Swellpro SplashDrone 4 Filming Edition User Guide

Swellpro SplashDrone 4 Filming Edition

Product Information

SD4 Splash Drone (NZ Version)

The SD4 Splash Drone is a water-resistant drone that comes with a remote controller and a range of features that make it suitable for use in marine environments. It has a strobe light, landing gear, and a gimbal camera port. The drone is equipped with GPS and a compass sensor to ensure stability during flight.

The remote controller features two joysticks for pitch, roll, and yaw control, a display screen, and an automatic landing gear toggle. It also has buttons for taking photos and videos, returning the drone to its initial position, and activating boat mode. The remote controller can be easily adjusted to fit different phone or tablet sizes.

The SDFly app can be downloaded to your phone to help you control the drone and adjust settings such as camera exposure and white balance. The app also allows you to monitor the drone’s battery level and the strength of its GPS signal.

Product Usage Instructions

1. Install the aircraft by attaching the CW and CCW propellers, landing gear, and payload accessory port as shown in the user manual.
2. Charge the drone’s battery fully before use. You can check the battery level on the remote controller’s display screen.
3. Turn on the drone and remote controller by pressing the power button on each device.
4. Use the joysticks on the remote controller to control the drone’s movement. The left joystick controls throttle and yaw, while the right joystick controls pitch and roll. Use boat mode to keep the drone stable when flying over water.
5. Use the buttons on the remote controller to take photos and videos, return the drone to its initial position, and activate follow me mode.
6. Use the SDFly app to adjust camera settings, monitor battery level, and check GPS signal strength.
7. After use, turn off the drone and remote controller and store them in a dry place.

Visit www.swellpro.com for the latest version of this manual and firmware updates for your drone and accessories.

Thank You

Thank you for purchasing the SplashDrone 4. We have designed and manufactured the SplashDrone 4 to the highest quality standards.
Like any marine equipment, long-life and trouble-free operation rely on correct care and maintenance. With proper care and maintenance, you should enjoy your drone for many years. After flying in salt or contaminated water, always thoroughly rinse your SplashDrone 4 in freshwater immediately after use or before salt and sediment can dry inside moving parts.
It is important to familiarize yourself with the features of this unique drone by carefully studying this manual and particularly the priority sections indicated in the Table of Contents.
Visit www.SwellPro.com for the latest manuals, software, and tips. Refer to the Version Information section at the end of this manual, which details additions and corrections to this manual.

Using this Manual

This document is designed to be printed or viewed on a computer or mobile device. If used electronically, you can search directly for terms like “Propeller” to find references. Additionally, you can click on any topic in the Table of Contents to navigate directly to that topic.

Video Tutorials

Visit and subscribe to the SwellPro YouTube channel for tutorial videos and product information. Scan this QR code with your camera phone to go to our channel. 

Social Media

Join our exclusive user groups on Facebook to meet other people who share their adventures with SwellPro. www.facebook.com/splashdroneNZ/

Register Product Warranty

Please register your product as soon as possible to ensure warranty coverage. https://www.SwellPro.com/info/register.html

Download the SDFly App

Get the most from your SplashDrone 4 by flying with the SDFly app. This new, powerful mobile app enhances and optimizes the operation of the SplashDrone 4. Connected wirelessly to the SplashDrone 4 remote controller, the app allows logging, planning, recording of missions as well as the control and parameter setting of cameras and other modules in flight.
Running the SDFly app when you fly adds advanced functionality like mapping, routing, and intelligent modes to the standard flight modes in the remote controller.
For Apple devices, the iOS version is available for download on the AppStore. The Android version is available for download on the Google Play Store or directly from the SwellPro website: www.swellpro.com

Product Overview

The SwellPro SD4 (SplashDrone 4) is the latest evolution of the water resistant drone.
This all-new drone represents over seven years of design improvements and experience – resulting in the most powerful all-digital floating & flying platform SwellPro has ever built. A new benchmark for water resistant drones. Simply put, there is no drone in the world like it.
With its modular multi-functional payload system, open interface design, and surface navigation mode, the SwellPro SplashDrone 4 can quickly adapt to different tasks in the field. The SplashDrone 4 is the 5th generation of water resistant drone from SwellPro – the pioneer and innovator of water resistant drones worldwide.

Aircraft Diagram

1. Strobe Light
2. CW (clockwise) Propeller
3. Water resistant Motor
4. Rear Arm Light
5. CCW (Counter-clockwise) Propeller
6. Landing Gear
7. Antennas
8. Battery Status Indicator
9. Gimbal Camera Port
10. Payload Accessory Port
11. SDK Port
12. USB Port and Pairing Button
13. Power Button
14. Battery Hatch
15. Battery Hatch Lock
16. Front Arm Light
17. Compass Sensor
18. GPS Cover

Remote Controller Diagram

1. Automatic Landing Gear Toggle (Not applicable)
2. Video Button
3. Gimbal Pan/Tilt Roller
4. Left Joystick (Throttle/Yaw)
5. Follow Me Button
6. Smooth+ Yaw Switch Button
7. Smooth+ Yaw Knob
8. Boat Mode Switch Button
9. Left Payload Release Button
10. Display Screen
11. Charging Indicator
12. Right Payload Release Button
13. Gimbal Mode Switch Button
14. Smooth+ Roll Knob
15. Smooth+ Roll Switch Button
16. RTH Return Home Button
17. Power Button
18. Right Joystick (Pitch/Roll)
19. Flight Mode Toggle
20. Photo Button
21. Gimbal Pitch Roller
22. Antennas
23. Phone/Tablet Mount Adjustment Knob
24. Phone/Tablet Mount
25. Seiral Port
26. Charging Port
27. Reset Button
28. Micro USB Port
29. Ethernet Port

Remote Controller Screen

1. Remote controller Battery Level
2. Remote controller GPS Signal *1
3. Drone Signal Strength/Pairing Status
4. Flight Mode
5. Drone Battery Voltage (V)
6. Drone GPS Location Accuracy *3
7. Drone Height from Take-off Point
8. Drone Distance from Take-off Point
9. Drone Battery Level
10. Horizontal Flight Speed
11. Vertical Flight Speed
12. Estimated Remaining Flight Time
13. Pitch Angle
14. Total Flight Time
15. Drone Latitude *4
16. Drone Longitude *4
17. Roll Angle
18. Yaw Angle
19. Remote controller Serial Number & Firmware Version
20. Flight Controller Serial Number
21. Flight Controller Firmware Version
22. Total Flight Time
23. Joystick and Control Input

Notes.

1. A flashing GPS Location Fix icon [02] indicates that the remote controller does not have a current location fix. This does not relate to the drone’s GPS accuracy.

2. Flight Modes: G: GPS mode, A: ATTI mode, S: Sport mode, O: Orbit mode, H: Headless mode, C: Cruise mode, M: Manual+ mode

3. Drone GPS Location Accuracy ranges from 1-10 with 10 being the highest accuracy.
   A rating of 10 indicates a drone location accuracy <1m. 9=1.1 meters; 8=1.2 meters, 7=1.3 meters, 6=1.4 meters, 5=1.5 meters. In GPS mode, it is recommended to take off with at least 5.

