The Docking Computer thread.

[lemny]

3. Not so easy as the AI takes over control of the entire ship. However, if I get a spare moment...

Ahh... ok... does that mean, if anyone hit me while the DC is in charge the AI will deploy my hardpoints and fry the other ship elite-style.

PS: I am so in love the Blue Danube after 30 years... I could listen to it a 100 times and it never annoys me

 

[Sarah Jane Avory]

Ahh... ok... does that mean, if anyone hit me while the DC is in charge the AI will deply my hardpoints and fry the other ship elite-style.

No... being attacked disengages the DC. Would be nice though... Perhaps DC v3.0... (joking)

 

[racketear]

Jarsil, it isn't there because docking is hard. It's there because docking is tedious for many...

 

[Jarsil]

Jarsil, it isn't there because docking is hard. It's there because docking is tedious for many...

This is why i called it "useless" and "awesome" in the same post

I know that many find docking tedious, I'm among them, I'm (as I said) also forced to use it sometimes because it's almost impossible to dock myself with a so sever stuttering of graphics.

 

[CrazedHatter]

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.

So, this may be an outlier issue, but I figure since you're here and always so responsive I'd mention it to you. I have added a docking computer to my Clipper, now that it works so well (And it does!) BUT! I tend to boost towards the system to get into range for requesting docking clearance, and with the DC now, I will throttle down as soon as clearance is granted. However, it seems to struggle compensating for the left over boost speed and twice now it has bounced off the station in a situation that I, under manual control, have not. So, figured I'd mention it as a place to tweak... it IS a bit of an outlier situation though, perhaps tied to it boosting even though there is left over boost speed? It does not effect my opinion of the DC (Especially given both times it barely even scratched my shield and it recovered far faster than I ever have making a dumb mistake. )

 

[racketear]

@Jarsil, yeah ok, I'm not trying to split hairs, but surely it is useful because docking gets dull.

And also because Sarah has made it super quick and reliable now!

All good,

Jim

 

[Sarah Jane Avory]

So, this may be an outlier issue, but I figure since you're here and always so responsive I'd mention it to you. I have added a docking computer to my Clipper, now that it works so well (And it does!) BUT! I tend to boost towards the system to get into range for requesting docking clearance, and with the DC now, I will throttle down as soon as clearance is granted. However, it seems to struggle compensating for the left over boost speed and twice now it has bounced off the station in a situation that I, under manual control, have not. So, figured I'd mention it as a place to tweak... it IS a bit of an outlier situation though, perhaps tied to it boosting even though there is left over boost speed? It does not effect my opinion of the DC (Especially given both times it barely even scratched my shield and it recovered far faster than I ever have making a dumb mistake. )

Next update of DC will fix this.

 

[Jack Schitt]

3. could you leave other functions like silent running and target selection etc. accessable while the DC is doing his work?

3. Not so easy as the AI takes over control of the entire ship. However, if I get a spare moment...

If that turns out to be impractical, what about purging the input buffer once the ship has docked? On a smuggling run a few days ago I engaged the DC as I passed the station threshold then tried to disable Silent Running. Panicked when I realised I couldn't, disabled DC, disabled SR, re-enabled DC.

But then in order to "prove" to myself that the controls were disabled during DC I pressed the SR button a handful of times. Obviously an odd handful of times because as the ship touched down the shields went off and the heat started to rise. Fortunately I noticed it right away but if I'd already selected the Commodities Market or -- worse -- the Outfitters, I might not have had time to do anything about it before cooking.

Edit: having had another play, I see that the Silent Running toggle still works while the Stand By Outfitting descent is taking place. So turning it off if I'd noticed it wouldn't have been a problem. It's still unexpected behaviour though; never forgotten once witnessed but likely to catch out the unwary.

 

[edd]

No... being attacked disengages the DC. Would be nice though... Perhaps DC v3.0... (joking)

So if you're attacked your ship will come to a dead halt so that it's an easier target, rather than get to the safety of the station? I'm not sure there's a case where this can be considered good behaviour?

(Still a DC fan, of course!)

 

[Ozmodion]

So if you're attacked your ship will come to a dead halt so that it's an easier target, rather than get to the safety of the station? I'm not sure there's a case where this can be considered good behaviour?

(Still a DC fan, of course!)

lol wouldn't that be a thing getting shot at then the DC takes you to a safe area. maybe inside the station where it is safe.

 

[whelandk]

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...

For 3. I also tried to have the debug camera activated. It would be nice if you could change the view while DC is activated. So I hope you can get a spare moment...

 

[lemny]

For 3. I also tried to have the debug camera activated. It would be nice if you could change the view while DC is activated. So I hope you can get a spare moment...

Maybe it's not necessary to do that because I think the cam will be removed and replaced by a little observer drone or such... that could be a good way not to break the immersion and still have the same functionality.

 

[bobfandango]

Just started using the docking computer becuase a) I now have a python and can spare the slot, b) it is virtually always faster to dock than I'm interesting in doing/attempting. Even if it were 15 seconds slower, which I doubt, its fine because once the computer engages, I can go to the bathroom or get a drink or whatever without thinking about it. Frees me up to do something else... it's great.

