Using KAS Winch with kOS

[chrisb2244]

I'm trying to use the KAS winch with harpoon using kOS. 

I've been able to use events to extend and retract the cable, and with a little searching, detach the head from the ground.

When I click Eject, everything goes well. The hook/head and cable fire out and attach to the ground (assuming it's in range) and then I assume the action taken when you click instant stretch takes place, making the length equal to the distance. Before it hits, the length is the maximum. 

However, calling the event to Eject only sets the length to max and unlocks/releases the hook (it remains attached to the cable), it doesn't fire out.

Probably I'm doing something stupid, but what's the best/real way to do this?

[SpannerMonkey(smce)]

Eject usually detaches anything attached to the cable port/plug , which leaves the attachment stuck on the winch and the cable unwinding,

The command you want to use when magnet/harpoon is docked on winch is release,  or extend, 

instant stretch in many cases send the cable many meters past the ground contact , requiring tedious rewinding.    Release allows the cable to unwind complete with the attachment

[chrisb2244]

Thanks for the response. However,  I'm pretty sure that:

- "release" releases the cable (whilst keeping the head attached) and allows the cable to flow freely.

- "extend/retract" toggle extension or retraction of the cable at a moderate speed (like 1m/s). Clicking the opposite button whilst one is active places the cable in an idle state iirc, but takes the action you'd expect if it had previously been idle. There's already an issue for that on the KAS github I think.

- "eject" fires out the cable with head from a locked position in the winch to the maximum length (actually, until the time it takes to reach the maximum length given the velocity one tick after it is ejected/fired.) This doesn't seem to apply a force in the case of being called by a kOS event or action, which is the problem I'm having.

- <I forgot the name but something like release> - releases the head from the cable. Does nothing to the cable. I'm avoiding this...

On the gui panel there's also a "detach" available when the head is locked to the ground. This is available as an action of the harpoon module in kOS and works perfectly.

Toggling the plug mode switches between docked and undocked. I *think* this just locks or unlocks the joint between head and cable. The winch should be "undocked" when retracting and trying to lock, or else it frequently won't retract due to part misalignment.