4. If the signal to the drone is lost for any reason, the remote controller will display the last known location of the drone.

Setting up the Drone

Install Propellers
The SplashDrone 4 has two pairs of propellers – two clockwise propellers and two counter-clockwise propellers. The hub of each motor shows the type of propeller used for that motor. Propellers should not be attached to the wrong motors.

To install or remove propellers:

1. Check the propeller’s marking (CW/CCW) to see if it matches the motor. CCW propellers to CCW motors, same for CW.
2. Place the propeller on the motor, rotate the propeller in the hub for 1/8th of a turn until it engages.
3. Hold the arm of the aircraft tight with one of you hand.
4. Rotate the propellers in the direction indicated by the lock signs with your other hand.
5. To remove the propeller, repeat steps 3&4.

Install the Intelligent Battery
The Intelligent battery is quick and easy to change. Ensure the battery is OFF before inserting or removing it from the drone.

1. Unlock and open the water resistant hatch
2. Slide in the fully charged intelligent battery and push it into the battery slot.
3. Close the battery hatch. Fasten the catch and then lock the hatch.

• Always check to ensure that the water resistant seal on the hatch door is clean and lightly lubricated.
• The drone is no longer water resistant when the battery hatch is open. Do not allow water or sand to enter the drone while the battery hatch is open.
• The Appendix of this manual contains additional warnings and precautions regarding the batteries, safety, charging, and maintenance. Please ensure you familiarize yourself with all this information to get the most from your purchase.

Install the Camera/Accessories

1. Unscrew and take off the gimbal port cover plate using a hex screwdriver. (Equipped with SplashDrone 4)

2. Plug the gimbal connector into the drone’s gimbal port and screw it in place with a screwdriver.
   Make sure the rubber ring is attached to the gimbal connector before you screw the connector.

3. Aline the holes on the base of the gimbal to the bottom of the drone, screw in to mount the gimbal. Make sure the camera is pointing to the front of the drone.

Other accessories can be replaced or installed in the same way.

Aircraft

Aircraft Status Indicator

There are two types of aircraft status indicators:

1. Aircraft status indicators (red), which are on the front arms.
2. GPS signal status indicators (green), which are on the rear arms.

The red LED indicators are used to identify the head of the drone.
All aircraft status indicators can be turned on or off on the APP setting.
All the status indicator messages are going to prompt on the remote controller screen or SDFly App.

Propellers

The SplashDrone 4 has two pairs of propellers – two clockwise propellers and two counter-clockwise propellers. The hub of each motor shows the type of propeller used for that motor. Propellers should not be attached to the wrong motors.

To install or remove propellers:

1. Check the propeller’s marking (CW/CCW) to see if it matches the motor. CCW propellers to CCW motors, same for CW.
2. Place the propeller on the motor, rotate the propeller in the hub for 1/8th of a turn until it engages.
3. Hold the arm of the aircraft tight with one of you hand.
4. Rotate the propellers in the direction indicated by the lock signs with your other hand.
5. To remove the propeller, repeat steps 3&4.

Always place one hand under the motor to support it when installing or removing propellers. Failure to provide this support could result in bending or breaking the landing gear.
The blades are sharp, please be careful to avoid injury.
Before each flight, please check that the propellers are smooth all over and are correctly installed and securely fastened.
Spin each propeller by hand to check that the motors are free of sand or salt and spin freely.

Intelligent Battery

Each slide-in SplashDrone 4 battery has a battery management system, teamed with 6600mAh of high-performance 18650 lithium cells to provide up to 30 minutes of flight time.

The SplashDrone 4 intelligent battery provides:

• Real-time power monitoring and alerting
• Integrated balance charging to ensure battery health, safety, and long life by constantly monitoring battery health, state-of-charge, and temperature.
• Fast, slide-in battery replacement. Integrated connectors allow for wire-free installation and replacement.
• Battery charging and usage data logging to allow for better battery management and event recording.
  Battery Level
  The battery level LEDs on the battery pack allows you to check the state of charge of the battery quickly and accurately.
  With the Battery turned OFF, short press the power button – the battery LEDs will indicate the state of charge.
  Battery Warning Signs

Powering On/Off the Battery
Short press the power button once, then press and hold the power button for three seconds to turn the battery on or off.
Charging the Batteries
Your SplashDrone 4 is shipped with partially charged batteries. Ensure the drone battery and the remote controller battery are fully charged before use .

The drone and remote controller batteries can be charged simultaneously using the in- the-box charger.
How to charge:

Refer to the above diagrams to connect the intelligent battery and charger. Press the power button to turn on the intelligent battery, and the battery will enter the charging state.

The battery needs to turn on for charging.

Installing the Intelligent Battery
The Intelligent battery is quick and easy to change. Ensure the battery is OFF before inserting or removing it from the drone.

1. Unlock and open the water resistant hatch
2. Slide in the fully charged intelligent battery and push it into the battery slot.
3. Close the battery hatch. Fasten the catch and then lock the hatch.

• Always check to ensure that the water resistant seal on the hatch door is clean and lightly lubricated.
• The drone is no longer water resistant when the battery hatch is open. Do not allow water or sand to enter the drone while the battery hatch is open.
• The Appendix of this manual contains additional warnings and precautions regarding the batteries, safety, charging, and maintenance. Please ensure you familiarize yourself with all this information to get the most from your purchase.

Low Battery Warnings

The SplashDrone 4 has two low battery warnings to help the pilot manage the drone’s battery life. Each time a battery level alarm is activated, the remote controller will beep and vibrate to alert the pilot.

Level 1 alarm: The drone battery level has reached 13.0 V. The remote controller screen will prompt “LOW BATTERY; Return Aircraft and Land”. The front drone status indicators will flash a pattern of 3 red lights. Please find a safe place to land the drone as soon as possible.

Level 2 alarm: The drone battery level has reached 12.0 V. The battery icon on the remote controller screen will flash. The battery level is now below 10% and you should plan to land the drone safely. The remote controller screen will prompt “AIRCRAFT BATTERY LEVEL CRITICAL; Land Aircraft NOW”.
After 10 seconds, the drone will initiate an in-place auto-landing to protect the drone and battery. The front aircraft status indicators are going to flash red constantly.

To halt the Auto-Landing, switch the drone to ATTI mode to regain control of the drone. If the pilot continues to fly the drone below 12 V (not recommended) there is a strong risk that the battery will not be able to maintain flight and the drone will fall out of the sky and crash (at owners risk).

• During the flight, it is important to constantly monitor the battery level as flying in the conditions like strong wind and rapid movements and heavy load can deplete the battery more rapidly.
• It is dangerous to continue flying the drone below 12 V. This could result in damage to the battery and the risk of the drone crashing.

