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Flight Safety and Failsafes

This section describes the mandatory safety mechanisms and failsafe behaviours that must be configured and verified before operating JTA-01. Proper failsafe configuration protects people, property, and the vehicle in the event of signal loss, power issues, or system faults.

Arming Checks and Preconditions​

JTA-01 performs multiple arming checks before allowing motors or actuators to activate.

Typical arming checks include:

  • Sensor calibration status
  • RC signal validity
  • Battery voltage within limits
  • GPS lock (for GPS-dependent modes)
  • No critical system errors

Best Practices:

  • Do not disable arming checks unless absolutely necessary
  • Treat arming warnings as indicators of real configuration issues
  • Resolve all pre-arm errors before flight

ℹ️ Note
Arming checks ensure that the vehicle is in a known safe state before activation.

RC Failsafe​

RC failsafe defines how the vehicle behaves when the remote control signal is lost.

Recommended RC Failsafe Actions:

  • For multirotors: Land, Return-to-Home (RTL), or Hold (depending on environment)
  • For fixed-wing: RTL or controlled descent

Configuration Notes:

  • Verify receiver failsafe behaviour (signal loss output)
  • Configure firmware failsafe action accordingly
  • Test RC failsafe on the ground with propellers removed

⚠️ Important
RC failsafe must be tested before every first flight on a new configuration.

Battery Failsafe​

Battery failsafe protects the vehicle from over-discharge and power loss.

Typical Battery Failsafe Triggers:

  • Low voltage warning
  • Critical voltage level
  • Capacity threshold (if current sensing is available)

Recommended Actions:

  • First-level warning: Alert or reduced performance
  • Critical level: Land or RTL

Battery failsafe values must match:

  • Battery chemistry
  • Battery capacity
  • Expected load

⚠️ Warning
Incorrect battery failsafe configuration can lead to sudden power loss in flight.

Loss of telemetry or ground station connection does not necessarily indicate loss of vehicle control.

ℹ️ Notes:

  • Telemetry loss alone should not trigger immediate failsafe actions
  • RC signal status should take priority for control decisions
  • Ground station is primarily for monitoring and command

⚠️ Note
Ensure that safety logic is not dependent on telemetry availability.

Geofence Configuration​

Geofencing restricts vehicle movement to a defined airspace.

Common Geofence Limits:

  • Maximum altitude
  • Maximum distance from home position

Recommended Actions:

  • Warning on boundary approach
  • RTL or land on breach

Geofencing is especially useful for:

  • Test flights
  • Training environments
  • Operations near restricted zones

Return-to-Home (RTL) Behaviour​

RTL defines how the vehicle behaves when commanded or triggered by failsafe.

RTL Parameters Typically Include:

  • RTL altitude
  • Return speed
  • Landing behaviour

Verification Steps:

  • Verify home position is set correctly
  • Confirm RTL altitude clears all obstacles
  • Test RTL behaviour in a controlled environment

⚠️ Important
RTL must be validated before relying on it as a failsafe action.

Kill Switch and Emergency Stop​

An emergency stop or kill function provides immediate motor shutdown.

Best Practices:

  • Assign a dedicated RC switch for emergency stop
  • Verify kill switch behaviour on the ground
  • Use kill switch only in emergency situations

🚨 Warning
Emergency stop behaviour overrides all other control logic.

Pre-Flight Safety Verification​

Before every flight: ❏ No arming errors or warnings
❏ RC failsafe tested
❏ Battery failsafe verified
❏ RTL behaviour reviewed
❏ Emergency stop tested

Skipping safety verification significantly increases operational risk.

Safety Philosophy​

JTA-01 safety features are designed to:

  • Prevent unsafe arming
  • Detect loss of control inputs
  • Respond predictably to failures
  • Reduce the chance of uncontrolled flight

Safety configuration should be treated as a core part of system integration, not an optional step.