2 ways to implement a radar altimeter into the stock game.

[r4pt0r]

I know work is being done moving to U5, and in that process the UI is being rebuilt. I have 2 Ideas for ways to add a radar altimeter to the HUD UI.

A radar altimeter is a pretty handy thing for me, as (most of?)the IVA views all have one somewhere, and it makes my occasional IVA landings possible and more reasonable. Still, the 3rd person views could use the radar altimeter.

Idea #1. When you click your current speed on the navball, you can select between "Orbit", "Surface", and occasionally "Target" modes. I suggest that when in surface mode, the altimeter defaults to displaying the distance to surface height, instead of the "sealevel" height.

Idea #2. As stated above, you can click the navball speed window to change modes. When you click the altimeter numbers at the top of your screen, it would toggle sealevel or radar altimeter.

My only problem with #2, is that moving the mouse up there might drop down the "return to KSC" or the "Recover vessel" buttons. It would be unfortunate for misclicks to result in accidents because of this feature.

There are various mods/plugins that add radar altimeters, this suggestion is for the stock game.

[Merandix]

Modular GUI! Just let me select what is on my screen, perhaps with keyboard short-cuts to toggle them. I'd REALLY like to be able to bring up the radar altimeter in default outside view on demand. Because I do not really need it apart from landing.

[Superfluous J]

How about base it on the navball mode?

• Orbit mode: Altimeter is height above "sea level"
  
• Surface mode: Altimeter is distance to the ground (or liquid) between you and the center of the current SOI
  
• Target mode: Altimeter is distance to your target
  

And we could have a little light or indicator of some sort next to the number that indicates it's for that mode.

[Merandix]

Rather not because I'd really like to have both visible simultaneously (helps in judging the bumpiness of the terrain below). Also, I really love my altimeter to function reliably, putting too many auto-toggling functions in there will likely only be annoying in my humble opinion. Our airspeed indicator switching automatically can be annoying in it's own right (flying up to your runway flag and it spontaneously changes to target mode is something to be aware of, or you'd stall).

[Frank_G]

Man, did we really start a thread about the same thing almost simultaneously?

I´d like to have a laser range finder as a science part, that puts out readings like the resource surface scanner does. No need to fiddle with the general UI.

Take a look at my thread here: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/127721-Distance-measuring-apparatus

[Red Iron Crown]

I use Landing Height, which implements Idea #1 (and also measures from lowest point on the vessel rather than root part). I have to say it's a much better behavior for the altimeter, would like to see it added/implemented in stock.

[pandaman]

I use Landing Height, which implements Idea #1 (and also measures from lowest point on the vessel rather than root part). I have to say it's a much better behavior for the altimeter, would like to see it added/implemented in stock.

Yes. This, ideally, should be how a stock AGL altimeter works IMO. That said anything would be better than the nothing we have in stock atm.

[mattinoz]

The first thing I'd ask is why the Altimeter is at the top of the screen anyway?

first thing I'd do is move it next to the nav ball on the bottom edge of the screen, then add smaller read out on top of it and one below

Top readout is Apoapsis

Main Altimeter

Bottom switches between Radar to Periapses whenever Periapsis is above the ground.

The screen space next to navball is kind of dead space anyway but your eye is there looking at the navball a lot anyway.

[Jenyaza01]

SCAN - "Landing Height Display". It's one small .dll and it work exactly what you want: in surface mode you see the distance to surface!

[Wolfox]

I use Kerbal Engineer for that, you can easily tweak HUDs that pop-up after installation on the sides of the main altimeter, you can add or remove readouts to display, including radar height (and much more useful data like orbital period, biome or Delta-v remaining).

[thereaverofdarkness]

I think there should be a radar altimeter module that you have to attach to your craft to get a reading from it. Some landers, like the Mk. 2 Lander Can, may have an altimeter built-in on the inside.

[Rath]

You could click on the altimeter to change it

[Superfluous J]

You could click on the altimeter to change it

I would prefer this, with the addition of removing the "recover vessel" and "space center" buttons that will inevitably drop down when you go up there. Does anybody use them? I hit escape for both functions.