Any Mechjeb competitors for 1.0.5+

[Cloakedwand72]

Dos any one know of any Mechjeb competitor that works with 1.0.5+?

The problems i have with Mechjeb are that the rockets always over heats when going through the thick atmosphere.

And is there a easy to use auto pilot mod that dos all the flying for you with out over heating and doing all the complex math and coding?That works with 1.0.5+?Not interested in KOS Scriptable Autopilot System to complex.

[Tex_NL]

If you launch with MechJeb and you over heat your doing something VERY wrong.

First of all make sure you have the latest (dev) build. And secondly enable both the limiter to terminal velocity and max Q.

[Cloakedwand72]

9 minutes ago, Tex_NL said:

If you launch with MechJeb and you over heat your doing something VERY wrong.

First of all make sure you have the latest (dev) build. And secondly enable both the limiter to terminal velocity and max Q.

Even if i toggle the Terminal velocity and max Q why would Mechjeb sitll have that problem?I am using the latest public release. 

[sarbian]

You know that you rocket would overheat even without MJ right ? Mj does not create some magic source of heat. If you throw a rocket at mach 10 at sea level it melt, MJ or not.

[artwhaley]

To directly answer your question, I've come up with two ideas - 

As far as a competitor for mechjeb, there's this:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TI-85

It can do most of what mechjeb does, but with more precise user control.    I can't imagine it making your rocket overheat.  I believe NASA actually uses a few of these for various purposes.

Or this option:  https://post.craigslist.org , where you can hire a real live person to play for you?  

Okay - facetious answers out of the way - Mechjeb is really the only complete and ready to go autopilot for all phases of flight, if you're not interested in a diy approach like KOS or kRPC.  And it works great.  I might advise you to post a request for help in a more constructive way - a pic of the rocket, maybe a .craft file, and an explanation of where in flight it explodes and what craft log messages show up after the explosion, and we can probably coach you through what problem you're having.

If you're overheating on launch, you've got entirely too much thrust to weight ratio...  or you're using parts that aren't rated for space anymore... like the mark 1 cockpit?  You are not having a Mechjeb problem.  As Tex_NL said, if you turn on 'limiting to terminal velocity and limiting by max q, it OUGHT to slow your rocket down in the thickest part of the atmosphere but... if you're blowing up on ascent you've got rocket design problems.  A traditionally designed rocket with an appropriate twr and ascent profile should be above the thickest of the air before it picks up enough speed to have a problem. 

Also, I really hope that Sarbian files this away and on April Fools Day releases a version of mechjeb that blows up all our rockets, or executes ".murdercrew()".

 

 

[sarbian]

7 hours ago, artwhaley said:

As far as a competitor for mechjeb, there's this:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TI-85

Heresy ! There is only one thru calculator HP 48g !

[Hannu2]

1 hour ago, sarbian said:

Heresy ! There is only one thru calculator HP 48g !

I agree. I bought one at 1994 when I started my studies in Helsinki University of Technology. I have used it very much in my studies, work and hobbies (hobbies without math are boring) and it is still in very good condition. It has excellent build quality as consumer electronics. Typically similar looking keys of TV remote controllers start to break after few years.

[1of6Billion]

Use Mechjeb anyway:

• Liftoff
• When you get 'mach effects', check the 'limit throttle' box. Set to 50-60%. Until you reach ±20km. Uncheck.
• When the re-entry heat effects kick in, recheck 'limit throttle'. Set to 30-40%.
• Up the limited throttle setting slowly. At 50km you can probably uncheck it again.

Alternatively, aim for an TWR of ±1.5 instead of 2.0

[PT]

15 hours ago, Tex_NL said:

If you launch with MechJeb and you over heat your doing something VERY wrong.

First of all make sure you have the latest (dev) build. And secondly enable both the limiter to terminal velocity and max Q.

 

15 hours ago, Cloakedwand72 said:

Even if i toggle the Terminal velocity and max Q why would Mechjeb sitll have that problem?I am using the latest public release. 

