once you lock the heading, the auto pilot is on - the proportional/integral/derivative are adjustments for how it reacts to the heading changes. if you look in the "part properties" of the command pod/chip of the craft(in the builder screen) it will have the saved auto pilot settings, and highlighting each one will show a pop-up with how each adjustment affects the auto pilot reactions. if you change the settings in flight, they wont be saved.
if you open the part properties, it will show a "gyroscope power" number that will change as the size changes - there is a slider that can be adjusted also, for more or less power at any size...and needs a battery fuel tank big enough to run it
it is difficult to line up the green icons, especially getting the planned burn node in view also, i usually do the main burn to just get a path to the SOI, then a correction closer to the planet, where its easier to see the icons, and find a view where they dont disappear...but not ideal for efficiency
if you have an added interstage underneath, the rocket engines need to build up thrust for a second or so(depending on the engine type) - activate the engines with the first stage, wait until the TWR is above 1, then activate the interstage...and it should work
by default, nose cones start empty of fuel, and it needs to be added in part properties. i try to use a different fuel than the rocket engine uses(battery and solid work good), so the nose cone stays full, and ready for the impact.
@crowxe - that sounds like a good way to get past the heavy drag...i need to get some more time on the beta version to check it out better, and want to take a shot at the challenge when the update for mobile comes out. i wonder if it could also be done by the temperature of a selected low aerodynamic part(if that is readable to vizzy yet), and reduce acceleration when it gets above a set temp. maybe that could be a different way factor in the aerodynamics of different rockets for a optimal velocity:altitude?
@crowxe - yeah - definitely suprising results, i wouldnt have guessed that the higher twr would be more efficient...and the challenge was a great way to figure it out. i was wondering if it was because the higher twr got it moving faster initially(like the solid stage), or needed it the whole flight, and the best way to test that? just food for thought
i have used some low twr rockets, that seemed to get to orbit efficiently...but they burn so much fuel getting up to the first 100-200M/S, i would add a solid stage(high twr) with just enough to get it moving. but not sure if that quick fuel burn ended up saving fuel overall...
another way you can try is - "set craft pitch" command, then "wait 1 second" (whatever time it takes the craft to respond), then "lock heading on current". that should hold the heading until you want to change it, then "lock heading on none" to stop it
the nuclear powered engines work good on satellites for small, accurate adjustments. the water as fuel can keep the fuel tank size small...hydrogen needs a tank about 10 times as big for the same delta v
i tried it a couple times on docking satellites, and couldnt figure out how to control it. eventually changed it to the 5 fixed nozzle assemblies, and that worked alot more accurate
yes - the input is in degrees...but recording the output = the position of the pitch slider, while auto pilot is correcting the heading, and will be close to 0 when the craft is lined up with the heading. sounds like the next update will help with alot
@AnotherFireFox - im not sure what is happening - if i send you the private upload, would you be able to take a quick look? i replaced that part with "while 0=0", and the rest of the program works...but it doesnt start when i switch it to performance inputs
try checking the control surface inputs in the part settings of the wings/fins, and make sure they are each set for what it is supposed to do...they could get set to a activation group, and turn off, but the activation group would show up in flight
try looking in the command chip/pod part settings, and toggle on "adjust pilot orientation" - the craft will do crazy things if it is facing the wrong direction, with an engine is on...and above 1-2x speed will just lock the rotation
@huuminberd - the setup of yours are awesome...still using some lift from the wings on the rocket, with a payload, and balanced the 2. i tried a top release - it rolled off, tipped the plane, nosed down with no recovery, or just went into a spin...so i switched to a X1 style drop from the bottom and just rocket thrust, the lift plane does a major pitch up after release too. the gyro orientation is working...so my plane, that releases a rocket, goes into low orbit, then the rocket releases a small drone plane, that reenters and can fly around/land, is almost done. not sure how to name that thing
@huuminberd - that could be it - there is so much going on during that transition(especially with gizmos and cargo bay involved), its hard to narrow down what exactly is happening
@huuminberd - im not too familiar with the auto pilot...but the mothership looks right on for controls. on the shuttle, i wonder if 1 command chip(set to rocket) used for space(so gimble/gyro works right) - and a 2nd command chip(set to plane) that only controls wing control surfaces(and maybe additional jet engine). i agree on the crazy actions right after release, probably controls fighting each other
@huuminberd - it could be the "reorient on configuration change" setting - it keeps resetting my rocket to "plane", when i rotate it from vertical to horizontal(to attach to the launch plane). i toggled that "reorient on config change" to off(before rotating), and it kept the rocket as a rocket, while it was horizontal...and gyro worked properly(for the 2nd time ever)
@huuminberd - yes, sorry, forgot that you didnt want to release it. nice job on the rocket launcher planes - i am trying to figure out the gyro orientation, for a cargo plane that drops a rocket...it worked once, by luck...but every time i change the drop rocket, the gyro spins it like a top, instead of holding the heading - did you have any of that happening, or an idea of what im doing wrong?
to control a seperated part, it needs its own command chip, choose "set primary" in the main one of focus, and the other will come up as "craft _".
