Cutters and Computers...

[evanevery]

Been flying my Cutter for several weeks now. Still trying to find out its best purpose... Anyway...

She's a big girl. Never quite know where her hips are. Always a crap shoot getting out through the mailslot without pranging the toaster grid or some poor incoming pilot...

Always figured I would need a docking computer for her. (I'm also relatively lazy). Even wasted a size 4 cargo slot for one!

What I DIDN'T figure was that the Docking Computer has no idea how to fly the ship! (I thought it was just me)

I've been flown into the outside of stations (just under the mailslot grill) on several occasions... Its never happy trying to negotiate nearby traffic during planetary landings... ...and yesterday, it flew me right into the tower in the middle of a planetary armory. It started flying in circles (its a "boost" thing...) and I just watched incredulously as it spiraled right into the tower and stuck there. I had to apply a little back throttle to disengage the docking computer (can't go forward - big "hips" you know...) and then a little side thrust to unimpale myself. Then I had to resume manual control to bring it into the vicinity of the landing pad. (This really sounds an awful lot like my wedding night... But I digress...)

The bad news is that the ED Docking Computer has very little idea how to fly a Cutter. The good news is, although you take some shield damage, no one seems to yell at you or threaten your docking rights as long as the Docking Computer is driving.

I know better than trying to boost the Cutter unless I'm trying to run or don't care about lateral drift. It appears the Docking Computer does not this. However, I'm still not sure it is advantageous to dock without one. I also never boost the Cutter before throttling back to engage the Docking Computer. That would just be "entertaining" (at best)...

So, I don't know if this is technically a "bug" but the Cutter Docking Computer is definitely broken! Anyone know where I can get a firmware update? Something that could be RNGineered perhaps? "Class 5 RNGineered Working Docking Computer Please? 25% thermal increase, 18% power increase, Complete loss of cabin pressure... Sounds like a winning roll!"

Anyone else have similar experiences?

 

[ratchet5000]

It's been like this since launch, on almost every ship

 

[Katnisseve]

I don't know why you've been having such issues, but I also have the cutter. I've got a docking computer on it and I've not one time had it have an issue.
What thrusters do you have installed?

 

[evanevery]

I don't know why you've been having such issues, but I also have the cutter. I've got a docking computer on it and I've not one time had it have an issue.
What thrusters do you have installed?

My Cutter is Class A across the board (inc thrusters)

- - - Updated - - -

It's been like this since launch, on almost every ship

I've got several different ships and NEVER seen this before. ...and it happens every few flight hours.

 

[Zeeman]

Docking computers? Pffftt.. You kids these days, you'll be pushing them to make "flying computers" soon.

Back in my day, we didn't have any of that computer assisted rubbish, you flew the ship by feel, you'd wet your index finger, stick it out the canopy and check where the solar winds were trying to take you! Sometimes you were lucky, and a solar flare would give you a push in the right direction! Heck, we'd look out the window to see if our nacelles would fit through the slot! The eyeball MKI is a lost art, I tell you! Pfftt... Kids these days...

Now get off my lawn!

Z...

 

[GTwannabe]

Drop your landing gear before letting the docking computer take over. That will prevent the DC from attempting to boost-somersault-bellyflop at the mail slot.

 

[colprice2002]

Ive come to the conclusion that the DC is great for the ships upto Anaconda size, but it has problems with the Clipper, Cutter and Corvette.
The most reliable way I reckon is to manually line the ships up with the slot, then hit "x" to engage the DC once inside. Same technique as the smuggler's entry, but slower.

I must admit that the DC is really useful for outposts (finding the landing pad) and planetary landings especially in high g.

 

[CMDR Seron]

Or just let your docking computer not take over the ship until it reaches a specific distance to the station. In my experience, a distance under 5 km prevents the docking computer from using a boost.

 

[Jockey79]

Been flying my Cutter for several weeks now. Still trying to find out its best purpose... Anyway...

She's a big girl. Never quite know where her hips are. Always a crap shoot getting out through the mailslot without pranging the toaster grid or some poor incoming pilot...

Always figured I would need a docking computer for her. (I'm also relatively lazy). Even wasted a size 4 cargo slot for one!

What I DIDN'T figure was that the Docking Computer has no idea how to fly the ship! (I thought it was just me)

I've been flown into the outside of stations (just under the mailslot grill) on several occasions... Its never happy trying to negotiate nearby traffic during planetary landings... ...and yesterday, it flew me right into the tower in the middle of a planetary armory. It started flying in circles (its a "boost" thing...) and I just watched incredulously as it spiraled right into the tower and stuck there. I had to apply a little back throttle to disengage the docking computer (can't go forward - big "hips" you know...) and then a little side thrust to unimpale myself. Then I had to resume manual control to bring it into the vicinity of the landing pad. (This really sounds an awful lot like my wedding night... But I digress...)

The bad news is that the ED Docking Computer has very little idea how to fly a Cutter. The good news is, although you take some shield damage, no one seems to yell at you or threaten your docking rights as long as the Docking Computer is driving.

I know better than trying to boost the Cutter unless I'm trying to run or don't care about lateral drift. It appears the Docking Computer does not this. However, I'm still not sure it is advantageous to dock without one. I also never boost the Cutter before throttling back to engage the Docking Computer. That would just be "entertaining" (at best)...

So, I don't know if this is technically a "bug" but the Cutter Docking Computer is definitely broken! Anyone know where I can get a firmware update? Something that could be RNGineered perhaps? "Class 5 RNGineered Working Docking Computer Please? 25% thermal increase, 18% power increase, Complete loss of cabin pressure... Sounds like a winning roll!"

Anyone else have similar experiences?

Have you tried docking it yourself?

