disk to extend the masts until they lock in their extended positions.
Remove the four red plastic arm protectors at the four corners of the aircraft body where the booms attach. This will expose the data and power pins that make up the Propulsion ID system, so do not leave these pins exposed for a long time, particularly in dusty or wet environments. Store the red plastic protectors where they will not become dirty or lost.
Release the arm-locking pins by lifting the knob to the left of each corner of the airframe. Swing each arm outward into the extended flight position, one at a time, until the Propulsion ID power pins are fully engaged with the contact points at the bases of the arms, and the arm is flush against the central airframe. Ensure each arm is correctly locked into flight position and the bolts are firmly set by pressing down on each locking knob.
Ensure the data uplink/downlink antennas on the left and right sides of the aircraft are
positioned outward and up at about a 45-degree angle.
Remove the protective cloth covers from each of the motors and set the covers aside
where they will not be blown away by the propwash during operations. Unfold the
propellers on the motors.
On the battery tray receptacle, pull the locking pin away from the battery tray and rotate a quarter turn to allow the pin to remain in the extended position. Slide the battery tray into the battery tray receptacle, ensuring that the battery leads are facing the power distribution plugs emerging from the side of the main aircraft body, and that the locking holes in the battery tray are lined up with the locking knobs on the airframe. Release the locking knobs by rotating each one clockwise a quarter turn so that the springs push the bolts through the holes in the battery tray. This will ensure the battery tray is properly secured. Test the battery tray by pulling forcefully on the battery to ensure it is properly secured. WARNING: Some batteries may be supplied with a long power lead wire. Users must ensure that this slack is taken up by the supplied velcro straps to ensure that the battery wires do not become caught in the rear propellers during flight!
Continue assembly of PRISM by attaching the payload, first performing the physical installation, then connecting the data and power connectors.

Removable Battery Pack Assembly

Every PRISM aircraft is shipped with one removable payload receptacle and one PRISM Removable Battery Tray Assembly Kit.

The Battery Tray Assembly Kit contains the following:

2x PRISM Battery Trays
4x Adhesive Velcro Pairs (Fluffy and Angry)
4x 18” Straps (for securing small to medium size batteries to the battery tray)
4x 24” Straps (for securing large to the battery tray)
2x Velcro Loop Straps (for securing loose battery wires)

TO ASSEMBLE A BATTERY ONTO A REMOVABLE BATTERY TRAY, PERFORM THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

Attach the adhesive Velcro pieces to both the battery and battery tray.
Place the battery onto the battery tray, aligning the battery lead with the pointed end of the tray. For
smaller batteries, they may be placed in the center of the tray. For larger batteries, there may be limited space between both batteries which may require the user to offset one battery to the left and the other to the right.
Insert the long Velcro straps into the removable battery tray and pull tight. For larger batteries, there may be limited space between both batteries which may require the user to have the metal loops on the outsides of the packs (the left battery would have the loop on the left, and the right battery would have the loop on the right).
Test fit the battery tray onto the removable payload receptacle to ensure a good fit.
For batteries with a long battery lead, use the small Velcro strap to take up the slack in the lead. This will ensure that the battery leads cannot make contact with the rear propellers while in flight.

PreviousThe Basics NextAttaching Motor Arms

Last updated 4 years ago

Was this helpful?

Assembly for Flight

Remove the main aircraft body from its transport container and place it on a flat, level surface.

Slot the T-shaped landing gear into their receptacles on the underside of the central airframe and turn the cam locks for each strut until they are in the locked position.

Depress the release pin on each of the collapsible GPS masts and tug gently on the GPS disk to extend the masts until they lock in their extended positions.

Remove the four red plastic arm protectors at the four corners of the aircraft body where the booms attach. This will expose the data and power pins that make up the Propulsion ID system, so do not leave these pins exposed for a long time, particularly in dusty or wet environments. Store the red plastic protectors where they will not become dirty or lost.

Release the arm-locking pins by lifting the knob to the left of each corner of the airframe. Swing each arm outward into the extended flight position, one at a time, until the Propulsion ID power pins are fully engaged with the contact points at the bases of the arms, and the arm is flush against the central airframe. Ensure each arm is correctly locked into flight position and the bolts are firmly set by pressing down on each locking knob.

Ensure the data uplink/downlink antennas on the left and right sides of the aircraft are

positioned outward and up at about a 45-degree angle.

Remove the protective cloth covers from each of the motors and set the covers aside

where they will not be blown away by the propwash during operations. Unfold the

propellers on the motors.

On the battery tray receptacle, pull the locking pin away from the battery tray and rotate a quarter turn to allow the pin to remain in the extended position. Slide the battery tray into the battery tray receptacle, ensuring that the battery leads are facing the power distribution plugs emerging from the side of the main aircraft body, and that the locking holes in the battery tray are lined up with the locking knobs on the airframe. Release the locking knobs by rotating each one clockwise a quarter turn so that the springs push the bolts through the holes in the battery tray. This will ensure the battery tray is properly secured. Test the battery tray by pulling forcefully on the battery to ensure it is properly secured. WARNING: Some batteries may be supplied with a long power lead wire. Users must ensure that this slack is taken up by the supplied velcro straps to ensure that the battery wires do not become caught in the rear propellers during flight!

Continue assembly of PRISM by attaching the payload, first performing the physical installation, then connecting the data and power connectors.

Removable Battery Pack Assembly

Every PRISM aircraft is shipped with one removable payload receptacle and one PRISM Removable Battery Tray Assembly Kit.

The Battery Tray Assembly Kit contains the following:

2x PRISM Battery Trays

4x Adhesive Velcro Pairs (Fluffy and Angry)

4x 18” Straps (for securing small to medium size batteries to the battery tray)

4x 24” Straps (for securing large to the battery tray)

2x Velcro Loop Straps (for securing loose battery wires)

TO ASSEMBLE A BATTERY ONTO A REMOVABLE BATTERY TRAY, PERFORM THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

Attach the adhesive Velcro pieces to both the battery and battery tray.

Place the battery onto the battery tray, aligning the battery lead with the pointed end of the tray. For

smaller batteries, they may be placed in the center of the tray. For larger batteries, there may be limited space between both batteries which may require the user to offset one battery to the left and the other to the right.

Insert the long Velcro straps into the removable battery tray and pull tight. For larger batteries, there may be limited space between both batteries which may require the user to have the metal loops on the outsides of the packs (the left battery would have the loop on the left, and the right battery would have the loop on the right).

Test fit the battery tray onto the removable payload receptacle to ensure a good fit.

For batteries with a long battery lead, use the small Velcro strap to take up the slack in the lead. This will ensure that the battery leads cannot make contact with the rear propellers while in flight.