Kerbal Pogo-Stick

[Parallax]

Kerbal pogo-stick. kOS is programmed to jump automatically as soon as the craft is close enough to the ground. The force of the jump is varied using the throttle. Self balancing via mechjeb's smart A.S.S utility. Not really all that impressive on its own, but this technique will lead to some interesting future craft...

[eddiew]

Lol, that's actually very funny Now it needs to go to Mun!

[stardestroyer]

Awesome!! Ah Ah Ah!! Wanna try it on Minmus!!

[Gaalidas]

I want it. I can think of all sorts of fun I could have adapting that.

[The14th]

That is truly wonderful...

[problemecium]

BRILLIANT!!!1!

I'm officially adding this to my mental list of "legendary silly craft to show people new to KSP" xD

[R&DD]

What's the impact tolerance? Would be cool to rig it to a lander/rover...

[Candlelight]

I can't even...

[Parallax]

Craft file, download this and drop it into your SPH folder:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/kwic92ted1sjicc/POGO-1.craft?dl=0

Here is the script I'm running:

SET TURN TO SHIP:PARTSTAGGED("TURN")[0].
SET JUMP TO SHIP:PARTSTAGGED("JUMP")[0].

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

PARAMETER SPEED1.
PARAMETER ACCELERATION.
PARAMETER TURNRATE.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

UNTIL SHIP:ALTITUDE > 20000

{

IF GEAR = 1
UNTIL GEAR = 0

{

IF + ALT:RADAR < 3.9

{
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

SET SPEED1 TO 250 + 2500*SHIP:CONTROL:PILOTMAINTHROTTLE.

SET ACCELERATION1 TO 1500 + 150*SHIP:CONTROL:PILOTMAINTHROTTLE.

SET TURNRATE TO 6 - 1.5*SHIP:CONTROL:PILOTMAINTHROTTLE.


/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

TURN:GETMODULE("MUMECHTOGGLE"):SETFIELD("SPEED", TURNRATE).

JUMP:GETMODULE("MUMECHTOGGLE"):SETFIELD("ACCELERATION", SPEED1).



/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


JUMP:GETMODULE("MUMECHTOGGLE"):DOACTION("MOVE +", 1).

WAIT 0.125.
JUMP:GETMODULE("MUMECHTOGGLE"):DOACTION("MOVE +", 0).

JUMP:GETMODULE("MUMECHTOGGLE"):DOACTION("MOVE -", 1).

WAIT 0.25.
JUMP:GETMODULE("MUMECHTOGGLE"):DOACTION("MOVE -", 0).


/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

}.
}.
}.

Start-up procedure:

1) Extract your pogo-pilot from the capsule and sit him down in the command seat.

2) Detach capsule.

3) Right-click on the probe core and select "control from here"

4) Use mechjeb's smart ASS function to lock heading to the UP direction

5) Open the kOS control panel and run the script i posted above.

6) Detach the launch clamps.

7) Steer with "j" and "l" (you may want to remap your kerbal's space suit light to another button, like "u")

8) Lean forward and back with "i" and "k"

9) Action group "0" toggles ladder up and down

10) Action group "g" toggles jumping routine

11) Throttle controls the force of the jump, keep it low to avoid damage.

Mods:

- mechjeb

- kOS

- Infernal Robotics + reworked IR models

- tweakscale

If you download this, please post here and let me know if it works or not.

[FleshJeb]

Awesome!

How's the electricity usage?

Have you tried mounting the reaction wheels rearwards, such that the center of mass is over the foot when it's leaned forward? It might cut down on the elec needed to hold it upright.

[Shantaboy]

That was proposed back in the 1960s as a way to get around the moon. They called it the Lunar Leaper.

http://www.astronautix.com/craft/luneaper.htm