Docking Computer

What exactly is so difficult about landing on a docking pad? Am I the only one who didn’t die on their first landing?

I just installed ED on a new laptop to see if it could run. The mouse sensitivity was super high and yeah I nearly didn't make it out the dock.

I hereby call for an Undocking Computer.
 
These threads always make me laugh when they get an appearance from the "lrn2dock" crowd.

We don't use docking computers because we can't dock. We use them because why should we if there is an option? I can dock anything, anywhere. What's the point if I can have an automated system? Wahoo, another 2 minutes to make a coffee, have a smoke, check emails, blah blah blah.

Or do you all use your almanacs and chronometers when plotting your hyperspace jumps too? No? You let the system do it for you? How about those gimballed weapons? Flight assist? Tada. Welcome to our world.
 
I never have and never will use a docking computer. It's a waste of an internal slot and I've heard about it violating the speed limit resulting in people coming back to a rebuy screen. I'll manually dock instead.
 
A number of my ships do not use docking computers - these include ships intended for use on planet surfaces (doesn't work there anyways), dedicated combat ships (need room for armor and other combat necessities), scavenger ships, and a few other types - again largely because the docking computer is either useless or takes up space much better served by other modules.

However, there are few ships I do use a DC on - freighters, smuggling ships, system-hoppers, and the like. On these ships, the small slots occupied by these would likely have little else of use to fit in them, so why not? With at least one of my freighters, the DC saves me a good bit of time, as it can carry out the docking process while I'm plotting a course and be ready to jump out of the system as soon as I've offloaded/loaded cargo.

And if I need to, I can always take manual control and fly myself.
 
I tried it once - just to hear the Blue Danube for the 1st time since somewhere around 1984.

The docking computer proceeded to repeatedly smash my Beluga into a tower in the High Tech Station until I figured out ( under great stress ) how to turn it off.
 
It would be nice if it didn't take up a slot and could be purchased and installed directly into the onboard computer as an addon, maybe at a higher price depending on the ship. Maybe have the onboard computer count as a core module, with modification slots that behave like the fighter bay and SRV bay slots.

Playing on solo, it's pretty great, no issues. In Open, well, it can have some issues with overshooting the mailslot when trying to get to it, but otherwise it will get it in after pulling back and realigning. Root cause is probably related to whatever causes NPC ships in Open to freak out inside the station and stall long enough that they get killed by the station for loitering in the bay and one of the station lasers goes wide and hits you, stripping your shields and part of your hull instantly just as you undock, while Solo play NPC ships have no issues.
 
It would be nice if it didn't take up a slot and could be purchased and installed directly into the onboard computer as an addon, maybe at a higher price depending on the ship. Maybe have the onboard computer count as a core module, with modification slots that behave like the fighter bay and SRV bay slots.

Playing on solo, it's pretty great, no issues. In Open, well, it can have some issues with overshooting the mailslot when trying to get to it, but otherwise it will get it in after pulling back and realigning. Root cause is probably related to whatever causes NPC ships in Open to freak out inside the station and stall long enough that they get killed by the station for loitering in the bay and one of the station lasers goes wide and hits you, stripping your shields and part of your hull instantly just as you undock, while Solo play NPC ships have no issues.

Why a raspberry pi would take up a 1-ton slot is beyond me. Must be the liquid nitrogen overclock cooling system.
 
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DC should go into a utility rack, since it should be the size of a briefcase. Same goes for scanners.

It shouldn't even take any space up at all in your ship. Airliners can autoland, they don't install any physical extra hardware onto them for it, it's all just software, logic and 0's and 1's.
 
It shouldn't even take any space up at all in your ship. Airliners can autoland, they don't install any physical extra hardware onto them for it, it's all just software, logic and 0's and 1's.
Actually, some autopilot systems require an extra set of control cables/hydraulics throughout the entire aircraft. Most planes aren’t fly-by-wire (yet).
 
Ive had one one on and off over the years. I can land anything without one but in my type 10 i currently have one so much easier for afks to go make a cuppa wazz break etc...

Although after a recent uss incident threat 4 is all it was... I dropped in and before i knew what was happening 2 capitol ships were in there and a. Swarm of small ships was red ? lol
hadn't even fired a shot.. Awesome it was....
Anyway i jump out at something like 70 hull(those big ships Hurt) and as i approach Station for repairs i engage type 10s docking computer.....
Go for a wazz come back and there's my beloved Odyssey ii being repeatedly smashed into the station wall..... Just below the mail slot.....
Anyway long story short.....
Hadnt noticed the DC was at 40% integrity.
Thank the engineers for class 8A grade 5 shields......

Dont use a damaged DC lol.....
all that was missing was
"im sorry commander..... Im afraid i cant do that.".
 
Actually, some autopilot systems require an extra set of control cables/hydraulics throughout the entire aircraft. Most planes aren’t fly-by-wire (yet).

I know. I'm well aware of how flight controls integrate into automation, thank you.

For the sake of simplicity, it's not like an engineer has to install a huge great box down in the avionics bay with 'AUTOLAND MODULE' stamped across the front of it. That was my point.
 
I’ve only been playing about a month, and I never knew about the docking computer until a few days ago. I have docked my Python at stations, outposts and planetary bases. I even made about twenty runs into a station that was on fire to rescue survivors. When I discovered the docking computer I installed it without reservation. I can dock in any situation, I’ve proven that to myself. But man it’s sure nice to just sit back and let the computer handle it. If there’s room, I’ll always have one.
 
Yes, I always fit one if I have room. It's very confident and reliable these days. I particularly like the fact that in 3.0 they've fixed the station dialogue, so that you get told a pad number as soon as you request docking and then a extra "Automated docking engaged" when you throttle back.
 
It shouldn't even take any space up at all in your ship. Airliners can autoland, they don't install any physical extra hardware onto them for it, it's all just software, logic and 0's and 1's.

Scanners and dc should be computer upgrades for the ship not filling slots or utilities. The scanners are basically upgraded stock scanners anyway. And dc basically could be run by upgraded nav computer.
Or have it so you have a computer upgrade slot which can hold 2 scanners and dc. Almost like a vehicle hanger. But only needs a class 2 slot.
 
The only ship I use it on is my exploration Anaconda. Unlike most of my ships it has the slot to spare, and it would be very embarrassing to spend months out in the black then get the ship caught in the toast rack on the last day of the mission. Best let the computer do it when I'm out of practice. Plus it's nice to hear the music after being away from civilisation.

And apologies to regular readers who must be fed up with this by now, but somebody mentioned the size of the DC so I am forced to once more post this image of the prototype.

DOKR320.jpg
 
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