Thargon AI for Limpets

[Konnivar]

Let's face it, limpets are stupid. If a material is on the opposite side of a wall it will smash itself into the wall trying to retrieve the item; destroying itself in the process. Limpets don't need to have all of the AI features that Thargons do (don't allow limpets to dodge point defense for example), but things like pathing around objects and being able to alter their speed would be nice.

Additionally, limpets should be able to deliver to an open cargo hatch at any speed, not just the scooping speed. It doesn't make sense that the cargo explodes when the limpet should be delivering it to my cargo bay at the same speed I'm traveling.

 

[Roqinn]

Yep, people have been saying this since Limpets came out.

 

[MK Regular]

Yep, people have been saying this since Limpets came out.

I don't blame them, either.

 

[Konnivar]

Yep, people have been saying this since Limpets came out.

They went over how the Thargon AI works to path around objects in the Discovery Scanner livestream series; I figure they could modify that a bit and have it work for limpet pathing.

 

[Limoncello Lizard]

As long as it doesn't slow limpets down even more. Returning limpets seem to take an unnecessarily long time.

 

[Konnivar]

As long as it doesn't slow limpets down even more. Returning limpets seem to take an unnecessarily long time.

Hopefully this would make them faster, so they wouldn't have to do that crazy "fly 500m vertically below the cargo hatch" thing that they currently do!

 

[Bunkerkind Anni]

at least, with the upcomming option to filter what they should collect in "free" mode,
we could ask for limpets NOT require a permanent open cargo hatch to deliver - and open that hatch automatically for a split second

 

[metatheurgist]

Additionally, limpets should be able to deliver to an open cargo hatch at any speed, not just the scooping speed. It doesn't make sense that the cargo explodes when the limpet should be delivering it to my cargo bay at the same speed I'm traveling.

I agree limpets should be smarter but this I disagree with. If the limpet isn't as fast as your ship how will they catch up and deliver the cargo when you're speeding away?

 

[Konnivar]

I agree limpets should be smarter but this I disagree with. If the limpet isn't as fast as your ship how will they catch up and deliver the cargo when you're speeding away?

Currently, limpets move at about 200m/s (a bit faster if you have an item targeted); if I'm moving at 100m/s with my cargo hatch open and try to have them deliver cargo (not materials or fragments) to me the cargo will be destroyed instead of scooped. If a limpet can reach your cargo hatch it should deliver the cargo safely, not destroy it.

 

[space voyager]

You want the limpets to shoot at you and go kamikaze?!

I wonder what physical shortcuts Thargon AI is taking though. Ones that limpets may not have been given and ones you wouldn't notice in the middle of the fight.

 

[Limoncello Lizard]

so they wouldn't have to do that crazy "fly 500m vertically below the cargo hatch" thing that they currently do!

Yeah. That might look nice when using fuel limpets, but I don't like my limpets mucking around.

You want the limpets to shoot at you and go kamikaze?!

I wonder what physical shortcuts Thargon AI is taking though. Ones that limpets may not have been given and ones you wouldn't notice in the middle of the fight.

They already kamikaze just fine, deciding to take shortcuts straight through the nearest asteroid. It's this stupid behaviour that the OP is anting to prevent.

 

[Kaocraft]

Currently, limpets move at about 200m/s (a bit faster if you have an item targeted); if I'm moving at 100m/s with my cargo hatch open and try to have them deliver cargo (not materials or fragments) to me the cargo will be destroyed instead of scooped. If a limpet can reach your cargo hatch it should deliver the cargo safely, not destroy it.

Meh. You're right but I think the general sentiment still stands. I like them as disposable, barely functional, derpy robots. They can't deliver cargo at their absolute maximum speed because this doesn't leave them enough margin for maneuvering effectively enough to get the cargo through the hatch without smashing it. (Their throttle has to be in the "blue zone" in order to steer properly)

Doesn't mean I wouldn't like to see more depth to how they function or more nuance to the ways they can be configured, though. I just don't think they automatically need to be able to safely deliver cargo at any speed.

Since limpets are sythesizable now, maybe we need "premium synthesis" version which increases their maximum delivery speed?

 

[Bunkerkind Anni]

and who doesn'T want a limpet controller that is able to launch 30 limpets at once

 

[Limoncello Lizard]

and who doesn'T want a limpet controller that is able to launch 30 limpets at once

too right. Rather than one that just gives one more limpet when you quadruple it's size.
Resulting in a 128 ton class-7 controller that controls a mere 4 limpets.

 

[Konnivar]

too right. Rather than one that just gives one more limpet when you quadruple it's size.
Resulting in a 128 ton class-7 controller that controls a mere 4 limpets.

This, 100% this.

 

[MK Regular]

too right. Rather than one that just gives one more limpet when you quadruple it's size.
Resulting in a 128 ton class-7 controller that controls a mere 4 limpets.

Why not just give the size 3 controllers the mass of a size 2 module, the size 5 controllers the mass of a size 3, etc...? Then that class 7 controller would be 16t and control 4 limpets.

Better yet, why not just make limpet controllers sizes 1-4?

 

[Limoncello Lizard]

Better yet, why not just make limpet controllers sizes 1-4?

Then there would be some small justification in the way that limpet modules scale, though even this is exponential mass increase for the extra limpets.

Here's my design for a Class-7 Limpet Controller.

 

[CMDR Theowuld]

I realize they like having the whole "linear increase in efficiency vs exponential increase in cost" thing, but with something like a limpet controller, it makes less sense for it to do so in tonnage. If you are remote controlling multiple drones you just need separate controller programs, transmission frequency deconfliction, and probably distinct antennas to cover the various bandwidths. So...the main change for hardware is extra antennas. So it shouldn't increase weight very much. Energy requirements on the other hand will get crazy. Also having a lot of stuff running at once may jam your own comms or sensors. That would be fun lol

 

[Konnivar]

Then there would be some small justification in the way that limpet modules scale, though even this is exponential mass increase for the extra limpets.

Here's my design for a Class-7 Limpet Controller.

lol, just strap a Courier to the sides of our ships instead of a class 7 limpet controller then!