Horizons Vehicle bay alternate use ideas

Out of a whim got the big, 4 slot vehicle bay and it's a bit excessive even for long exploration trips for (moderately) careful drivers. Then I got an idea:
I could pick up scientific or prospecting equipment in a vehicle bay slot, land on a planet and deploy it to gather data to sell to certain contacts or corporations or even act as a beacon for missions: "go plant this seismograph for us in this region of this planet" or something. Deploy a Galileio-like probe in the orbit of a gas giant to study some of that alien algae, perhaps? Beacons for long-range exploration trips or just to guide you to a location with a private beacon. A small automated observatory for scientific contacts?

What kind of equipment and missions would you like to see if we got this kind of a system?
 
Some sort of long-range wave scanner with the ability to update a planetary map.

But I would also settle with simply four different SRVs. At some point we will need at least a mining SRV and a proper combat one.
 
+1 Mining drones!
YEEESSS

Even if a probe didn't give you anything other than credits it would add to the immersion of exploring for exploring sake! Updating the map (maybe strengthening your wave scanner signal) and other +s would be awesome.

Love the idea.
 
Hm... setting up new nav or tourist beacons could be interesting.

Setting up multiple "packed" planetary outpost modules for an incoming research team would also be nice. I also would think plopping down your own mining drills and an ore storage you land on would be interesting. Same for finding some filthy pirate stealing your ore!
 
I'd like to have 3 additional different SRVs
- one with more cargo capacity (6-8 tons instead of two) but only a small pulse laser turret instead of dual plasma repeater (could be used for mining and cargo gathering missions)
- a fighter SRV with a beam laser but no cargo capacity and increased hull and shield values (for skimmer missions)
- a faster SRV (maybe 50 m/s) and no weaponry and no cargo capacity but also higher engine capacitor recharge and capacity (ideal for races and general fun)

Cheers
CMDR Hasenearl

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Mining Drones would also be a great idea. Leave them on a planet with a signal only you can find. After some time (maybe a day or so) go back to find up to 15 units of mined elements.
 
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Thoughts:

For the SRV:
- Dedicated combat version
- Passenger version (non-combat). Possibly also able to conduct seach and rescue
- Mining version for identification of mineral deposits and mining of

For the SLF:
- Shuttle between ships
- Shuttle from primary ship to say an orbital, with small cargo capacity instead of weapons
- Shuttle to planetside, possibly able to carry an srv. I'm conscious that some of our ships might not be atmosphere capable and that we might need shuttles to go planetside when that arrives
- Glider. For the days when all you want to do is drop cargo, a remotely controlled one way glider that would have increased cargo capacity for atmospheric landing of goods
 
For the SLF:
- Shuttle between ships
- Shuttle from primary ship to say an orbital, with small cargo capacity instead of weapons
- Shuttle to planetside, possibly able to carry an srv. I'm conscious that some of our ships might not be atmosphere capable and that we might need shuttles to go planetside when that arrives
- Glider. For the days when all you want to do is drop cargo, a remotely controlled one way glider that would have increased cargo capacity for atmospheric landing of goods
For some reason I see a new, massive class of ships that cannot dock normally and need to use shuttles instead for fuel, cargo and other business. And having a small, dedicated dropship would be also sensible for a larger ship.

These could be our way onto atmospheric worlds, as well; have multiple pilots dock or attach to a larger ship, each one takes a rover in the dropship rover bay and the dropship makes planetfall for a proper exploration/raiding mission.
 
For some reason I see a new, massive class of ships that cannot dock normally and need to use shuttles instead for fuel, cargo and other business. And having a small, dedicated dropship would be also sensible for a larger ship.

These could be our way onto atmospheric worlds, as well; have multiple pilots dock or attach to a larger ship, each one takes a rover in the dropship rover bay and the dropship makes planetfall for a proper exploration/raiding mission.

I think the point here is that these are potential options/vessels to facilitate new gameplay. I'd love to the option to actually be involved in building a new base. Maybe Planetcoaster will develop the technology for building planetside bases?
 
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