Aircraft Antenna

The antennas of the drone can be oriented either upwards or downwards to maximize reception in different situations. The SplashDrone 4 has an effective range of upto 3 km. Due to the way radio frequency travel, when flying 0.5m above the water, the transmission range can reduce. For the drone floating on the water surface (with drone antenna upwards), the transmission range reduces to 500m.
Generally, upward-pointing antennas improve reception when the drone is floating or flying close to the water surface. Orienting the antennas downwards maximizes range for higher altitude flights. Adjust the antennas’ orientation to maximize range for your flight plan.

Antenna oriented upward: Improves reception when the drone is floating (boat mode) or flying close to the water surface.

Antenna oriented downwards: Improves reception when the drone is flying further away or fly at a high altitude.

Strobe Light

The top of the aircraft is equipped with high-intensity strobe light, which helps identify the drone’s position to the pilot and other air traffic. This meets the requirements of night flight regulations in some countries and helps ensure flight safety at night. The strobe can be activated and deactivated in the app (STB).

Water resistant Barometric Membrane

The water resistant barometric membrane is SwellPro’s featured technology. It allows air to come through the internal body of the aircraft to keep the barometer function properly yet assisting in helping to resist water entry into the SplashDrone 4. The water resistant barometric membrane is delicate yet an extremely important part for proper flying and water resistant. Therefore, you should pay special attention to the proper use of water resistant barometric membrane during your operation.

• Always check the water resistant barometric membrane to ensure there is no damage before flying.
• Rinse the water resistant barometric membrane thoroughly with freshwater after flying.
• If you constantly fly your drone in the saltwater environment (sea), it is recommended to change the water resistant barometric membrane once every 2 months, since the salt particles can clog the tiny holes on the membrane.

If the water resistant barometric membrane is damaged or shows signs of wear and tear, replacement of the water resistant barometric membrane is required. To replace the water resistant barometric membrane:

1. Take out the top cover.
2. Peel off the old water resistant barometric membrane. Clean the surface barometric vent and make sure there is no residue on the surface.
3. Remove the 3M paper from the water resistant barometric membrane and press it firmly on the barometric vent to ensure a tight seal.
4. Put the top cover back.

Make sure there is a tight seal around the water resistant barometric membrane when applying.

Remote Controller

Using the Remote Controller

Note: Install the Remote controller antennas BEFORE using and turning the power on.
Failure to install the antennas before powering on the remote controller may cause permanent damage to the remote controller.
Failure to install the antennas before using may cause antenna ports to oxidate.

Power ON and Power OFF

1. Press and hold the Power switch for 3 seconds.
2. The Remote controller will power ON
3. To turn OFF the Remote controller, return the Camera Control switch to the Preview position to stop any recording
4. Press and hold the Power switch for 3 seconds.
5. The Remote controller will power OFF

Flight Mode Selection

GPS： Sets the drone to GPS flight mode
ATTI： Sets the drone to ATTI flight mode
CUSTOM: Sets the drone to the user-selected flight mode. This can be changed in the app. The default flight mode is sport mode.
GEAR: Not currently supported.

Joystick Controls
LEFT JOYSTICK controls Throttle & Yaw; RIGHT JOYSTICK controls Pitch & Roll. YAW controls the direction; THROTTLE controls the ascend or descend of the drone; PITCH controls the drone to fly forward or backward; ROLL controls the drone to fly left or right.

Left Joystick

Right Joystick

Camera Control

Video: Press the video button once to start video recording. Press again to stop video recording and save the video file.
It is important to stop video recording before powering off the drone.
Photo: Press the photo button to capture photos.

Gimbal Control

Tilt Control Roller①: Control the tilt angle of the gimbal.
Pan Control Roller②: Control the direction of the gimbal.

Follow Me

Start Follow Me: Check that the remote controller has a GPS lock by checking the GPS status indicator on the screen. Press and hold the Follow Me button ①. The remote controller will beep twice.
Stop Follow Me: Short press the “FOLLOW ME” button, the remote controller will beep once.

Return to Home (RTH)

Long press the Return Home button ②, the remote controller will beep and vibrate twice to indicate that the drone will initiate the return to home process. The flight mode indicator on the remote controller status bar will change to the letter “R” to indicate the drone is on the RTH process.

Smooth+ Controls
The patented “Smooth+” flight control allows the pilot to finely tune the Roll and Yaw of SplashDrone 4. Smooth+ makes professional, steady flight control as easy as turning the knobs.

To enter Smooth+ mode, simply press the Smooth+ buttons.
Press the left Smooth+ button to engage Smooth+ YAW. The left joystick will now only control the ascend/descend of the drone.
Press the right Smooth+ button to engage Smooth+ ROLL. The right joystick will now only control the pitch of the drone.

BOAT Button
In Boat mode, the SplashDrone 4 can effectively be controlled like a boat on the surface of the water. With a maximum surface speed of 1m/s.
To enter the Boat mode:

1. Land or place the drone on the water.
2. For landing on the water, lock the drone and wait for the motors to stop spinning.
3. Switch the drone to GPS or ATTI mode.
4. Arm the drone by using the inward gesture.
5. Press the BOAT button on the remote controller.
6. The drone now enters the Boat mode.
7. Press the BOAT button again to exit Boat mode. The drone can then take off normally.

Gimbal Button

• There are two gimbal modes: Follow mode and Lock mode. The default mode is Follow mode.
  Follow mode keeps the gimbal direction with respect to the direction of the drone.

• Lock mode locks the gimbal position so the is not going to follow the direction of the drone when the drone is turning.

• Press the GIMBAL MODE button once to restore the central position.

• Press the GIMBAL MODE for 3 seconds to switch gimbal modes.

Gimbal mode only works for GC3-S and GC3-T.

You can add an extension bar or gimbal overhead kit to take full advantage of gimbal Follow mode and Lock mode.
Payload Button
There are two PAYLOAD buttons on the remote controller, the PAYLOAD(Left) and PAYLOAD(Right). But for the SplashDrone 4, only the PAYLOAD(Left) is used for payload release control. The PAYLOAD(Right) is used to configure the drone to heavy load mode.
Press the PAYLOAD(Left) button once to open the payload release rod.
Press the PAYLOAD(Left) button again to close the payload release rod.
Press the right PAYLOAD button 3 times to enter low-speed mode. There is a low-speed mode embedded in all flight modes for a safer flight purpose. (For example, when the drone is equipped with SwellPro Gimbal Extension Bar (GEB), switching to low-speed mode allows the drone to fly more stable and safely.)

Remote Controller Rear Ports

1. SDK Serial Port: access to flight control data and transparent transmission.
2. Charging Port: remote controller charging port
3. Pairing Button: used for aircraft and remote controller pairing
4. Micro USB: use for remote controller firmware upgrade
5. Ethernet Port: This supports the development of computer ground station software to control the aircraft and its airborne equipment.

Attach Mobile Devices

To attach your mobile device to the remote controller:
Release the tightening knob behind the mobile device mount, then slide open the mount to accommodate your device, retighten the knob to secure your mobile device.
There is a larger mobile device mount specific designed for the use of tablets. Visit SwellPro website for more information.

Charging the Remote Controller

The remote controller can be charged from the in-the-box charger or a standard 5V USB adapter.
The LED light on the remote controller will turn red while charging. When the remote controller is fully charged, the LED light will turn off.

