LASA Robotic Space Program

[ThatHomelessGuy]

 

LASA Robotic Space Program

(Lukes Awesome Space Agency)

I bring you the Robotic Space Program from LASA. This is somewhat of an experiment/challenge for myself. But I also like story telling so I figured I'd make this thread here.

What is the plan then? Well I plan to fly all flights IVA (Hudless where possible) unless they are being controlled by KOS controllers or other similar computer based options. I won't fly remote missions manually though I will manually load scripts to the vessel computers for performing the flights. I'll provide copies of all my scripts in this post. All vessels and Crew must be recovered at the KSC Green Patch unless picked up by Stage Recovery.

I have also included a new starting team member Luke Kerman. The crews new programmer (engineer) who's speciality is doing as little actual work as possible.

Self Enforced Rules

• Can only automate flights or control Kerbal IVA/EVA (Where this is unavailable I will use default view to control kerbal, eg: EVA)
• Once Cameras are available Ships without kerbals on board must be viewed from cameras. Otherwise They are viewed from IVA.
• Vessels and Crew must be recovered from the Green Patch around KSC. (Stages recovered through Stage Recovery count as recovered by a private contractor. Independent recovery is a priority.)
• All Manned flights must have an escape/abort system. Contingencies must be made to ensure crew survival.
• quick loading is for game crash security only.

Difficulty

The difficulty is basically hard mode but a little harder. Here are the basic starting difficulty and while I have put resource abundance back up to 100% I have turned on loads the extra difficulty options and reduced my starting cash from 10k to 3k.

Spoiler

Base difficulty and mod settings under the difficulty options.

The Kerbals

Jeb Kerman - Rocket Pilot/Mission Specialist
(Jeb often screams "More boosters!" in his sleep so it's only fair to give him the job. When asked what he thought of atmospheric flight he stated it was a pointless pursuit if it didn't result in orbit. This disagreement between Jeb and Bob prompted the management to hire an Aeronautical Pilot to ensure a more diverse technological development stream, since Bob and Bill think it may be possible to reduce costs by flying into space instead of dumping engines off the coast of Kafrica from rockets.)

Valentina Kerman - Aeronautical Pilot/SSTO Specialist
(While some people (Bob) might say she was a diversity hire, the truth is she was the only one interviewed who was willing to sit on a giant tank of liquid fuel going the speed of sound only a few metres off the ground. Valentina loves the skies more than anything in the world and dreams of someday experiencing life under and in different colour skies.)

Bob Kerman - Lead Scientist/Extra Planetary Specialist/Cook
(Bob is all about the science. He has put forward some of the most highly questionable proposals the space agency has ever seen and often argues with everyone else on the team. If it weren't for his genius he'd probably be placed on the experimental test team by now. I mean seriously, do you know anyone else who can remember the names of BOTH of Kerbins moons? Bob can and even knows the sun is called Kerbol. Who would have thunk it? Bill however thinks he's funny but that's mainly because he likes to wind Bob up whenever he can.)

Bill Kerman - Lead Engineer/Colonisation Specialist
(Bill is a real character. A wind up merchant but a brilliant engineer. Rumour has it he thinks in 3D and scans of his brain do indeed prove that his brain is in fact three dimensional. The space agency hired him on his ability to solve almost any logistical and mechanical issue as well his work on his beercan space program which while admittedly a "failure" by everyone's standards but Bills, was an inspiration. That and Bob would only join the space agency if Bill was hired too. But we aren't Allowed to tell Bill that. Since he is also the only Kerbal on the team to have had an ant farm as a kid he was also appointed the position of Colonisation Specalist. He actually still has the farm and Bill says it's on it's 19th generation of monarchs and doesn't expect a revolution in the coming decade.)

Luke Kerman - Lead Programmer/Drone Specialist/Rover Specialist/Horticultural Specialist
(Luke really is good at doing as little actual work as possible and as such makes him perfect for his main roles. His work on Kemp based rocket materials is somewhat underwhelming however as it seems most of the Kemp is being harvested for THK extraction and curing for reasons beyond the management. Best they can tell is he's burning it in some sort of experiment or extraction process though any results are yet to be seen.  The management have requested that Luke take his Kemp production and experiments out the back of the R&D center as there have been complaints from Bob who says the fumes make him drowsy and unable to concentrate. His ability to not fly rockets is surprisingly valued But Jeb and Val say if they are going up in one of his puter guided missiles they want Luke to go first. This technically makes Luke an Experimental Test Pilot as well but management won't give him the role for both insurance and payroll reasons. His background is rather mysterious however as he just showed up one day and set the clocks on everything in the space center. When the Management discovered the microwave clock was accurate they decided to give him a job as Lead Programmer. He claims to be robot wars intergalactic champion but nobody at the KSC has ever heard about such a thing , nor have they ever heard of Kraig C Kerman.)

