Action group delay

[p1t1o]

I would like the ability to add delays to action groups.

There is a mod that enables this, but it is a bit of a cludge: add a part, create group to activate that part, part has a timer, when timer runs down, part triggers another action group.

 

I would like to be able, for example, to crate an action group like this:

Stage fairing

2 second delay

Activate solar panels

 

Or:

Jettison LES

2 second delay

Deploy drougue

 

Or:

Stage lateral decoupler pair 1

1 second delay

Stage lateral decoupler pair 2

1 second delay

Stage lateral decoupler pair 3

 

etc. etc.

 

Seems like a small thing that could add a lot of functionality

[Atlas2342]

Seems like a practical idea. Especially useful for drogue-main chute activation...

[pandaman]

I like the idea, but where it could fall down is things like opening chutes on jettisoned stages etc - the detached stage is no longer the active vessel, so the action group would no longer work on it.  It would need to 'remember' to activate the chutes on a non active vessel, which I'm sure is perfectly doable, but may not be as simple to implement as it first appears.

Nevertheless, it would be a useful thing to have even if it can only be applied to the active vessel.

[p1t1o]

2 hours ago, pandaman said:

I like the idea, but where it could fall down is things like opening chutes on jettisoned stages etc - the detached stage is no longer the active vessel, so the action group would no longer work on it.  It would need to 'remember' to activate the chutes on a non active vessel, which I'm sure is perfectly doable, but may not be as simple to implement as it first appears.

Nevertheless, it would be a useful thing to have even if it can only be applied to the active vessel.

The mod I mentioned in the OP, I think it is "smart parts", that included a part that can activate an action group on a timer - I once used these to trigger parachutes on decoupled stages successfully.

Not sure if it was a feature provided by the part though so I cant speak to stock functionality, but it appears plausible at least.

Either way I made the suggestion assuming that it would be active-vessel-only.

[pandaman]

1 hour ago, p1t1o said:

 

Either way I made the suggestion assuming that it would be active-vessel-only.

Yes, I thought that was likely the case.  But I just figured it was worth raising the potential 'non active vessel' issue as a consideration.

[kBob]

I don't have KOS, but from what I've seen it has access to action groups (though the AGx parameter) and has a wait command so it shouldn't be hard to do I'd think.  When the action command is triggered (by pressing the number key) then the script activates the first action group waits x seconds does the next and so on.  There is also an addon that allows many more action groups to be defined.  If there is a KOS expert reading this maybe they can chime in, or if you'd like I can get KOS and play around with it a bit, this does seem like a good idea.  In a limited way what you're asking for is a rudimentary scripting system for action groups.