[closed DGIV BLOG] News about developpment of DGIV

[DanSteph]

dziwigor a écrit:
i guess MMU is unable to load/unload cargo while landed

DGIV is able to load cargo by itself but it's not super nice:
Just roll over the container with bay open and click "load"
Of course the bottom collide with the container etc etc but it's still better
than editing a snc.

dziwigor a écrit:
to make DG having multiple
attachment points. ieg. left, center, right. then:
-it could carry two containers, and a crane or arm in the middle

Was thinking about that, too complicated for me AND for users (managment, payload creation)
and a crane or arm must be made be me with key and button on panel to be nicelly integrated.

A ground crane anyway can be made by users...

dziwigor a écrit:
feature to add to MMU: "stand up". while playing with DG3 i sometimes ended up with MMU's lying
helpless on the ground...

Usually this mean that they are dead, look heart beat

Maybe a "switch to zombie mode" may help ?

Dan



Message modifié ( 27-03-2007 00:44 )

[sunshine135]

Very neat Dan. I like the cargo container meshes that match the ship they are going into. I suppose that it will become
standard procedure to create a new mesh for the container.

[dziwigor]

i ment that, usually while turning or something like that, MMu felt was alive, but lying... although i havent try to roll
DG over it and try to board it

[killingsnake]

That nuclear plant could be an exellent explenation for the DGIV's power source ofcourse , and like willy88
mentioned, it could be an extra fuel container... Seems like we have a endless source of ideas, its up to us to realise
them tough...

[n122vu]

Wow.  Very impressive, Dan.  I can see many possibilities here.  Just need to collect my thoughts and write them all
down.  

Can't wait to fly the next beta.  

Looks great!

n122vu

[jer11]

DanSteph a écrit:
Usually this mean that they are dead, look heart beat

Maybe a "switch to zombie mode" may help ?

Dan

0 ? ??? aaa! no i dont wnat zombies mmu

[Murdock]

It's good to read that you are feeling better Dan,
even better to hear that you're about to release next beta
I've been following posts waiting for this even if I didn't write (didn't want to bother or put pressure)
I'm looking forward to seeing this quite amazing work



Virgilio

[Quick_Nick]

When the MMU comes into the ship after a year of drifting in space, he isn't going to be the same...
0BPM!!!

[electricversion]

It looks like those containers could easily accommodate two people.  It would be cool if we could design a pressurized
personnel container/rescue pod.  For containers carrying people, there might be a way to monitor the life signs of the people
aboard via the DGIV.  It would also allow for some fun missions (e.g., prisoner transfer to Mars ).

In any case, this is looking great.  Nice work!

[DanSteph]

electricversion a écrit:
aboard via the DGIV.  It would also allow for some fun missions (e.g., prisoner transfer to Mars ).
In any case, this is looking great.  Nice work!

Nice idea,they could be "hibernating"

Dan

[ctmueller]

Dan, you're an animal

Thanks much for all of this, it's amazing.  Looking forward to your DGIV, whenever it's ready.  You can't beat free, and this
is amazing stuff.  

Good to read all this stuff again.  Maybe you could release all this extra stuff as Service Packs??    That would add to
the amazement I'm sure


Take as long as you need.  Orbiter and real life is enough to keep most of us occupied.  Thanks again for all your hard work.

[DanSteph]

Oky, there will be no more wine about "burn on reentry"

New autopilot PRO105SPEC40 make automatic reentry. Work flawlessly on earth,
no burn anymore. (not tested on other planet, also not planned to work on other planet (maybe it work on mars ?)

I reworked also the PRO104 (maintain attitude during reentry) , more
stable attitude and bank step 5° instead of 30°

I'll add to the PRO105 abilities to manually bank so you can control at least lateral
trajectory. Distance should be guessed by experience the autopilot just take care
to reenter you without burning.

Dan

[willy88]

SHUPER SHWEET!!

[n122vu]

Excellent.  Good to hear about the new reentry autopilot.  I might use PRO104 once in a while just for the challenge
though.

Keep up the good work, Dan.  Glad you're feeling better.

n122vu

[DanSteph]

n122vu a écrit:
I might use PRO104 once in a while just for the challenge

No challenge at all, I applied this simple rules for 105: maintain about -70 m/s simply using inverse logic:

raise nose to dive more
lower nose to dive less

"Zero" point is about 37° but it vary slightly during reentry.