 

Missions

1. Advent (Sounding Rocket)

Spoiler

Advent

Mission Objectives:

1. Gather Scientific Data From Kerbin (Contract) Complete.
2. Launch First Vessel (Contract) Complete.
3. Collect And Transmit Atmospheric Pressure Scan From Launch Pad Complete.
4. Collect And Transmit Atmospheric Pressure Scan While Flying At Kerbin Complete.
5. Collect And Transmit Atmospheric Pressure Scan From Kerbin's Waters Failed. (Collected Only)(Out Of Coms Range, KSC Over Horizon)
6. Collect And Transmit Atmospheric Temperature Scan From Launch Pad Complete.
7. Collect And Transmit Atmospheric Temperature Scan While Flying Over Kerbin's Shores Complete.
8. Collect And Transmit Atmospheric Temperature Scan While Flying Over Kerbin's Waters Complete.
9. Collect And Transmit Atmospheric Temperature Scan From Kerbin's Waters Failed. (Collected Only)(Out Of Coms Range, KSC Over Horizon)
10. Reach Altitude of 5000m. Complete.
11. Run Successful Parachute Test. Complete.
12. Splashdown Safely. Complete.

Mission Photos

Spoiler

Mission Code

Spoiler

Advent Launch & Flight Code.

Spoiler

//Author: Luke Keman
//Function: Launch and test scientific instuments on an atmospheric balistic trajectory.
//Important Parts To Test: Science devices(Barometer,thermometer)x3, Data Transmission x3, Staging x2,
//Parachutes x1, Fuel Levels By Stage(1 Solid Rocket Booster).
// copypath("archive:/specificRocket/adventRocket/adventRocket.ks","1:/adventLaunch").

//Make the compiler behave itself.
@LAZYGLOBAL OFF.

//Data Output Here
FUNCTION Notify
{
    PARAMETER _text, _echoOut IS false.
    IF _echoOut
    {
        HUDTEXT("Advent: " +_text,5,2,15,WHITE,false).
    }
    PRINT _text.
}

//Get length of a list
FUNCTION ListLength
{
    Parameter _list.
    LOCAL _count IS 0.
    FOR _item IN _list
    {
        SET _count TO _count + 1.
    }
    RETURN _count.
}

//Do science experiments
FUNCTION DoScience
{
    PARAMETER _wait IS true, _overwrite IS false.
    FOR _part IN _scienceExperiments
    {
        IF _overwrite
        {
            IF_part:HASDATA.
            {
                _part:DUMP.
            }
            _part:DEPLOY.
        }
        ELSE IF _part:HASDATA = false
        {
            _part:DEPLOY.
        }
        
        IF _wait
        {
            WAIT UNTIL _Part:HASDATA.
        }
    }
}

FUNCTION TransmitScience
{
    FOR _part IN _scienceExperiments
    {
        IF _part:HASDATA
        {
            Notify("Science Transmitting : " + _part:PART:NAME).
            _part:TRANSMIT.
        }
    }
}

FUNCTION LaunchCountdown
{
    PARAMETER _countdownLength IS 10, _abortOveride IS true, _autoStage IS true.
    Notify("Beginning Launch. Clear The Launch Zone!",true).
    Notify("Beginning Countdown!",true).
    UNTIL _countdownLength < 1
    {
        IF _abortOveride
        {
            IF ABORT
            {
                Notify("Aborting Launch!",true).
                BREAK.
            }
        }
        Notify(_countdownLength,true).
        SET _countdownLength TO _countdownLength -1.
        WAIT 1.
    }
    
    IF _autoStage
    {
        IF NOT ABORT
        {
            Notify("Lift Off!!",true).
            STAGE.
        }
    }
}

//Begin Program
Notify("Advent Operations Program Loaded...").
Notify("Beginning Launch Initialisation", true).
LOCAL _launchPhase IS 0.

LOCAL _scienceExperiments IS SHIP:MODULESNAMED("ModuleScienceExperiment").
Notify("Science Experiments Ready (" + ListLength(_scienceExperiments) + ") Devices Found." , true).

LOCAL _chutes IS SHIP:MODULESNAMED("RealChuteFAR").
FOR _mods IN _chutes
{
    Notify("Chute Ready : " +_mods:PART:NAME, true).
}

Notify("Locking Throttle To 0", true).
LOCK THROTTLE TO 0.

Notify("SAS Enabled", true).
SAS ON.

Notify("Locking Steering To Up", true).
LOCK STEERING TO UP + r(0,0,180).

