Auto Pilot

FoxFire Ayderan · Nov 22, 2017

I'm an Elite noob, so I'm sure this topic has been discussed before and there have probably been many objections to it. Perhaps good ones.

However, honestly traveling can be SUCH a royal pain.

I'm sure many players would love to have an Auto pilot. Perhaps as part of an advanced docking computer.

An auto pilot which could jump you from system to system and also take you to the station, and then even dock you up.

BUT of course this should come with some very large downsides. For instance, such an addition should be very costly, and push up your rebuy cost substantially.

Secondly, it ought to be slooow. Perhaps taking twice as long to travel, not only in Super Cruise within a system, but also between systems.

And of course an interdiction attempt will immediately disable it. If you are not at your PC if and when interdicted, well you're probably going to die.

Joe Akeem · Nov 22, 2017

I'm not sure i'd ever use it but your suggestion with downsides is quite good. Maybe even restrict it to 'within system' targets.

Love flying and docking manually but, yeah for those Guinness sessions...I can totally see it.

Hell Razor5543 · Nov 22, 2017

It has definitely been brought up before, and the answer is always "No". Currently the only form of flight auto pilot is the Standard Docking Computer. I believe the attitude of FDev is that Players should PLAY the Game, and not ask their computer to do so.

However, your downsides do have some merit, as (IIRC) they have not been suggested.

Robert Maynard · Nov 22, 2017

FoxFire Ayderan said:
I'm an Elite noob, so I'm sure this topic has been discussed before and there have probably been many objections to it.

Dad Rock · Nov 22, 2017

+1 but I would hesitate to have a fully automated system for travel, just because the risks would be too great. Still, a hyperspace jump loop controller of some sort would be fantastic for those long distance trips outside the bubble:

1. It'd let you plot a course to the last fuel star on your route.
2. You must choose the Economic plotting route.
3. Interdictions and neutron stars would break the hyperspace jump loop

Joe Akeem · Nov 22, 2017

Robert Maynard said:
Indeed, here's a selection:
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/31241-Autopilot-Please
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...opilot-or-a-Navigation-Computer-will-be-great
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...ort-for-AutoPilot-should-we-have-an-AutoPilot
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/337794-Auto-pilot
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/344450-Limited-Autopilot-for-Hyperspace-Routes
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/346999-FSD-autopilot
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/348431-Suggestion-Auto-Pilot
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/349734-SUGGESTION-Route-plotter-and-automation
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/363813-Suggestion-Route-Autopilot-or-Crew-Piloting
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/374013-SYSTEM-TO-SYSTEM-AUTO-PILOT
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/380837-Autopilot

Yes we know.

I was firmly against it. But, with serious drawbacks, a pretty steep price and used up utility slot. Why not?

Lestat · Nov 22, 2017

I don't think it really needed. If we add a bot and a few macro and such the game will play itself. Then we add gold sellers. Then they can sell the accounts to new players.

MBaldelli · Nov 22, 2017

Joe Akeem said:
Yes we know. I was firmly against it. But, with serious drawbacks, a pretty steep price and used up utility slot. Why not?

Good Lord why? This would be like going into Flight Simulator and expecting the plane to do all the work while you're reading a book, washing the dishes, cleaning the house. If that's what you're looking for, perhaps you need to find a different game to play.

FoxFire Ayderan said:
I'm an Elite noob, so I'm sure this topic has been discussed before and there have probably been many objections to it. Perhaps good ones.

However, honestly traveling can be SUCH a royal pain.

That goes for you tpp. Trail and error will help you understand the dynamics of the game... As Rita Mae Brown once said, "Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment." Go out and learn the game first before trying to improve it from the "newbie" standpoint.

777Driver · Nov 22, 2017

FoxFire Ayderan said:
I'm an Elite noob, so I'm sure this topic has been discussed before and there have probably been many objections to it. Perhaps good ones.

However, honestly traveling can be SUCH a royal pain.

I'm sure many players would love to have an Auto pilot. Perhaps as part of an advanced docking computer.

An auto pilot which could jump you from system to system and also take you to the station, and then even dock you up.

BUT of course this should come with some very large downsides. For instance, such an addition should be very costly, and push up your rebuy cost substantially.

Secondly, it ought to be slooow. Perhaps taking twice as long to travel, not only in Super Cruise within a system, but also between systems.

And of course an interdiction attempt will immediately disable it. If you are not at your PC if and when interdicted, well you're probably going to die.

Never quite understood why people here think an autopilot should have downsides. I can't think of a single autopilot or flight management system that has a downside, obvious exception is a degradation of hand flying skills if the use of automation is abused.

Renown · Nov 22, 2017

It could be called the Navigation Officer, who looks after all navigation and route planning as part of the Multi-crew...oh wait.

MBaldelli · Nov 22, 2017

PHDarren said:
It could be called the Navigation Officer, who looks after all navigation and route planning as part of the Multi-crew...oh wait.

Let's call him Bob.

777Driver · Nov 22, 2017

PHDarren said:
It could be called the Navigation Officer, who looks after all navigation and route planning as part of the Multi-crew...oh wait.

Ah yes, the good ol DDF https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...na-come-out-dead-”-Ship-Crews-Elite-Dangerous

jonluv · Nov 22, 2017

You could have an Auto Pilot to fly you anywhere--- An Auto Trader to do all your trading and perhaps an Auto Killer to kill all the baddies --- or to put it simply why bother playing at all

[Diplomacy] Carnegie · Nov 22, 2017

jonluv said:
You could have an Auto Pilot to fly you anywhere--- An Auto Trader to do all your trading and perhaps an Auto Killer to kill all the baddies --- or to put it simply why bother playing at all

But who's going to watch Netflix for me? That's what I want to know!

