BDArmory AI flight computer making unstable turns

[drtricky]

So I am creating a fighter (that can also function as an excellent bomber) for the Top Gun AI challenge. Below are pictures with details of my fighter:

Spoiler

 

 

Engines:

I forgot to include a photo of the engines, but there are six panther engines in the back, arranged in a hexagon, with one whiplash engine in the middle.

Notes:

Some of the photos show that one side of the wing is missing struts that are only on the other side. I've already fixed this.

Behind the cockpit is a cargo (bomb) bay. The other portions are fuel tanks

This contest does not require FAR (yay)

Go ahead and laugh at its many imperfect attributes, like its mASS, size, and how it's kinda ugly. Now, before you tell me to reduce its size, I'm using mk3 parts because I think small fighters are quite boring. I am willing to change anything, except for fuselage size, which I refuse to shrink below mk3 

 

With that aside, the main problem I am encountering with my fighter is that when the AI is making turns, it tends to vacillate the plane. (I don't) believe this is because of aerodynamic instability, as my own flying shows that with SAS on, the airplane doesn't waver when turning (unless at speeds less than 50 m/s). Additionally, I notice that when the AI computer is driving my airplane on take off, it tends to make control inputs that make the plane waver up and down as its climbing.

Does anyone know what I can do to make the plane stop wavering when the AI is making turns? The wavering causes it to bleed a lot of speed and maneuverability.

Edited December 28, 2015 by drtricky

[Snark]

No idea, but this sounds like something highly specific to BDArmory.  Maybe you'd have better luck posting in the forum thread for the mod?

[Feni]

What are your settings in the AI flight manager?

[Hodo]

I agree with the others, ask in the BDArmory thread.  If this were an aircraft for FAR I would tell you, your problem is your aircraft is to short length wise.   This affects the pitch stability and to some level the yaw stability. 

 

 

[drtricky]

9 hours ago, Feni said:

What are your settings in the AI flight manager?

They're in the first picture

[Feni]

On 29-12-2015 at 9:06 PM, drtricky said:

They're in the first picture

Apologies, missed that one. If your aircraft wobbles, reduce the Steer Factor and/or Steer Limiter. The Steer Dampening is already at a good setting to reduce wobbling.

If I remember correctly, Steer Factor determines the size of the curve it tries to make to intercept the target (larger number = tighter curve), Steer Limiter determines the maximum deflection of the control surfaces (1=100% deflection, 0.5=50% deflection) and Steer Dampening smoothes input into control surfaces.

Wobbling can occur if your plane reaches its aerodynamic limit and has stalls on its control surfaces or if its input into the control surfaces is so large that the craft overshoots its target angle and has to correct (and overshoots that angle also so it keeps overcorrecting).

Try some lower settings for Steer Factor and Steer Limiter and let us know if it worked.

Edited January 12, 2016 by Feni

[Vanamonde]

Since the problem seems to lie in the mod rather than stock or aircraft design, your thread has been moved to the modding section. 

[*Aqua*]

On ‎12‎.‎01‎.‎2016 at 5:26 PM, Feni said:

Wobbling can occur if your plane reaches its aerodynamic limit and has stalls on its control surfaces or if its input into the control surfaces is so large that the craft overshoots its target angle and has to correct (and overshoots that angle also so it keeps overcorrecting).

For completeness: Undercorrection (not enough control surfaces, etc.) can also cause wobbling.