Pairing the Remote Controller

The remote controller and the aircraft are paired on the factory before shipping the product. There is no need to pair them on your first use.

ONLY pair the remote controller for the following condition:
After powering on the drone and the remote controller for more than one minutes, the remote controller signal status bar still shows the Unpair sign as shown below.

Proceed to the following steps to re-pair:

1. Power on both the aircraft and the remote controller.
2. Wait for 1 minute, long press the pairing button of the aircraft for over 5 seconds. Double click the remote controller pairing button.
3. The pairing is going to finish in 2 minutes. Repeat the steps when the pairing failed.

Flight

The drone relies on sensitive sensors to control flight positioning and stability. The SplashDrone 4 is flight tested before shipment, however, an initial calibration of the compass is required for your first use.

Before operating the drone from a ship or other moving platform, ensure all necessary calibrations have been completed before aboard as some calibrations require a completely stable surface.

Flight Safety and Environment

• Please make sure you have a comprehensive understanding of the SplashDrone 4, and all the necessary measures required to implement a successful return home function in the event of an emergency.
• If this is your first time flying a drone, please read this manual thoroughly and watch the tutorial videos on our website www.swellpro.com, or our YouTube channels.
• We recommend taking professional training and guidance. When flying, choose an appropriate environment according to your skills. Check all calibrations and choose a large open area to practice.
• It is recommended for all drone pilots to become familiar with flying in ATTI mode in case of GPS or magnetic interference, which may result malfunction when flying on GPS mode.
• Please be well prepared before each flight, avoid any violent or excessive operations.
• Please maintain strict compliance with the local laws, any flying in NO-FLY ZONES is prohibited.
• Any illegal & improper use or operation of this product is prohibited. Please check with the local NZ Bi-Laws and also the rules and regulations set down by the NZ CAA, and ensure you fully understand them.
• Any invasion & violation of another person’s right to privacy is not allowed. Before using this product, it remains the duty of the drone pilot to comply with the local laws regarding privacy protection.
• Any invasion or flying over another person/s property is not allowed, please agree with any persons regarding any potential breach of privacy before the proposed flight.
• DO NOT fly the SplashDrone 4 under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any other physical or mental impediment.
• Do not fly the drone with a malfunctioning remote controller.
• Please fly the drone away from crowds.

Flight environment requirement

• Always choose the open space as an ideal flying environment.
• Flying between or near tall buildings could adversely affect the functioning of the compass and adversely affect or block GPS and transmission signals.
• During the flight, try to maintain the line of sight with the drone, keep away from obstacles and people.
• Avoid flying near areas with high electromagnetic interference such as power lines or signal towers to minimize the risk of interfering with the remote controller of the drone.
• Fly below 4000 meters above sea level as environmental factors including air density and wind shear reduce the performance of the aircraft and battery.
• Before flying in low temperatures, warm the battery to ~25℃ to maximize flight time.
• Although the SplashDrone 4 is water resistant, do not fly in fog or strong wind conditions. (For wind speed exceeding 20 m/s, or above Beaufort Force 8)

Flight Restrictions

According to provisions of the International Civil Aviation Organization and many national air traffic regulations, drones must be operated in specified airspaces. By default, the SplashDrone 4 is configured to not exceed an altitude of 120m the Home Point altitude.
If you need to cancel the safety fence, please set the flight altitude to 0 through the SDFly app.

Pre-Flight Checklist

• Intelligent batteries, remote controller, and your mobile devices are fully charged.
• Check all propellers are in good condition and correctly installed.
• Manually rotate the 4 motors to ensure they can spin smoothly.
• Make sure the water resistant barometric membrane is not damaged.
• Make sure all the connector sealings are tightly sealed with the rubber rings attached, include the battery sealing, all the base connector ports. Make sure the sealings are free of dirt, sand, and other debris.
• All the payload modules are tightly mounted to the aircraft.
• Micro SD card has been inserted and tightly sealed.
• SDFly app is successfully connected to the aircraft.

Compass Calibration

Compass calibration is necessary for any of the following situations:

• The drone is brand new.
• The drone has been repaired.
• Please calibrate every time you fly in a new location or on the same location on a different day.
• The drone has been subjected to strong magnetic fields.
• The drone has been crashed or subjected to heavy shaking.
• The drone sways or drifts excessively during hovering in GPS mode.
• The remote controller screen prompts “WARNING Compass error Calibrate Compass”.

Compass Calibration Process:

1. Place the drone on a level surface, power on the remote controller then the drone. Wait for the aircraft to connect to the remote controller.
2. After the connection finishes, rapidly move the Flight Mode switch back and forth until the aircraft’s rear status indicators flash green, or the remote controller screen prompts “Compass Calibration Rotate The Aircraft Horizontally”. The drone will now perform compass calibration.
3. Pick up the aircraft and hold the drone horizontally and rotate clockwise about 2~3 turns until the rear indicators slowly flash green or the remote controller screen prompts “Compass Calibration Rotate The Aircraft Vertically”.
4. Hold the drone nose-down and rotate clockwise about 2~3 turns until the remote controller screen prompts “WARNING Aircraft Initializing, Please Wait”.
5. Place the drone on a level surface for 30 seconds. When the prompt disappears, power off and restart the drone.
6. The compass calibration is complete.

1. Compass calibration needs to be performed outdoors in an open area. 2) Remove propellers before calibration. 3) Perform the calibration process away for sources of magnetic fields, such as large metal structures, radio signal towers, power lines or mobile phones, etc.

Gyroscope Calibration
The gyroscope provides stability data to the flight controller. If the gyroscope is not well calibrated, the aircraft will tilt to one side when it takes off, and the tilted angle will increase until the aircraft can no longer fly.
Process gyroscope calibration for the following situations:

• The drone trembles significantly during hovering in GPS mode.
• The drone’s tilt range is too large during ascending in ATTI mode.
• The drone drifts during ascending or descending in GPS mode.
• The drone has been crashed or subjected to heavy shaking.
• The remote controller screen prompts “WARNING Gyroscope error Calibrate Gyroscope”.

Gyroscope Calibration Process:

1. Place the drone on a level surface, power on the remote controller, then the drone. Wait for the aircraft to connect to the remote controller.
2. Hold the left joystick down to its lowest position, then quickly move the right joystick left to right, back and forth, until the front and rear status indicators flash alternately, or the remote controller screen prompts “WARNING aircraft Initializing, Please Wait”. The drone will now perform gyroscope calibration. Now release the joysticks. This process will be completed in 20 seconds. Do not move the drone during this process.
3. When the front status indicators fast-flashing red and the rear status indicators turn solid green, or “WARNING Aircraft Initializing, Please Wait” prompt disappears, power off and restart the drone. Gyroscope calibration is complete.

1. Never calibrate the gyroscope on a boat or other moving platforms. 2) When the drone is floating on water, it may occasionally prompt gyroscope calibration, which is normal and can be ignored. 3) If the calibration fails, the “WARNING Aircraft Initializing, Please Wait” prompt will not disappear, please follow the steps, and try to calibrate again.