So if your descent rate is -100 m/s put the nose at 30° so it increase to -70 m/s
if the rate is -40 m/s put the nose at 50° so it decrease to -70 m/s.

At first you dive at about -180 m/s until you hit consistent atmosphere,
simply maintain AOA of 20° or 30° and this number will increase, later
just play with AOA to stay around -70 m/s. 100% success, I believe this should
work with DGIII also.

The 105 do that with more subilities, it also check temperature and pressure
so Vertical speed can vary smoothly from -120 to -40 during reentry,
The autopilot disengage at about MACH 2.5 when you are safe.

Dan



Message modifié ( 30-03-2007 08:25 )

[Coussini]

That's a nice idea. You can feed Pizza to astronaut in ISS using your Cargo.

You're a great conceptor

[killingsnake]

DanSteph wrote:


No challenge at all, I applied this simple rules for 105: maintain about -70 m/s simply using inverse logic:

raise nose to dive more
lower nose to dive less

Hmmm. So thats why its possible it won't work on other planets. The program only checks the Vspeed, not the Temp,
correct?

[DanSteph]

killingsnake a écrit:
Hmmm. So thats why its possible it won't work on other planets. The program only checks the Vspeed, not the Temp,
correct?

You can't really relly on temp, if you have a bad rentry profile you'll be dead
in no time, when temp raise to much you have only a few seconds, no autopilot
can correct that.

Temp is taken in account to modify the Vertical speed when it raise too much,
this is a security but the main job is simply done while controlling vertical speed.

I didn't tested maybe it work on mars ?
I'll check right now.....

Ok, tested, it work with 1.6° started from 200 km round orbit
...  I'll test also venus but later.

Dan

[jer11]

!
how can you make a DGIV mesh and other stuff?

And can you put autoage. It will be more relistic if you do that .

2006: 44
2007: 45
2008: 46
2009: 47
etc... etc... etc...

[aus_pilot]

jer11 wrote:
!
how can you make a DGIV mesh and other stuff?

And can you put autoage. It will be more relistic if you do that .

2006: 44
2007: 45
2008: 46
2009: 47
etc... etc... etc...

Why do we need it? It doesn't add to the flight characteristics or the usability of the the DGiv, which I think is Dan's main
interest with the DGiv - adding the cargo bay and the new re-entry AP are signs of that.

And Dan, these new features are looking fantastic, can't wait to launch it!

[DanSteph]

Ok, now you can apply instantly any installed skin directly in Orbiter
with the Scenario Editor module:





As this is very much more practical I wonder if I'll not disable the option
in the Dg4Config and replace it with a notice "how to change skin" !??

I recall this option in DG4Config force ALL dgIV in orbiter to have the same skin,
this is not very suitable anymore.

What ya think ?

Dan



Message modifié ( 31-03-2007 16:14 )

[Delta Glider3 lover]

DanSteph wrote:
Ok, now you can apply instantly any installed skin directly in Orbiter
with the Scenario Editor module:

As this is very much more practical I wonder if I'll not disable the option
in the Dg4Config and replace it with a notice "how to change skin" !??

I recall this option in DG4Config force ALL dgIV in orbiter to have the same skin,
this is not very suitable anymore.

What ya think ?

Dan

Nice work DanSteph. How close is the DGIV to being completed and ready to download, because this is
the best
add-on for orbiter ever made, period.



Post Edited ( 03-31-07 18:39 )

[DanSteph]

Delta Glider3 lover a écrit:
How close is the DGIV to being completed and ready to download, because this is the best add-on for orbiter ever
made, period.

I add now some scenarios for tutorial section (reentry) and I think I'll release a beta this week-end.Maybe this night if
I'm not too tired and if packing work without problems. (a LOT of file)

You want to be on beta list ? you'll receive PM when ready with link to beta.

Dan



Message modifié ( 31-03-2007 18:53 )

[Louis Wu]

Wow, this is looking fantastic Dan!! I can't wait for it. I agree with what DG3 lover said, this is the best addon ever.
Hope its ready soon!!

[Hubleman]

Dan what happened to symphony base?? By the way I would like to join the beta testing group.