Pelicano R3 - English
Version 1.0 - 12/2025
INTRODUCTION
This manual aims to instruct the user on the operation of the Pelicano R3 RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System), manufactured by SkyDrones and carrying the Radaz payload. This manual covers appropriate usage procedures for the equipment, is an integral part of the solution, and should be kept for future reference.
The Pelicano R3 was developed as part of the SkyDrones Solutions line, with a focus on carrying specialized radars and executing non-traditional flight plans.
DESCRIPTION
The Pelicano R3 is a four-motor remotely piloted aerial system. Its onboard electronics, sensors, and control system stabilize the equipment, allowing for rapid learning, even for inexperienced pilots.
Advantages
The Pelicano R3 offers a set of technological advantages that optimize its performance, such as:
Automatic flight altitude stabilization and locking.
Automatic return-to-base command;
Robust equipment with high load capacity.
Compact, foldable. Carbon fiber structure and electric propulsion.
Highly customizable - can be easily adapted for different operations.
Pelicano R3 Technical Data
The Pelicano R3 is equipped with:
4 electric motors;
Composite chassis (Carbon fiber and aluminum);
MEMS gyroscopes – 3 axes;
Accelerometers – 3 axes;
Magnetic sensor – 3 axes;
1 differential GNSS receiver (4 constellations);
Radio control with built-in screen and operating system running the Radaz control application.
Technical specifications:
Equipment weight (without battery and payload): 11 kg;
Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW): 25 kg.
Operational characteristics:
Flight time: up to 35 minutes (variable according to payload, battery used, and atmospheric conditions);
Flight altitude: Up to 120 meters.
MAIN COMPONENTS
Arms
The four carbon fiber arms provide durability and lightness to the drone.
The four arms can be folded via a hinge on the equipment's central chassis, making it compact for transport.
The arms must be open and locked for takeoff and cleaning. If the operator takes off without locking an arm, the drone will quickly lose lift and crash.
To lock the arms, fully open the arm and turn the lock clockwise over the drone's elbow until it stops. Check the procedure in the image below:
Central Chassis
The central chassis of the Pelicano R3 was developed from a highly resistant material to provide adequate space for the installation of electronic components and sensors, in addition to providing high strength and safety to the assembly (low weight and high rigidity).
GNSS Receiver ("GPS")
The GNSS receiver module is located inside the RPAS and is connected to the pair of antennas located on the outside of the drone, one on the left and one on the right of the drone.
The GPS has an LED that communicates its status to the user and helps diagnose problems in the field. These warnings are replicated to the Drone STATUS LED, located on the rear of the equipment's fairing. Below is a table for quick reference and identification by the operator:
Flashing red and blue
Initializing sensors. Keep the drone still and stable while the GPS initializes the sensors.
Solid blue
GPS not found.
Flashing green
Disarmed (ready to arm), GPS locked. Quick double beep when disarmed.
Rapidly flashing green
Same as above, but GPS is using SBAS (thus has a better estimated position).
Solid green
With a single long beep: armed and GPS locked. Ready for flight!
Two yellow flashes
Failing pre-arm checks (system refuses to arm).
Single yellow flash
Radio failsafe activated.
Flashing yellow - with a rapid beep
Battery failsafe activated.
Flashing yellow and blue - with a high-high-high-low beep sequence (dah-dah-dah-doh)
GPS error or GPS failsafe activated.
Flashing red and yellow
EKF failure or "*Inertial Nav*"
Flashing purple and yellow
Barometer error.
Solid red
Error, usually caused by the SD card (re-insert or insert the SD card to resolve), MTD, or IMU. You can check the SD card and look at the *BOOT.txt* file to analyze boot messages.
Solid red with SOS beep sequence
Missing SD card or SD card format error.
No light when powered on
No firmware, firmware loss, missing SD card, or SD card format error (ac3.4 version or higher).
Motors and propellers
The four high-performance brushless electric motors with carbon fiber propellers ensure sufficient thrust for stable, safe, and long-duration flight. Each motor has a mount where a pair of propellers is fixed. The mount is attached to the motor using Allen-type screws.
The drone operates with 2 motors rotating clockwise (CW) and two rotating counter-clockwise (CCW). There are different propellers for each motor direction. The drone comes with 2 CW (clockwise) propellers and 2 CCW (counter-clockwise) propellers.
Propeller size: 34 inches (34x110). Model 3411.
Batteries
The Pelicano R3 uses one to two 12S high-discharge batteries or two to four 6S batteries.
They must always be used with specific chargers for LiPo type batteries. For information on the charger that accompanies the equipment, please refer to the battery manual.
Radio control
Main stick commands for the RPAS Radio Control:
Left Stick:
Moving the left stick up and down changes the RPAS elevation. Moving it up ascends, and moving it down descends. When the stick is in the neutral position, the equipment will maintain its altitude.
Moving the left stick left and right changes the RPAS rotation. Moving it left rotates the equipment counterclockwise; moving it right rotates the equipment clockwise.
