How safe is autodock?

[Temple604]

I have been using autodock on my trade ship (exculsively in solo mode) and usually watch it to make sure its making it in ok
I have caught it a few times doing some crazy manevuers and scratching up my ship (which is unshielded)
So far the worst I've gotten is a hit by a turret which was targeting an NPC who deserved death for breaking the rules which took me down almost 8%
I'm wondering if anyone has died due to autodock failing horribly?
Is the safety rate on it around 100%-99%?

 

[bossbrigand]

Autodock once took my T6 into port at full throttle and forgot to steer. I've heard that it's improved significantly since then, but that was both the first and last time I used it - I've found it better to just learn how to fly.

 

[Troa Barton]

It's a good way to clear all those bounties you've been accruing in one stop!
on a serious not its fine now but I'd still keep an eye on it. I've heard of it stopping in the gate and getting people blown up. Just fly your ship yourself commander.

 

[FuzzySpider]

I'm using it in my Anaconda and my Type 9 Lakon.

Not an issue since early Feb.

 

[CMDR Flaxton]

I used the docking computer a few times in Beta just for nostalgic reasons and "the blue Danube", but soon sold it as with a bit of practice docking at both stations and outposts became a lot easier and a damn sight quicker.

I havent been to a station in a couple of weeks now as I am out exploring, but I know after the first few dodgy landings I will soon be back up to speed. Practice is the key and I would say a lot safer than trusting the computer as anything could go wrong... I have heard they are greatly improved since beta, but I dont know if I would trust it with a multi-million credit shop to lash up with.

CMDR Flaxton

 

[Albadaran]

There are some issues that will be solved in 1.3. Like huge ships hanging around forever above a landing pad, and queues inside a space station making the ai try to move out again. Anyway, always stay tuned and don't leave the computer while autodocking.

 

[epoch71]

Auto docking is inherently very risky. And costly.

One time, whilst auto-docking my Imperial Clipper, I was so relaxed in my pilots chair that I dozed off and spilled some rather fine Chateauneuf du Pape.

You have been warned!

 

[Hagledesperado]

I use it, but not unsupervised. On occasion it decides to start rubbing my ship against the inside of the station walls until I switch it off and dock manually.

Hmmm... Anyone know if ships can get fleas?

 

[OrLoK]

Hello there

NEVER, NEVER TRUST AUTODOCK 100PC.

Yes, that deserved caps.

Autodock is just waiting to kill you and your cargo.

Use it? Fine.

Trust it? NEVER!

Take this from *one who knows*

Rgds

LoK

 

[Arcanonn]

I use it all the time, since it got an upgrade (Feb?) it never fails. I often leave the room, if you don't have shields when trading then not advised at all. With shields I've never had a problem even when something goes wrong it's pretty good at correcting itself.

 

[Ancipital]

Most of the time, it doesn't mash your ship into the station. Most of the time.

However, I would find it hard to save any time with it, as I would feel compelled to watch it like a hawk, to seize back control when it screwed up. I find manual docking quicker and far less nerve-wracking

 

[Temple604]

Most of the time, it doesn't mash your ship into the station. Most of the time.

However, I would find it hard to save any time with it, as I would feel compelled to watch it like a hawk, to seize back control when it screwed up. I find manual docking quicker and far less nerve-wracking

This is how I feel about it most of the time, but sometimes its really convenient to set it on autodock and go take a bio break or go afk for a bit.
I'd like to be able to trust that it woln't wind up getting me killed someday.
It'd also be really nice to get some camera views from outside the ship during autodock.
I tried to do it once with the debug cam and smashed into a wall
Is this possible somehow?

 

[Ancipital]

No idea, Temple604.

I just wish that they cheated a little bit, and made you immune from crash damage while the DC was on- I'd use it then. It would be safe to start it docking, and leave the room

 

[ArkSeaJumper]

I tried the docking computer, as one poster has already said for nostalgia reasons, but I found the fact it takes over automatically annoying, I sold it, I prefer manual. Is there away of only using on pres of a button. there are times where you don't want to dance your way in, times where tells say, coming in hot (or as cold as possible) and fast is safer all round.

 

[Ancipital]

I tried the docking computer, as one poster has already said for nostalgia reasons, but I found the fact it takes over automatically annoying, I sold it, I prefer manual. Is there away of only using on pres of a button. there are times where you don't want to dance your way in, times where tells say, coming in hot (or as cold as possible) and fast is safer all round.

No, but you could power the module down, in the right hand modules panel, to prevent it kicking in.

 

[Troa Barton]

This is how I feel about it most of the time, but sometimes its really convenient to set it on autodock and go take a bio break or go afk for a bit.
I'd like to be able to trust that it woln't wind up getting me killed someday.
It'd also be really nice to get some camera views from outside the ship during autodock.
I tried to do it once with the debug cam and smashed into a wall
Is this possible somehow?

Auto docking disengages when you enter debug camera mode... I tried
you just have to line it up perfect and set your thrusters to the right speed.

 

[Deleted member 38366]

-- Deleted --

 

[Temple604]

I'd say the Docking Computer has about a ~1% failure rate.

Most failures focus around the moment shortly after entering the Station.

Depending on target orientation and Pad distance, the Ship can enter a weird gyration, which however is usually self-recovering.
Other than that, the Docking Computer at that point sometimes "loses" track and attempts to reverse immediately back to its previous point (small Ships actually manage doing so - IF there's no following traffic; bigger ships usually collide with the Station gate).

So it's still not a "care-free handling" Docking Computer by all means

PS.
Running it on unshielded Ships is pretty risky - apart from the usual risk of accidentally being shot at by Stations engaging other traffic violators - their Turrets still don't have any CAV (Clear Avenue of Fire) logic, just like our ship's Turrets...

Wow speak of the devil.
I just got interdicted for the first time by an anaconda!
I thought screw you and hit the boost on my T9
1 sec later - boom you are dead
How did I get one hitted??? I mean I had no shields but I should've lasted longer than that right??

 

[masopa]

Haven't had a single issue in the hundreds of times I've used it*. I use it out of laziness / a need to do something else rather than finding it speeds the process up. I approach the station on full boost and while approaching request docking. Depending on whether I'm doing something else on the PC, I either just slow down enough to switch it on, or I motor further towards the station on full boost and then slow down when about 3km out (and usually lined up as I would if I had no DC). I find this is the best way of using DC - rather than relying on it from 7.5km out.

* Only issue was when I was on full boost about 1.5km away, not quite lined up... it took me through the station in pieces. Only done that the once...

 

[Mordu]

I use the Docking computer frequently out of laziness. With that said, I don't leave it unattended. It tends to still get screwy when passing through the mail-slot. It will go mental about every 10 docks or so and turn my ship into a pinball while ejecting me back outside. It also hangs up and hovers for a long time at outpost docks once in awhile and I have to shut it off to land.
Come to think of it, I really should just remove it completely.