0.2: Powering, Pairing, and Charging

You are about to take your first flight with CoDrone Mini! Before you do, there are a few important notes to ensure a safe flight!

• Make sure you have enough space to fly comfortably.
• Beware of ceiling fans and breakable items. You wouldn’t want to knock anything over!
• Keep pets out of the room so CoDrone Mini does not become a chew toy.
• Fly indoors only.
• Only pick up your drone from the guards to avoid getting fingers caught in the propellers.

Now that you’ve read the procedures, read on to get started!

First, insert the battery into the slot at the bottom of the drone. Do not connect the battery just yet! 

There is no ON/OFF switch on CoDrone Mini. Connect and disconnect the battery to power on and off the drone. If the drone is upside down and the yellow propellers are facing away from you, then the black wire should be on the left and the red wire should be on the right. The ridge on the plastic battery connector is meant to help prevent reverse connections. 

How do I know when to charge the battery?

You will know when your drone needs charging when the LED starts flashing and will not take off.

How do I charge the battery?

There are two methods of charging the CoDrone Mini battery. You can use the single battery charger included in the box or use a multi-charger.

Single Charger

This charger can connect to a computer USB port or a wall charger. Match up the black wire from the battery to the black wire from the charger. Always pay attention to the orientation. A red light will turn on while a battery is charging and while turn off when the battery is done charging.

Multi-Charger

A multi-charger can support up to 4 CoDrone Mini batteries. This charger needs 2Amp-2.5Amps, which means your computer may not be able to supply that much current. You will need to connect to a wall adapter or a USB port on a power strip. NOTE: Check that your power supply does not exceed 2.5Amps or you will permanently damage the charger.

If you use a battery extender, only use the cable provided in the multi-charger kit. Always match the cable colors!

Finally, only use the barrel jack adapter that comes with the multi charger kit. Any other cable can damage the charger or batteries.

The controller needs to be powered on to pair to the drone. There are two ways you can power on the drone.

Using AAA batteries 

On the back of the controller, slide down the battery lid with your thumb and insert two AAA batteries. It is not required, but you can use a screwdriver to bolt down the battery lid.

Using USB power

If you do not have any batteries around, you can power the controller using the USB cable in your box.

To fly with the controller or program in Blockly, the drone and controller must be paired together. Power on the drone and controller as mentioned above, then follow the instructions below in the video.