DoScience().
WAIT 1.
TransmitScience().

//Launch Rocket
SET _launchPhase TO 1.
LaunchCountDown().
WAIT 3.

UNTIL SHIP:STATUS = "LANDED" OR SHIP:STATUS = "SPLASHED"
{
    IF _launchPhase = 1
    {
        DoScience().
        Wait 1.
        TransmitScience().
        SET _launchPhase TO 2.
    }
    
    //Jump to stage 3 if fuel runs out to prevent chute failure if 5000 meters is not reached
    IF STAGE:SOLIDFUEL < 0.1
    {
        SET _launchPhase TO 3.
    }
    
    IF _launchPhase = 2
    {
        IF APOAPSIS > 5000
        {
            SET _launchPhase TO 3.
        }
        
        IF ALTITUDE < 150
        {
            LOCK STEERING TO UP + r(0,0,180).
        }
        ELSE IF ALTITUDE < 500
        {
            LOCK STEERING TO UP + r(0,-5,180).
        }
        ELSE IF ALTITUDE < 1000
        {
            LOCK STEERING TO UP + r(0,-15,180).
        }
        ELSE IF ALTITUDE < 1500
        {
            LOCK STEERING TO UP + r(0,-25,180).
        }
        ELSE IF ALTITUDE < 2000
        {
            LOCK STEERING TO UP + r(0,-35,180).
        }
        ELSE
        {
            LOCK STEERING TO UP + r(0,-45,180).
        }
    }
    
    IF _launchPhase = 3
    {
        DoScience().
        Wait 1.
        TransmitScience().
        Until ALTITUDE < 1000
        {
            LOCK STEERING TO UP + r(0,-90,180).
        }
        SET _launchPhase TO 4.
    }
    
    IF _launchPhase = 4
    {
        LOCK STEERING TO UP + r(0,-80,180).
        FOR _mod IN _chutes
        {
            _mod:DOEVENT("deploy chute").
        }
        DoScience().
        Wait 1.
        TransmitScience().
        SET _launchPhase TO 5.
        UNLOCK STEERING.
        SAS OFF.
    }
}

Notify("Ship has " + SHIP:STATUS).
DoScience().
WAIT 1.
TransmitScience().

Notify("Mission Complete. Script End").

 

 

More Coming Soon.

[cratercracker]

This is GOLD 

[Dunbaratu]

One problem I have with trying to fly totally IVA is that there are places where the user interface prevents basic ship operations from being possible in IVA (that realistically would be do-able by people inside the ship, but in the game is only accessable from the right-click context menus on parts, which requires the camera to be outside the ship to use them).  This includes things like pumping fuel around, adjusting engine trim (thrust limiters), and decoupling docking ports.

 

Edited September 18, 2017 by Steven Mading

[ThatHomelessGuy]

On 9/18/2017 at 5:24 PM, Steven Mading said:

One problem I have with trying to fly totally IVA is that there are places where the user interface prevents basic ship operations from being possible in IVA (that realistically would be do-able by people inside the ship, but in the game is only accessable from the right-click context menus on parts, which requires the camera to be outside the ship to use them).  This includes things like pumping fuel around, adjusting engine trim (thrust limiters), and decoupling docking ports.

 

I know that's why I stated as much. I can program kos however to perform those tasks or at least some of them. eg: docking ports.

[RandyRawgust]

On 9/18/2017 at 0:24 PM, Steven Mading said:

One problem I have with trying to fly totally IVA is that there are places where the user interface prevents basic ship operations from being possible in IVA (that realistically would be do-able by people inside the ship, but in the game is only accessable from the right-click context menus on parts, which requires the camera to be outside the ship to use them).  This includes things like pumping fuel around, adjusting engine trim (thrust limiters), and decoupling docking ports.

 

Perhaps you could control that stuff via Telemachus? Then you could control things with a web browser. Either via another monitor, pc or tablet.

[ThatHomelessGuy]

12 hours ago, RandyRawgust said:

Perhaps you could control that stuff via Telemachus? Then you could control things with a web browser. Either via another monitor, pc or tablet.

I did think of this and unfortunately my overpriced toaster kicked the bucket so unless the replacement rig/parts are better (DDR3) then it's not happening.

When thinking about this though most of the things can actually be done through custom kos scripts which is basically the whole point of this exercise I would have however used that if my PC wasn't struggling under the weight of windows updates. But alas while windows ran crysis on a 2gb system when win7 was released it won't even run itself on that now. Hell checking Facebook uses about 2gb these days.

On 9/18/2017 at 1:12 PM, cratercracker said:

This is GOLD 

Yes I have that mod too