IMU Calibration

The Inertial Management Unit (IMU) provides the raw data of the aircraft’s attitude in space in nine dimensions. The IMU accelerometer sensor is critical to balance the aircraft in flight.
Proceed IMU calibration for the following situations:

• The drone cannot arm (unlock) the motors after the compass calibration.
• The drone sways or drifts excessively during hovering in GPS mode.
• The drone has been crashed or subjected to heavy shaking.
• The remote controller screen prompts “WARNING IMU error – Calibrate IMU”.

IMU Calibration Process

1. Place the drone on a level surface, power on the remote controller, then the drone. Wait for the aircraft to connect to the remote controller.
2. Hold the left joystick up to its highest position, then quickly move the right joystick left to right, back and forth, until the front and rear status indicators flash alternately, or the remote controller screen prompts “WARNING aircraft Initializing, Please Wait”. The drone will now perform IMU calibration. Now release the joysticks. This process will be completed in 20 seconds. Do not move the drone during this process.
3. When the front status indicators fast-flashing red and the rear status indicators turn solid green, or “WARNING AircraftI nitializing, Please Wait” prompt disappears, power off and restart the drone. IMU calibration is complete.

1. Never calibrate the IMU on a boat or other moving platforms. 2) When the drone is floating on water, it may occasionally prompt IMU calibration, which is normal and can be ignored. 3) If the calibration fails, the “WARNING Aircraft Initializing, Please Wait” prompt will not disappear, please follow the steps, and try to calibrate again.

Basic Flight Steps

1. Check that the aircraft is correctly assembled.
2. The propellers are correctly mounted and secure.
3. The battery hatch is closed and locked.
4. The silicone plug on the back of the remote controller is closed.
5. The mobile device is securely mounted to the remote controller.
6. Place the aircraft on flat open ground or water.
7. Power on the remote controller, followed by the drone.
8. Connect the mobile phone to the remote controller Wi-Fi.
9. Open the APP and wait for the camera image to appear and the flight data display is normal.
10. Check the following flight data: Battery capacity > 16.0V; Remote controller battery power > 1 bar; Satellite > 5.
11. For your safety, you should stand upwind and at least 3 meters away from the drone.
12. Novice pilots should always take off in GPS mode.
13. Arm the drone or use the auto take-off on the APP.
14. Push the left(throttle) joystick up slowly, allowing the drone to take off smoothly. Release the throttle when the drone is approximately 1.5 m high. Allow the drone to hover for a moment to ensure flight stability.
15. When you need to descend, gently pull down the left(throttle) joystick, allowing the drone to descend and land on a flat surface or the water.
16. After landing, keep the left(throttle) joystick down to its lowest position for 3 seconds until the motors stop, or you can use the disarm joystick command to stop the motors.
17. Stop video recording before shutting down the drone, otherwise, the video file may be damaged.

Starting/Stopping Motors (Arming the Drone)
Before starting the drone, take the following precautions:

1. Place the aircraft in an open area 3 meters away from yourself and others.
   After the aircraft is powered on, the system will conduct self-checking. After the self- checking is completed, it will sound a confirmation tone.

2. In GPS mode, if the satellite signal of the aircraft is poor, the remote controller will vibrate when unlocking, and the display will prompt “GPS signal is poor, unable to unlock”. The motors will not unlock.

3. Unlocking in ATTI mode is not affected by GPS signal strength. However, it is recommended that Novice Pilots fly in GPS Mode ONLY.

4. In Custom mode, the motors cannot be unlocked.
   Starting (Arming) Motors

Remote controller operation Description

Pull both the left and right joysticks simultaneously down and inwards and maintain this position for 3 seconds. The motors will be unlocked and start rotating.

Stopping Motors (Emergency Stop)

Water Takeoff and Landing

1. When taking off from choppy water, ascend quickly from the surface to prevent the drone from being affected by a passing wave.
2. When landing on water, descend vertically to the surface. If the drone lands with horizontal speed, it may flip and be inverted. The flight controller will shut down the motors if the drone becomes inverted on the water.

Do not leave the drone floating inverted for more than a few minutes. Flip the drone using the Power-Flip command or recover the drone as soon as possible to avoid water saturating the water resistant barometric membrane.

Boat Takeoff and Landing

• There should be enough space for the drone to take off or land on the boat.
• If there is not enough space on the boat, take off and land on the water can otherwise be a safer, alternative option, as there is sufficient space for the drone to operate.
• When the boat is rocking, the drone may not arm its motors in GPS mode. In this case, carefully take-off in ATTI mode and then switch to GPS mode if the satellite signal is back to.
• Always be aware of the direction of the wind relative to the boat for take-off and landing.
• The Smooth+ controls are useful to finely control and balance the drone position during this operation.
• For your safety, it is not recommended to launch or land the SplashDrone 4 from your hands.

Power Flip
If the drone becomes inverted on the water, the Power-Flip feature enables the drone to flip back to its upright position.

When the drone floating upside-down on the water, pull both the left and right joysticks simultaneously down and inwards and maintain it for 3 seconds. The drone will flip itself automatically to its upright position.

When the drone floating upside-down on the water, pull both the left and right joysticks simultaneously down and inwards and maintain it for 3 seconds. The drone will flip itself automatically to its upright position.

Flight Modes
There are 7 flight modes to configure on the SplashDrone 4 to accommodate the different flight preferences and needs. They are GPS mode, ATTI mode, Sport mode, Orbit mode, Cruise mode, Headless mode, Manual+ mode, and Boat mode.
For GPS mode and ATTI mode:
GPS mode and ATTI mode can be set by simply switch the flight mode toggle on the remote controller.
For Sport mode, Orbit mode, Cruise mode, Headless mode, Manual+ mode, and Boat mode:
Switch the flight mode toggle to Custom mode, then turn to the SDFly app and set the flight mode among these 5 modes on the app flight mode section .

hovering (with no input from the remote controller). The maximum flight speed is 10 m/s.
ATTI| A| In ATTI mode, the drone maintains a fixed height but not a fixed position. Therefore, when there is no input to the remote controller, the drone is going to drift with the wind while maintaining its height. The maximum flight speed is 22 m/s.
Sport| S| In Sport mode, the drone is going to fly extremely fast and responsively. When there is no input to the remote controller, the drone is back to GPS mode which maintains its height and position. It is great for extreme operation required for fast and responsive flight. It also provides a fun and exciting flight experience.

As the drone becomes extremely fast and responsive in Sport mode, it is recommended to use for a more experienced and skilled user.

Orbit| O| In Orbit mode, the drone is going to proceed to a circle flight with a default 10m radius. The orbit radius can be set on the remote controller or through the app. To set the orbit radius on the remote controller, pull down the right joystick to increase the radius, pull up the right joystick to decrease the radius. The max radius can be set to 150 m.

Use smooth+ to better adjust the orbit radius on the remote controller.

