VTOL autopilot/helper (Solved)

[Yasashii]

Let's face it: VTOLs are tricky to fly in KSP. Even hovering is difficult to do. It's damn near impossible to adjust the throttle exactly right. Most of the time you're either climbing or falling slowly. Going straight is fairly simple, but when you want to stop at a specific point, you're likely to either overdo the breaking or overshoot ...or flip your vehicle completely.

So here's an idea: make a mechjeb-style autopilot. It would have to calculate the exact throttle level to make the plane hover. It would have to be able to keep the plane hovering at a specific altitude and also change the altitude automatically when desired by the pilot. And it would have to make the plane go at a specific speed in a straight line and then stop the plane and make it hover in one spot without losing or gaining altitude.

I'm not sure if it can be done at all but if it can... pretty please?

Edited June 24, 2015 by Yasashii

[11of10]

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/55401-Community-Mods-and-Plugins-Library Check here.

Hint: look for "Avionics" or "Davon", depending on your exact needs.

[Diazo]

For vertical speed control, that is exactly what my Vertical Velocity mod is for. It should be able to handle everything altitude related you are looking for.

For the moving to a point, I think my Landing Aid mod will do that. It can zero your horizontal speed or move to a specific point, but only within the current physics bubble (2.5km).

The other common issue with VTOL's is balancing thrust, which I recommend Davon's Throttle Control mod for. My Vertical Velocity mod actually interfaces with Davon's Throttle Control and will only control vertical engines while you can throttle the horiziontal thrust engines on one of the additional throttles Davon's mod gives you.

(Links in my sig.)

D.

Edited June 23, 2015 by Diazo

[Yasashii]

Thank you very much! I had no idea this existed already. I guess I should have looked harder.

Anyway, I just tested the three mods and all of them combined provide better VTOL control I could have ever asked for. I can finally enjoy VTOLs! (I hated them before).