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Safety Measures

Introduction

This section outlines potential safety risks present during the use, operation, or storage of the Vertex One and its modules and accessories as well as best practices to avoid potentially unsafe situations. The information stated in this section are general safety measures, however, country, state or local legislation, regulations, and standards might apply. These might take precedence over the measures in this manual. In case of doubt, follow a general principle, that the stricter safety rule applies.

Intended Use Case

To avoid any safety risk, do not use the Vertex One and its modules and accessories in any other way than described in this manual.

Vertex One Drone

Vertex One is a quadcopter unmanned aerial vehicle intended for piloted flights by a human pilot. The pilot must have the skill, experience and (legal) qualification that allows them to safely control a drone of this size and weight in any situation. Country, state or local legislation, regulations and standards might impose pilot certification and/or license to operate Vertex One.

Vertex One is intended to be used and operated by trained people and that any uninvolved people are not present in the safety perimeter of the drone at any time.

Vertex One PowerPack

Vertex One PowerPack is intended for exclusive use with compatible Vertex One drones and is intended to be charged exclusively with Vertex One Charger.

Vertex One Charger

Vertex One Charger (further also referred to as “Charger”) is intended for exclusive use with compatible Vertex One PowerPacks.

Safety Messages

Warning

Attention should be paid to all safety instructions in this manual. Keep the link to this manual for future reference.

Warning

Incorrect operation of quadcopters might pose a risk to human safety. It is important to read the safety guidelines before flying the Vertex One.

Warning

Specific modules and accessories of the Vertex One are provided with their own respective user manuals containing specific safety information. Make sure you consult all relevant safety information sources for the configuration of Vertex One you are operating.

Warning

Country, state or local legislation, regulations and standards might apply to the commissioning and operations of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This typically includes a form of pilot and/or operator certification. The user is responsible for complying to all UAV legislation, regulations and standards that apply in the area of operation.

Warning

Keep the Vertex One, its modules and accessories (e.g. Vertex One Charger, Vertex One PowerPack, …) out of reach of children.

Warning

Improper use of Vertex One, its modules and accessories (e.g. Vertex One Charger, Vertex One PowerPack, …) might cause a fire hazard.

Warning

Improper use of Vertex One, its modules and accessories (e.g. Vertex One Charger, Vertex One PowerPack, …) might cause an explosion hazard.

Note

Make sure to consult this User Manual to understand how to use the Vertex One PowerPack and to understand potential risks of improper use of Li-Ion-based batteries.

Warning

Rotating propellers can cause serious injury. Read and understand the following safety instructions carefully to prevent or avoid any potentially unsafe situations.

General Vertex One Safety

This section refers to The Vertex One, its modules and accessories (e.g. Vertex One Charger, Vertex One PowerPack, …)

The following safety measures are some best practices for the use and operation of Vertex One. The list of these measures is not exhaustive, always use safety first mindset and your common sense.

On top of the mentioned safety measures, country, state or local legislation, regulations, and standards might apply. These might take precedence before the measures in this manual. In case of doubt, follow a general principle, that the stricter safety rule applies.

Best Practices

  • Keep the Vertex One clean as foreign objects or dirt may cause an electric short.
  • Use and operate the Vertex One within the specified temperature range.
  • When not in use, the Vertex One should be stored at a dry place within the storage temperature range, ideally at room temperature (approximately 20 °C)
  • During transport, make sure the Vertex One is protected from excessive vibration and mechanical impacts.
  • Make sure that when Vertex One is in its armed state, there’s a safe perimeter around it where no (uninvolved) people are present (e.g., bystanders) and never arm it while children might be present on site
  • Make sure to always keep a safe distance from the Vertex One when the propellers are spinning (e.g. take-off, landing, flight, …)

Practices to Avoid

  • Do not open, disassemble, or crush them; Do not drill or cut into their casings.
  • Do not let them heat above the specified temperature range or incinerate them.
  • Do not leave them in the sun or in environments that can reach elevated ambient temperatures (e.g., in the car)
  • Do not dispose of them in fire or similar.
  • Do not try to repair or modify them
  • Do not use, operate, or store them in wet conditions or extremely humid environments, e.g., in the water or in the rain.
  • Do not use, operate, or store them in environments with highly flammable or explosive materials, liquids or gasses
  • Don’t approach Vertex One when the drone is in its armed state to avoid any potential chance of accidental propeller spin-up
  • Never fly over uninvolved people and make sure to fly at a safe distance from uninvolved people

Specific PowerPack Safety

Best Practices

  • PowerPack is delivered in a charge condition that is safe for transport. Charge the PowerPack before first use
  • Always monitor the PowerPack during charging
  • Ensure that PowerPack electrical contacts cannot accidentally short in storage or during transport; keep the contacts away from other conductive (e.g. metal) objects
  • Keep PowerPack clean as foreign objects or dirt may cause damage
  • A fully discharged PowerPack should be recharged within 24 hours as self-discharge can lead to damage of the battery cells inside when the PowerPack is left in fully discharged state for a longer period
  • Even if the PowerPack is not completely discharged, it is recommended to fully charge the PowerPack at least once every three months
  • During transport, make sure the PowerPack is protected from excessive vibration and mechanical impacts
  • Periodically verify the State of Health of the PowerPack through Cerebra Lab while mounted in the Vertex One - Nominally, the State of Health is 80% or higher

Practices to Avoid

  • Do not mix-and-match individual modules from different PowerPacks
  • Do not use the PowerPack when State of Health is less than 80%.