Right Stick:
Moving the right stick up and down moves the RPAS forward and backward. Moving it up moves the equipment forward, while moving it down moves the equipment backward.
Moving the right stick left and right moves the RPAS left and right. Moving the stick left moves the equipment left, and moving the stick right moves the equipment right.
Top Switches:
The upper left switch ("Flight Mode Switch") has 3 positions:
Backward: RTL Flight Mode.
Middle: LOITER Flight Mode (manual).
Forward: AUTOMATIC Flight Mode.
The upper right switch has 3 positions, but no function is configured.
Dial:
The upper left and right dials have no function set.
Front Buttons:
Buttons A, B, C, and D and the slider button in the center of the control do not have a specific function configured, except for simultaneously activating buttons A and B for emergency:
Emergency: By pressing buttons A and B simultaneously for 1.5 seconds on the remote control, the motors are instantly de-energized. This procedure should only be used when the drone's motors are already running and it is no higher than 0.5 meters from the ground, or in extreme emergency, as the propellers stop and the drone loses lift, causing immediate equipment crash.
To re-arm the drone after activating emergency mode, simply repeat the button activation.
OPERATION
Operational Limits
The operational limits of the Pelicano R3 include both climatic conditions and the RPAS's usage method. The drone should only be used within these conditions.
Climatic
The RPAS should not be used if wind speed exceeds 12 m/s (43 km/h).
The higher the wind speed, the shorter the battery duration.
The drone should only be operated in environments with temperatures between 0°C and 40°C.
Operational
The maximum takeoff weight is 25 kg
The maximum operating distance is approximately 1 km from the radio control, varying according to terrain configurations and obstacles between the drone and the operator.
All flights must be conducted within visual line of sight (VLOS). Under no circumstances should the Pelicano R3 fly behind physical obstacles (houses, trees, hills, etc.), at the risk of losing the control and command link. In case of loss of this link, the drone will ascend to a predetermined altitude and return to its original takeoff location.
PRE-FLIGHT
Powering on the radio control
To power on the radio control, press the ON/OFF button once, then press and hold a second time until the radio starts. You will notice the screen will light up and load the operating system. You will see a background and an icon to open the Radaz application.
To power off the radio control, press and hold the button for approximately 4 seconds and tap "Power off" on the screen.
Powering on the Drone
To power on the drone, connect the battery as per the instructions below, and keep the equipment still for 10 to 20 seconds for automatic sensor calibration.
To power off the RPAS, reverse the process by disconnecting the connector to remove the battery from the holder.
Compass Calibration
The equipment's compass is located inside the drone. This is an extremely important component for proper positioning and flight stabilization, and extra care must be taken as a compass calibration failure or problem could lead to a serious incident.
When to calibrate the compass:
When the RPAS/app sends a compass error alert.
When the RPAS, flying in LOITER mode, does not stabilize (stay in place) and starts flying in circles without the pilot giving commands on the remote control Sticks.
When the drone will perform a flight more than 400 km away from the location where the last calibration was performed.
How to calibrate the compass:
Ensure the equipment is in an open field and verify in the app that the GNSS receiver has a signal from at least 6 satellites. This signal is important for the drone's flight controller to load the correct electromagnetic values for its current location.
Access the configuration menu in the SkyDrones application on the radio control and select configure magnetometer (compass). Press Start Calibration.
Rotate the drone as shown in the image below until you receive confirmation of successful calibration. Ensure that the person(s) handling the RPAS are not carrying items that could interfere with magnetic calibration, such as common metal objects like smartphones, coins, belt buckles, watches, etc.
After calibration is complete, it is necessary to power off and then power on the RPAS battery again so that it restarts with the new compass calibration value.
Arming the system
The Pelicano R3 system should only be armed during the takeoff process. To arm the equipment, the left stick of the Remote Control (elevation/rotation) must be positioned in the lower right corner.
When arming the system, the motors will start to spin, so ensure the arms are open and locked, and there is nothing around the drone.
Disarming the system
To disarm the equipment after landing, lower the left stick (elevation/rotation) until the motor rotation decreases, then position it in the lower left corner and wait until you hear a beep. Once you hear the beep, return the stick to its initial position.
FLIGHT OPERATION
Takeoff
Position the drone in the field and lock the arms (as stated in the manual).
On the radio control, select LOITER operating mode.
Perform a final check of the launch area.
Arm the system via the radio control.
Ensure there are no obstacles in the takeoff direction and that the space is sufficient and safe. A minimum distance of 30 meters is recommended.
Flight
Maintain visual contact with the aircraft during flight (VLOS).
In case of any abnormality that could compromise the drone, people, or other property, the pilot in command must abort the mission by activating the RTL (return to takeoff point) switch. The change in operating mode must be performed via the flight mode switch on the radio control.
For the drone to stop the automatic mission at any time, the operator can activate LOITER mode on the flight mode switch.
During automatic flight, the operator can adjust the drone's flight altitude without needing to change the flight mode, simply by slightly moving the left stick of the radio control up or down.