777Driver · Nov 22, 2017

jonluv said:
You could have an Auto Pilot to fly you anywhere--- An Auto Trader to do all your trading and perhaps an Auto Killer to kill all the baddies --- or to put it simply why bother playing at all

Ridiculous counter argument. I have never seen anyone request those functions in game, have seen plenty of people request a basic autopilot on-board. You know, those things that have been around since the 1930's, something that was installed in my Piper Archer, yet a ship in 3303 is limited to flight assist, essentially CWS, an outdated tech.

MBaldelli · Nov 22, 2017

777Driver said:
Ridiculous counter argument. I have never seen anyone request those functions in game, have seen plenty of people request a basic autopilot on-board. You know, those things that have been around since the 1930's, something that was installed in my Piper Archer, yet a ship in 3303 is limited to flight assist, essentially CWS, an outdated tech.

Not when you consider that this suggestion is basically wanting to do what a flight sim is meant to do: Take-off, Fly, and land. We have part of an auto pilot already in place as you can point your ship in a direction and unless your controls are in some way wonky -- the ship will still fly in a straight line. But to add this to what's already there is coming off as the first step to what @jonluv is snarking. Playing the game without actually playing the game.

Just because you find the request reasonable, doesn't mean everyone here does. Heck, even I found the request something enabling special snowflake syndrome as an auto-pilot seems to be taking away the one thing that makes this game unique. It can be boring sure.. But when I find the game that boring, I do what I suggested -- find another game to play.

777Driver · Nov 22, 2017

MBaldelli said:
Not when you consider that this suggestion is basically wanting to do what a flight sim is meant to do: Take-off, Fly, and land. We have part of an auto pilot already in place as you can point your ship in a direction and unless your controls are in some way wonky -- the ship will still fly in a straight line. But to add this to what's already there is coming off as the first step to what @jonluv is snarking. Playing the game without actually playing the game.

.

What are you even talking about? I'll ignore the part about flight simulators... Yes, Flight assist is a basic autopilot, you are essentially repeating what I have already said.

The Op is asking for a guidance system from launch to dock, jonluv replied with a ridiculous counter argument.

An autopilot doesn't necessarily mean Push a 'BIG RED BUTTON' go make coffee and watch Netflix. In fact automation and a guidance system can add a lot more depth & complexity than point at target destination, engage FSD, fly in a straight line, nudge stick every now and then, disengage.

Out of curiosity, do you have any experience with actual autopilots or guidance systems?

MBaldelli · Nov 22, 2017

From the OP: An auto pilot which could jump you from system to system and also take you to the station, and then even dock you up.

777Driver said:
The Op is asking for a guidance system from launch to dock, jonluv replied with a ridiculous counter argument.

This basically sounds to me like having the car drive for you from Lave, to Araxe to Sol (permits permitting) and back again. About the only interaction at that point is upon landing to trade your good, pick up some new goods, turn it back on and go watch Netflix, hoover the kitchen, whatever -- as long as you don't have to sit there and interact with the game. Until it's time to interact again.

777Driver said:
An autopilot doesn't necessarily mean Push a 'BIG RED BUTTON' go make coffee and watch Netflix. In fact automation and a guidance system can add a lot more depth & complexity than point at target destination, engage FSD, fly in a straight line, nudge stick every now and then, disengage.

Play it however you want -- that sentence alone from the OP makes it appear that the OP as little interaction with the game as possible.

777Driver said:
Out of curiosity, do you have any experience with actual autopilots or guidance systems?

No more than you apparently, given you didn't pick up the possibility that other people aren't interpreting what was said the same way you were.

777Driver · Nov 22, 2017

Ok so you answered my question, you have absolutely no idea, fair enough.

In the context of ED, a few things spring to mind -

Guidance for optimal paths between two points in a system (Straight line is not always optimal)
Either FPV guidance for manual flight or the ship follows the FPV (A flight director)
Manual or automated optimal guidance for approaches into orbital or surface ports.
Ability to manually plot or allow the ship to fly the most optimal path between planetary bodies whilst exploring and scanning a system

Phases of automated flight that require manual intervention, even when under autopilot guidance.

Optimal paths for mass shadow braking... Many, many things that can make cruise more engaging for the CMDR

Currently the flying we do in game is what is referred to as raw data flying, incredibly boring in this game (point and wait) however it is tolerated by most. Like many others the op finds the current implementation tedious.

instead of thinking small like jonluv, you can think a bit bigger. Automation doesn't need to involve pushing a button, then watching Netflix. Ironically watching Netflix already seems to be popular due to how mind numbing SC currently is.

Automation can provide an engaging experience if implemented correctly, if you still don't get it, that means no big red button, no implementation that removes the need to manually trade/fight/defend

FoxFire Ayderan · Nov 22, 2017

MBaldelli said:
Good Lord why? This would be like going into Flight Simulator and expecting the plane to do all the work while you're reading a book, washing the dishes, cleaning the house. If that's what you're looking for, perhaps you need to find a different game to play.

Evil lord because the GAME should not have to supplement actual things to do (let alone be largely about) the mundane and boring task of flying your ship from one place to the next, but rather about what you do when you get there and anything else you might do in between. If the developers were going for a flight simulator then they did a terrible job at it since the smallest planes in FSX are far more interesting to fly. Which by the way, many of the planes in that game, which you fly over far more interesting scenery, have auto pilot.

And trust me, just because I'm new to the game doesn't mean I can't comprehend how utterly tedious travel in this game can be, particularly when you need to baby sit the controls. It's not going to get any better with experience.

As for doing other things around the house as you travel, a) so what and b) that's extremely risky as you could still be interdicted. Personally I would spend the time doing other game related things either in or out of the game.