Specific Charger Safety

Best Practices

  • Always monitor the PowerPack during charging
  • When not in use, disconnect the Charger from AC power and store the Charger away from the reach of children
  • Use the delivered power cord to power the Charger; Avular does not guarantee performance or safety of the Charger, should another power cord be used
  • Ensure that Charger electrical contacts cannot accidentally short. Keep the contacts away from other conductive (e.g. metal) objects
  • Keep Charger clean as foreign objects or dirt may cause damage
  • During transport, make sure the Charger is protected from excessive vibration and mechanical impacts
  • During charging operation, make sure the Charger and PowerPacks are located on a horizontal, stable & flat surface to avoid accidental drop damage

Practices to Avoid

  • Make sure no foreign objects are allowed to enter Charger through the ventilation openings! Forsaking this safety guideline may result in fire, explosion or personal injury (e.g. electric shock)
  • Do not block ventilation openings when in use

Damaged Products

In the following cases, but not limited thereto, the products might be considered damaged, and it is not allowed to continue using it to avoid any unsafe situation. In case you observe any of the damage signs in this section, yet you are not sure about the extent of the damage, do not continue using the damaged component and immediately contact Avular support for further advice.

Signs of Vertex One Damage

  • The Vertex One body is cracked.
  • The Vertex One body shows extensive scratches or wear signs not caused by normal use of the drone.
  • The propellers show visible damage or exercise increased level of vibration when spinning.
  • Any one of the propellers is not spinning or its radial velocity doesn’t match the rest of the propellers.
  • There is a change in flight controllability of Vertex One during flight, or a complete loss of controllability.
  • Vertex One exercises emergency landing procedure repeatedly.
  • Vertex One cannot be turned on.
  • Any of the electrical connectors look abnormal, e.g., the pins are bent or there’s a visual sign of electrical discharge damage.
  • There is a suspicion that there might be an internal damage to the Vertex One, e.g., when handling it, there are sounds hinting there might be a loose component (screw, fragment, etc.) inside the body.
  • The latching mechanism parts are damaged, so the PowerPack mechanical fixation to Vertex One might be compromised.
  • Any other signs that indicate wear beyond surface wear expected from normal use.

Signs of PowerPack Damage

  • The PowerPack enclosure is cracked.
  • The enclosure shows extensive scratches or wear signs not caused by normal use of the PowerPack.
  • The PowerPack cannot turn on the Vertex One.
  • The PowerPack indicates less than 80% State of Health In Cerebra Lab, while used in Vertex One.
  • The PowerPack does not accept charge in the Charger, or the charging takes significantly longer time than normal.
  • The electrical connectors look abnormal, e.g. the pins are bent or there’s a visual sign of electrical discharge damage.
  • There is a suspicion that there might be an internal damage to the PowerPack; e.g. when handling it, there are sounds hinting there might be a loose component (screw, fragment, etc) inside the enclosure.
  • The PowerPack discharges significantly faster during flight than normal.
  • The PowerPack reported State of Charge does not decrease gradually during flight, or shows erroneous or fluctuating values.
  • The latching tabs are damaged, so the PowerPack mechanical fixation to Vertex One might be compromised.
  • Any other signs that indicate wear beyond surface wear expected from normal use.

In case you observe any of the aforementioned signs, yet you are not sure about the extent of the damage, please contact Avular for further advice.

Signs of Charger Damage

In the following cases, but not limited thereto, the Charger might be considered damaged, and it is not allowed to continue using it to avoid any unsafe situations:

  • The enclosure is cracked.
  • The enclosure shows extensive scratches or wear signs not caused by normal use of the Charger.
  • The Charger internal parts are exposed.
  • The Charger cannot charge a (undamaged) PowerPack.
  • The electrical connectors look abnormal, e.g. the pins are bent or there’s a visual sign of electrical discharge damage.
  • The power cord shows cuts, exposed conductor wires or other signs of damage.
  • There is a suspicion that there might be an internal damage to the Charger; e.g. when handling it, there are sounds hinting there might be a loose component (screw, fragment, etc) inside the enclosure.
  • The Charger produces an abnormal amount of heat in normal operation
  • The latching parts of the enclosure are damaged, so the PowerPack mechanical fixation to Charger might be compromised.
  • Any other signs that indicate wear beyond surface wear expected from normal use.

Disposal

Please contact your country, state, or local authorities to check how to dispose of the Vertex One, its modules and accessories (e.g., Vertex One Charger, Vertex One PowerPack, …) in the safe way according to the relevant regulations. If you or your local authorities need additional information on these products to safely dispose of it, you can contact Avular to get the additional information.