FT Aura 5 + R88 Receiver + FT Radiomaster Pocket: Set Up Procedure

[PeterG]

Hi all,

It took me awhile to piece this information together, as I didn't find a walkthrough for this equipment set up in one place.

A few notes about this procedure:
--This is copied from a google doc, so the format isn't perfect.
--The equipment list included the Aura 5 3D printed base: I prefer gluing this into an airframe instead of the Aura5 directly, so the Aura5 can be easily moved when a particular airframe is "decommissioned."
--I have the FT Radiomaster Pocket CC2500 and like to make a copy of the Aura 5 model. This means I still have the original template in case I mess something up and need a "factory reset."
--This procedure should still work with a standard Edge TX (non Flite Test Aura 5) airplane template, dealing with channel reversing after the Gyro direction checks.
--This should be mostly correct, but if you notice things that need correcting or tweaking, please let me know!

Set Up: Tiny Tutor, Aura 5 & FliteTest RadioMaster R88 - 4 Channel, 5 Servo​

Your Equipment:

• Aircraft: 4 Channel control, with 2 aileron servos
• Transmitter: Flite Test Special Edition Pocket CC2500 Multiprotocol Radio
• Receiver: RadioMaster R88 & included SBUS cable
• Stabilizer: FT Aura 5 Lite (Factory Settings) & 3d Printed Base with screws

---

Stage 1: Radio Setup and Initial Binding​

1. Create New Model:
   • Turn on your RadioMaster Pocket.
   • Press the [MDL] button to bring up the model menu.
   • Scroll to hover over the "FT Aura profile."
   • Press the scroll wheel to select, scroll over "Copy," then press to copy the model.
   • Scroll down to an empty slot and press the scroll wheel to place the new model in that slot.
   • Hover over the new model, click the scroll wheel, and then click again to "Select model."
   • Press the [PAGE>] button to get to page 2 of the model menu, which is the "= SETUP" screen.
   • At the top of the setup screen, use the scroll wheel to click the model name and re-name it something you will recognize (e.g., "Aura T Tutor").
2. Configure the Radio Protocol:
   • On the SETUP screen, in the "Internal RF" section, confirm the protocol is set:
     • Mode: MULTI
     • Type: FrSky X
     • Subtype: D16
   • Scroll down to the Bind [BND] option and press the scroll wheel. The radio will be ready on the final confirmation screen (Ch 1-8 Telem ON). Wait to press.
3. Activate Bind Mode on the Receiver:
   • You will need to power up the receiver while holding down the bind button.
   • First, plug your battery into your ESC.
   • Press and HOLD DOWN the Bind button on the R88 receiver.
   • While holding the button, plug the BEC lead from your ESC directly into the R88 receiver. It could be any open port, but Channel 3 is throttle, so that’s where I always plug in the BEC.
   • The receiver's LED will begin a repeating flash pattern: 1 flash for a few seconds, then two, then three, then start over at one. Wait for the pattern to become TWO FLASHES... pause... TWO FLASHES. This confirms it is in FrSky D16 binding mode.
4. Finalize the Bind:
   • With the receiver double-flashing, press the scroll wheel on the radio to activate the bind signal.
   • You may need to move your radio away from the receiver. The receiver's LED will flash rapidly and then turn SOLID GREEN, confirming a successful bind.
   • Press the [RTN] button on your radio to exit the bind menu.
5. Power Cycle airplane and radio:
   • Disconnect the battery from the ESC, and unplug the ESC from the receiver. Then, turn off your radio.

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Stage 2: Hardware Installation & Wiring​

1. Mount the Aura 5 Board: Securely mount the Aura 5 board flat inside the fuselage, with the servo pins pointing towards the tail.
   
2. Connect Receiver to Aura 5: Plug the SBUS cable from your R88 receiver into Port B on the Aura 5 (Signal
   
   wire forward, negative wire towards back).
3. Mount the receiver in your fuselage.
4. Connect Servos and Throttle: Plug your components into the Aura 5's servo ports. (Signal
   
   wire forward, negative wire towards back).
   • S1: Throttle (from ESC)
   • S2: Left Aileron Servo
   • S3: Right Aileron servo
   • S4: Elevator servo
   • S5: Rudder servo

---

Stage 3: Aura 5 Gyro Configuration​

Check and correct the gyro's automatic reactions. Ignore your stick inputs for this stage.

