Service Bulletin Number 0006
Date Released: 2023.07.25
Impact: All Switchblade-Elite Mk2.3 aircraft equipped with Flight Controller firmware 4.3.6. Includes but may not be limited to aircraft with the following serial numbers: SN20007, SN20019, SN20020, SN20031, SN20050, SN20058, SN20063, SN20067, SN20069, SN20070, SN20071, SN20092, SN20097, SN20115, SN20129, SN20130, SN20136, SN20142, SN20155, SN20156, SN20163, SN20171, SN20172, SN20173.
Introduction
Persistent testing by Vision Aerial led to the discovery of a bug in the flight controller firmware related to the low and critical battery fail-safes resulting in a low probability of creating a flight critical risk.
Description
There is a low probability of creating a flight critical risk to the aircraft when the low and critical battery fail-safes are automatically triggered by the flight controller software. This appears to be due to the corruption of non-dedicated battery fail-safe memory allocation to other functions. By using a low and critical battery fail-safe value of 9% the risk of a flight critical failure is greatly reduced. Both the initial risk and the reduced risk of this failure are eliminated by updating the aircraft to flight controller firmware version 4.3.7.
Resolution
Moving forward all aircraft equipped with flight controller firmware version 4.3.6 will be updated to flight controller firmware version 4.3.7. Vision Aerial is qualifying a new flight controller firmware update package and will distribute at no cost to update those systems currently deployed in the field.
Customer Impact
Customers will need to modify their low and critical battery fail-safe percentages. Set both Low and Critical Percentage Threshold to 9% to reduce the probability of a flight critical risk.
Upon receipt of version 4.3.7 flight controller firmware update package, update all aircraft identified as affected by this flail-safe bug as directed in the instructions. If Customers do not wish to update their aircraft they can send it to Vision Aerial to be updated at no cost, or can request a computer preloaded with the appropriate software/firmware be sent to their location.
If you have any questions or feedback, please contact Vision Aerial via [email protected].