Landing and aircraft retrieval
Upon activating RTL flight mode or completing the automatic mission, the drone will return to the takeoff point and land automatically.
To perform a manual landing, slowly lower the left stick, and when the drone's landing gear is on the ground, fully lower the left stick to disarm the motors. The drone's motors will decelerate until they stop, as stated in the Disarming the system chapter.
After the aircraft returns to the ground, follow the procedures below:
Disconnect the battery.
Power off the radio control.
SAFETY
Regarding the system
Familiarize yourself with the correct procedure for flight preparation and software operation.
Perform the checks and training recommendations before each flight.
Caution: The drone's propellers are made of carbon fiber and can be dangerous. Keep clear of the aircraft during landings and takeoffs. Risk of mutilation or death.
Ensure your radio control and onboard battery are fully charged.
Check that the radio control antennas are not damaged and are in the correct position, pointing upwards.
Before use, observe the RPAS from all angles and ensure there are no misplaced or damaged parts, or any other abnormalities.
Check that there is no dirt in the motor. Attempting to operate under these conditions can damage it and lead to in-flight failures resulting in an out-of-control RPAS, severe damage, or harm to the company or other people.
Never turn off the radio control during flight.
Remember: always turn on the radio control before connecting the aircraft battery, and always disconnect the aircraft battery before turning off your radio control.
Regarding the flight area
Perform your first test flight in an open field, with little to no wind, and choose a location with short grass or from a tarpaulin fixed to the ground, to prevent dust and debris from entering the motors. Do not take off directly from dusty and dry locations.
Ensure all spectators remain clear of the operating area, at least 30 m from the aircraft. No one should be visible in the takeoff direction. Pay special attention to children and animals.
Conduct an area survey. Check for any unnoticed obstacles, such as power lines, overhead wires, and tree branches.
Never use the drone near a controlled aerodrome or in controlled airspace.
Always check weather conditions, wind speed, and direction with the aid of an anemometer. The drone should not be used in strong winds, turbulent conditions, extreme gusts, or approaching storms. Observe the RPAS operational limits.
Keep the aircraft in sight throughout the entire flight duration (VLOS). If someone approaches the safety perimeter to talk or ask questions, avoid engaging in conversation and ask to speak after the RPAS has been retrieved.
Check your flight perimeter.
Your takeoff area should be open and flat, with short grass.
Regarding the flight
Perform flights away from people or objects. Always check for children or animals nearby.
Always have a mental flight plan and visualize the flight path, repeatedly checking for obstacles.
Never conduct missions outside of direct line of sight and always keep your eyes fixed on the RPAS while it is airborne.
Never use the RPAS near people - a minimum distance of 30 m is recommended between any people and the takeoff area.
Never allow untrained individuals to pilot the RPAS.
Never pilot the drone under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.
MAINTENANCE
All maintenance, assembly, and disassembly procedures must be performed by SkyDrones or by a qualified and designated technician.
Maintenance or modifications performed by customers or third parties not authorized by a SkyDrones spokesperson will result in the loss of the RPAS warranty.
The customer is responsible for maintaining the equipment in good working order and must perform periodic inspections on the RPAS, at least every 100 flights, to:
Check the condition and integrity of all propellers and their screws;
Check the motors for dirt ingress and/or rotation noise.
Check the document below for recommended safety checks for the equipment:
Motor Bearings
In case of vibration, noise, play, or abnormal temperature increase, the motor bearings must be replaced. Contact a SkyDrones technical assistance.
Cleaning and conservation
Due to the nature of its operation, it is natural for the equipment to be dirty after takeoff and landing on grass and open terrain, therefore it is extremely important to perform proper cleaning of the aircraft, according to the following instructions:
The chassis, arms, motors, and landing gear can be washed with running water.
Cleaning must be performed with the arms extended (they must not be folded), to prevent water from entering the hinge holes.
Be very careful not to wet the camera/gimbal, as this item is not waterproof.
Do not use any pressure washer equipment for cleaning.
Clean the equipment before storing it
Handling
For equipment transport, the RPAS must have its arms folded from the hinges near the chassis.
For proper transport and storage, the propellers must be folded.
It is also recommended that the geophysical equipment used be removed for transport and storage.
Storage
The aircraft must be stored in a dry place with temperatures between 5ºC and 45ºC.
PILOT TRAINING
SkyDrones provides pilot training at its facility or through a qualified and approved company at the client's site. This training consists of theoretical and practical parts according to the client's needs.
FLIGHT SPECIFICATIONS
Flight time and distance
Pelicano R3 flight time will vary according to the battery used.
Flight speed
The average flight speed of the aircraft, relative to the ground, is approximately 6 m/s or 21 km/h. The speed may vary according to flight planning.
ATTACHMENTS
Annex I – Equipment Dimensions
Dimensions
140 cm x 140 cm x 60 cm (Arms open, without propellers) 66 cm x 66 cm x 60 cm (Arms folded)
Motor Diameter
80 mm
Motor Wheelbase
1393 mm
Weight (without battery)
11 kg
Atualizado
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