Problem with Aero Scout SAFE/AS3X mode

[SanExup]

Is this an RTF or I should just ask, what transmitter do you have?

[AHS]

Okay. I was under the impression that the plane would only be able to flip, or roll, when the SAFE and the AS3X were completely turned off. I have bound the plane both ways...several times. Only once did the plane act as if the SAFE and the AS6X were off, and was able to roll etc.. It has never done so since, not even on the next flight after a battery change. I'm thinking that the module has an issue, so I'm going to try a known to be good module from another plane and see if the problem continues. I've never encountered this problem on any of the other E-Flight planes in the hanger. At this point I'll be happy if I can just get it to fly straight up and then straight back down nose first into the ground. Done. Next plane.

Thanks again.

[xviper]

OK, you seem to be confused about this "SAFE/AS3X switch being OFF". It all depends on how you bind the RX. If you bind it with SAFE select, then you have 2 modes on the switch --- one position is with SAFE and the other position is with AS3X. Both of these causes movement in the control surfaces when the plane is moved. One is a 3-axis gyro (AS3X) and the other is a 6-axis gyro (SAFE).
Now, if you bind it in a way as to NOT have SAFE select where you bind it with the bind plug the whole time, then you have 2 different modes on the switch. One position is AS3X and the other position is with NO gyro at all. With AS3X active, gyro makes the control surfaces counter any movement of the plane. When there is NO gyro, when you move the plane, there is no counter movement because there is NO gyro working.
Bound one way, you either have SAFE or AS3X. You CANNOT turn them off. Bound the other way, you can turn off AS3X or have it on. In that mode, you have NO SAFE. Until you understand this, you aren't looking for the correct things.

[AHS]

Okay. I guess that I'll need to have a closer look at what the control surfaces are doing. Whether they remain in a fixed position, or if they return. I'm still confused about all planes with SAFE/AS3X countering the movement of the plane. As an example, I have a Valiant with AS3X, not sure about it having SAFE, but, if the SAFE/AS3X switch is turned off, there's no movement of the control surfaces when the plane is tilted. I'm missing something, but I'll figure it out hopefully.

Thanks again.

PS, A hobby shop would be nice, but the nearest one is about 2500 miles away. Take care.

[xviper]

When in SAFE, the plane will NOT go inverted. Roll and pitch are limited to whatever degrees is set in the RX. Please re-read what I said about SAFE and AS3X. In either mode, the control surfaces WILL respond to counter moving the plane. The difference ................................. In SAFE, when you move the plane, the control surfaces will respond and stay there if kept tilted. In AS3X, the control surfaces will respond but only momentarily and go back to neutral. Momentary response will continue as long as move the plane. You must differentiate what you mean by "always" counters. Does it counter and stay there or does it counter and go back to neutral when you stop moving the plane after tilting it? One is SAFE. The other is AS3X. SAFE will work as soon as you power the plane. AS3X will only activate after you blip the throttle to at least 1/3.
PS. AS3X reacts slightly differently from one plane to another. It all depends on what gains and priorities were used in the programming. Some planes have very obvious AS3X response, while others may have very subtle response.
If you are having problems with the plane in this regard, you need to take it to your nearby flying club and ask for help from someone who knows about this system. Or take it to a hobby shop that sells this type of plane.

[AHS]

Thank you very much for the advice.
I have preformed the tasks that you have suggested...several times. I'm not up on the lingo, but by "guarded" I mean the plane will not allow itself to be rolled or flipped while in flight. The control surfaces do counter any movement when tilting the plane, and there's the problem. I can not make it not counter the movements. The "gear" switch has be assigned as the on/off switch for the SAFE. When that switch is turned off, the control surfaces move a slight bit more, but still counter any tilting of the plane.. As I said earlier, the control surfaces move more with SAFE off, but still not enough that I can bring the plane down while under power, or preform rolls and such.. Unless I'm mistaken, which I most likely am...the control surfaces should not respond when the plane is tilted if the plane is not in SAFE mode. Am I mistaken about this? I ask because other E-Flite planes that I own do not respond when tilted if the SAFE is turned off. Tilting a plane is the only way that I know of testing if the SAFE is on and working or not. This plane always counters any movement, no matter what I try.

Thanks again.

[xviper]

First, let's clarify this "SAFE" and "AS3X" thing. These are two different things. SAFE is when the limiter is active and the plane will NOT bank or pitch beyond a certain angle. When you have the plane powered up on the bench, you can tell if SAFE is ON if you pick up the plane and tilt it. The control surfaces will go in the opposite direction to try and counter that movement. While tilted the control surfaces will stay there. Next, to check for AS3X, the throttle must be applied to at least 1/3 and back to off. Now tilt the plane quickly and you should see the control surfaces react in the opposite direction but go back to neutral even if you keep it tilted. When bound with SAFE select and an appropriate switch chosen, you either have SAFE or AS3X. I don't know what you mean by "guarded state". Also, when you say "self checking", are you referring the the control surfaces doing their "twitch cycle"? If you have SAFE select chosen, it should twitch two cycles.
As for setting up the plane, you first need to make sure that you manually neutralize ALL control surfaces with the plane powered up and level, with ONLY AS3X (and NOT in SAFE). Your very first flight should be your trimming flight. Take it up high and do the trimming with the tabs on the TX. Remember that after you click the tabs, you must fly it hands off for 3 seconds. You may to do this several times for each control surface before the plane will fly straight and level without input. Then and only then will SAFE work as it should.
In order that you can go from AS3X to SAFE and back, you must assign a switch. This can only be done after you've bound it for SAFE select. This much be done with all rates at 100%, no expo, with the TX at least 10 feet from the plane. Once it's bound with SAFE select, then you can choose a switch. Read your manual to confirm what I'm about to say. Hold the TX sticks DOWN and to the INSIDE while you flip the switch you choose for SAFE/AS3X five times. Best to do all of this with the prop removed.

[AHS]

Hello all,
New guy here with a problem concerning the Aero Scout.

The problem is the Scout will not come completely out of SAFE/AS3X, which ever the case. The plane has only been flown a few times because of this. The reason? It can be landed. It just wants to climb. The only way to get it back is to power it down. When I try turning off the SAFE mode, there's a slight improvement in the control surface movement, but for sure not enough for a roll a flip, or to bring it down.. Now I'm pretty sure that there's something not set correctly because there was one flight where everything was working properly. Since then the plane seems "stuck" in SAFE mode. I have tried re-binding...once removing the bind plug before binding the controller, and once with the bind plug installed. Nothing changed. I've checked the function of all switches. Here is what I feel is strange. When I use a servo tester to check the travel of the servos, the servos only travel half of the allowed travel. When the plane is powered up, and is self checking, the servos travel 100%.
I'm new to all of this, and to say that I'm really confused is an understatement. As I said, there's some change when SAFE/AS3X is turned off, but the system still remains in a guarded state.

Thanks in advance for any ideas, or information.