The Docking Computer thread.

[Luki Bobstar]

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!

Ha! Yes, I've crashed like this smuggling forgetting to turn it off.

 

[Vingtetun]

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!

Cheers for the pointer - awaiting videos on Youtube of people testing out just that....

Whilst you're here - has there been any thought about archiving some of the older docking code, before you made improvements and having 2 tiers of DC, one that mostly works/goes slowly and one that is the shiny upgraded demon docking machine you're working on?

 

[Sarah Jane Avory]

Cheers for the pointer - awaiting videos on Youtube of people testing out just that....

Whilst you're here - has there been any thought about archiving some of the older docking code, before you made improvements and having 2 tiers of DC, one that mostly works/goes slowly and one that is the shiny upgraded demon docking machine you're working on?

If you drop the landing gear before activating DC it'll fly slower and not use boost.

 

[Roninpaul]

Docking computer is much better than the mark1 version, with this one you don't have to be able to see the pad small station) or the entrance for a star port, request docking once accepted cut engines and it will take you to your allotted pad. Even joining a queue if needed . The Blue Danube music from a space oddity 2001 is great to sit back and chill ax .

this latest version by Sarah Jane is superb and seems to tackle the most busy stations with ease

 

[invisible]

Thanks! Overall it is very nice. Good idea on dropping landing gear prior to docking.
It would be nice if the game let us play Blue Danube everytime we docked not just using DC. That said, the DC is very nice to use apart from the occasional bumps. Thanks for your hard work.

 

[lemny]

Ha! Yes, I've crashed like this smuggling forgetting to turn it off.

I always smuggle with DC active.
- go to 7km in front of the slot or fly a large curve
- Full speed (A-kitted Cobra, no need for boost)
- at 5km aktivate silent running (i know, not necessary near 300m/s, but if it feels cool)
- right at the entrance deactivate siltent running und hit the brakes
- the DC takes it from here and lands to the parking slot (somtimes it goes all the way backwars if your slot is near the entrance)

You simply have to stay on the gas after docking request, so the DC will not take over until you hit the brakes.

 

[Chaodiurn]

I have but two complains about the docking computer, making it fall short of perfection:

1. You can't turn silent running on or off while it's active. If you begin to auto-dock while it's active you either sit through it or disengage auto-dock.

2. The docking computer seems to have problems with station exteriours. Especially the rings of an Orbis station are crashed in with joy by my T6's computer.

 

[lemny]

1. You can't turn silent running on or off while it's active. If you begin to auto-dock while it's active you either sit through it or disengage auto-dock.

That's an issue... you can hit the gas and it turns off, but thats not always a good idea
I hope they buid in more and more key bindings over the time and toggle the DC should be one of them.

 

[Shaamaan]

Stupid question time #973321.2:

How the hell does one disengage auto-dock when it's already active?

Two methods I found (both ugly and slow):
- cancel docking
- disable the docking computer module

Is there a faster way?

(I never used a docking computer before, as it was kind of bad - wanted to try one out now)

 

[ianw]

Stupid question time #973321.2:

How the hell does one disengage auto-dock when it's already active?

Two methods I found (both ugly and slow):
- cancel docking
- disable the docking computer module

Is there a faster way?

(I never used a docking computer before, as it was kind of bad - wanted to try one out now)

With a hotas I just move the throttle slightly - without hit whatever key/method you use for throttle?

 

[Shaamaan]

With a hotas I just move the throttle slightly - without hit whatever key/method you use for throttle?

<facepalms desktop>

I was trying X - full stop - which for some reason didn't do it. Well, I guess it DID do it, but then the auto-dock took over again...

 

[Chaodiurn]

Stupid question time #973321.2:

How the hell does one disengage auto-dock when it's already active?

Two methods I found (both ugly and slow):
- cancel docking
- disable the docking computer module

Is there a faster way?

(I never used a docking computer before, as it was kind of bad - wanted to try one out now)

You can also disengage it by turning flight assist off. It will continue, however, if you turn it back on.
Also, self-destruct. Obviously.

 

[lemny]

@Sarah... three suggestions for the great docking computer:
1. Please add a key binding for initiate docking or toggle the DC on/off
2. at outposts, if I fly close to the landing pad and throttle down, it always goes up to 1km an then down again. Maybe you could check if the ship is near the 1km-line you fly for the final approach, it cuts the line and goes direkt down to the landing pad.
3. could you leave other functions like silent running and target selection etc. accessable while the DC is doing his work?

PS: and tell the other guys, they should change the Dr. Who hyperjump to a smooth transistion between the skyboxes with a slight wobble like the normal FSD transistion. (like in the first Video of ED I have ever seen)

 

[mill4176]

Speeding with Docking Computer

Last night I was playing ED and finally bought my Type 9. She maybe ugly on the outside, but boy I love the cash I get with trading :-D. Anyway as I got to the station I let the Docking Computer take over to dock. As it approached the station and lined up for the mail slot a NYC comes out of nowhere and crashes into the side of me. The station the proceeded to blast me out of existence for murder. I almost lost my Type 9 as I barely had enough to pay for the insurance :'( . Now while I know the Docking Computer was speeding, I thought I read somewhere that when the Docking Computer was active you didn't have to worry about fines and stuff for speeding. Am I wrong?

 

[Armchair]

The whole speeding system is just an ugly mess. Sorry for your loss op. It wouldn't have been a problem if the speed limit was set to something more reasonable.

 

[Mnemoch]

I read that too, once under control of the docking computer no speeding system applies. Ticket it.

 

[Gully Foyle]

The fine was for collision not speeding.
I don't think it's ticketable as a bug.

 

[SirAdelaide]

The fine was for collision not speeding.
I don't think it's ticketable as a bug.

The point is that if the computer is in control, you aren't meant to be liable for collisions. So it's a bug.

 

[Jarsil]

I couldn't resist. I bought the docking computer just because

1) I wanted to listen to Blue Danube
2) I play sometimes on external monitor with my Mac, and it's almost impossible to avoid stuttering and low framerates, and I'm sick of plastering myself on station mailboxes

My opinion? It's totally awesome. Useless, because in normal conditions docking is really easy, but awesome still. And it's perfect when you are a bit lazy and just want to land safely with your precious cargo.

did I say it was wonderful to listen at Blue Danube again after 20 years?

 

[Sarah Jane Avory]

@Sarah... three suggestions for the great docking computer:
1. Please add a key binding for initiate docking or toggle the DC on/off
2. at outposts, if I fly close to the landing pad and throttle down, it always goes up to 1km an then down again. Maybe you could check if the ship is near the 1km-line you fly for the final approach, it cuts the line and goes direkt down to the landing pad.
3. could you leave other functions like silent running and target selection etc. accessable while the DC is doing his work?

PS: and tell the other guys, they should change the Dr. Who hyperjump to a smooth transistion between the skyboxes with a slight wobble like the normal FSD transistion. (like in the first Video of ED I have ever seen)

1. Sorry, that's not my call.
2. Okay, will check that. Should be easy to change.
3. Not so easy as the AI takes over control of the entire ship. However, if I get a spare moment...