Droid to Aircraft Electrical Contacts Debugging
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Applicable alarms (1)
0x000a002c
Likely outcomes — click to expand
Based on 0 missions where this alarm fired in the last 90 days as of 2026-10-13
Aggregated from fleet operations and refreshed daily. Individual outcomes may vary by site and configuration.
Background
Section titled “Background”- The Droid to Aircraft Electrical Contacts serve 3 purposes:
- wired comms
- charging
- chassis ground connection between vehicles
- Faults in the system happen if the Droid or Aircraft electrical contacts are damaged, there’s a break in the electrical harness (solder, wire, or connector), or the spring contacts have inadequate compression to maintain contact.
- This system has been redesigned for EV3 to address common faults. We are considering a retrofit of the EV3 hardware onto EV2 vehicles, depending on the frequency and severity of these faults to operations.
- Common Errors Caused by Bad Electrical Contacts:
Troubleshooting Steps
Section titled “Troubleshooting Steps”graph TD
follow-applicable-ev2-or-ev3-steps{"<small><b>Step 1</b></small><br/>Question: Follow the applicable EV2 or EV3 step..."}
ev2-confirm-dropouts["<small><b>Step 2</b></small><br/>Action: 1. **Confirm Dropouts:** Check the Ba..."]
ev2-check-aircraft-hardware-damage{"<small><b>Step 3</b></small><br/>Question: **Check Aircraft Hardware Damage:** A..."}
ev2-aircraft-contacts-replace["<small><b>Step 4</b></small><br/>Action: Replace the Aircraft Electrical Conta..."]
ev2-increase-spring-compression["<small><b>Step 5</b></small><br/>Action: **Increase Spring Contact Compression..."]
ev2-shim-issue-resolved{"<small><b>Step 6</b></small><br/>Question: Is the issue resolved?"}
ev2-shim-resolved-return-service["<small><b>Step 7</b></small><br/>Action: The Aircraft and Droid may return to ..."]
ev2-check-droid-hardware-damage{"<small><b>Step 8</b></small><br/>Question: **Check Droid Hardware Damage:** Are ..."}
ev2-droid-pitted-replace-contacts["<small><b>Step 9</b></small><br/>Action: 1. Replace the Droid Electrical Conta..."]
ev2-droid-not-pitted-replace-ring["<small><b>Step 10</b></small><br/>Action: 1. Replace the electrical contacts pe..."]
ev3-confirm-dropouts["<small><b>Step 11</b></small><br/>Action: 1. **Confirm Dropouts:** Check the Ba..."]
ev3-check-droid-hardware-damage{"<small><b>Step 12</b></small><br/>Question: **Check Droid Hardware Damage:** Are ..."}
ev3-droid-pitted-replace-contacts["<small><b>Step 13</b></small><br/>Action: 1. Replace the Droid Electrical Conta..."]
ev3-droid-not-pitted-replace-ring["<small><b>Step 14</b></small><br/>Action: 1. Replace the electrical contacts pe..."]
ev3-check-aircraft-hardware-damage{"<small><b>Step 15</b></small><br/>Question: **Check Aircraft Hardware Damage:** A..."}
ev3-aircraft-contacts-replace["<small><b>Step 16</b></small><br/>Action: Replace the Aircraft Electrical Conta..."]
ev3-aircraft-contacts-no["<small><b>Step 17</b></small><br/>Action: Continue to the next step."]
follow-applicable-ev2-or-ev3-steps -->|EV2 Troubleshooting Steps| ev2-confirm-dropouts
follow-applicable-ev2-or-ev3-steps -->|EV3 Troubleshooting Steps| ev3-confirm-dropouts
ev2-confirm-dropouts --> ev2-check-aircraft-hardware-damage
ev2-check-aircraft-hardware-damage -->|Yes| ev2-aircraft-contacts-replace
ev2-check-aircraft-hardware-damage -->|No| ev2-increase-spring-compression
ev2-increase-spring-compression --> ev2-shim-issue-resolved
ev2-shim-issue-resolved -->|Yes| ev2-shim-resolved-return-service
ev2-shim-issue-resolved -->|No| ev2-check-droid-hardware-damage
ev2-check-droid-hardware-damage -->|Yes| ev2-droid-pitted-replace-contacts
ev2-check-droid-hardware-damage -->|No| ev2-droid-not-pitted-replace-ring
ev3-confirm-dropouts --> ev3-check-droid-hardware-damage
ev3-check-droid-hardware-damage -->|Yes| ev3-droid-pitted-replace-contacts
ev3-check-droid-hardware-damage -->|No| ev3-droid-not-pitted-replace-ring
ev3-droid-not-pitted-replace-ring --> ev3-check-aircraft-hardware-damage
ev3-check-aircraft-hardware-damage -->|Yes| ev3-aircraft-contacts-replace
ev3-check-aircraft-hardware-damage -->|No| ev3-aircraft-contacts-no
style follow-applicable-ev2-or-ev3-steps fill:#dbeafe,stroke:#3b82f6,color:#1e3a5f
style ev2-confirm-dropouts fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#22c55e,color:#14532d
style ev2-check-aircraft-hardware-damage fill:#dbeafe,stroke:#3b82f6,color:#1e3a5f
style ev2-aircraft-contacts-replace fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#22c55e,color:#14532d
style ev2-increase-spring-compression fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#22c55e,color:#14532d
style ev2-shim-issue-resolved fill:#dbeafe,stroke:#3b82f6,color:#1e3a5f
style ev2-shim-resolved-return-service fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#22c55e,color:#14532d
style ev2-check-droid-hardware-damage fill:#dbeafe,stroke:#3b82f6,color:#1e3a5f
style ev2-droid-pitted-replace-contacts fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#22c55e,color:#14532d
style ev2-droid-not-pitted-replace-ring fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#22c55e,color:#14532d
style ev3-confirm-dropouts fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#22c55e,color:#14532d
style ev3-check-droid-hardware-damage fill:#dbeafe,stroke:#3b82f6,color:#1e3a5f
style ev3-droid-pitted-replace-contacts fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#22c55e,color:#14532d
style ev3-droid-not-pitted-replace-ring fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#22c55e,color:#14532d
style ev3-check-aircraft-hardware-damage fill:#dbeafe,stroke:#3b82f6,color:#1e3a5f
style ev3-aircraft-contacts-replace fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#22c55e,color:#14532d
style ev3-aircraft-contacts-no fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#22c55e,color:#14532d Hover or focus a block to preview it. Select the block to keep the preview open.
