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Skycat Trigger Unit
We do not sell this product at the moment. You may order through Skycat's online shop.
This is trigger for Skycat parachute launcher. Connects to the UAV radio, main battery, and the Skycat launcher unit. Trigger is shipped with 15 cm receiver cable and 30 cm cables for parachute battery. XT60 connectors are not soldered. Trigger contains base plate for taping to frame.
Trigger has basic protection against moisture and touch yet is as lightweight as possible. It is dipped in liquid rubber and all electronics and solders are covered. Rubber protects against moisture and also against vibration.
Tests has covered testing under water and + 90°C degrees heat with 100% relative humidity as well -20°C freezing conditions.
Circuit board has all possible features available for enhanced reliability. Components are soldered through double sided silver plated circuit board to brass bushings. It is very unlikely to have poor connection between component and circuit board even on possibly vibrating conditions on faulty copter.
Trigger is made to withstand the most demanding environments.
Operating voltages:
- Parachute battery 3S and 4S
- Receiver voltage 4.9 V - 6.1 V
Radio Settings Manual
Manual explaining how to configure a FrSky Taranis transmitter to trigger the Skycat parachute.
Download (1.27M)1. How many channels does the eject require from the receiver?
- Just one channel.
2. How quickly does the parachute eject from launch command?
- The parachute ejects within 0.08 to 0.2 seconds.
3. Does Skycat parachutes uses RC servos or CO2 pressure for launch?
- No they don't.
3. If they don't use servos or pressure, what is it that makes the parachute eject?
- The patent-pending method uses a strong spring, held in tension by a fuse. Once the fuse is blown by pilot's command, the parachute gets ejected. It's a multi-use system with high reliability and short reload time.
4. Does the launch harm the battery?
- Not in any way, about 30 A is pulled from the battery for a very shot time.
5. How strongly does the launcher need to be installed on the UAV frame?
- If it doesn’t fall by itself and can withstand eject recoil, it is enough. The parachute is attached to the UAV frame directly, which avoids strong forces to the launcher itself.
6. Does the launcher carry a parachute deploy impact forces and a copter weight?
- No, it just kicks the parachute out.
7. Where is the parachute attached to the copter?
- To the strongest points of your UAV frame, using the attachment set available in the store.
8. What is the correct size of the parachute?
- It depends how big of an impact is acceptable for you. See the tables below.
Descent metrics for a 2.5 m2 and IFC-48-S parachutes
| Drone weight, kg | Descent speed, m/s | Impact energy, joules | Freefall equivalent, meters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 | 4.6 | 37 | 1.08 |
| 4.0 | 5.1 | 52 | 1.32 |
| 4.5 | 5.4 | 65 | 1.47 |
| 5.0 | 5.7 | 80 | 1.63 |
| 5.5 | 5.9 | 97 | 1.80 |
| 6.0 | 6.2 | 115 | 1.96 |
| 7.0 | 6.7 | 157 | 2.29 |
| 8.0 | 7.2 | 205 | 2.61 |
| 9.0 | 7.6 | 260 | 2.94 |
| 10.0 | 8.0 | 321 | 3.27 |
| 11.0 | 8.4 | 388 | 3.59 |
| 12.0 | 8.8 | 461 | 3.92 |
| No parachute, comparison: | |||
| 10.0 | 50.0 | 12 500 | ∞ (infinity) |
Descent metrics for a 4 m2 and IFC-60-S parachutes
| Drone weight, kg | Descent speed, m/s | Impact energy, joules | Freefall equivalent, meters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 | 3.4 | 20 | 0.59 |
| 4.0 | 4.0 | 32 | 0.81 |
| 4.5 | 4.3 | 42 | 0.94 |
| 5.0 | 4.5 | 51 | 1.03 |
| 5.5 | 4.8 | 63 | 1.17 |
| 6.0 | 5.0 | 75 | 1.27 |
| 7.0 | 5.3 | 98 | 1.43 |
| 8.0 | 5.7 | 130 | 1.65 |
| 9.0 | 6.1 | 167 | 1.90 |
| 10.0 | 6.4 | 205 | 2.09 |
| 11.0 | 6.7 | 247 | 2.29 |
| 12.0 | 7.0 | 294 | 2.50 |
| No parachute, comparison: | |||
| 10.0 | 50.0 | 12 500 | ∞ (infinity) |
9. Does the launcher ship with an automatic eject system?
- No, the pilot is responsible for launching the parachute.
10. Does launcher support an automatic eject system?
- Yes it does. Connect the trigger unit to your autopilot's PWM eject command channel and it will work.
11. Is it possible to use more than one trigger units for redundancy?
- Yes, you can connect as many trigger units as you need. For Pilot, Autopilot, Camera operator and ground station for instance.
12. Is there a Skycat parachute for DJI Inspire 1?
- Yes, the X55 all-in-one launcher is ideal for DJI Inspire 1 in size.
13. Is there a Skycat parachute for DJI S900?
- Yes, the X68 all-in-one launcher with IFC-60-S parachute is ideal for DJI S900.
14. Is there a Skycat parachute for DJI Phantom?
- Not yet.
15. Does Skycat sell a flight terminator / kill switch?
No, but their trigger unit helps if you want to make a simple one yourself. Use large enough NC relay(s) for motor power. The trigger unit can open the circuit upon an eject request. Use a Y-split from the trigger unit to control the motor relays, and to blow the launcher fuse, simultaneously.
16. May I use 6S battery with Trigger
- Officially the answer is no. However, Skycat has run lab tests using a 6S/10Ah without problems. They don't officially support 6S yet, because they haven't had a chance to perform long-term evaluations with it.
