Just curious if anyone else has pondered this. Logically it doesn't make sense. Should not the 'Docking Computer' be nothing more than a software upgrade for vessels? Being that it is literally only a few lines of code in this game, it should then be virtually a few lines of code for the ships and not take up any physical space. Unless this is supposed to be akin to the Autopilot in the movie Airplane! If that is the case, I would request an inflatable Co-pilot to appear in my ship when the Docking computer is engaged. =c) Please, take into consideration. (the 'no-taking-up-space' part or both for that matter, I'm not picky) I would also request it be included on ships as standard, especially the larger vessels and logically the dedicated passenger vessels. Seriously, would you think Boeing offers a 747 without Auto Pilot? Just saying...
Why does the Docking Computer take space?
- Thread starter HF Mudd
- Start date
Autopilots don't land the planes. They maintain course. The docking computer needs to locate and land on the docking pad. Our ships can already land and take off on their own when we land on planets. Most likely the docking computer communicates directly with the station. So think of it as a direct comms link between the flight computer and the station's sensors. This probably has its own proprietary code that stations hold tight to so this data is locked in a secondary module.
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Robert Maynard
Volunteer Moderator
It's a cost of convenience - docking computer = one less module for cargo / passengers / etc..
I'd like this to be answered alongside questions such as "why am I in a 1100T ship, one of the biggest in hte universe, firing cannons at another big ship from 500m away?"
And the answers will always ring the same: we're in a game.
It's any game developer's right to implement challenge and tradeoffs. If you want your ship to be docked for you, then they chose that to be something you sacrifice your smallest slot for, instead of everyone having one by default and the game doing half our flying for us.
Quick tip: docking is for all intents and purposes one of the best ways to develop ship control. If you want to develop FA Off I suggest not just learning to fight with it off, but smoothly dock with it off. I almost guarantee the former will fall into place before the latter.
And the answers will always ring the same: we're in a game.
It's any game developer's right to implement challenge and tradeoffs. If you want your ship to be docked for you, then they chose that to be something you sacrifice your smallest slot for, instead of everyone having one by default and the game doing half our flying for us.
Quick tip: docking is for all intents and purposes one of the best ways to develop ship control. If you want to develop FA Off I suggest not just learning to fight with it off, but smoothly dock with it off. I almost guarantee the former will fall into place before the latter.
I know why they did it, (the cost of convenience.) And if memory serves, it's how they did it originally on the C64. It still defies logic though, and my OCD won't let me accept it, as I see it as software and not hardware. I'm thinking they just need to put just a little more thought into it and find another more reasonable compromise instead of taking up space. Such as sucking up a lot of power, which would be annoying and not my recommendation but it would be a bit more creditable. And yes I know, I am trying to instill logic into a fictional universe but they are trying to make it as believable and realistic as possible right? Ergo... If the DC is going to take up space, then there should be an inflatable co-pilot or a manic depressive robot in a closet. =^/
X-Terminator
Banned
Why does the Docking Computer rock up/down so much?
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It does?
Yes, now and again it does for me.
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They can, you know.
They can? I've not noticed it.
That makes sense to me.
X-Terminator
Banned
Tried it in the Corvette and Conda and if a taxi rocked as bad you would say he'd been drinking and refuse to get in!
That started up in 2.3 as was smooth for me prior to the update. Not sure if it is an issue or a "feature".
X-Terminator
Banned
It seems to be fighting against commands each half-second to re-centre it's plane. No, it's a feature of a Drunk Docking Computer! [haha]
Well I do now.
Yup, while in your SRV you can release your ship and it'll take off (it also auto launches when you go far enough the ship's out of your SRV's sensors). Then you can summon it again, and it'll fly to you and land. Sometimes crash. But usually land.
+1
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This is why it takes up space...and this is a little-known fact:
The inventors of the docking machine also sell industrial-sized coffee machines.
They want pilots to have their coffee machines because restocking coffee is continual profit for them.
So, the docking computer is built in to a coffee machine. This is why it takes up space.
This is also why the autopilot will do wild things - it's because of excess caffeine buildup in the filter.
When we get Spacelegs, you will see this.
The inventors of the docking machine also sell industrial-sized coffee machines.
They want pilots to have their coffee machines because restocking coffee is continual profit for them.
So, the docking computer is built in to a coffee machine. This is why it takes up space.
This is also why the autopilot will do wild things - it's because of excess caffeine buildup in the filter.
When we get Spacelegs, you will see this.
Holy moley, your sig is a blast from the past.
Nintendo DS, 2005, Meteos. I imported this game from Japan, to play on my imported DS!
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Well back in 2845 we did have software versions but they were problematic with viruses and hacking so the new version was brought into service. This new version has all the tech to keep hackers and viruses at bay as it's now a closed unit tied to the comms array and ship systems and nothing else.
Well then, that is as good an explanation. It may also explain why Mister Radar does some strange things, as it I assume it is right next to the Mister Coffee
So you're saying it's a Modular Analytical Landing computer, a 'Mal 9,000' as opposed to the integrated Hal series of the early 21st. Not allowed total control, and not entirely integrated as with the Hal series. I can see how humans being so paranoid may not want to surrender total control to the ships systems, (M-5, Skynet, MCP to name a few systems with some unfortunate side effects) So, having a optional modular system the can be quickly installed and removed may give piece of mind. This does have some merit, however not so sure about this anti-hacking security, as it appears to have been hacked in 2.3 as others will attest to the recent odd behavior. Mayhaps, this is something to do with recent alien events?