Cruise| C| In Cruise mode, the drone is going to maintain the direction and speed of your input after you release the remote controller.
Headless| H| In Headless mode, the head orientation of the drone is dismissed. The drone can now move in the direction with respect to your point of view. This makes controlling the drone from afar more intuitive and makes manual return-to-home a lot easier when you cannot see the head direction of the drone.
Manual+| M| In Manual+ mode, the drone is NOT going to maintain its height and position. The height, position, and speed of the drone need to be controlled manually in this mode.

This mode should ONLY be used for experienced and skilled users. Please use with caution.

---|---|---
Boat| B| In Boat mode, the SplashDrone 4 can effectively be controlled like a boat on the surface of the water. To move the drone forward, pull the right joystick up. To move the drone’s direction left or right, pull the left joystick left or right to control. The drone is not able to move backward in boat mode. The drone’s speed is limited to 1 m/s. In Boat mode, the app’s mission planning can be used normally: tap to fly, route planning, grid flight planning, orbit mode.

To enter the Boat mode:

1.      Land or place the drone on the water.

2.      For landing on the water, lock the drone and wait for the motors to stop spinning.

3.      Switch the drone to GPS or ATTI mode.

4.      Arm the drone by using the inward gesture.

5.      Press the BOAT button on the remote controller.

6.      The drone now enters the Boat mode.

7.      Press the BOAT button again to exit Boat mode. The drone can then take off normally.

Boat mode application:

For underwater photography and underwater search, use SwellPro gimbal cameras and an extension bar. For fish searching, use SwellPro fish finder Dronar 01.

For overwater photography, use SwellPro gimbal cameras and the Gimbal Overhead Kits.

Boat mode can ONLY be used when the drone equips with SwellPro Boat Mode Kit (BKT). DO NOT use the Boat mode without the floating foams. Using Boat mode on the water without floating foams can result in serious damages to the propellers and motors.

When using Boat mode on the water, be careful of the landing gear and other attached accessories getting caught on weed or other debris to prevent the drone from flying. Be aware of the weeds and other debris to prevent the landing gear and other attached accessories from getting caught by them,which can cause the drone not to be able to move or take off.

There is a low-speed mode embedded in all flight modes for a safer flight purpose. (For example, when the drone is equipped with SwellPro Gimbal Extension Bar (GEB), switching to low-speed mode allows the drone to fly more stable and safely.) Press the right PAYLOAD button 3 times to enter low-speed mode.

Intelligent Follow

Thanks to the built-in GPS module on the remote controller. The drone can accurately track the location of the remote controller. When Follow Me mode is turned on, the drone will accurately track and follow the remote controller’s position, you can still adjust the aircraft direction, following distance, camera angle on the remote controller.

Start Follow Me: Check that the remote controller has a GPS lock by checking the GPS status indicator on the screen. Press and hold the Follow Me button ①. The remote controller will beep twice.
Stop Follow Me: Short press the “FOLLOW ME” button, the remote controller will beep once.

• When the remote controller or the drone lost the GPS signal, Follow Me mode will automatically be disengaged, and the drone will hover on a fixed position in the air.
• When the remote controller and the drone lost connection, the remote controller will beep and vibrate once, and the drone will initiate the return-to-home process.

Be aware of the drone’s surrounding to prevent the drone from crashing into other objects when using Follow Me mode.
Since the drone track the GPS location of the remote controller, keep the remote controller in an open-air environment to prevent the built-in GPS from signal loss. (It is not recommended to put the remote controller inside the car or kayak.)

Smooth+

The patented “Smooth+” flight control allows the pilot to finely tune the Roll and Yaw of SplashDrone 4. Smooth+ makes professional, steady flight control as easy as turning the knobs.

• To enter Smooth+ mode, simply press the Smooth+ buttons.
• Press the left Smooth+ button to engage Smooth+ YAW. The left joystick will now only control the ascend/descend of the drone.
• Press the right Smooth+ button to engage Smooth+ ROLL. The right joystick will now only control the pitch of the drone.

Dynamic Return to Home (RTH)
The SplashDrone 4 constantly senses the GPS location of the remote controller, allowing the aircraft to always return to the pilot even if they have moved from the original take-off point.

• If no GPS location is established by the remote controller, the drone would return to the take-off point.

• If the remote controller lost the GPS signal during the RTH process, the drone would return to the last known GPS location of the remote controller.
  After the return function is activated either manually or automatically, the aircraft will fly to the current home point and land. If the home position is obtained from the remote controller, the aircraft will land 3 meters in front of the remote controller for the pilot’s safety.
  To start Return-to-Home:

• Long press the Return Home button, the remote controller will beep and vibrate twice to indicate that the drone starts the RTH process. The flight mode indicator on the remote controller status bar will change to the letter “R” to indicate the drone is in the RTH process.

• Return-to-Home can also be initiated on the app.

• The RTH height can be set on the app.

Return Home Process

If the drone’s height > 20m and the distance from Home Point > 15m, the drone will maintain its altitude and return to its home point before landing.

If the drone’s height < 20m and distance from Home Point 15m, the drone will ascend to 20m and then return to its Home Point before landing.

During the return home process, the left and right joysticks of the remote controller can be controlled to avoid obstacles or change the landing location. When you stop controlling the joysticks, the aircraft will continue the RTH process. During the RTH process, the Flight Mode toggle is disabled, but the control of attached accessories such as the gimbal camera or payload release module still functions normally.

Low Battery Auto Return to Home

• Low battery auto Return-to-Home can be turned on or off through the app on your preference. By default, low battery auto Return-to-Home is on.
• Low battery auto Return-to-Home will be available later in 2021.
• Low battery auto RTH will initiate when the drone intelligent battery reaches Level 1 low battery warning.

Level 1 alarm: The drone battery level has reached 13.0 V. The remote controller screen will prompt “LOW BATTERY; Return Aircraft and Land”. The front drone status indicators will flash a pattern of 3 red lights. If low battery auto Return-to-Home is turned on, the drone is going to auto RTH after this low battery warning.

Low Battery Auto Payload Release
Low battery auto payload release is used to increase the RTH possibility when the drone is attached to a heavy load. Low battery auto payload release can be turned on or off through the app on your preference. By default, the low battery auto payload release is off.
When it is on, the low battery auto payload release will be initiate when the drone reach level 1 low battery warning. On level 1 low battery warning, the drone will automatically release the payload then initiate low battery auto Return-to-Home process.
Low battery auto payload release will be available later in 2021.

SDFly APP

SDFly is the whole new flight App designed by SwellPro. It marks the new era for SwellPro. SDFly allows SwellPro pilots to do live HD viewing; adjust aircraft and camera setting; proceed with mission planning (include route planning and grid flight planning); easily browse, download, and share aerial footage. This App currently only supports the SplashDrone 4. It works both on iOS and Android.
The APP does not require registration or an internet connection and can be used without uploading or sharing any personal information or data.

Download SDFly

For Apple devices, the iOS version is available for download on the AppStore. The Android version is available for download on the Google Play Store or directly from the SwellPro website: www.swellpro.com .

Connect SDFly

After successfully installing the app, turn on the remote controller and then the drone. Connect your mobile device to the remote controller’s Wi-Fi hotspot named SWP_Bxxxxx. The default password is “12345678”.
After connecting the Wi-Fi, open the SDFly APP. You can now log in to the drone.

