Getting started with the Freefly Astro

Unboxing and powering on

• Open the case: Inside you'll find the Astro drone, a quick start guide, and the controller
• Controller setup: Remove the controller, peel off the screen sticker, and press the Power button. Once loaded, open the AMC app
• Drone hardware: Remove the Astro from the case (landing gear is pre-extended). If you purchased an Astro Map, the Mapping Payload is already attached to the Dovetail on the bottom
• Remove insert: Pull the card insert from the top of the Astro
• Battery installation: Insert one SL8 battery until you hear two clicks. This ensures a solid electrical connection
• Powering on: Press the battery button twice

Connecting and registering (optional)

Connecting to the internet

Connecting allows for automatic log uploads via Auterion Suite, asset management, and video streaming.

• LTE: Some units ship with a trial T-Mobile LTE SIM for instant connection
• Blue UAS Cleared Drone List configuration: WiFi is not enabled by default on Blue/NDAA variants

To connect to WiFi:

1. Open AMC on your controller or PC (use USB-C for PC)
2. Power on the Astro (one battery for safety; "Check Battery" status is normal here)
3. Navigate to the top left icon > Vehicle Overview > Connectivity
4. Enable WiFi (not hotspot), enter your credentials, and click Connect

To use a hotspot, enable Hotspot (not WiFi) instead.

Registering in Auterion Suite

Auterion Suite is useful for fleet management and receiving fast technical support from Freefly.

1. Connect a USB-C cable from your computer to the I/O panel on the underside of the Astro
2. Open a web browser and go to 10.41.1.1. Refresh if the dashboard doesn't appear
3. Follow the prompts to create a Suite account if you don't have one, then claim the aircraft
4. In the Astro webpage settings, ensure Cloud Services and Flight Log Upload are enabled
5. The unit should now appear under the Vehicles section of your Auterion Suite dashboard

Hardware preparation

Disable stealth mode

The Freefly Astro ships with Stealth Mode enabled by default. With Stealth Mode on, the drone won't record precise image locations and timestamps - surveys flown in this state will be blocked from processing in Propeller.

Disable Stealth Mode before the first flight. See Freefly Astro: Disabling Stealth Mode for PPK for step-by-step instructions.

Batteries

• Batteries ship separately due to shipping regulations. Chargers are located in the Astro case under the battery foam insert
• Fully charge all SL8 batteries and your controller (Pilot Pro) before heading to the field
• Keep battery pairs together: Astro batteries are matched for balanced charging and consistent performance. Label your pairs and always use them together - don't swap individual batteries between pairs

Confirm the USB stick is fully seated

The Freefly Astro records observation files to a USB stick inside the drone. If the stick isn't fully pushed in, data may not be recorded - or it may come loose mid-flight.

• Press the USB stick firmly until it stops. There may be an extra 1–2 mm of travel after it feels "in."
• Visually confirm it is flush and fully engaged before arming

Firmware updates

Check that both the Astro firmware and controller firmware are up to date before heading to the field.

Camera setup

Set manual camera settings

The Sony ILX-LR1 camera requires specific manual settings to capture usable survey data. Incorrect settings produce noisy, blurry, or poorly exposed images.

Confirm these settings in the AMC camera view before every mission:

See Mission Planning with the Freefly Astro: Adjusting manual settings for the full walkthrough.

Check the physical camera controls

Three physical controls on the Sony ILX-LR1 are easy to knock during handling - when removing the drone from its case or mounting the camera. Make this a pre-flight habit.

Verify all three before every flight:

• MF/AF slider (on the side of the sensor, near the mounts): set to AF
• F-stop ring (next to the focus ring): set to Auto (A)
• Back slider: set to the photo position, not video 

For reference, see Mission planning with the Freefly Astro.

Before you launch

Lock the landing gear and propeller arms

Fold out each arm and landing leg fully before every flight.

• Listen for the audible click that confirms each lock is engaged
• Visually inspect each arm and leg before arming the drone

Confirm POS mode is selected

The Freefly Astro can fly in Attitude mode, which disables GPS stabilization. Attitude mode is not appropriate for data-capture flights.

Always confirm the drone is in POS mode before launching a mission.

Scan radio channels (Doodle Labs / NDAA units only)

The Doodle Labs radio operates on a fixed 2.4 GHz channel and doesn't automatically switch to avoid interference. Run a channel scan to select the best available channel for your environment.

1. Keep the aircraft on the ground and disarmed
2. Power the aircraft off before starting the scan
3. Run a channel scan before the first flight at every new location
4. Allow several minutes for the scan to complete and for the aircraft and controller to reconnect

See How to scan and change channels on the Freefly Astro for the full process.

Antenna orientation: Don't point the antenna tips directly at the aircraft. The tips are the weakest signal area. Orient the flat sides of the antennas toward the aircraft instead.

Final pre-launch checklist

• Upload your KML mission file (must be KML, not KMZ) via the rightmost USB-C port on the RC: draw your mission area, then select "Import KML"
• Use the quick checklist card included in the Astro case for pre-flight best practices

Flying your mission

Run a test flight and upload before the real mission

Before the first live data-capture mission, run a short test flight and upload the data to Propeller. This verifies the full pipeline before committing to a full site flight.

1. Fly a brief test mission over a small area
2. Upload the data to Propeller
3. Confirm that observation files (JSON, SBF, and image files) are stored and appear correctly

If anything looks off, contact your Customer Success Manager before flying the real mission.

After landing

Wait 45 seconds before powering off

After landing and disarming, review your data in Auterion Suite. If any issues occurred during the flight, you can share logs with Freefly support directly from the Suite.

Troubleshooting: "Magnetic interference detected"

This warning appears on roughly half of all first flights while the drone establishes its heading and position. It is not a hardware fault.

What to do:

1. Don't power off
2. Move the drone 3–6 ft (1–2 m) from its current position
3. Rotate the drone approximately 180°
4. Wait for the warning to clear before proceeding

If the warning doesn't clear after repositioning, contact Hardware Support or Tech Support.

I still can't do it!

We wrote these articles to equip you with everything you need to get the job done on your own, but we understand that sometimes this isn't sufficient.

If you're stuck, the Propeller hardware support team may be able to help. You can contact them by emailing hardwaresupport@propelleraero.com.au.