1 question
Follow the applicable EV2 or EV3 steps below.
2 action
1. Confirm Dropouts: Check the Baraza logs. Use template “Electrical Contacts Debugging.” If wired comms dropouts coincide with high vibration, this confirms that the problem is likely mechanical.
- Example of bad wired comms:
- Example of good wired comms:
- Example of bad wired comms:
- Example of good wired comms:
3 question
Check Aircraft Hardware Damage: Are any spring contacts bent or damaged?
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4 action
Replace the Aircraft Electrical Contacts. See UMM: Droid Receiver Ring Maintenance Instructions
5 action
6 question
Is the issue resolved?
7 action
The Aircraft and Droid may return to service.
8 question
Check Droid Hardware Damage: Are contact pads heavily pitted? Wipe away any dust/grime before inspecting.
- Example of heavy pitting (REPLACE). 3x deep marks on all contact pads that have fully eroded through the gold plating.
- Example of light pitting (DON’T Replace). Some marks on the contact pads, but not all marks have fully eroded through the gold plating.
- Example of heavy pitting (REPLACE). 3x deep marks on all contact pads that have fully eroded through the gold plating.
- Example of light pitting (DON’T Replace). Some marks on the contact pads, but not all marks have fully eroded through the gold plating.
9 action
1. Replace the Droid Electrical Contacts.
1. Remove the lid. See Droid CMM Remove Lid Assembly steps 1-8.
CAUTION: DO NOT REMOVE THE CARBON LID STRUCTURE.
2. Reinstall the lid. See Droid CMM: Install Lid Assembly steps 6-11.
1. Remove the lid. See Droid CMM Remove Lid Assembly steps 1-8.
CAUTION: DO NOT REMOVE THE CARBON LID STRUCTURE.
2. Reinstall the lid. See Droid CMM: Install Lid Assembly steps 6-11.
10 action
1. Replace the electrical contacts per UMM:
1. UMM 32.5.2.b: Remove Droid Receiver Ring
2. UMM 32.5.2.c: Install Droid Receiver Ring.
2. Is the issue resolved?
- YES: The Droid may return to service.
- NO: Escalate to P2 Droid On Call.
1. UMM 32.5.2.b: Remove Droid Receiver Ring
2. UMM 32.5.2.c: Install Droid Receiver Ring.
2. Is the issue resolved?
- YES: The Droid may return to service.
- NO: Escalate to P2 Droid On Call.
11 action
1. Confirm Dropouts: Check the Baraza logs. Use template “EV3-Zip-Droid-Ethernet-Link”
If the
- Example of bad wired comms:
- Example of good wired comms:
NOTE: It is expected for the toggle counts to increase or SQI to drop to 0 or -1 when the Droid is lowered, like in this case during
If the
link_toggle_count is seen increasing or SQI drops below 5, then it points to a loose connection (electrical or mechanical).- Example of bad wired comms:
- Example of good wired comms:
NOTE: It is expected for the toggle counts to increase or SQI to drop to 0 or -1 when the Droid is lowered, like in this case during
LoadFromAutoKiosk. 12 question
Check Droid Hardware Damage: Are contact pads pitted or show signs of corrosion? Note: -999 version of the Droid Electrical Contacts (3D printed not injection molded) are prone to corrosion failures due to inadequate gold plating. The -000 parts will be less likely to have corrosion or pitting failures. -000 parts are scheduled to rolled into production April 2026
13 action
1. Replace the Droid Electrical Contacts.
1. Remove the lid. See Droid CMM Remove Lid Assembly steps 1-8.
CAUTION: DO NOT REMOVE THE CARBON LID STRUCTURE.
2. Reinstall the lid. See Droid CMM: Install Lid Assembly steps 6-11.
1. Remove the lid. See Droid CMM Remove Lid Assembly steps 1-8.
CAUTION: DO NOT REMOVE THE CARBON LID STRUCTURE.
2. Reinstall the lid. See Droid CMM: Install Lid Assembly steps 6-11.
14 action
1. Replace the electrical contacts per UMM:
1. UMM 32.5.2.b: Remove Droid Receiver Ring
2. UMM 32.5.2.c: Install Droid Receiver Ring.
2. Is the issue resolved?
- YES: The Droid may return to service.
- NO: Escalate to P2 Droid On Call.
1. UMM 32.5.2.b: Remove Droid Receiver Ring
2. UMM 32.5.2.c: Install Droid Receiver Ring.
2. Is the issue resolved?
- YES: The Droid may return to service.
- NO: Escalate to P2 Droid On Call.
15 question
Check Aircraft Hardware Damage: Are any spring contacts bent or damaged?
16 action
Replace the Aircraft Electrical Contacts. See UMM: Droid Receiver Ring Maintenance Instructions
17 action
Continue to the next step.
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