1. Power On System: Turn on your transmitter first, then connect the battery to the airplane.
2. Wait for Power Up: Once the Aura Board is powered on and has a valid signal from the receiver, you will see a solid orange and green light on the board.
3. Enter Quick Change Mode: Press and hold both BIND and TRIM buttons on the Aura until the LED blinks green.
4. Check Gyro Correction Direction:
   • Pitch Check: Point the plane's nose down. The elevator must automatically move UP.
   • Roll Check: Dip the right wing down. The right aileron should go down, the left aileron up. Dip the left wing down. The left aileron should go down, the right aileron up.
   • Yaw Check: rotate the nose left, you should see right rudder to correct it. Rotate the nose right; you should see left rudder to correct it.
5. Correct Gyro Direction in the Aura: If a gyro correction is backward, hold the corresponding control on your transmitter in any direction for 6-7 seconds. The servo will twitch. This action will reverse the gyro's response (and also your stick input). Do this for each axis until the automatic gyro corrections are perfect.
6. Activate 6 Axis Mode: Press and hold the BIND button
   • The LED will turn blue
   • Release the button. The control surfaces will cycle back and forth to confirm the mode switch.
     1. Two times means you are now in 6 axis mode.
     2. One time means you are now in 3 axis mode.
7. Exit Quick Change Mode: Press and hold both BIND and TRIM buttons again to reboot the Aura and save the gyro settings. It will blink rapid blue, then display solid orange and green when complete.
8. Power Cycle airplane:
   • Disconnect and reconnect the battery from the ESC to make sure settings save

---

Stage 4: Control Surface Direction Check​

Now that the gyros are correct, make sure your stick inputs match.

1. Check Control Directions: With the plane powered on normally (not in Quick Change Mode), move the sticks on your transmitter and observe the surfaces.
   • Move the right stick right. Does the right aileron should go up, and the left one down?
   • Pull the right stick back (down). Does the elevator move up?
   • Move the left stick right. Does the rudder move right?
2. Correct Reversals in the Radio: For any surface that moves the wrong way, use your detailed procedure:
   • Press the [MDL] (model) button one time to enter the model menu.
   • Use the [PAGE>] (page over) button to scroll through the screens until you see the "OUTPUTS" screen (Page 6).
   • Use the scroll wheel to highlight the channel you need to reverse. Remember the mapping:
     • Ch1: Right Stick Left/Right (Ailerons)
     • Ch2: Right Stick Up/Down (Elevator)
     • Ch4: Left Stick Left/Right (Rudder)
   • Press the scroll wheel once to select the channel, select "Edit," and press the scroll wheel again.
   • Scroll down to the line that says "Direction".
   • Press the scroll wheel one time to change the setting. It will switch to "INV" (Invert).
   • Check your stick commands to confirm the correct direction.
   • Press the [RTN] (return) button as needed to back out of the menus.
3. Final Confirmation: After reversing in the radio, check your stick commands one last time. They should now be correct, and your gyro corrections will have remained correct.

---

Stage 5: Control Surface Bench Trim​

1. Align Control Surfaces:
   1. Use linkage stoppers if available to align control surfaces (center on traditional airplane, may need reflex on a flying wing).
   2. For fixed-length control rods, use the trim tabs on your transmitter to align control surfaces.
2. Enter Trim Mode: Press and hold the TRIM button on the Aura for ~5 seconds until the LED flashes blue slowly.
3. Save the Trims: Press and hold the TRIM button again for ~5 seconds. The servos will twitch as the Aura learns the trims.
4. Zero Out Transmitter Trims: On your transmitter, reset the trim tabs back to zero. The control surfaces will remain in their trimmed position.
5. Exit and Reboot: Press and hold the TRIM button a final time for ~5 seconds. The LED will flash blue rapidly as the Aura reboots, then display solid orange and green.
6. Power Cycle & final check airplane
   1. Disconnect & reconnect the battery from the ESC.
   2. Move the radio sticks to confirm movement, and double check control surfaces are centered.

 

[Merv]

Thanks for sharing

 

[Bricks]

This should be put up some where where others can find it, like a sticky, nice job by the way.

 

[AIRFORGE]

This should be put up some where where others can find it, like a sticky, nice job by the way.

Compliance!

 

[PeterG]

This should be put up some where where others can find it, like a sticky, nice job by the way.

Thanks!