Separatrons affecting probe orientation

[Sharpy]

What's the mystery of a decoupler changing the probe core orientation?

This is my launch setup of two rovers to perform a site survey. Two, because it's way too easy to break one, so a backup on-site is more than desirable. So they are attached to two radial decouplers for easy transport.

Now the funny thing is how that affects their probe cores orientation.

This is a rover with the decoupler still attached (although decoupled, it just lies on the girder because it can't get off...) - note the navball. Sideways, pointing at the horizon.

And this is the same rover (well, the same model), after some rough driving which tore the decoupler off.

Suddenly control scheme changes - formerly S/W turned it around (as turning the wheels does). Now it turns with Q/W. It's the same probe, same rover, one hard landing after a longish jump, that brought the decoupler on the bottom in contact with the ground and tore it off. The log (F3) showed only the decoupler lost.

Could someone write something more in-depth about the game mechanics of probe core orientation?

Edited August 4, 2015 by Sharpy

[Rhomphaia]

The probe orientation is not the issue here, If you right click the probe core and select "control from here" it will reset to the probe cores "correct" orientation which would match the second image.

The issue is that when you decouple the decoupler becomes the root part and the nav ball orientation changes to that. when you lost the decoupler the orientation changed to the Rovemax. which does not have the ideal orientation for a rover body.

Your best bet would be to add an OKTO2 where you have those Oscar-B tanks to provide a better control point.

[Sharpy]

Wait, so until I choose the probe core, the vessel is controlled from the... decoupler?

First I made a rocket propulsion out of these. Next I read they can be used as ultra-light lander legs. And now this.

I'm increasingly amazed with these little parts.

[Rhomphaia]

Wait, so until I choose the probe core, the vessel is controlled from the... decoupler?

First I made a rocket propulsion out of these. Next I read they can be used as ultra-light lander legs. And now this.

I'm increasingly amazed with these little parts.

The vessel isn't controlled by the decoupler

It is just that when you decouple something and switch to it , the NavBall is oriented to the new root part rather than the control.

(At least it is not supposed to be, though I have seen me able to control debris sometimes when I have no probecore or pilot. That is not intended behaviour though, not sure the cause)