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AT 209- Autonomous Aircraft Technology and Maintenance 1 Labs
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LAB 07- DATX Setup and Modificaton

23 October 2025
This lab had my group and I modifying and configuring the DATX controller that we will be using for the Believer to meet Windracers’ operational standards. The controllers that we will be using, the Taranis, include many unnecessary switches and default software that can make our flight operations more complex and induce possible safety risks.
The two main objectives for this lab were to 1. modify the hardware to match the current controller used by Windracers and 2. configure the software from OpenTX to EdgeTX 2.7.1 and adjust the key settings for compatibility.
My half of Group 5, consisting of Mason Cramer and myself, were tasked with updating the software. We updated the software an DATX 2 while the other half of our group worked on the hardware change to DATX 5.
We started off well and began following the directions provided on the Coda page assignment, however, we failed to realize the beginning was as if we wanted to copy and back-up the software on the controller itself, which there was none. After figuring this out we transitioned to actually flashing the controller with EdgeTX. We did this by first making sure to have the controller connected to a laptop via the USB in the case. We then made sure the controller was off. Next, on the EdgeTX website provided in the instructions, we selected the STM32 Bootloader as the available device to flash the controller. Next we clicked “Start flashing” and waited for it to finish. Once complete, we were able to disconnect the controller from the laptop and put it away. See image below for finished controller and software install.
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While Mason and I were working on the software, the other half of the group (aka Ryan) was busy at work on the hardware.
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They were tasked with inspecting the Windracers controller to see which switches had to be removed exactly to mirror it on the Believer controller, open the controller up, remove the unnecessary switches from the slots, and hot glue them to somewhere inside the controller that is out of the way. This took them a bit just to figure out where exactly they needed to put the switches. They moved, three 3 position switches and one on-off momentary.
Ensuring that the controller has the right software installed on it could mean a flight control failing midflight and crashing the Believer. Along with the controller being situated to mimic the Windracers controller also ensures that we are having the most similar training that we can then use once we fly the Windracers Ultra senior year.
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