activation groups are controlled by the command chip settings in "edit activation groups" - it has a toggle for starting on or off
@huuminberd - cool - glad it worked for you. i had the same issue before, and all the mechanical parts worked right...but if a gyro is in there, its orientation gets funny(if both assemblies dont have the same "up" or heading)
if you build the arm seperately, with its own command chip/action groups, then save it as a subassembly - it will keep its commands to itself. after that, load your main craft, bring in the arm subassmbly, and attach it with a interstage. it works the same as having a rover or satellite that has seperate controls
@Bmcclory - im not sure what that means, keyboard letters? i was wondering for the control sticks on the mobile version(i should have put that first). if i put foreward/reverse on pitch input, then brake is effected when i turn(on the left stick) - or foreward on throttle input(with no reverse), and turn with roll - or all left stick= throttle input and yaw to turn(no reverse) but its adjusting throttle/brake at every turn
i am on the android, so i dont think i can do the xml...but i did use the electric motors on a different rover, still attached them to wheels, but set them on an activation group that i kept "off". i might try that again - the rocker bogie does look like a fun one to build
english vulcan - always thought this was a cool airplane.
4.6 years agoonce you lock the heading, the auto pilot is on - the proportional/integral/derivative are adjustments for how it reacts to the heading changes. if you look in the "part properties" of the command pod/chip of the craft(in the builder screen) it will have the saved auto pilot settings, and highlighting each one will show a pop-up with how each adjustment affects the auto pilot reactions. if you change the settings in flight, they wont be saved.
+2 4.6 years agoto create a link
4.6 years ago(name that will appear in blue)[copied url]
"wait until (Activation Group #) = (true)
then launch program
or
while (true)
if (activation group #) = (true) then
launch program
the activation group needs to be connected to a part to show up, its easy to add a beacon light to show its on
+2 4.7 years ago@zeropol - i typed the wrong thing, just looked to make sure -
+1 4.7 years agonav(craft position) "dist" nav(target position), sorry about that
in the craft information part of the vizzzy there is a misc - "solar radiation" - if you do
-on start
-wait until(solar rad>0)
-wait (x) seconds
-launch program
it should wait until the sunrise, then however many seconds to delay the launch, but not sure if the mod would affect it
+1 4.7 years agoif you open the part properties, it will show a "gyroscope power" number that will change as the size changes - there is a slider that can be adjusted also, for more or less power at any size...and needs a battery fuel tank big enough to run it
+1 4.7 years agoit is difficult to line up the green icons, especially getting the planned burn node in view also, i usually do the main burn to just get a path to the SOI, then a correction closer to the planet, where its easier to see the icons, and find a view where they dont disappear...but not ideal for efficiency
+1 4.7 years agoHide...if you see the rocket police coming!
4.7 years agoif you have an added interstage underneath, the rocket engines need to build up thrust for a second or so(depending on the engine type) - activate the engines with the first stage, wait until the TWR is above 1, then activate the interstage...and it should work
4.7 years agoAwesome job - so much more is possible with the vizzy additions, and the astronauts are great -👍👍
4.7 years agoclick
4.7 years ago@C4RD1NAL - hmmm, is it hitting the ground fast? i have had some bounce, when it hit the ground under 300M/S ish
4.8 years agoby default, nose cones start empty of fuel, and it needs to be added in part properties. i try to use a different fuel than the rocket engine uses(battery and solid work good), so the nose cone stays full, and ready for the impact.
or are they working, but only not after reentry?
+2 4.8 years agoAgent J
4.8 years ago@crowxe - that sounds like a good way to get past the heavy drag...i need to get some more time on the beta version to check it out better, and want to take a shot at the challenge when the update for mobile comes out. i wonder if it could also be done by the temperature of a selected low aerodynamic part(if that is readable to vizzy yet), and reduce acceleration when it gets above a set temp. maybe that could be a different way factor in the aerodynamics of different rockets for a optimal velocity:altitude?
4.8 years agoif you can upload one of them to look at, or link to the wip, we can try to see whats happening
4.8 years ago@crowxe - awesome findings - makes me rethink the engines i have used, and a new approach in the future.
+1 4.8 years ago@crowxe - yeah - definitely suprising results, i wouldnt have guessed that the higher twr would be more efficient...and the challenge was a great way to figure it out. i was wondering if it was because the higher twr got it moving faster initially(like the solid stage), or needed it the whole flight, and the best way to test that? just food for thought
4.8 years agoi have used some low twr rockets, that seemed to get to orbit efficiently...but they burn so much fuel getting up to the first 100-200M/S, i would add a solid stage(high twr) with just enough to get it moving. but not sure if that quick fuel burn ended up saving fuel overall...
