I now believe driving SRV does not increase your exploration rank at all

[Kalpa]

When Horizons released we explorers found we got exploration rank increases without returning data. Theorizing began on what was the exact cause. Soon enough we had narrowed it down to SRV driving or discovery of new materials or looting said materials. However, no one managed to exactly specify which action gave exploration rank gains.

I've been mining past few hours and since the introduction of 2.1 mining asteroids drops those 'materials' (iron, sulphur, nickel, germanium, you know) which just keep piling on.

I've gotten increased from 38% to 39% into elite exploration rank doing this. I am fairly certain it is the looting of these materials that is causing exploration gains.

Unless, of course, they've added regular mining ores to increase your exploration rank...

Nevertheless I propose that driving SRV does nothing, zero, nil to your exploration rank, only the collection of materials. We've had enough people drive around in circles and doing nothing else and gotten zero gains.

 

[Henkka77]

I can do a little test soon, im currently ingame 30Kly away from the bubble and with 54% Trailblazer exploration rank. I can look some landable and go just driving and see if that does nothing to my exp rank.

 

[goemon]

- discovering materials increases ranks

- srv driving in known to do so via 1.5. patch-notes, look it up!

- sounds interesting ... there are new materials ingame, no? so you'll gather rank like written above.

 

[Flash_Baggins]

Collecting materials boosts your rank a lot more than driving, but driving does contribute
I think its a bit too little though, as I have driven over 300km on Beagle Point and only gotten 1% on my Ranger rank

 

[Henkka77]

I now really think its how OP said. Drove 15 minutes straight, almost 50km and my 54% Trailblazer is still 54% Trailblazer.
So, driving the SRV only does not increase your exploration rank, mat collecting needed also for that.

 

[Kalpa]

- discovering materials increases ranks

- srv driving in known to do so via 1.5. patch-notes, look it up!

- sounds interesting ... there are new materials ingame, no? so you'll gather rank like written above.

Sure, didn't see any new materials pop out from the asteroids, though. Just good old iron, sulphur, ... I will admit there were a couple of new materials I looted from a sidewinder I killed (some damage shield whatever, manufactured salvage stuff), but I checked my statistics a while (like 10-15 minutes, NOT immediately) after that and I was still at 38% - naturally this could still be due to statistics delay (although in my experience the stats seem to pick up after a few minutes at most)

We'll see in a few hours if I go up from 39% to 40% via mining only.

 

[Noogillim]

Why on earth (or other planets for that matter) should driving for 15 minutes increase your rank noticeably? Maybe a little contribution yes maybe but if you think driving a buggy does add in to your rank then the higher the rank then surely the higher the committed action I would have thought all exploration rank changes should only take stock once you dock and upload and download data be that materials or discoveries?

Maybe you need to drive to poi's rather than just driving itself?

 

[Ziljan]

You do get rank for driving, but it's extremely low, and even lower the closer you are to Sol.

I was 18000 ly out, and it took me more than 500 km of driving to gain 1% on Pioneer rank. No materials were collected for several days before this test, or during.

 

[Kalpa]

I was 18000 ly out, and it took me more than 500 km of driving to gain 1% on Pioneer rank. No materials were collected for several days before this test, or during.

Truly? Well darn, I thought no one actually managed to gain rank solely by driving. I recall we had many initial reports, but under investigation it always seemed to be people could not be certain they had not picked up materials in the process. In addition we had multiple reports of driving around in circles for hundreds of km far away with no effect on rank.

I guess you did your experiment after I'd gone on my hiatus? (after February or so) Or then I'm just a fool and can't remember things for the life of me. I'm sure I could dig through the old threads, but I'd rather not - am afraid I've been actively participating in the experiments and forgotten all about it

 

[dognosh]

You do get rank for driving, but it's extremely low, and even lower the closer you are to Sol.

I was 18000 ly out, and it took me more than 500 km of driving to gain 1% on Pioneer rank. No materials were collected for several days before this test, or during.

^^^This^^^
Never come across a single Ziljan test that was wrong, he is thorough and meticulous

 

[Random Task]

I can also confirm it. Took me 1000km but I went up 1% as I was at 0% when I left home

 

[Jon474]

Yep, same here. Driving and prospecting for cadmium today got me a 1% increase in my Explorer rank.

Driving happy
Jon
T-6E SRV

 

[Greytest]

I can confirm with driving 6.11 MM i made about 5% on my Ranger exploration rank.

Cheers,
CMDR Greytest