Getting Started Quickly


Follow these steps to get the Autopilot II system operational quickly. Not all features and functions are mentioned here. Only those steps needed to get the system minimally operating are described. You may want to read the on-line help GLOSSARY to familiarize yourself with the Autopilot II terms used.

Click on the headings in this quick start section to go to complete instructions.

In this example setup, you will configure the system as follows:

  1. The light make and model will be of your choosing (it must be a light in the Autopilot II library).
  2. The starting DMX channel for the light will be DMX channel 1 (default)
  3. The beltpack channel for the light will be DMX channel 481 (default) and it will be set ot a value of 12% so the light will follow beltpack #1.
  4. The beltpack height offset DMX channel will be DMX channel 501 (default) and it will be set to a value of 50% so the light will be centered on the beltpack element.
  5. The fade distance at the operating boundary will be set to 2 feet.

1. Receiver Installation (<- Click for complete instructions)

  1. The recommended receiver height is 15 to 25 feet above the performer
  2. Place the receivers around the perimeter of the operating area with a few overhead
  3. At least three non-linear receivers need an unobstructed view of the beltpack element at all times -- this is very important
  4. Aim the receivers so each (approximately) faces the opposite operating boundary
  5. The beltpack to receiver distance limit is 65 feet
  6. Place the receivers in one of the following configurations (if possible):

  7. Each receiver requires a home run to the Autopilot II Controller.

    2. Light Installation (<- Click for complete instructions)

    1. Install the light so it can focus at the entire operating area
    2. Set the address of the light to start on DMX channel 1 with the personality, and or mode as needed to operate from a DMX signal.
    3. Daisy chain the DMX cable from the Autopilot II controller's "Universe A DMX output" to the light.

    3. Connect the Equipment (<- Click for complete instructions)

    Refer to the Functional Block Diagram for connection information

    3.5 Configure your computer

    Select the com port you would like to use, the settings in the PC are as follows:

    Baud rate=38,400

    data bits= 8

    No parity

    stop bits= 1

    The cable is a standard RS 232 cable DB9 female to DB9 female. Straight through connection.

    4. Setup your Autopilot II System (<- Click for complete instructions)

    Do this to inform the Autopilot II system which light(s) you wish to use and which DMX channels the light(s) will use.

    1. Go to SYSTEM SETUP > BASIC SETUP

      1. Click on "Control Beltpack height offsets from DMX value" The default starting channel is A501. You must supply DMX control at this address or this quick setup will not work.

      2. Select English or Metric units as desired.

      3. Do not select temperature probe override because you have connected the probe to the controller.

    2. Go to SYSTEM SETUP > CONFIGURE LIGHTS

      1. Click on ADD LIGHT and select your light model from the pull down menu. In this example, we will add 5 different models and/or brands of lights. We add 3 High End Systems lights, 1 Vari-lite VL-5, and a Goldenscan 3. Look at the setup screen for the channel assignments.

      2. Give the light a name under LIGHT NAME (such as Richard's light).

      3. Enter the DMX (starting) ADDRESS for the light to be DMX channel A: 1. (default) The "A" and "B" refer to DMX universe "A" and DMX universe "B". Leave it on A.
      4. Enter a beltpack channel for the light. This allows the light to be assigned to any beltpack. For this example let it be channel A: 481 (default).
      5. Add 4 more lights and name them if you wish.

    3. Click on SHOW DMX MAP

      1. You can see each DMX channel and, by placing the cursor on the channel box, see which light and which light function it controls. The last number in the box is the output level of Autopilot II. The channel boxes in green indicate an assigned DMX channel. A light green box denotes the first channel of each light. This is so when the DMX channel box is resized, it is easy to find the first channel of each light.
      2. Confirm that the light starts on DMX channel A:21 and that the beltpack channel is DMX channel A:481.
      3. Close the DMX MAP screen using "X Close".

    5. Receiver Calibration (<- Click for complete instructions)

    This must be done so the system can determine the positions of the receivers. Only then can the system to triangulate on the beltpack position.

    1. Go to SYSTEM SETUP > CALIBRATE RECEIVERS

      1. Turn on all four beltpacks and then place them on the stage per the diagram using the beltpack "holder". Measure the distances on stage and transfer these measurements into the Calibrate screen. Larger distances between the beltpacks result in better accuracy of the calibration. You must measure your distances from Beltpack element to beltpack element. Distances are measured in decimal distance (such as 19.85 feet or 6.05 meters. Hint: You can place a piece of tape on the stage under the beltpack elements. These tape marks will be known as Spike Marks 1 through 4 and can be used in light calibration. The three distances must be at least 10' apart. It is recommended that the distances be 1/3 to 1/2 of the largest dimension of your stage. For example, if your stage is 60' by 40', make Distance 1 and 3 twenty feet and Distance 2 thirty feet.