I've never used a DC on my Cutter. Had one on my Annie for 10 minutes, it did this weird ballet at a planet outpost and almost killed me, so I took it off and never used once since.
The Cutter is wonderful to fly, and as long as you don't try to rush landing her - she'll do you proud every time.

 

[Bladefeather]

Docking computers? Pffftt.. You kids these days, you'll be pushing them to make "flying computers" soon.

Back in my day, we didn't have any of that computer assisted rubbish, you flew the ship by feel, you'd wet your index finger, stick it out the canopy and check where the solar winds were trying to take you! Sometimes you were lucky, and a solar flare would give you a push int he right direction! Heck, we'd look out the window to see if our nacelles would fit through the slot! The eyeball MKI is a lost art, I tell you! Pfftt... Kids these days...

Now get off my lawn!

Z...

Well, in 84' the docking computer was probably the most essential item to buy so... Nostalgia?

 

[Chris Simon]

I know this is an unpopular opinion, but...
By the time you get a Cutter, you should be a good enough pilot to handle her.

Docking computers are for lazy sods.

 

[Hellfire85]

Docking computers? Pffftt.. You kids these days, you'll be pushing them to make "flying computers" soon.

Back in my day, we didn't have any of that computer assisted rubbish, you flew the ship by feel, you'd wet your index finger, stick it out the canopy and check where the solar winds were trying to take you! Sometimes you were lucky, and a solar flare would give you a push int he right direction! Heck, we'd look out the window to see if our nacelles would fit through the slot! The eyeball MKI is a lost art, I tell you! Pfftt... Kids these days...

Now get off my lawn!

Z...

Made my day
I so want to see it done this way xD

No seriously, makes me wonder why some people are so obsessed with big clumsy ships...

 

[Gunnet]

When I first bought my Cutter I fitted a docking computer "just in case", since I had heard all the stories about how hard it is to dock in one. Gave it two shots, and it tried to kill me both times. I immediately sold the DC and haven't scraped the paint once (small NPC ships which appear once you're committed to passing through the airlock and blindly fly into your nacelle notwithstanding).

I'd suggest just dropping the DC and getting used to doing it manually. Remember to treat her like an A380 rather than an F-22 and you'll be fine. If you actually like large ships, the Cutter is the most entertaining vessel to fly in busy areas anyway.

 

[Zeeman]

Well, in 84' the docking computer was probably the most essential item to buy so... Nostalgia?

This is true, but it actually warped you into the station!

Z...

 

[OldSchoolPlayer]

I have had the same problem every now and then getting confused below the grill. I prefer to use the computer so I can have a quick toilet break between flights.

 

[Elyssaen]

I know this is an unpopular opinion, but...
By the time you get a Cutter, you should be a good enough pilot to handle her.

Docking computers are for lazy sods.

It's really disappointing that docking computers can never be mentioned on this forum without this kind of post. It seems there's an unbelievably large contingent of players (not sure if you're one) who steadfastly believe that docking computers are used by an inferior class of player that doesn't know how to fly their ships.

Though, to be fair, the OP did say he's lazy and indicated he wasn't sure he could fly her manually, so maybe in this thread it's sort of fair enough. But, you know, docking is a non-negligible amount of time spent on a sort of 'mini-game' it's entirely reasonable to skip. I have docking computers on just about all my ships, often actually deactivated, but every few times I turn it back on so I can spend the time plotting my next route, making a cup of tea, checking this forum or others, changing the playlist, etc.

As to the OP, I've never owned a Cutter, so maybe I don't have anything useful to say on-topic! But I have noticed that the docking computer isn't very good at recovering from excessive speed approaching the station. I can imagine that being exacerbated in the Cutter. If I was flying manually, I'd know how to handle the excessive speed I always fly in with, but the docking computer sometimes... doesn't.

It's particularly frustrating when this happens:
1. I'd rather dock manually, but dammit, I left it switched on. Okay, it's okay, I'll just fly anyway. It won't activate as long as don't zero the throttle.
2. Dammit! I zeroed the throttle without thinking. It just switched on and has taken over and... no, NO, you're doing it wrong! We were going for a high speed side-ways approach with an FA-off twist and hard lateral thrust to bring us under control! You're flying into the station!
3. Okay, okay, got to stop this going wrong. Lateral thrust! Lateral thrust hard! Dammit! Why is it the manual controls I actually need aren't ones that actually override the docking computer and give me back control? Hitting the throttle won't help here! Okay okay, maybe I just hit the throttle briefly, or maybe I go into Modules and disable i–
4. Ah. A rebuy screen.

 

[BDelacroix]

I haven't trusted docking computers since the first game. You will get used to the feel of the big ship. If I can do it, anyone can.

 

[CMDR Endincite]

Zero issue with DC on a Cutter, but I wait until it passes the mailslot to engage it (saves a ton of time vs. engaging it outside)
Surface, yeah, just lower gear first.

 

[Punished Mobius]

Ain't nothing wrong with a Docking Computer. People will be using them more often now that people will be making fun of each other while docking.

 

[BL1P]

Me normally :
Drop out of Supper.
Aim near entrance - Boost - F6 (Dock req macro) - FA-off and Throttle to Zero.
Coast while slowly flipping ship to be facing towards entrance in the end.
"Try" and time FA-On - So stabilized to Zero speed will be finished as slot lines up.
Boost - and drop Throttle to Zero when just before slot.
Inside station, Docking computer takes over.
Blue danube version.

Me when I want a coffee or need to go the toilet :
Drop out of supper.
point at station - Boost - Stand up - F6 - do a little dance from foot to foot - Throttle to zero - run away.
Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy version.

Me without Docking computer and FA-off :
Drop out of supper.
3million adjustments and copious amounts of swearing later I land.
Benny Hill version.