4.8 years agoThrust to Weight Ratio
4.8 years agoanother way you can try is - "set craft pitch" command, then "wait 1 second" (whatever time it takes the craft to respond), then "lock heading on current". that should hold the heading until you want to change it, then "lock heading on none" to stop it
4.8 years agothe nuclear powered engines work good on satellites for small, accurate adjustments. the water as fuel can keep the fuel tank size small...hydrogen needs a tank about 10 times as big for the same delta v
4.8 years agoi tried it a couple times on docking satellites, and couldnt figure out how to control it. eventually changed it to the 5 fixed nozzle assemblies, and that worked alot more accurate
4.8 years ago@crowxe @Insanity - thanks, i just have the android version...so hopefully the update will be released soon, but sounds like it adds alot
4.8 years agoyes - the input is in degrees...but recording the output = the position of the pitch slider, while auto pilot is correcting the heading, and will be close to 0 when the craft is lined up with the heading. sounds like the next update will help with alot
4.8 years ago@AnotherFireFox - thank you, i will upload it now
4.8 years ago@AnotherFireFox im not on experimental, just the mobile version...the last update included the vizzy part
4.8 years ago@AnotherFireFox - im not sure what is happening - if i send you the private upload, would you be able to take a quick look? i replaced that part with "while 0=0", and the rest of the program works...but it doesnt start when i switch it to performance inputs
4.8 years agotry checking the control surface inputs in the part settings of the wings/fins, and make sure they are each set for what it is supposed to do...they could get set to a activation group, and turn off, but the activation group would show up in flight
+2 4.9 years agotry looking in the command chip/pod part settings, and toggle on "adjust pilot orientation" - the craft will do crazy things if it is facing the wrong direction, with an engine is on...and above 1-2x speed will just lock the rotation
4.9 years agosorry
4.9 years ago@SupremeDorian - ok - thanks for the quick response, and link to the suggestion
4.9 years ago@huuminberd - the setup of yours are awesome...still using some lift from the wings on the rocket, with a payload, and balanced the 2. i tried a top release - it rolled off, tipped the plane, nosed down with no recovery, or just went into a spin...so i switched to a X1 style drop from the bottom and just rocket thrust, the lift plane does a major pitch up after release too. the gyro orientation is working...so my plane, that releases a rocket, goes into low orbit, then the rocket releases a small drone plane, that reenters and can fly around/land, is almost done. not sure how to name that thing
4.9 years ago@huuminberd - that could be it - there is so much going on during that transition(especially with gizmos and cargo bay involved), its hard to narrow down what exactly is happening
5.0 years ago@huuminberd - im not too familiar with the auto pilot...but the mothership looks right on for controls. on the shuttle, i wonder if 1 command chip(set to rocket) used for space(so gimble/gyro works right) - and a 2nd command chip(set to plane) that only controls wing control surfaces(and maybe additional jet engine). i agree on the crazy actions right after release, probably controls fighting each other
5.0 years ago@huuminberd - it could be the "reorient on configuration change" setting - it keeps resetting my rocket to "plane", when i rotate it from vertical to horizontal(to attach to the launch plane). i toggled that "reorient on config change" to off(before rotating), and it kept the rocket as a rocket, while it was horizontal...and gyro worked properly(for the 2nd time ever)
5.0 years ago@huuminberd - yes, sorry, forgot that you didnt want to release it. nice job on the rocket launcher planes - i am trying to figure out the gyro orientation, for a cargo plane that drops a rocket...it worked once, by luck...but every time i change the drop rocket, the gyro spins it like a top, instead of holding the heading - did you have any of that happening, or an idea of what im doing wrong?
5.0 years agono problemo
5.0 years agoto control a seperated part, it needs its own command chip, choose "set primary" in the main one of focus, and the other will come up as "craft _".
+1 5.0 years agoactivation groups are controlled by the command chip settings in "edit activation groups" - it has a toggle for starting on or off
not sure what you are asking... in the part shape tool?
5.0 years ago@huuminberd - cool - glad it worked for you. i had the same issue before, and all the mechanical parts worked right...but if a gyro is in there, its orientation gets funny(if both assemblies dont have the same "up" or heading)
5.0 years agoif you build the arm seperately, with its own command chip/action groups, then save it as a subassembly - it will keep its commands to itself. after that, load your main craft, bring in the arm subassmbly, and attach it with a interstage. it works the same as having a rover or satellite that has seperate controls
+1 5.0 years agoOk, thanks - and RIP to all of our fallen juice
5.0 years ago@Bmcclory - im not sure what that means, keyboard letters? i was wondering for the control sticks on the mobile version(i should have put that first). if i put foreward/reverse on pitch input, then brake is effected when i turn(on the left stick) - or foreward on throttle input(with no reverse), and turn with roll - or all left stick= throttle input and yaw to turn(no reverse) but its adjusting throttle/brake at every turn
5.0 years agowe are going to have to build super heavy duty excavating equipment now....
+1 5.0 years agoi had a couple act funny until i put them on a activation group, and turned on the fuel lines between them and the battery
5.0 years agosorry, i did get the wheel brakes to work...so just cant get the reverse thrust on brake input
5.0 years agomajical beanstalks...
5.0 years agoi am on the android, so i dont think i can do the xml...but i did use the electric motors on a different rover, still attached them to wheels, but set them on an activation group that i kept "off". i might try that again - the rocker bogie does look like a fun one to build
5.0 years ago