automated atmospheric multiple drone control, is it possible?

[Lucerro]

So I got an idea for an addon part that basically houses 4 small atmospheric drones that can be given a set of coordinates via a simple gui and launched in flight to carry out a task once at the location (essentially a less tedious way to do those get temps, scans etc. at above/below "x"meter altitude contracts) I got the modeling and animation portion well in hand but my C# is really weak, Python and melscript is about the extent of my coding skills. I've tried searching around and KoS autopilot leads me to believe its possible but I am really looking to make a simplified version where Lat, Longitude and target altitude are set for each drone, no plans for them to land as of yet. I plan to have the drone launcher part with a selectable payload attribute in the VAB and a limited range as well (will be using firespitter as the drones are basically a single prop surrounded by a small aerodynamic fuselage containing fuel and w/e sci loadout is needed), not trying to make it hyper edit easy or anything just trying to make it a little less tedious. So my main question is if it is even possible within atmosphere? and secondly if so any pointers toward the right direction would be super appreciated. I know its probably ridiculously ambitious but I'm a quick learner and love a challenge (as long as I know it is possible lol)

If it is possible and within my ability I would like to implement a karbondrum scanner loadout to work with rover dudes stuff for resource hunting as well as an orbital version for multiple location missions where the is no atmosphere.

also, and i'm pretty sure this is askin too much , but a camera feed from each drone would be freekin sweet as well but feeds from 4 separate vessels is something i think would surely kill a 32 bit ksp lol

edit: roughed in a quick mockup of the part, real rough lol

its got a few VFX demoreels and a couple modeling minireels but they havent been updated since early 2011-ish and its mostly Final stuff from College that I had to whip up in less than a month due to a major computer meltdown but most of the stuff there is still decent imo anyway, got a resume with imdb cred there as well

Edited April 15, 2015 by Lucerro

[Crzyrndm]

Making a single drone fly to a preset point: Relatively easy

Making multiple drones fly to multiple preset points: Difficult

Your problem is going to be the physics zone. Only the active vessel and vessels within 2.5km of it are actively simulated. Anything outside that zone is in a state known as "On Rails", which in essence means no forces are simulated except gravity, which treats the vessel as a single point. If while in this "On Rails" state, the atmospheric pressure would be >0.1, the vessel is instantly destroyed.

[Lucerro]

well that sounds kinda unpleasant....guess for atmospheric drones anyhow its kinda a no go or did i mistake difficult for "impossible" lol , but if i understand correctly it could be effectively done as long as theres no in-atmo flight?

difficult meant i'd have to keep the main craft within 2.5km of the drones correct (in atmosphere that is)

Edited April 15, 2015 by Lucerro

[Crzyrndm]

Even for non-atmospherics, all engine burns would have to be done inside that small zone and you'd still have to switch to your drone once it reached its target before it could take any actions. There are mods which alter the size of the physics zone, but that comes with it's own bag of surprises (maybe less so post KSP-1.0 as Squad are going to be making changes to it as well)