The Docking Computer thread.

Tacyon · Aug 29, 2015

Silent Pact said:
Say WHAT???
Where, when, what, why and oh yes, how??

I'm pretty damn slick at the ol' swoop and splat style of landing, don't often take a hit to the shields, NEVER damage my ship (an ASP no less!), but this is news to me. Be specific, talk me through this: enjoy my eternal thanks

Most stations are the same .. and when you're approaching a support beam .. the center line of the beam takes the place of the nine markings at the far end of the station. (see pic one) Pick the set that are inline with your designated pad. (green cross hairs between 3 and 0)(white box to the right are the 9 dots for the next line of pads over) Pick out the center-center dot and start maneuvering such that those 9 dots and specifically the center-center one ends up roughly between the two digits of your pad number holo-marker. (see pic two green cross hairs) centered vertically and horizontally.

As you approach the number holo-markers for your pad (~15% throttle with gear down), the numbers will begin to fade. A split second after they've faded completely, ALL STOP!

Descend straight down keeping your aiming pip centered on the vertical structure in front of you (convenient ain't it) and you'll end up darn near 0,0 on the pad. (see pic 3)

There are a few other visual cues that help with proper landing alignment. As you're approaching the pad and the holo "box" is still visible, you can use it and the horizontal lines in the Proceed to Landing Pad message to check your ROLL angle. Placing the nine dots centered on the numbers will verify your PITCH and YAW angles.

This method is what I use for any hull that doesn't have a view forward and down. Example, T9,T7, & T6 versus Cobra, Python, etc. The smaller hulls you can simply "fly" right at the pad and at the last second pitch up.

Hope this is clear and helps those that enjoy doing it themselves.... wait ..what ??

Carsten · Aug 31, 2015

Got into my Type 6 and went to LAVE to pick up a Standard Docking Computer

So I head into Outfitting > Internals - usually it's listed as a 'Standard Docking Computer'

Its nowhere to be found???

What am I missing?

Seonid · Aug 31, 2015

Not all stations stock it.

Layne Vakarian · Sep 6, 2015

Tacyon said:
Most stations are the same .. and when you're approaching a support beam .. the center line of the beam takes the place of the nine markings at the far end of the station. (see pic one) Pick the set that are inline with your designated pad. (green cross hairs between 3 and 0)(white box to the right are the 9 dots for the next line of pads over) Pick out the center-center dot and start maneuvering such that those 9 dots and specifically the center-center one ends up roughly between the two digits of your pad number holo-marker. (see pic two green cross hairs) centered vertically and horizontally.

View attachment 58287
View attachment 58288

As you approach the number holo-markers for your pad (~15% throttle with gear down), the numbers will begin to fade. A split second after they've faded completely, ALL STOP!

Descend straight down keeping your aiming pip centered on the vertical structure in front of you (convenient ain't it) and you'll end up darn near 0,0 on the pad. (see pic 3)

View attachment 58289

There are a few other visual cues that help with proper landing alignment. As you're approaching the pad and the holo "box" is still visible, you can use it and the horizontal lines in the Proceed to Landing Pad message to check your ROLL angle. Placing the nine dots centered on the numbers will verify your PITCH and YAW angles.

This method is what I use for any hull that doesn't have a view forward and down. Example, T9,T7, & T6 versus Cobra, Python, etc. The smaller hulls you can simply "fly" right at the pad and at the last second pitch up.

Hope this is clear and helps those that enjoy doing it themselves.... wait ..what ??

Excellent. Sorry for being so long in replying: Enjoy my eternal thanks and Rep

Cmdr Frawd Digger · Sep 9, 2015

I love my docking computer, but...

Hi All,

This is not a rant, just some observations...

I am a big fan of the docking computer. I have used it many hundreds of times to relax while docking after a hard days bounty hunting. But sometimes I swear the thing is insane:

1) After suffering a lot of damage in battle I limped my way to an outpost, and with a sigh, turned on my docking computer. It proceeded to function normally, pointing directly at the correct landing pad and accelerating...except it didn't deccelerate or turn to land. I went nose first into the deck and bounced off. Fortunately my shields saved me from any significant damage.

2) Last night I came back from a mission, in which I hadn't been in battle and had suffered no damage. I turned on the docking computer and it proceeded to take me in through the letter slot of the station...at which point it spun me around 180 degrees and we proceeded to fly backwards to the landing pad. It then took me down to the landing pad, but because I was facing the wrong way I couldn't dock. As any IT guy would tell me, I turned the docking computer off and on again, at which point it proceeded to raise me above the pad then lower me back down again in exactly the same orientation. In the end I had to do it myself.

As previously mentioned I have used the docking computer hundreds of times with no ill effects, so two bad experiences won't shake my trust in the device. But one day I suspect that the bloody thing will kill me.

Frawd

Drink! · Sep 9, 2015

I haven't had any issues. I normally fly into the station then activate the docking computer.
Also when on low health, I dock manually.

Write a ticket?

Ralph Vargr · Sep 9, 2015

Always extend the landing gear, if your DC has taken damage. This stops the boosting madness (hopefully).

[HJ]-RedRaven · Sep 9, 2015

Its possible some tag in the landing pad is rotated the wrong way... the DC will be following essentially a set path for each of the different landing pads (or trying to). If you can remember the landing pad number and station, send a ticket to FD.

Best to get rid of the DC altogether mate - the extra bay and trade space will pay for itself soon enough.

DC is like training wheels - once you take them off and balance yourself, you'll never go back.

