Powerplay 1.3, The new faster docking computer. (Video)

nosscar

nosscar
All we need now Sarah is it bound to a key, for us guys that use voice attack. pretty please. Also with an on/off key, just for those times when we are a bit naughty, and need to boost into stations ourselves.
 
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Gromit

Gromit
EddyRockSteady said:
Drop the landing gear prior to requesting docking permission for a Gentlemanly approach and subsequent docking.

Bloody marvelous!
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The DC cheats, and continues to use the afterburner with the landing gear down if you are any distance away from the station. Good suggestion though! If it obeyed the current manual rules regarding gear down and boost, I would have been very happy.
 

Jukelo

Jukelo
Please don't make the DC too good though. The average player shouldn't gain in efficiency by using it, the DC should only be a crutch for the trully bored or wholly incompetent.
 

Sarah Jane Avory

Retro Queen
Sarah Jane Avory
nosscar said:
just logged off, but i will try the station from behind again.... soon.
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Sorry, not yet... Navigation code around awkward stations has been fixed internally, but I'm still testing it. Now works a charm on the station in the video, avoids the massive ring by using thrusters while still maintaining boosting speed. But for those who would like things a bit slower (safer?) I've also ensured that lowering the landing gear will disable docking boost.
 

NeoTron

NeoTron
Jukelo said:
Please don't make the DC too good though. The average player shouldn't gain in efficiency by using it, the DC should only be a crutch for the trully bored or wholly incompetent.
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Please don't make self driving cars drive too good, the average driver shouldn't gain efficienty by using self driving cars!

I believe your argument is flawed and somewhat selfish. The number one reason for self driving cars is to gain efficiency (in terms of many aspects - fuel use, safety etc) over human drivers and all their flaws. The same can be said about the docking computer. Still, even if the docking computer is identical to a player in terms of docking speed (and it likely never will quite), you still give up an internal slot to fit it. If you're worried that it docks better than you, just fit one yourself.
 
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n13L5

n13L5
nosscar said:
Posted this here just for you non-beta guys.
The new Docking computer in 1.3 by Sarah, is excellent now.
It is much improved and so fast, and now works on Outposts, notice it now uses boosts to the station, so here's a couple of short clips.

At a Station. (Diamondback)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNN5KKglAz0

At an Outpost. (Diamondback)
This ones a bit scary the first time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfb1HpBg-kw

Great job on this. HOTS (Hats off to Sarah)

But i did manage to break it. (sorry Sarah)

Coming in from behind a station.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B3irzNp5EQ

But good news, from behind a Coriolis station. works great.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_dbcno9bDw

Trying to use External camera with the Docking Computer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZijLT1h4PA

And here is how bad it used to be, just to compare the difference.
A really hilarious video from Mahdog.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GC2n2_qDXCg
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Awesome, thanks a lot for the videos! :D

My only remaining gripe is, that docking software should run on your existing ship computer, rather than being a separate computer. Hence it should take up neither a slot nor draw any power.

On some ships, I literally couldn't install a docking computer, because there was no power to run it..
 

Jukelo

Jukelo
NeoTron said:
Please don't make self driving cars drive too good, the average driver shouldn't gain efficienty by using self driving cars!

I believe your argument is flawed and somewhat selfish. The number one reason for self driving cars is to gain efficiency (in terms of many aspects - fuel use, safety etc) over human drivers and all their flaws. The same can be said about the docking computer. Still, even if the docking computer is identical to a player in terms of docking speed (and it likely never will quite), you still give up an internal slot to fit it. If you're worried that it docks better than you, just fit one yourself.
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Please leave real life analogies outside, games should reward skill (or rather in this case, punish lack of)
 

Nebulocity

N
Sarah is a developer? If so, any chance you can illuminate the thought process into how you did it (for instance, using something like A* algorithm to detect available paths, given ship sizes and maneuverability)?
 
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nosscar

nosscar
Sarah Jane Avory said:
Sorry, not yet... Navigation code around awkward stations has been fixed internally, but I'm still testing it. Now works a charm on the station in the video, avoids the massive ring by using thrusters while still maintaining boosting speed. But for those who would like things a bit slower (safer?) I've also ensured that lowering the landing gear will disable docking boost.
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i never had any doubt you would fix it, can't wait to try break it again though. Just the beta tester in me. lol
But either way, the improvements to the DC has been astounding already.
And yes a choice of a slower approach is a good idea too, but i like the fast and scary more.
 
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Gromit

Gromit
Sarah Jane Avory said:
Sorry, not yet... Navigation code around awkward stations has been fixed internally, but I'm still testing it. Now works a charm on the station in the video, avoids the massive ring by using thrusters while still maintaining boosting speed. But for those who would like things a bit slower (safer?) I've also ensured that lowering the landing gear will disable docking boost.
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Thank you very much for tweaking the lowered landing gear behaviour, it is greatly appreciated.:)

I had noticed (at least with Beta 3) that the solar arrays sticking out the sides of some Orbis stations (like Mallet Hub in Gilgamesh) are also candidates for avoidance. My Eagle's wings lost quite a few feathers to those array wings before I could halt the proceedings.
 

Stoo

Stoo
Not sure if it's been mentioned but the docking computer is setting the speed to just over 100m/s, when inside the station, this could get you in trouble if another ship popped up and you ran in to it.

Surely the docking computer should max at 99m/s to avoid this?
 

nosscar

nosscar
Stoo said:
Not sure if it's been mentioned but the docking computer is setting the speed to just over 100m/s, when inside the station, this could get you in trouble if another ship popped up and you ran in to it.

Surely the docking computer should max at 99m/s to avoid this?
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I think the DC is exempt from any fines for collisions at over 100m/s
 
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