      2. Click on NEXT.

      3. To use the automatic receiver calibration, all four beltpacks must be used. The system will collect data from the beltpacks to test the quality of the signal. The screen you now see shows the signal quality at each receiver from each beltpack. Be sure most "indicators" are green or yellow. Up to 4 reds are acceptable, if there are more than 4, move the beltpacks to change them to green or yellow. As a last resort, you must move the receiver(s) so it can see the beltpack(s).

      4. Click on NEXT.

      5. The system will collect data from the beltpacks to determine the receiver's position. A small window will appear in the upper left of the screen which says STATUS: FINDING RECEIVERS. Assuming all is well, it will quickly change to STATUS: Receiver Calibration was Successful! At this point, the four positions that the beltpacks were at during the successful calibration will be remembered by the system as "spikes". This will allow you to mark these positions on the stage and then refer back to them during later calibration steps. If the data gathering fails, try again or move the beltpacks to a better location. Don't forget to change the measurements if you do.

        Click on OK. The next screen is:

      6. The system will show you a drawing of 2 beltpacks which must be placed at least 8 feet apart and parallel with the front of the stage. This is to orient the 2D and 3D views. The positions of beltpack 1 and 2 can be used from the first step if you have located them parallel to the front of the stage. After this step is done, the light on the Calibrate Receivers tab will turn green indicating that the receivers are calibrated and you can do the next step, Setup the operting boundary, in getting the Autopilot II system ready to operate.

      7. Look at the 2D view of the receivers and beltpacks to confirm that it appears correct -- with no obvious discrepancies.

      8. Receiver calibration can be done with only one beltpack, look in the long version of Receiver Calibration.

    6. Zones and Boundaries (<- Click for complete instructions)

    Autopilot II must have a defined area in which the lights will operate. You will use the default operating boundary and no zones in this example.

    1. Go to SYSTEM SETUP > SETUP ZONES/BOUNDARIES

      1. You will see in this screen that you have a default OPERATING BOUNDARY which has been placed around the outside of the area defined by the receivers. Also, note that the beltpacks are on the screen as well. The beltpack positions are live and will move as you move the beltpacks. No ZONES have been defined in your system. Leave them alone for now.

      2. Select a "fade distance" of 2 feet from the pull down menu. Autopilot II will start fading out any light that is within 2 feet of the operating boundary.

      3. After changing any part of the zones or operating boundary, the Autopilot II black box must be updated. You will be reminded of this by the far right button turning red and requesting you to update the black box.

    7. Light Calibration (<- Click for complete instructions)

    Notice: Beltpack cables manufactured after 7/1/2012 no longer include a light sensor element due to parts obsolescence and our inability to find a suitable replacement part. These beltpack cables will still track normally but can no longer be used to perform automatic light calibration. Manual light calibration will be required for systems using these cables.

    This is done so the system can determine the position of each of the lights. Autopilot II uses the actual position and orientation of the light and the actual position of the beltpack to determine the pan and tilt data for the light so it will focus on the beltpack.

    Go to SYSTEM SETUP > CALIBRATE LIGHTS

    1. Make sure all 4 beltpacks are turned on and place them in the operating area. (NOTE: Automatic light calibration must have all four beltpacks on to succeed. Also, once automatic light calibration has started, the beltpacks cannot be moved.) The pattern used for CALIBRATE RECEIVERS should suffice.
    2. Click on AUTO CALIBRATE LIGHTS.
    3. You will see each light scan the operating area in a spiral pattern, searching for the four beltpack elements. After each light in a group of four lights, finds the elements, then each will do a smaller spiral on a beltpack to center the light on the element. After each light has centered on each beltpack element, Autopilot II will calculate the actual position of the four lights.
    4. The STATUS column in this screen will change from NOT CALIBRATED to CALIBRATING to CALIBRATED as the process proceeds. This will take at least a few minutes.

    8. Test Your System (<- Click for complete instructions)

    This is done so you can confirm that your system is setup and calibrated properly.

    1. Go to TEST > TEST RECEIVERS

      1. This is used to confirm that the receivers are where the system thinks they are and to check the signal quality at each receiver.
      2. Click on "2D View". Confirm that it appears correct -- with no obvious discrepancies.
      3. Click on "3D View". This view can be navigated to give you a better look at the positions of the receivers.
      4. Click on "Receiver Signal View". Confirm that all signal indicators are green or yellow. If they are not, move the beltpacks. Close the "signal quality chart" screen with "X Close".

    2. Go to TEST > TEST LIGHTS

      1. Use this screen to confirm that selected lights follow a selected beltpack. It is similar to TEST RUN (see below) except TEST LIGHTS ignores the operating boundary and zones.

