Reconfigurable RCS blocks for tugs

[jwbrase]

Tugs can sometimes have trouble towing station modules around due to the center of gravity of the tug-module assembly being far from the RCS thrusters, causing all kinds of undesired coupling between rotation and translation. An interesting solution to this would be an RCS part that can be moved by Kerbals on EVA (perhaps generically, perhaps as an engineer skill). The idea would be that the player could build a tug with this part, dock the tug with a station module, then move the tug's RCS to line up with the center of mass of the tug-module assembly.

[RidingTheFlow]

I would prefer smarter RCS stock controller. Current is very oversimplified.

It should just vary RCS thrust based on where each thruster placed in relation to current center of mass. I beleive mechJeb had "smarter RCS" module to do such thing.

[Rath]

My workaround for this involves IR rotatrons and extendatrons with a RCS block on the end, allowing for the RCS booms to be configured into whatever shape they need to fit around any station modult. I would really like something similar to this in stock, and robotics in general.

[Dafni]

At least give us the ability to toggle RCS thrusters.

[Rath]

At least give us the ability to toggle RCS thrusters.

We can

[sal_vager]

I would prefer smarter RCS stock controller. Current is very oversimplified.

It should just vary RCS thrust based on where each thruster placed in relation to current center of mass. I beleive mechJeb had "smarter RCS" module to do such thing.

They already do this when in fine control mode.

[RidingTheFlow]

They already do this when in fine control mode.

is it reply to my email or to OP?

Fine mode just reduces maximum thrust to my experience. It still producing torque on translation and shift on rotation, just proportionally less. I guess often it could be reducing torque enough for SAS able to kill it completely, producing impression that RCS becomes balanced, but it not.

[Enceos]

Install the KIS mod and move your thrusters anywhere you like via EVA. The center of mass is the center of your camera view, just zoom in very closely and you'll get the idea where the center of mass is and where you should attach your extra RCS thrusters.

[Dafni]

We can

Holy! Thanks man, I never knew

[Bill Phil]

You can have two modules of equal mass, or you can have both the tug and module have RCS ligned up with their respective center of masses.

[jwbrase]

I would prefer smarter RCS stock controller. Current is very oversimplified.

It should just vary RCS thrust based on where each thruster placed in relation to current center of mass. I beleive mechJeb had "smarter RCS" module to do such thing.

That still won't help if your tug is manipulating a much larger module that pulls the COM of the combined stack past the tug's forward RCS thrusters.

You can have two modules of equal mass, or you can have both the tug and module have RCS ligned up with their respective center of masses.

Yes, one can put RCS on the station module, but RCS, while not exorbitantly expensive, is not completely cheap either. It would be preferable to have all the RCS on the tug.