Avionics & ASAS - the difference

[Vostok]

Is there any functional difference between the ASAS module and the avionics package? I find that the ASAS keeps my heading far better than the avionics module, which tends to keep the ship stable but not on the same heading.

[sal_vager]

That\'s the functional difference right there, the ASAS can push you back to, and hold you on, the heading you were on when it was activated, while the avionics package just causes the craft to resist turning, while still allowing you to manoeuvre.

Here is the wiki page on the ASAS, the avionics package is similar but lacks the 'I' in the 'PID' system, thus it does not take your deviation from the original course into account.

[Vostok]

Ah! that IS useful.... so If I were building a space shuttle, I\'d fit the shuttle with avionics, and the rocket with ASAS, so that it uses ASAS on ascent, and Avio on the landing

[sal_vager]

Actually I just flew a craft from the launchpad to the Mun with the avionics package instead of an ASAS, and it worked really well.

[jayther]

Ah! that IS useful.... so If I were building a space shuttle, I\'d fit the shuttle with avionics, and the rocket with ASAS, so that it uses ASAS on ascent, and Avio on the landing

That\'s what I did in my space shuttle, except I used a normal SAS on the rocket. I shall try it with an ASAS, as I still have to manually fight against the shuttle\'s tendency to pitch down with the normal SAS.

[Aerzee]

SAS, stops spinning

ASAS, keeps you pointing in one direction.

Avionics, stops you from doing stupid (a.k.a drastic) moves.

[Mr_Orion]

SAS, stops spinning

ASAS, keeps you pointing in one direction.

Avionics, stops you from doing stupid (a.k.a drastic) moves.

Actually SAS does exactly the same thing as ASAS, just that ASAS has the ability to control winglets and RCS (and pod torque).

[colmo]

They all have Kd, Ki and Kp parameters in their config.

I\'m planning on tweaking them for a helicopter-spec ASAS.

http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/~kerbalsp/wiki/index.php?title=Advanced_S.A.S.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PID_controller#PID_controller_theory