The Docking Computer thread.

[T1-Jafo]

Docking Computer after 1.3.02

DC is also getting another upgrade... I'm making it a bit safer (fixing a few boost distance issues), and faster in some cases, especially when approaching the slot of a Coriolis station. It can avoid the holding position and fly straight in. For fun, if you briefly take control to hit boost, it can fly through the slot at over 260 m/s... and still dock safely! Now that is a scary ride!

Actually I the change from 1.3.01 to 1.3.02, has had almost the opposite effect that I have seen. Flying a type 7, yesterday, (or now the day before yesterday), in 1.3.01, it worked perfectly - and it was fun. Today, "the roller coaster ride" has dropped down to kiddie level, and it seems to have more trouble calculating and making the approach. The comparison was with the same stations. Don't know if it is related, but there is a long pause before the DC music starts playing compared to before. I tried boosting, and warped through the letter box and inside the station alright, but ended up thrown against a wall and then tangled up. Although I had full shields which I'm sure helped, hull integrity went down to 67%. Luckily, I was able to turn off the DC module and make it to the landing pad. And here I thought it was a scary ride before! My mistake, and 100% my fault had I blown up my Type 7 and lost 208 tn of Gold; but I knew the risk when I hit the boost button.

I am by no means complaining, I think the whole ordeal I caused was funny; just figured you would want to know.

Personally I like the way it behaved with 1.3.01, way better.

Overall though, it is still a great improvement on the Docking Computer from what I remember a few months back.

Jim

 

[noodle]

I'd be lying if I said I didn't do it on purpose.
A big thank you to everyone for the nice comments. Makes me want to do better.

*cough* undocking *cough*

 

[salad]

Why oh why would anyone ever use the docking computer? It's slow and it takes up a module slot and manual docking is easy unless you want to speed dock.

There's something magical about having a pint while watching your ship dock listening to Blue Danube, I can't explain.

 

[Glenn Ross]

I'd be lying if I said I didn't do it on purpose.
A big thank you to everyone for the nice comments. Makes me want to do better.

You can do it BETTER! That I'd like to see! Last time I used a DC was Amazing.

*cough* undocking *cough*

+1. Would love to see an Advanced Docking Computer with Launch Control. Boost you out of the station at full chat , avoid the security forces, align on your hyperspace vector, keep the boost up until you're out of mass lock, and hit the FSD. That would be such a rush.
Yes, I know. I'd probably never use it myself, but it would come in handy for trying to earn a crust whilst making my tea.

 

[Arry]

Last night my DC tried to squeeze my ship through a gap too small at an outpost?

Maybe my own fault. I was about to take off into the black and realised I had forgotten something. So lifted off of the pad and requested docking. Docking request was granted to another pad and so the DC tried to fly through a gap in the Outpost structure. At 1st I was not sure if the gap was big enough, soon to realise that it was not. Reverse thrust and re-alinement required and all ok, apart from 2 shield rings down.

Arry.

 

[Arjin]

It's the fastest way to dock... The roller coaster manoeuvre!

copied form the other docking thread, I still think you should do this,, just for a day

"Lol good stuff, and for more *evil grin* fun, when the DC engages boost, have the screen go black, like blackout from too many G's and then have a bunch of crashing, explosion sounds complete chaos, and then screen fades in to find yourself safely docked "

 

[tetra]

Want to add a thumbs up for this too. Before yesterday I hadn't bothered with the docking computer since pre-release. Decided to stick one on my new python last night for a laugh and have to say it now does an absolutely awesome job of docking! Very quick and efficient even if the outpost docking did make me reach for the controls a couple of time as it nose dived towards the platform lol. Will definitely be keeping it in my loadout for the meantime while I'm trading.

 

[Rauminen]

There's something magical about having a pint while watching your ship dock listening to Blue Danube, I can't explain.

^^This. Although with coffee, and playing conductor with my ecig. Brings back twenty something yo memories too. Thanks SJA!

 

[Eonsu]

First of all, I love the new DC mechanics, well done Sarah.
Though last night I had an interesting experience.
I was flying my FDL to finish a naval ascension mission into a Coriolis. Approached within 7.5 and let the DC take over. Slipped in nicely, but once inside the station, well it got interesting.
There were three ships that just left their pads. two sideys and a T9. I thought I would let the DC do its thing, but it basically tried to outmuscle the T9.
It ran me into the face of the T9 and then tried to go faster as it was being pushed back. The T9 just laughed and I had to take over before I lost my sheilds.
This is the only incident that I have had with the DC, so all in all, its great if a little suicidal at times.

