Crash Dummies

[johnqevil]

Now announcing my first mod! This mod adds a new resource, CrashDummies, that adds only to the Command Seat in the VAB/SPH and is removed when the vessel is launched. This adds to the weight of the Seat as if a Kerbal was sitting in it. So now, you can plan around the corrected CoM, and will show the corrected mass and dV in any mod that calculates it (MechJeb, Engineer, etc)

Requires ModuleManager.

Release

Source

License: GPLv3

Update: 0.03 released.

Changelog:

0.03: Corrected resource update method to set CrashDummies resource directly to "0" instead of decrementing.

0.02: Initial official release.

Edited September 21, 2014 by johnqevil

[bs1110101]

That's a good idea, but why does it need a plugin? Something to do with the off center fuel mass?

[gmpd2000]

Nice, any pics?

[Drew Kerman]

I thought kerbals were weightless, and the weight of the capsule was its weight regardless of how many kerbals you had onboard

[johnqevil]

That's a good idea, but why does it need a plugin? Something to do with the off center fuel mass?

Something to dump the Crash Dummy resource when loading to the pad, so the weight calculation remains accurate when you put a Kerbal into it.

- - - Updated - - -

I thought kerbals were weightless, and the weight of the capsule was its weight regardless of how many kerbals you had onboard

This ONLY applies to the Command Seat which adds a small amount of weight with a Kerbal seated.

[Drew Kerman]

whoops, I was thinking command seat of the capsule - haven't used Command Seats at all yet in my playthrough so totally forgot they were even a thing

Now that I get it tho, this is an excellent idea. Small craft that would use the seat would benefit from proper balance design in the VAB

[MisterBennock]

This is a really great idea. I actually DO have a problem with one vehicle where I tried to "simulate" a Kerbal via the cube attachers, but it didn't really work out. Now I can finally build a functioning Lobo space bike! Thanks.

[Darren9]

This seems useful but I have a question. When a Kerbal sits in the seat is its mass added at the seat's CoM?

[MisterBennock]

I just tested it a bit and have a strange issue: Every time I load the craft (in use), one amount of dummy gets subtracted, i.e. starting I have 0 dummy, when I switch to another vessel and then back I have -1, then -2 etc.

Also, when "empyting" the command seat before start, one amount of dummy is still subtracted, so I start with -1. It is probably a bug or some lapse in the code. At this point I would like to ask what you people use for making .dlls. I have some ideas myself, too.

Edit: Sorry, missed the "Source" link. I think you have a loop in your subtraction.

Edited September 20, 2014 by MisterBennock

[johnqevil]

This seems useful but I have a question. When a Kerbal sits in the seat is its mass added at the seat's CoM?

Yep, it is. Works just as if a Kerbal were sitting.

- - - Updated - - -

I just tested it a bit and have a strange issue: Every time I load the craft (in use), one amount of dummy gets subtracted, i.e. starting I have 0 dummy, when I switch to another vessel and then back I have -1, then -2 etc.

Also, when "empyting" the command seat before start, one amount of dummy is still subtracted, so I start with -1. It is probably a bug or some lapse in the code. At this point I would like to ask what you people use for making .dlls. I have some ideas myself, too.

Edit: Sorry, missed the "Source" link. I think you have a loop in your subtraction.

That's likely. I'll take a look at it later tonight. EDIT: I use Visual Studio 2013, seems to work fine.

EDIT: Update now. See OP.

Edited September 22, 2014 by johnqevil

[MisterBennock]

Good work man! Works like a charm now.

[RoboRay]

Does this still work in 0.90?

(I'm away from my KSP machine or I'd test it myself.)

[Ikaneko]

I thought kerbals were weightless, and the weight of the capsule was its weight regardless of how many kerbals you had onboard

Kerbals on the command seat actually weigh something (0.09375 in game units) comapared to 0.66 IGUs for the mk1 lander Can.

[Capt. Hunt]

I was under the impression that all the command pods already included the kerbal in their weight figure.