The Wi-Fi connection only supports 5G Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6). Please use the mobile device which supports 5G Wi-Fi in order to connect to the remote controller’s hotspot.

Map Download
Since the mobile device uses Wi-Fi to connect to the remote controller, for Apple users, it is totally fine, however, for Android users, it may result in no internet service, which leads to the map malfunction. Simply go to the Wi- Fi setting and turn on the smart connection to allow the phone to use the mobile network while connecting to the Wi-Fi. If your mobile device does not support the smart connection, you can also choose to download the map for the use of the intelligent flight mission.
To download the map:

1. Login to the device.
2. Go to the map interface.
3. Tap the map download icon [1] as shown.
4. Area adjustment [9] is going to show up. Set the desired size of the map you want to download.
5. Then tap the location on the map [10] you want to download.

Map download is also great for flying in remote areas where mobile signal is weak.

Main Interface

1. Main interface
2. Browse/Share pictures videos
3. Info
4. Login to the drone
5. Connection Status

Camera Interface

1. Home Screen: Return to the main interface.
2. Flight Status: Displays the flight status of the aircraft and warning information.
3. Camera Parameters: Current camera parameters
4. Memory card Information: Remain memory card capacity.
5. Flight Mode: Current flight mode.
6. GPS Signal Level: GPS signal quality.
7. Remote Controller Signal Level: The signal quality between the remote controller and the aircraft.
8. Aircraft Battery Level: Real-time display of the battery life of the drone
9. Flight Settings: Set the drone flight settings.
10. Camera Settings: Set camera parameters and settings
11. Photo: Take a photo
12. Video: Start/stop video recording
13. Playback: Browse photos and videos that have been taken
14. Flight Parameters: D: Distance between the aircraft and the home point | H: Aircraft height from Home Point | H.S: Aircraft horizontal speed | V.S: Aircraft vertical speed
15. Thumbnail map: Tap to quickly switch to the map interface.
16. Mission terminate: Tap to terminate current flight planning. (Tap to Flight, Route Planning, Grid Flight Planning)
17. Tap to return: Tap to start automatically return to home (RTH) and land 3 meters in front of Remote controller current position and turn off the motors.
18. Tap to take off: Tap to automatically take off and hover at a height of 3 meters.

Map Interface

1. Remote Controller Location
   Tap to quickly identify the location of the remote controller (home point) on the map.

2. Drone Location
   Tap to quickly locate the position of the drone on the map.
   Intelligent Flight Mission

3. Tap to Fly
   In GPS mode, tap where you want to fly to on the map and the SplashDrone 4 will automatically fly to the location and hover. You can also manually enter longitude and latitude as well as set altitude and speed.

4. Route Planning
   Select several waypoints on the map, Route Planning is going to direct the SplashDrone 4 to fly in a route through the series of waypoints. The height, dwell time, and heading can also be set for each waypoint.

5. Grid Flight Planning
   Set an area boundary on the map, Grid Flight Planning is going to create a series of waypoints forming grid pattern routes on the map. The drone will then follow the route and proceed with grip flight over the selected area. The spacing between routes, speed, height can be set on the app. The number of waypoints that can be created on Grid Flight Planning is between 3 and 256. Grid Flight is useful for search and rescue, survey, and inspection missions.

6. Saved Routes
   Name and save frequently used routes.

7. Thumbnail Screen
   Tap to switch between camera and map views.

Set the Wi-Fi Password
Set the Wi-Fi Password
To set the Wi-Fi password:

1. Connect the SDFly to the remote controller.
2. Login to the device.
3. Go to flight settings, showing as 3 dots on the top right of the interface.
4. Scroll to advanced settings and select “Set WiFi Password”.
5. Type the password you want and press “SAVE PASSWORD”.
6. Re-connect the Wi-Fi.

Reset the Wi-Fi Password
To reset the Wi-Fi password:

1. Power on the remote controller.
2. Wait for 40 seconds for the MultiSync video transmission system to boot up.
3. Press the pairing button on the back of the remote controller 5 times.
4. Wait for another 20 seconds for the Wi-Fi password reset to finish. The Wi-Fi password is restored to the default, 12345678.

After resetting the Wi-Fi password, re-pairing the remote controller and the aircraft is REQUIRED. To re-pair, the remote controller, and the aircraft, check the pairing part under the remote controller section.

Appendix

Specifications

Aircraft (NZ Model)

Flying Guide

• Many regulations require the pilot to fly a drone within line of sight. Take particular care when flying a drone out of sight.
• Unless it is an emergency, NEVER Lock or STOP the motors in flight as this will cause the drone to fall to the ground and crash.
• When the low battery level warning is activated, plan to return the drone and land safely before the battery reaches a critical level.
• The Return Home function can be used to reorient the drone towards the Home Point. By activating the Return Home function, the drone will rise to the return altitude (20m) and then turn towards the Home Point before starting its return.
• If any obstacles are in the flight path of the drone during a Return Home process, control should be regained by turning off the Return Home function.
• If you crash your drone, lock the motors to prevent damage to the motors and propellers.
• Do not attempt to touch the motors, until the motors have stopped rotating completely.
• When landing on water, avoid abrupt landings to avoid damage to the drone.
• When flying over water, avoid the drone dropping or crash into the water from a high altitude as this could cause major damage to the drone.
• Do not expose the drone & battery to direct sunlight for long periods as this can raise the internal temperature of the drone to well above the operating temperature range.
• If the drone does not appear to be responding to the remote controller, as usual, switch the drone to ATTI flight mode and fly the drone to a safe landing location.
• The possible causes for the instability or loss of control of the drone could be poor GPS signal or radio or magnetic interference or poor calibration practices.
• If the drone appears to be affected by magnetic interference, try the following remedies.
• Re-calibrate both the compass and accelerometer on the SplashDrone 4.
• After completing the calibration, arm the drone motors to fly in GPS mode to verify whether this phenomenon has been eliminated.
• If the abnormality remains the same, please re-locate to another place at least 5KM away and re-calibrate the SplashDrone 4. Following the re-calibration, please test the drone again.
• If the problem persists, please contact SwellPro or your local dealer for further troubleshooting and solutions.

Joystick Calibration

Calibration of the joysticks is necessary if the third page of the remote controller screen indicates that the control inputs are not centered when the joysticks are in their neutral position.
To calibrate the joysticks, refer to the SwellProTools firmware update instructions.

• It is necessary to calibrate the remote stick when changing the throttle mode.
• Before calibration, make sure that all toggle switches are set to the top position.

Warranty Information

Please visit the SwellPro website https://www.swellpro.com/news/after-sales- support.html
Look for the “After-sales Service Policy” and submit a service request if needed.

