Propulsion System

PRISM and PRISM Sky were designed to be propulsion-system agnostic, meaning they can fly as either a quadcopter or coaxial x8, with any motor/ESC/propeller. Each propulsion system arm is user-changeable by removing only two screws. This allows users to change the propulsion configuration according to their needs, choosing between the lighter quadcopter design, or the more powerful coaxial x8; or users may replace one individual propulsion system in the event that one is damaged. Watts Innovations intends to offer various propulsion systems for PRISM. The current offered propulsion systems are as follows:

• TMotor U8ii in a Quadcopter Configuration with folding FA28” Propellers

• TMotor U8ii in a Coaxial X8 Configuration with folding FA28” Propellers

Each propulsion system consists of a motor, propeller, ESC, carbon fiber tube, and mating bracket. Each propulsion system is hard-coded to work in only one socket location: Front Right, Front Left, Back Right or Back Left. Only the Front Right propulsion system can be inserted into the front right socket, and only the back left to the back left, etc. The user can verify that the propulsion system is inserted in the correct socket by going to PRISM menu page in the WattsQGC.

PRISM features a patent-pending technology called Propulsion ID, which allows the user to insert any type of propulsion system that Watts Innovations produces into the aircraft, at which time the drone will automatically understand which propulsion system is connected, and then automatically load in the parameters that are necessary for flight for that particular propulsion system. In layman’s terms, this allows a user to change from a small quadcopter to a large coaxial drone in moments, with zero setup required.

This also allows a user to easily service the drone him- or herself, in the unlikely event that the drone requires a repair to one of its propulsion systems. Not only that, but this technology allows the drone to display the cumulative flight time for each individual propulsion system. Lastly, because each propulsion system’s location (Front Right, Front Left, etc.) is hard-coded into the arm itself, the drone will recognize this, only allowing the user to arm if all four propulsion systems are identical and plugged into the correct arm socket.