MJ ascent module seems borked in 1.0.5. Ascent trajectory is trash (barely any gravity turn) and it seems to ignore terminal velocity.

Also it will go nuts with deltaV if you enable fuel crosfeed on decouplers.

I guess you will need to fly it like a man until updates comes

[swjr-swis]

16 hours ago, Cloakedwand72 said:

Even if i toggle the Terminal velocity and max Q why would Mechjeb sitll have that problem?I am using the latest public release. 

 

You might want to check the ascent profile you have in MechJeb. Is it possible you got into that screen and moved the sliders, without really knowing what they do?

The ascent profile is what tells MechJeb how much and when to turn towards the horizon, and if this is set too much too fast, it's likely that none of the other parameters will prevent your ship from burning up before reaching orbit. Now I don't currently have MJ installed, maybe someone else here can point out how to reset the ascent profile back to default, or at least some sane values.

 

30 minutes ago, PT said:

MJ ascent module seems borked in 1.0.5. Ascent trajectory is trash (barely any gravity turn) and it seems to ignore terminal velocity.

The release notes for 2.5.5 mention this:

* Dynamic Pressure limiter to replace the now useless terminal velocity

So if you're still trying to use a 'useless' feature and getting useless results, it would seem all is working as expected. Try working with dynamic pressure instead?

[Gojira1000]

MJ's worked fine for me in 1.05 thus far - but I do tend to adjust a lot of settings during a launch and vary ascent path radically by rocket build and balance. Mostly MJ holds a heading for me while I do the fiddly bits. 

[artwhaley]

Ooooh, I may order this for when I feel like playing in hard mode:  

The exact same model used for backup computation on the Apollo missions:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pickett-N600-ES-Log-Log-Speed-6-Slide-Rule-Ruler-SYNCHRO-SCALE-Leather-Case-USA-/141854143543

[tg626]

If you are talking atmospheric heating, do as above, but if that's not enough alter you ascent profile.  I've got a shuttle that needs 6k to start the turn and a curve of 85%...  Or, try lowering the thrust so it takes longer to get up to orbital speeds.  Get it right and you,ll reach your target apoapsis on one continuous burn with little or no circulation burn!  

(Yes, I have done this)

[jonrd463]

On 12/17/2015 at 6:21 AM, PT said:

 

MJ ascent module seems borked in 1.0.5. Ascent trajectory is trash (barely any gravity turn) and it seems to ignore terminal velocity.

Also it will go nuts with deltaV if you enable fuel crosfeed on decouplers.

I guess you will need to fly it like a man until updates comes

Not sure which MJ version you're using, but the one I have works GREAT in 1.0.5. Even for a NASA style shuttle launch, which isn't as straightforward as your standard 2-3 stage LKO firecracker. It's not quite "set it and forget it", but all I have to do is give it a nudge here and there and it gets me into a near circular orbit at 150 km Ap with barely any circularization burn needed.

Edited December 21, 2015 by jonrd463

[sarbian]

On 17/12/2015 at 3:21 PM, PT said:

 

MJ ascent module seems borked in 1.0.5. Ascent trajectory is trash (barely any gravity turn) and it seems to ignore terminal velocity.

Also it will go nuts with deltaV if you enable fuel crosfeed on decouplers.

I guess you will need to fly it like a man until updates comes

No. The terminal velocity limiter works perfectly fine. But the terminal velocity is a FREAKING HUGE NUMBER in the 1.x aero model (and rightly so). You don't reach it unless you launch stupidly high TWR rockets that melt when trying to go hypersonic at 500m...

Stop hiding your lack of understanding of the underlying mechanics behind MechJeb pseudo failure.

[linuxgurugamer]

On 12/17/2015 at 4:57 PM, artwhaley said:

Ooooh, I may order this for when I feel like playing in hard mode:  

The exact same model used for backup computation on the Apollo missions:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pickett-N600-ES-Log-Log-Speed-6-Slide-Rule-Ruler-SYNCHRO-SCALE-Leather-Case-USA-/141854143543

I already have one (from my father who used to use it)

[genericeventhandler]

I've not had any problems at all with ascent module

  I use a 45 degree angle and 10 % end height, limit the initial turn to 11km and speed put it as far right as it can go. 

