Troubleshooting VEX AIR

The VEX AIR Drone and VEX AIR Drone Controller are designed to work together to provide stable flight and precise control during flight. In most cases, issues with flight behavior, responsiveness, or stability are caused by configuration, connection, or hardware setup.

If the drone or controller is not behaving as expected, use the troubleshooting steps in this article to identify and resolve common issues.

Before You Begin Troubleshooting

First, verify that the drone and controller are charged, paired, and updated correctly.

Many issues can be resolved by checking these items before moving to more detailed troubleshooting steps.

Troubleshooting Guide

The following section breaks down potential problems that have occurred with your drone or controller and explains possible causes of the problem and solutions to help you troubleshoot. 

Select the one that best matches your issue to view additional information and troubleshooting guidance.

For your safety and the safety of those around you, be sure that the drone's propellers are stationary and Propeller Lock is engaged before beginning any troubleshooting.

• Drone is not taking off 
• Drone is not responding to controller input (i.e. controller appears connected, but the drone does not move)
• Controller is unresponsive
• Drone is flying faster or slower than expected
• Drone is not flying to desired height

Problem: Drone is not taking off

Solutions: 

1. Confirm that Propeller Lock is deactivated. When the Propeller Lock safety feature is active the motors and propellers cannot start for any reason. Projects like the default_fly  project can be started, but all other flight commands will be ignored. The LED indicator on the drone flashes blue when the Propeller Lock is activated. Learn more about the Propeller Lock, including how to deactivate it, in this article.
2. Inspect each propeller to ensure it spins freely, is securely attached, and is not damaged. If the propellers are not functioning properly the drone may not be able to create enough lift to take off. Follow the steps in this article to clean or replace a propeller.

Problem: Drone is not responding to controller input

Solutions: 

1. Power cycle both the controller and drone. At times, power cycling can help reset the hardware.
   • Remove the battery from the drone, re-insert the battery, and turn the drone on.
   • Press and hold the Power button on the controller until the screen turns off. Wait 10 seconds, then press the Power button again to turn the controller back on. 
2. Confirm that the controller is paired to the correct drone. The controller will automatically connect to the drone it was most recently paired to. If that is not the drone you are currently using, the controller will need to be re-paired in order to fly. Follow the steps in this article to pair a drone and controller.
3. Verify that the firmware is up to date on both the controller and drone. Keeping firmware up to date helps ensure that the drone and controller perform as intended.
   • Begin by updating the controller firmware in VEXcode AIR by following the steps in this article.
   • Once controller firmware is updated, connect the drone and controller using a USB cable and any needed firmware updates will begin automatically.

Problem: Controller is unresponsive

Solutions: 

1. Stop flying and power cycle the controller. At times, power cycling can help reset the hardware. If the drone is in flight, use the Emergency Stop (E-Stop) protocol to safely stop the drone's propellers.

3. If the controller's Power button is unresponsive, reset the controller.  At times you may have to reset the controller to return it to its expected functionality. 

4. Verify that the firmware is up to date on the controller. Keeping firmware up to date helps ensure that the controller performs as intended. Follow the steps in this article to update the controller's firmware.

Problem: Drone is flying faster or slower than expected

Solution:

1. Verify the Movement Mode selected in the drone settings. The Movement Mode will stay from one flight session to the next, so if the controller was previously set to a different Movement Mode it may still be on that setting. Each Movement Mode provides a different amount of stability assist and flight speed, from Precision (slowest), to Balanced (somewhat faster), to Performance (high-speed, non-stabilized). Learn how to change drone settings, like Movement Mode, on the controller with this article.
2. Inspect each propeller to ensure it spins freely, is securely attached, and is not damaged. If the propellers are not functioning properly the drone may not be able to maintain control or move accurately. Follow the steps in this article to clean or replace a propeller.

Problem: Drone is not flying to desired height

Solution:

1. Adjust the settings for the Maximum Z Height of the drone in the drone settings on the controller. The Z Heigh Limit setting stays from one flight session to another, so if it was changed previously, it may need to be adjusted for your current flight.
   • Learn how to change drone settings, like Z Height Limit, on the controller with this article.
     • Make sure the Z Height setting is appropriate for your flight area, and maintains a safe distance between the drone and the ceiling at all times.

If you have an issue that falls outside of those listed here and have tried the other listed troubleshooting methods in this article, please contact VEX Support.