Question 1

How do I access the FTW Educator Portal?

Accepted Answer

If you have already purchased access to the Educator Portal:   https://www.ftw-robotics.com/membership-login   If you would like to purchase access to the Educator Portal:   https://www.ftw-robotics.com/product-page/curriculum-access

Question 2

Can I rename my Mambo Drone?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Mambo Drones can be renamed throught the Parrot FreeFlight Mini app. While this is a good practice for keeping track of your drones in the classroom, FTW Code does require a specific naming scheme to connect to the Mambo Drone.   FTW Code will only recognise drones that follow the prefix “Mambo_”, "mambo_", "ftw_" or “FTW_”.   If the drone’s name was changed to something else that does not contain one of the two appropriate prefixes, the drone will not be recognized in the FTW Code web platform nor the iPad app.

Question 3

Where can I find the DIY drone assembly instructions?

Accepted Answer

Assembly Guide

Question 4

Where can I find information to manually update my drone’s firmware?

Accepted Answer

The firmware file and guide can be found here.

Question 5

How do I access the pictures from my Mambo Drone?

Accepted Answer

The Parrot Mambo drone bottom camera saves pictures locally to the phone or tablet that it's connected through.  If using a Flypad, connect the drone to a computer using a USB cable and copy the picture files as you would with a flash drive.

Question 6

How do I pair a remote to my drone?

Accepted Answer

Follow the Official Parrot Flypad Quick Start Guide.

Question 7

What other devices can be used as a controller for the Mambo Drone?

Accepted Answer

Xbox, Playstation, or any other bluetooth compatible controller. These devices are paired to the Mambo using the same process as described in the Flypad user manual.

Question 8

How do I care for my Mambo LiPo battery?

Accepted Answer

LiPo Charging   The Mambo LiPo batteries should not be left on the charger for more than 2 hours at a time. Leaving the batteries connected to the charger for long periods of time will significantly reduce battery life and longevity.   LiPo Storage   Mambo LiPo batteries should not be stored at full charge or while completely discharged. If storing LiPo batteries for extended periods (more than a month), keep batteries at 60% or at a nominal voltage of 3.7V. Battery status can be seen while connected to the freeflight mini app. LiPo batteries should not be stored for any period of time while completely empty. This can cause irreversible damage to drone batteries. Batteries can be stored at full charge, but only for short periods of time (less than 2 week).

Question 9

Drone won’t fly or take off?

Accepted Answer

Conduct a Prop Test If the drone keeps flipping over during attempted take off, the propellers may not be attached to the correct motor. Conducting the Prop Test, found on page 12 of the Assembly Guide, can help determine if the propellers are in the correct orientation.

Question 10

Motors/Propeller not spinning

Accepted Answer

Perform firmware update. Check motor attachments.   If one or more of the motors/propellers are not spinning, remove the bottom body cover and check all connections between the motor and the PCB. Make absolutely sure that the connections at the end of the motor wire lay perfectly parallel to the PCB when installed to the connection ports.    If one edge of the connector is slightly elevated from than the rest, this can cause that motor to not spin. If necessary, remove the connection by pulling away from the PCB in a perpendicular fashion and reattach. Repeat this process as necessary. See page 8 in the Assembly Guide to help with establishing the correct motor to PCB connections.  If the previous steps don't help, inspect the motor and/or the PCB for damage and consider replacing the component as necessary.

Question 11

Drone Will Not Connect to the Parrot Freeflight Mini app

Accepted Answer

If your drone will not connect to the Parrot Freeflight Mini app, check the following: Is the battery attached correctly?  Is the battery charged? Is Bluetooth enabled? Is your smart device paired to any other device? Does your device support bluetooth connectivity? Does your drone require an update? Do you have any errors that show up on the piloting screen? (Navigate to Errors section) If none of the suggestions above were successful, please try the following: Restart the drone by completely removing the battery for at least 30 seconds. Close and exit the Parrot Freeflight Mini app and reopen it.  Place a freshly charged battery into the drone.   If your drone still will not pair to your remote, email our support team at support@ftw-robotics.com with the subject titled “drone will not pair”.

Question 12

Errors

Accepted Answer

Vertical Camera Error   If you are getting this error the camera is either not attached or is not attached correctly. Remove the bottom body cover and check the camera attachment to the PCB. It may become necessary to remove and reinstall the camera multiple times until the connection is made correctly.   Barometer Sensor Error   If this error occurs it is an indication that the Barometer sensor (the sensor that detects altitude via air atmospheric pressure) has become damaged. This will require the PCB to be replaced for a new one.

Question 13

Drone will not pair in FTWCode

Accepted Answer

If the Parrot Mambo drone will not establish a connection within FTWCode, please check the following:   What type of device are you using? FTWCode is currently not compatible with iOS devices. This includes iPads and iPhones. Make sure your device is Bluetooth compatible. Check that Bluetooth is enabled. The FTWCode platform must be accessed using the Google Chrome browser. Refresh the page Check that the battery is charged and connected properly. Drone name follows FTWCode guidelines: FTWCode will only recognise drones that follow the prefix “Mambo_” or “FTW_”. If the drone’s name was changed to something else that does not contain one of the two appropriate prefixes, the drone must be renamed to include either “Mambo_” or “FTW_”.

Question 14

Do you have an issue that is not stated in this document?

Accepted Answer

Send an email to support@ftw-robotics.com with the title “Troubleshooting issue not listed” and state the issue you are experiencing. Please include pictures, screenshots, or any other detailed information that you can provide.

RESOURCES

FIRMWARE

THE RECREATIONAL UAS SAFETY TEST

Remove & Replace a Propeller

Remove & Replace a Motor

FAQS

SUPPORT & FEEDBACK

SHOP

EDUCATORS

LINKS

CONTACT US