Battery Care and Maintenance

• Do not allow the batteries to come into contact with any kind of liquid.
• Do not drop the battery into the water.
• Do not leave batteries out in the rain, or near a source of moisture. If the inside of the battery comes into contact with water, chemical decomposition may occur, potentially resulting in the battery catching on fire, and may even lead to an explosion.
• Never use or charge swollen, leaky, or damaged batteries. If your batteries are abnormal, please contact SwellPro or a SwellPro authorized dealer for further assistance.
• The battery can be used in temperatures ranging from -10°C to 40°C. The use of the battery in environments above 50°C can lead to a fire or explosion. The use of the battery below -10°C can lead to permanent damage.
• Never disassemble, or penetrate the batteries with sharp objects, otherwise, this may result in the battery catching fire, or even lead to an explosion.
• Electrolytes in the battery are highly corrosive. If any electrolytes make contact with your skin or eyes, immediately wash the affected area with fresh running water for at least 15 minutes, and then see a doctor immediately.
• If the battery falls into water, pick it up immediately and put it in a safe and open area. Maintain a safe distance from the battery until it is completely dry. Never use the battery again, and dispose of the battery properly as described in the Battery Disposal section below.
• Do not heat batteries. A battery fire can be extinguished using sand, or a dry powder fire extinguisher.
• Do not put batteries in a microwave oven, or a pressurized container.
• Do not put the loose battery cells onto any conductive surface, such as a metal table.
• Do not put any conductive cables or metal objects together with batteries, where they may short-circuit against each other.
• Do not drop or strike batteries.
• Do not place heavy objects on the batteries or the battery charger.
• Clean battery terminals with a clean, dry cloth. Failure to do so may result in poor electrical contact, which could reduce the battery capacity, or damage the charger.
• Do not continue to fly the drone after the low battery alarm has been activated; this will result in over-discharging the battery, and potentially could damage the battery cells.

Precautions for low-temperature use

1. When the battery use in a low-temperature environment (-10°C to 5°C), the battery capacity and flight time will be drastically reduced. It is recommended to take off when the battery is fully charged. Please fully charge and keep the battery warm before use.
2. In a low-temperature environment, it is recommended to preheat the battery to above 5°C before flying, and it is better to preheat to above 20°C
3. Before flying in a cold environment, insert the battery into the aircraft to warm up for 1 to 2 minutes, and take off after the battery is fully warmed up.

Battery Charging

• Always use a SwellPro approved charger to charge the battery of the drone, and the radio controller. SwellPro takes no responsibility if the battery is charged using a non-SwellPro charger.
• To avoid any potential accidents happening, please do not leave the battery charging unattended.
• Do not charge the battery near flammable materials, or on flammable surfaces, such as carpet or wood.
• Disconnect the charger when not in use.
• Do not clean the charger with denatured alcohol or other flammable solvents.
• Never use a damaged charger.

Battery Storage and Transportation

• Keep batteries out of the reach of children and pets.
• Do not leave the battery near heat sources, such as a furnace, heater, or exposure to strong direct sunshine, for example: in cars
• The ideal storage temperature is 22°C ~ 28°C.
• Keep the battery in a dry and ventilated environment
• Never drop the battery into the water, or store it in places where there is a possibility of water leakage.
• Do not drop, strike, impale, pierce, or manually short-circuit the battery.
• Keep the battery away from metal objects, such as watches, jewelry, and hairpins.
• It is recommended to recharge the battery once every 2 months when the battery is in storage.
• It is recommened to fully charge the battery before put into storage, as the higher the battery level, the longer the battery can be stored.

Battery Disposal
Dispose of the battery in specific recycling boxes only after a complete discharge.
DO NOT place the battery in regular trash containers. Strictly follow your local regulations regarding the disposal and recycling of batteries.

Maintenance

• After flying over the sea, sand, or water, the SplashDrone 4 and modules must be thoroughly washed with freshwater within 2 hours and dried – especially the motors, gimbals, and camera.
• It is strongly advised to rinse the drone before any salt crystallizes.
• Motors are best rinsed by removing the propellers and immersing the motors one at a time into a bucket of warm fresh water and arming the drone in ATTI flight mode so the motors spin underwater.
• In the event of the SplashDrone 4 not being used for a long time, please store the drone and the batteries in a dry, and ventilated environment at 20°C~28°C.

Refer to the Maintenance manual for more maintenance information.

Disclaimer and Warning
This product is not a toy and should only be operated by persons over the age of 18. Please keep it out of reach of children and pay particular attention to the possible scenarios of children unexpectedly appearing during flight operations.
Be sure to read this document carefully before using the product, to fully understand your legal rights, responsibilities, and safety instructions. Failure to do so may cause property damage, accidents, and personal injury. Once this product is used, it is deemed that you have understood, recognized, and have accepted all the terms and conditions of this statement.

The user is responsible for all the consequences of his actions and the use of the product. The user agrees to use the product for his sole & legal purpose and agrees with the terms & conditions of this agreement, and other relevant policies & guidelines that may be specified by SwellPro.
Under the maximum permitted by law and approved circumstances, SwellPro accepts no liability for any indirect, punitive, consequential, special, or criminal damages, including the purchase cost, or loss of income due to the loss of use of the drone.
SwellPro is exempt from the user’s liabilities for damage(s) to person/s or property, or injuries incurred directly or indirectly from the use of this product in the following conditions:

• Damage or injuries incurred when the user/s are under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication.
• Any malfunction caused by operators’ failure to follow the guidance of the manual to assemble and set up or operate the drone as described and designed.
• Damage or injuries may occur due to failure to study the tutorial videos and the user manual before flying the drone.
• Damage or injuries caused to a person/s or property due to failure in correctly calibrating the drone as outlined in the manual before the flight.
• Damage or injuries incurred as a result of the use or installation of any unauthorized third-party accessories or counterfeit parts – which were not provided and approved of by SwellPro.
• Damage or injuries as a result of flying the drone out of eyesight range, or more than 300m away from the controller.
• Damage or injuries caused by flying the drone in areas of magnetic fields & radio interference.
• Damage or injuries caused by flying in a NO-FLY ZONE that is regulated by local laws & rules.
• Damage or injuries including crashes, loss of control, or water ingress caused by abusing or modifying the original drone structure,
• Damage or injuries caused by using broken & aging components.
• Damage or injuries caused by continuing to fly the drone even if the low battery alarm is activated.
• Damage or injuries caused by failure to wash the components with fresh water after flying over or near the sea & corrosive waters.
• Damage or injuries that have occurred when the drone has been subjected to the following conditions or situations: collision, fire, explosion, floods, tsunamis, ice, snow, avalanche, flooding, landslide, earthquake, etc.
• Damage or injuries incurred by intentionally dropping or crashing the SplashDrone into the water from a high altitude, especially water ingress into the drone fuselage and gimbal malfunction.
• Damage or injuries incurred by intentionally dropping or crashing the SplashDrone to the ground or water from a high altitude, especially water leakage into the drone fuselage and gimbal frame as a result of this collision.
• Other Damage(s) or injuries that are not SwellPro’s liability.

Version Information
SwellPro products are constantly being improved. Therefore, although the latest version of this manual may contain information relating to a release of the equipment different from your own, new information is added constantly which is relevant to ALL customers.

Version
1.0 SplashDrone 4 User Guide First Edition

References

• SwellPro Official Site | Waterproof Drone Pioneer

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