      2. No DMX source (e.g. lighting console) is needed nor used for this test.

      3. Select "Beltpack #1" from the pull down list of beltpacks.
      4. Select "Richard's light" from the pull down list of lights.
      5. Place beltpack #1 in the operating area.
      6. Click on "Track BP On/Off" to make the light follow beltpack #1. Move beltpack #1 and Richard's light should follow the beltpack.
      7. If the light does not accurately follow the beltpack, recheck and/or redo the "Calibrate receivers" procedure and recheck and/or redo the "Calibrate lights" procedure.
      8. Additionally, you can focus the light where belt pack 1 was positioned during receiver calibration by selecting "Point Lights at Spike 1 On/Off".

    3. Go to TEST > TEST ZONES

      1. This is used to confirm that the operating boundary and zones are placed where you want them.
      2. Select "Select zone: Operating Boundary"
      3. Select "Select Light(s) to Use: Richard's light".
      4. Select "Trace Zones On/Off". You will see Richard's light travel along the operating boundary.
      5. At "Select beltpack:", select "Beltpack #1"
      6. Click on "Track BP On/Off". Move the beltpack across the operating boundary and see the light go dark outside the operating area.
      7. Because no zones are used in this example, you will not test any zones.

    4. Go to TEST > TEST RUN

      1. This is used to confirm that selected lights follow a selected beltpack. It is similar to TEST LIGHTS (see above) except TEST RUN uses the operating boundary and zones.
      2. No DMX source (e.g. lighting console) is needed nor used for this test.
      3. Select "Beltpack #1" from the pull down list of beltpacks.
      4. Select "Richard's light" from the pull down list of lights.
      5. Place beltpack #1 in the operating area.
      6. Click on "Test Run On/Off" to make the light follow beltpack #1. Move beltpack #1 and Richard's light should follow the beltpack.
      7. If the light does not follow the beltpack, recheck and/or redo the "Calibrate receivers" procedure and recheck and/or redo the "Calibrate lights" procedure.

    9. Beltpack/Element Attachment (<- Click for complete instructions)

    1. Proper placement of the beltpack element on the performer is critical to proper system performance. The beltpack element must have an unobstructed view upward toward the receivers. The top of the head or shoulder is the recommended position

    2. Be sure the beltpack is turned on and it's LED is lit -- this indicates a good battery.

    3. Be sure the switch inside the battery compartment is set to #1.

    10. Running the System (<- Click for complete instructions)

    1. Go to RUN > LIGHT INFORMATION

      1. This is used to confirm the lights are "calibrated" and to which beltpack they are assigned. If the beltpack assignment shows "not assigned", then the lights will be controlled from the console.

      2. The "status" column should say "Calibrated".

      3. The "BP Chan" column should show the desired DMX channel (DMX chan A:481 in this example).

      4. Set the DMX source (lighting console) to DMX channel A:481 with a level of 12%

      5. The "DMX Value" should show the DMX level (%) of the beltpack channel being sent from the DMX source (lighting console) (26% in this example).

      6. The "BP Assignment" column will show the beltpack number which that light will follow based on the DMX Value being sent from the DMX source (lighting console) (beltpack 1 in this example).

    2. Go to RUN > BELTPACK HEIGHT OFFSETS

      1. This is used to set the beltpack height offset values. In this example, you will set the value so the light is centered on the beltpack element.

      2. Click on "Control from DMX Value"

      3. Enter the "Starting DMX channel:" to be A:501 (default)

      4. Set the DMX source (lighting console) to DMX channel A:501 with a level of 50%

      5. On the right half of the screen, confirm the following information (for this example):

        Beltpack       DMX Chan       DMX value

        BP 1             A:501                 50%

      6. On the bottom of the screen, confirm the following information (for this example):

        Offsets:     BP1:     0 ft

        The above text describes what the picture should show. In this particular picture, the console was not connected. The height offsets correctly show that the height offset is - 6 feet. If your setup shows the beltpacks pointing too low, this is probably the cause.

    3. Go to RUN > START/STOP

      1. This is used to make the light follow beltpack #1 subject to all settings of all equipment.

      2. Click on the "click to run" button.

      3. You will see the "AP Status" indicator light on the top of the screen change from red to green.

      4. You will see the light follow the beltpack.

      5. Click on "2D view".

      6. You will see the receivers on the 2D view.

      7. Move the beltpack. You will see the beltpack move on the 2D view.

      8. Close the 2D view with "X Close".

      9. Click on "Receiver Signal View"

      10. You will see the receiver signal quality as the beltpack is moved. You can use this to find potential problem beltpack locations.

      11. Saving the setup (<- Click for complete instructions)

      1. Go to SYSTEM SETUP > FILES

      2. Press the Save Setup button and a file window will appear. Type in a name for the setup. Additional comments should be used so you can identify this file later.

      3. The name of the saved file will now appear in the top of the Autopilot II window.

      Your Autopilot II system should now be fully operational. Consult specific topics using the on-line help system for further assistance.