My only complaint, seriously, is that it docks TOO fast to get to hear any meaningful amount of the Blue Danube. Honestly, the thing is damn near done docking by the time the music starts. I get maybe 15 or 20 seconds tops. So my suggestion is, make the music start more or less immediately, and also lower the volume of ambient noises like as engines etc so I can actually hear the music. On this last point, maybe provide the option to vary the balance of sounds sources during docking. UI changes are probably not justifiable for this, but it sure sucks to hear so little of the the Blue Danube during docking.....

 

[Sarah Jane Avory]

Just started using the docking computer becuase a) I now have a python and can spare the slot, b) it is virtually always faster to dock than I'm interesting in doing/attempting. Even if it were 15 seconds slower, which I doubt, its fine because once the computer engages, I can go to the bathroom or get a drink or whatever without thinking about it. Frees me up to do something else... it's great.

My only complaint, seriously, is that it docks TOO fast to get to hear any meaningful amount of the Blue Danube. Honestly, the thing is damn near done docking by the time the music starts. I get maybe 15 or 20 seconds tops. So my suggestion is, make the music start more or less immediately, and also lower the volume of ambient noises like as engines etc so I can actually hear the music. On this last point, maybe provide the option to vary the balance of sounds sources during docking. UI changes are probably not justifiable for this, but it sure sucks to hear so little of the the Blue Danube during docking.....

If you drop your landing gear first then engage the DC, it'll stop the DC using boost, plus it'll fly a bit slower.

 

[punkerich]

hey SJA,
just a litte experience from yesterday evening:
in my annie, at some 'coriolis with arms' station, enabled dc from about 2km.
aligned well, speeded up as usual.
just came in 'a bit low'.
you know, i felt uncomfortable in my ~300 mil. anaconda hearing electric fizzle from the shield and scratching metal on metal
while passing the mail slot.
uncomfortable? well, i almost shizzled ma dizzle.
did not take any damage, lucky one.
perhaps an issue with that station model?
and btw, the dc has some strange routine.
i align perfectly with the slot in the distance, dc takes over, pitches down and speeds to an invisible point way off the mailslot,
then thrusts back up and speeds in.
it could've been flying simply straight forward.
what i like the most on the new dc routine is the fact that you can enable dc, fly through the slot by yourself and let
dc do take control just for the actual landing on the pad.
seems to me like best of two worlds.
compared to the very first experiences you've managed to improve it by like 300%, so very well done SJA.
could you be a little specific what improvements exactly we're going to see for the DC, and perhaps even when?
next minor update? or does it have to wait for next major, like last time?
wishing a good day from germany,
punkerich.

 

[CrazedHatter]

Next update of DC will fix this.

See, you're like omniscient or something. You rock! (I'v started doing my manual landings at outposts like your DC when I'm doing my docking myself. it's more fun!)

 

[Shotgun2097]

d. c . is brilliant now i use it on transport hearing that music and rolling a smoke is like a "mission complete" moment but im old enough to remember the original one

 

[Sarah Jane Avory]

hey SJA,
just a litte experience from yesterday evening:
in my annie, at some 'coriolis with arms' station, enabled dc from about 2km.
aligned well, speeded up as usual.
just came in 'a bit low'.
you know, i felt uncomfortable in my ~300 mil. anaconda hearing electric fizzle from the shield and scratching metal on metal
while passing the mail slot.
uncomfortable? well, i almost shizzled ma dizzle.
did not take any damage, lucky one.
perhaps an issue with that station model?
and btw, the dc has some strange routine.
i align perfectly with the slot in the distance, dc takes over, pitches down and speeds to an invisible point way off the mailslot,
then thrusts back up and speeds in.
it could've been flying simply straight forward.
what i like the most on the new dc routine is the fact that you can enable dc, fly through the slot by yourself and let
dc do take control just for the actual landing on the pad.
seems to me like best of two worlds.
compared to the very first experiences you've managed to improve it by like 300%, so very well done SJA.
could you be a little specific what improvements exactly we're going to see for the DC, and perhaps even when?
next minor update? or does it have to wait for next major, like last time?
wishing a good day from germany,
punkerich.

I've sorted out a lot of transitions when the DC is resumed, as well as speeded up the docking request procedure so if it gets an early docking request granted it can head straight for the slot instead of going to the holding position first. Approach to and landing on pads has been speeded up a bit. Oh, and all the boosting distances have been thoroughly checked, so no more Clipper or T6 crashes into the station wall! Plus more obstacle avoidance has been added... so if you park your ship between the spokes of an Orbis station, it can navigate its way out.

 

[punkerich]

I've sorted out a lot of transitions when the DC is resumed, as well as speeded up the docking request procedure so if it gets an early docking request granted it can head straight for the slot instead of going to the holding position first. Approach to and landing on pads has been speeded up a bit. Oh, and all the boosting distances have been thoroughly checked, so no more Clipper or T6 crashes into the station wall! Plus more obstacle avoidance has been added... so if you park your ship between the spokes of an Orbis station, it can navigate its way out.

thanks for answering, sounds very good to me.
now, *cough*, if you could just *cough*, answer the last mentioned question *cough*:
when?
:-* (kiss, kiss)

 

[nosscar]

DC for me is 100% reliable now, even in my T9, in fact i have regularly gone to make a coffee now whilst docking, something i would never have trusted enough to do in the past.