General Safety Instructions

Friends don't let friends get close to spinning propellers.
- NEVER Approach a multicopter whose propellers are still in motion.
A safety pilot must always be present and he must have the training and ability to fly the UAV manually in any situation.
Do not fly over people or close to people. The safest spot for spectators is usually behind the pilot.
Always wear protective gear (safety goggles) and stay behind the net.
In case of any unexpected behavior, the pilot must immediately take back control the multicopter.
- When testing new algorithms such as navigation and control algorithms, a spotter should narrate out loud for the safety pilot the expected behavior of the vehicle. e.g. "The quad will now go left two meters."
When having a new or changed setup (new/other controller, different parameters etc), carefully check the expected outputs before flying.
- You can do this by removing the propellers and moving the vehicle around manually and checking what the controller command is.

Before you fly checklist (indoors)

Is the battery fully charged?
- Even if it is partially charged, unexpected voltage drops can occur for a partially charged battery left out for a long time. Charge your batteries before flight.
Is the remote control fully charged?
Is the safety pilot present and alert?
Are all propellers placed in the correct orientation?
Are all propellers secured to their motor?
Are all propellers intact?
- Never fly with a cracked propellers or even a propeller with only light damage. Cheaper propellers can shatter at high RPM after sustaining light damange.
Are all motors intact?
- After a crash sometimes the shaft of a motor can be crooked or ball bearings will won't be fluid which will degrade performance and can lead to ESCs overheating.
Are all screws, nuts and bolts tightened and secure?
Are all the nets closed up around the flight zone?
Is there magnetic interference in the vehicle's takeoff position?
- The M100 will signal this on its status light.
Is the wireless signal clear?
- If you are using Wifi to transmit Vicon data, can you correctly and consistently ping your vehicle with low latency?
Are all the mattresses on the floor?

In addition to the above:

Are you sure you have permission to fly here? Check Transport Canada rules. If flying in the parking lot, get proper authorization before you get harassed by campus security.
Do you have proper GPS reception/a good number of satellites?
Are there any people around?
- Abort flight immediately if you see unauthorized personnel approaching.
Do you have a spotter?
- Never fly alone outside. Keep someone with you on the lookout for civilians and to monitor flight data.