Displacement/Buoyancy/Waterline indicator

[Speeding Mullet]

As per this thread, an interesting discussion arose around methods of calculating displacement or buoyancy of a craft.  This got me thinking, would it be possible or a good thing now we specifically have the ability to splash around to have a displacement or buoyancy indicator much like COM COL COT indicators in the VAB and SPH to tell whether a craft will be positively, neutral, or negatively buoyant as we build it, instead of having to repeatedly test or do the math.

Edit: It's just been pointed out to me that apart from a few limited applications (subs, underwater bases, and highly specialised rovers) a buoyancy indicator is largely useless, and what actually matters is not whether something will float, but where the water line is.  With this in mind I'm interested to find out what people think of either a water line indicator, or a buoyancy indicator, or both, and have edited the title of the thread.

SM

Edited December 15, 2015 by Speeding Mullet
edited title and content to reflect authoratitive input, and changed tags

[Pthigrivi]

Hmm, I mean Im not against it, but I do wonder if its necessary. I'm working on a floating base for Laythe and I've rather been enjoying my test-rig launches. 

[Speeding Mullet]

12 minutes ago, Pthigrivi said:

Hmm, I mean Im not against it, but I do wonder if its necessary. I'm working on a floating base for Laythe and I've rather been enjoying my test-rig launches. 

I think it's one of those suggestions where one thinks they have stumbled across the greatest solution to the worlds largest problem, then realises after a little thought that it's a non solution to a problem that only sort of exists.

I'm happy to consign this to page 2 of despair, but if it's a genuinely good idea then it will take off.  I can definitely see it as a niche mod, even if not part of the stock game.

SM

[pandaman]

Not a bad idea, something along these lines could be a useful tool.  From a design point of view this kind of aid is not vastly different to the CoM and CoL indicators, so why not?  Even if it's only calibrated for Kerbins oceans so you need to guess what it will do on Eve or Laythe.

[Omega563]

Having recently been testing my submarine, hundreds of times, I think this is a great idea. I would like to sea an indicator for the Center Of Buoyancy and would even go a step further and suggest a value be displayed in the engineer's report in much the same way as mass; perhaps negative numbers could be you will sink, zero meaning neutrally buoyant and positive numbers you will float.

On a bit more specific note, now we have a better buoyancy model I would like to see stock parts that allow you to pump water in and out of ballast tanks to raise and lower your vessel. I am aware this is not a part that would be used widely among the community (but may be with a scientific incentive in career mode), and I apologize if this is the wrong place to post suggestions. I'm not the kind of person who usually posts on forums.

[nikokespprfan]

11 hours ago, Omega563 said:

perhaps negative numbers could be you will sink, zero meaning neutrally buoyant and positive numbers you will float

relative density?

 

[Omega563]

3 minutes ago, nikokespprfan said:

relative density?

 

Yes.

[pandaman]

Actually a 'relative density' indicator it a very good idea.

I would also guess it's much easier to implement than a graphic indicator on the ship. As well as easier to configure to different bodies.