Cmdr Frawd Digger · Sep 9, 2015

Thanks for the advice RedRaven...got the DC mostly because I am lazy.

Frawd

Sapyx · Sep 9, 2015

I've noticed the docking computer itself doesn't have full confidence in its own abilities. Far out from the station, it puts full pips to engines. But approaching the pad (especially at outposts), it's full pips to shields.

My only three glitches while flying my Asp with one have been:
(a) when the outpost landing pad happened to already be perfectly in line, from 7.5km out. The silly thing just lined up, hit boost, boost, boost and never even turned around until way, way too late.
(b) it bumped into one of those silly floating holographic projectors outside the mailslot at a station once.
(c) when docking at one of the extreme rear landing pads in a "Palm Tree" (white) starport, it hit the back wall; rather than the narrow spire tower most Orbis-class stations have, those things have a huge protruding dome on the back wall that the DC is apparently unaware of.

It's also been reported in other threads that the docking computer is more prone to ramming you into things if it's been damaged. So if you've been in a RES/CZ for a while or have otherwise gotten yourself shot full of holes, double-check if the DC is damaged and switch it off and dock manually if it is.

Aratoth · Sep 9, 2015

Yeah, it's a well established fact that "Dockey" the docking computer is at least insane, and has tendencies to do unpredictable things. He speeds during docking et cetera....now it looks like if he's damaged he's even more prone to crash.

Jypson · Sep 9, 2015

Maybe I'm just crazy, but I like little glitches like that. If my ship is badly damaged or my modules, there very well should be malfunctions like that. When my X52 Pro started dying, I would RP that my ship was malfunctioning. Made me feel better about the situation until I got a new HOTAS to replace it

Gimmename · Sep 9, 2015

Seriusly, I just don't understand why people using DC. Docking is of the best parts of the game and you just loosing it. After more when 700 hours of playing I still enjoy it.

And by the way... Do you notice how friquently station security destroy NPC ships when they fail to dock? I believe they using the same docking algorighm.

Jypson · Sep 9, 2015

Gimmename said:
Seriusly, I just don't understand why people using DC. Docking is of the best parts of the game and you just loosing it. After more when 700 hours of playing I still enjoy it.

And by the way... Do you notice how friquently station security destroy NPC ships when they fail to dock? I believe they using the same docking algorighm.

I agree, but it's different strokes for different folks. Sometimes you just gotta accept the strange and move on

dayrth · Sep 9, 2015

I think the outpost pad nose dive only happens at certain outposts. The pad on these does not appear to be quite where the docking computer thinks it is. I've not seen the going backwards thing. That's bizarre.

I like the DC. I can relax or do other stuff while docking, but I would never trust it enough to go AFK.

portchd · Sep 9, 2015

I have never used a DC in my entire career, and i have played back in Early Beta, but even then people used to complain about this, I don't waste a slot in my ships with it, but i can see why some people don't like it. Do you have problems with docking without one.

Steve50 · Sep 9, 2015

Gimmename said:
Seriusly, I just don't understand why people using DC. Docking is of the best parts of the game and you just loosing it. After more when 700 hours of playing I still enjoy it.

And by the way... Do you notice how friquently station security destroy NPC ships when they fail to dock? I believe they using the same docking algorighm.

I have no idea why people use the DC, some claim it's because they are lazy lazy people but that doesn't cut it, I can dock in under 20 secs, I don't see how the DC can do it so much faster.

tiger61378 · Sep 9, 2015

And THIS is why AI are outlawed in the Elite universe...they're known to be homicidally insane, and willing to kill humans at every opportunity LOL

Alex Brentnall · Sep 9, 2015

I used the DC for the recent CG at Apalar. With just over 77,000T of cargo done in 157 round trips that would have made 314 landings in a T9 and frankly when doing that over 4 days I preferred to be able to sip at a drink or go to the toilet or do other things in the 90 seconds or so.

On most if not all other occasions I agree that docking is fun, I did use it to learn how to dock an Anaconda too

I agree with Dayrth, as far as my experience goes i've had 0 problems since 1.3 but then again I don't see the need for a DC on anything other than Anaconda/T9 anyway so no outposts. Maybe T7 at a stretch but Python and below are all more than manoeuvrable and small enough to do yourself.

rincewindcymru · Sep 9, 2015

Gimmename said:
Seriusly, I just don't understand why people using DC. Docking is of the best parts of the game and you just loosing it. After more when 700 hours of playing I still enjoy it.

And by the way... Do you notice how friquently station security destroy NPC ships when they fail to dock? I believe they using the same docking algorighm.

To docking computer or not, the eternal question.
I personally like the convenience. At my ripe old age a long session gaming will involve several beers and the required number of trips upstairs. (I won't paint the picture!) The advantage of letting the docking computer deal with the mundane appeals to me in the same way I'd use macros to simplify my life. Also, now I've got a Conda it does save on the scrapping of the hull. If we try to properly role play, think how designers of a docking computer would handle it.

Equipment is generally designed to fail safe. So it should, on failure, and failure could be contact with the dock or other object, power down not continually bump heads with the dock. Failure to dock should result in automatic movement to a safe area. We're suppose to be 1000 years in the future. The failure mode should at least be as good as we have today don't you think?

Other CMDR might do other things during auto docking such as write up notes, plan their next journey etc. If you're on a CG with loads of CMDRs out there autodocking is a safer option.

Like a lot of CMDR probably, I can dock, just like I could cook my dinner over an open fire, I just choose to use the available technology to make life easier.