The Docking Computer thread.

bamber

B
Some people will say that using the docking computer just makes the game easier, I still manually dock occasionally to keep in a skill level and I just lost my docking computer to heat damage


The docking computer is a tool and a useful one at that and well worth its minimal cost - A take off computer would be ace!
 

Nanos

Nanos
So far I've found the new model to be much better than the old one, and it has yet to fluff things..

It came close a few times when other ships got in the way, but it was able so far, to just scrap by without getting stuck.

I have noticed though that if you approach the letterbox and then let the docking computer take over, it doesn't always do what you think it will do, and instead of just heading in, will do some fancy moving around first, which makes you kinda worry just what it is going to do !

I keep an eye on it every time, just in case..

I wonder if this means in the future in the UK, we won't be seeing Google self drive cars, but Frontier self drive cars.. :)

No doubt, watching them park in Tesco will be interesting to watch !
 

Zplintz

Zplintz
Personally I prefered the old threads when the DC was terribly slow and killed players.

I don't get to tell people "that's what you get for putting your ship in the 'hands' of a clank" anymore.

Pah! Sarah Jane - you have a lot to answer for........ ;)
 
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Tigorath

Tigorath
Lol, yeah, the old docking computer did get a bit of bad press. Now it flies better than a human. If it could use guns then we would all retire planetside and let the docking computers take over the galaxy. Thargoids? Pah, I have a docking computer. We got this!!! Invest in reinforced cup holders people.
 

Arry

Arry
She's a psycho! Can I call my DC a she, I wonder? At the same time, no bumping in to other ships for weeks, which is a great improvement, especially consiering the speed it pushes the ship at. On the subject of speed, why no speeding warning when she is boosting towards the station, or inside when heading towards the station rear pads? Love the 98 to 99 Ms as she slips through the letter box; one can almost feel the cheeky grin.
 

tomalus

T
I used docker since december, it never crashed my ship, several times I had to take over to prevent crash,once it docked in reverse.But from 1.3. it now boosts,and docks outposts easy,also takes over inside station. The fastest way to dock is to manually fly inside and let docker take over to land.

The best thing about it is that I can let it take over, and go take a ,or read galnet/pp screen, or just alt tab and take a break for awhile.
 
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Tigorath

Tigorath
I wondered that. No speeding fine. Could it be that the police actually prefer the docking computer flying the ships than the stupid carbon based bags of liquid sat in the pilot seat?
Also its definately a she, designed by a female that knows what she's doing. The AI improvements are staggering.
Aye, I grin every time knowing that there is no way I can dock that good.
 

Dommarraa

Dommarraa
The dc is so well designed it has been granted legal indemnity. Speeding under dc control is legal.
I loved 1.1, and think 1.3 should have been sold as the advanced Docking computer at a much higher cost.
Good as 1.3 is, it still whales about a lot when used on a conda, less haste more speed please
 

cassog

C
Only had one mishap so far with the DC. If you think auto-pilot through the letterbox is hairy wait till you see it perform at an outpost - just nosedives into the pad and comes up at the last second.
My one mishap though was when it didn't pull up and just went slamming into the pad - luckily I had full shields and was on hand to jerk back the throttle into full reverse. No (great) harm done, but I still wouldn't leave it alone to dock while I went and made a brew.
 

Tigorath

Tigorath
Well at least you can drink your brew whilst docking. Cup holders once again people. I should try using one on an Eagle. Mind you my eyes would probably bleed. Sounds like its a lot slower on a Conda and yeah, it did the outpost thing and sphincter factor 8 for nosediving but still insanely fast. I need to rewire my docking computer so I can get close to one of those capital ships.
 

Arry

Arry
cassog said:
Only had one mishap so far with the DC. If you think auto-pilot through the letterbox is hairy wait till you see it perform at an outpost - just nosedives into the pad and comes up at the last second.
My one mishap though was when it didn't pull up and just went slamming into the pad - luckily I had full shields and was on hand to jerk back the throttle into full reverse. No (great) harm done, but I still wouldn't leave it alone to dock while I went and made a brew.
Click to expand...

Oh I have seen it, watched many time with my finger hovering over the reverse thrust button. Thinking 'ok, slow down, Slow Down, stop Stop STOP!' I find it is easier to watch the throttle map, you can see it at work and makes the trip a little less frightening.
 

Retrograde

Retrograde
Dommarraa said:
think 1.3 should have been sold as the advanced Docking computer at a much higher cost.
Click to expand...
Yup, it's worth way more than the current price. We need two models now - perhaps the cheap one flies more slowly, never boosts, and plays the Blue Danube in MIDI.

It also still works impeccably at 12% integrity. I think it should flicker a bit and fail intermittently at really low health. When it fails, you're left tumbling FA off! :)
 
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Sarah Jane Avory

Retro Queen
Sarah Jane Avory
cassog said:
Only had one mishap so far with the DC. If you think auto-pilot through the letterbox is hairy wait till you see it perform at an outpost - just nosedives into the pad and comes up at the last second.
My one mishap though was when it didn't pull up and just went slamming into the pad - luckily I had full shields and was on hand to jerk back the throttle into full reverse. No (great) harm done, but I still wouldn't leave it alone to dock while I went and made a brew.
Click to expand...

Next upgrade to DC fixes this. Plus I made it a bit faster/safer in places.
 

Tigorath

Tigorath
Sarah Jane Avory said:
Next upgrade to DC fixes this. Plus I made it a bit faster/safer in places.
Click to expand...
Faster? We need to re-inforce our cup holders!! Great work btw Sarah. You must be proud. The blinky green light is now blinking smugly. Grr.

Nice one Red-5. I hoped people might enjoy it. Love Elite, love the docking computer and love writing humour. You guys are awesome.
 

Connolly91

C
When you have pilots who have manually been docking since PB asking themselves whether it's worth doing it manually because the DC does it almost as well, you know you're doing well. I support the idea of having a Standard and Advanced Docking Computer though, the standard being based on the old code, the Advanced being based on the new (perhaps maybe with auto-departure?)
 

Commander Starcloak

Commander Starcloak
Excellent review. I haven't needed or wanted a docking computer yet (can land my Clipper just fine myself, thanks), but I am very seriously considering it for when I buy an Anaconda or a Type 9.
 

Tigorath

Tigorath
Well they are quite relieving when you drop out of FSD after a long haul. Just ask for permission, throttle back and enjoy the ride. Here, have a cup of tea. :)
 
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