 

[M00ka]

Sarah, first off, well done and a big thank you on all the great work you have done with the AI's etc. Tip me hat to ya


Now onto the docking computer. I only recently installed one and boy did it bring back memories when I heard THAT TUNE - thank you for not leaving that out. I have noticed that your docking computer doesn't obey the new speed restrictions, and I have no problem with that, one of the reasons why I finally installed one. But have you thought of expanding it to take care of departing from a station? With said new speed restrictions, it would be nice to have your wonderful AI lift the ship off the platform, successfully exit the station and boost under AI (which the station seems to allow) to a point just outside of the No Fire Zone (where I think the speed restrictions cease). Would be even better if it automatically lines up with the departure point but that is just getting lazy lol
Just a thought, I know it is the height of being lazy but will stop any speeding fines

 

[KellyR]

So they impose the speed limits and now they're supposed to work around them? Huh? I'm surprised that the docking computers will speed. These things are supposed to be programmed with the applicable laws. And I have to agree with the speed limit. Of course you can break it and the station or the authority ships won't say boo; unless you collide with something and then you get a fine for reckless flying. They even give you a full week to pay it.

 

[Andromalius]

After seeing this topic I decided to give it a try, and it indeed has become pretty good. Not as fast as me on average, but it helps in some cases (you know, that outpost if full light where you can't see where the landing pad is, or the lazy way to dock a coriolis whose entrance is on the other side)
I usually endup maneuvering through the entrance manually and letting it do the landing proper once I'm in, because, I don't wait in queue.
And don't do it AFK if you have a cat, mine pushed my controller which ended up slamming my ship against the wall, I could recover because I wasn't far.
Only time the DC failed is when, for some reason, it decided to slam me against an outpost landing pad before correctng position. I have good shields so it was ok but it was a bit scary.

 

[CMDR Pugwash]

I use one on my T7, it reduces some of the grind. I would like it undock too, that would be very useful.

- - - Updated - - -

There were three ships that just left their pads. two sideys and a T9. I thought I would let the DC do its thing, but it basically tried to outmuscle the T9.

Were the other ships NPCs or players?

 

[Eonsu]

It was NPC's, I play in a private group.

I have now even managed go convince my freinds to use DC's.
They have not used them for ages now and the new mechanic scared them silly on an outpost landing

 

[invisible]

Not sure if this is currently a known issue, however I am finding that the DC when on an Imperial Clipper keeps knocking into the station at speed, collapsing my shields and knocking 2-8% off my hull. If this is already being looked at, that is awesome. What I see happen is that it boosts towards the slot, then turns the ship around and has the rear run into the station, then turns around to enter the slot and dock.
While it is novel to use the station to stop/slowdown it is a little bad for the wallet causing 100k+ of damage on dock.

 

[Monk]

Not sure if this is currently a known issue, however I am finding that the DC when on an Imperial Clipper keeps knocking into the station at speed, collapsing my shields and knocking 2-8% off my hull. If this is already being looked at, that is awesome. What I see happen is that it boosts towards the slot, then turns the ship around and has the rear run into the station, then turns around to enter the slot and dock.
While it is novel to use the station to stop/slowdown it is a little bad for the wallet causing 100k+ of damage on dock.

Can confirm, this happens to my Clipper too....seems to be related to engaging auto dock closer that 7 km but still far enough to boost. Fortunately when it happens to me, my shields are just able to stay up (C7).

 

[Sarah Jane Avory]

Not sure if this is currently a known issue, however I am finding that the DC when on an Imperial Clipper keeps knocking into the station at speed, collapsing my shields and knocking 2-8% off my hull. If this is already being looked at, that is awesome. What I see happen is that it boosts towards the slot, then turns the ship around and has the rear run into the station, then turns around to enter the slot and dock.
While it is novel to use the station to stop/slowdown it is a little bad for the wallet causing 100k+ of damage on dock.

Yes, already looked at as part of my next DC update. I've also fixed some navigation issues around outposts and changed a few other bits to make everything safer/faster. Some ships are quite bad at decelerating so I've fixed the code to cope.

 

[Soopyyy]

Yes, already looked at as part of my next DC update. I've also fixed some navigation issues around outposts and changed a few other bits to make everything safer/faster. Some ships are quite bad at decelerating so I've fixed the code to cope.

Are you adding any extra features to the DC or just fine tuning?

 

[Luki Bobstar]

Yes the new docking computer is awesome, so much better, great improvement - thanks!

At outposts it's great, and I love that it kicks on so far away now too.

One teeny tiny thing though. If I boost in, fly right in front of the letter box then throttle down, why does it boost me away from the letter box and dock again from there? I've taken to flying right in then letting DC take over to avoid this.

 

[Sarah Jane Avory]

One teeny tiny thing though. If I boost in, fly right in front of the letter box then throttle down, why does it boost me away from the letter box and dock again from there? I've taken to flying right in then letting DC take over to avoid this.

I've looked at that too. So much so, if you time it right and briefly take control to hit manual boost, DC can fly a ship boosted to over 200 m/s straight through the slot... A bit scary, but so much fun! Unless you get it wrong... then... BLAM! Hello station wall!