TWR should be around 1.5 at surface, 3500 - 4000 DV (lots of DV left to do funky stuff)

If you are burning up either your TWR is way too high or you are using all solid fuel boosters. 

GE. 

 

 

[Jimbodiah]

Standard ascent is twr 5+, shoot straight up to 150km and do a 2000dV circularization burn, isn't it? I did this when I started (not saying OP is doing it). Right now I try to keep circ burns to under 100-150m/s, but that is a lot harder to achieve than just slinging it up there. If your thrust is off, you may not make orbit in time.

I had the same problem last weekend where my rockets kept burning up for some reason. Turned out I had the ascent path set to 30% or something, must have misclicked. I tend to have it around 55-65% normaly.

Edited January 14, 2016 by Jimbodiah
Need... more.... coffee

[FungusForge]

I'd suggest using MJ's throttle or acceleration limiter on ascent when you start seeing atmosphere effects to prevent melting your rocket. I don't really use MJ, but when I launch my rockets, I throttle down until I'm just managing to accelerate. At least until 25-30km when I floor it again.

 

Also, if your rocket has exposed radiators or parts with low heat tolerance I'd suggest either service bays or fairings, because I've had bad times with parts like that on fast take-offs/reentries.

[FleshJeb]

On 12/17/2015 at 4:10 AM, Hannu2 said:

I agree. I bought one at 1994 when I started my studies in Helsinki University of Technology. I have used it very much in my studies, work and hobbies (hobbies without math are boring) and it is still in very good condition. It has excellent build quality as consumer electronics. Typically similar looking keys of TV remote controllers start to break after few years.

I bought my 48SX in 1994 as well. You're right, they are VERY durable.

Of course we had calculator superiority wars--Each person bragging about this feature and that feature. However, the TI-85s had problems with the memory sometimes clearing from a hard jolt. So, I used to zip my 48 into its slippery soft-case and kick it 20 meters down the hall.

The looks on their faces...

[Wemb]

On 17/12/2015 at 10:18 AM, sarbian said:

Heresy ! There is only one thru calculator HP 48g !

No! Not like that - do it properly!  :-)

Edited January 18, 2016 by Wemb

[Wemb]

On 17/12/2015 at 9:57 PM, artwhaley said:

Ooooh, I may order this for when I feel like playing in hard mode:  

The exact same model used for backup computation on the Apollo missions:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pickett-N600-ES-Log-Log-Speed-6-Slide-Rule-Ruler-SYNCHRO-SCALE-Leather-Case-USA-/141854143543

There needs to be more 'like' buttons.   I love slide rules, and own several.. Though I wouldn't dream of attempting to do anything with them I couldn't double check with a calulator (due to my ineptitude, not the tool's). 

I really would like to see some sort of hybrid between MJ's manoeuvre planning mode (which makes life too easy) and RasterPropMonitor - something akin to the real-life Apollo Guidance Computer - still needs a bit more work to use (so it isn't the default choice for doing Hohhman transfers, circularising, etc) but it capable of doing the heavy lifting when you need precision. or want to plan ahead a bit more.

Wemb

[sarbian]

Stop quoting my spelling error ! 

[sashan]

I bet the authors could make PhD on Mechjeb
As for the question - you do have too high TWR. I recommend you having 1.65 TWR if you use 2.5 stages with side-attached boosters and 1.5 if you use just 2 stages.

Last stage may have TWR of 0.3 even as long as it can obtain orbital speed before hitting atmo again. Lower, beter - because you burn horizontally, time of burn doesn't affect efficiency much, and having less TWR means less engine mass.

Edited January 18, 2016 by sashan

[StarSeeker2096]

Did you find an alternative or figure out how to use MechJeb ok?

If you still want to try something other than MechJeb you could check out GravityTurn, although It only does ascent guidence. Supposedly it does this much  better than MechJeb too.

I've installed it though have been flying spaceplanes lately and haven't used it yet.