Imperial Cutter and docking computer is a joke.

[happyfunball]

So I just had an interesting experience with a DC on a Cutter. What I normally do is to line up with the slot and about 5km out, cut to zero and let the DC take over. A few minutes ago the DC had a bit too much vertical drift and I saw that I was dropping below the grills. Normally I would take over from the DC and enter the slot myself at this point, but today I decided to see where it was going to faceplant me. I watched as it started pulling up, and up, and up, and I resisted the urge to take over. Then I watched in fascination as it pulls a loop right in front of the grill, then aimed perfectly for the slot upon exiting the loop.

I don't think I could have pulled that maneuver as smoothly as the DC did.

 

[Mephane]

It's a docking computer, not an autopilot. Yes, it will take control of the ship and attempt to land, but it uses pre-programed inputs to achieve this. If you persist in not using it for it's intended purpose (docking) and instead as an auto-pilot, then you don't get to protest at it being a bit average at being an auto-pilot.

If it was an AP, it'd say that. It isn't. It's designed to automate docking. Enable it as you cross the gate, or at least line up with the front of the gate first. Expecting it to have capabilities of lateral thinking and being able to make approach vector judgement calls, based on a huge number of variables, is a bit daft, imho.

Well, on the other hand, the docking computer logic/AI is the same used by all NPCs, so any problem the docking computer has with handling a Cutter also applies to any NPC flying a Cutter, so it must be competent enough to indeed do its thing properly on its own.

 

[Comrade Error]

So I just had an interesting experience with a DC on a Cutter. What I normally do is to line up with the slot and about 5km out, cut to zero and let the DC take over. A few minutes ago the DC had a bit too much vertical drift and I saw that I was dropping below the grills. Normally I would take over from the DC and enter the slot myself at this point, but today I decided to see where it was going to faceplant me. I watched as it started pulling up, and up, and up, and I resisted the urge to take over. Then I watched in fascination as it pulls a loop right in front of the grill, then aimed perfectly for the slot upon exiting the loop.

I don't think I could have pulled that maneuver as smoothly as the DC did.

I bet the docking computer Skynet actually did aim for the station wall but missed. If it did aim correctly it would've turned off your shields and boosted into the wall.

 

[Spydah]

So i am not the only one with a drunk DC. most of the time it manages to manoeuvre the behemoth into the tiny mail slot with minimum of scaring. though this last time it just decided to hurl the whole ship at the wall and sod the consequences. Fortunately my shields held, and so did the station, and after repositioning, the inebriated DC slid my ship into the slot like usual. Upon sighting the landing pad, El Drunko panicked and decided to scare the station occupants by imitating a three legged overweight hippo on a babyoil twister mat. needless to say i was a little edgey and after correcting itself (again) the DC landed my cutter, to one side, as usual.
I was going to raise a ticket because of this minor problem and ask if FD could rectify the rollercoaster DC but it seems that its been built by Microsoft so running as expected.
BTW i use the DC so i can relax after wrestling with the cutter through normal space. I would love to know though who at FD thought this flying brick was good enough to be classed as a warship. The turrets dont cover all angles and the turning is worse than a motorbike with no wheels. on the plus side it does look good and sounds great and can carry a lot, kinda like a Harley Davidson. Thinking about it, the cutter handles like one too.
Imperial Cutter - The Space Hog.