Kerbin Elcano (TACLS, no Solar, no GPS, Supply Drops & overnight camping)

[The_Rocketeer]

35 minutes ago, Geschosskopf said:

Now, as to the questions about the port of departure for replacement vehicles and non-base refueling missions.....   As a wimpy all-solar boat guy who neither wrecked nor needed refueling, I defer to those who had to engineer more complex solutions to the Elcano challenge.

To be fair I don't really intend or expect to replace the vehicle, I'd just like to know what I'm doing 'in the event'. Running repairs are much more immersive and satisfying AFAIC

[The_Rocketeer]

Big overhaul for the top post, see what u think

[Chemp]

It's very nice to see how your project takes shape. Especially navigation is going to be a huge challenge, but that's your whole point, right?
I hope EC generation is high enough with a single fuel cell. I've always had reservations about using them for a rover, mainly because I have my doubts if the conversion is efficient enough to make long trips feasible.
I'm looking forward to you proving me wrong.

[The_Rocketeer]

Just now, Chemp said:

It's very nice to see how your project takes shape. Especially navigation is going to be a huge challenge, but that's your whole point, right?
I hope EC generation is high enough with a single fuel cell. I've always had reservations about using them for a rover, mainly because I have my doubts if the conversion is efficient enough to make long trips feasible.
I'm looking forward to you proving me wrong.

It sure is!

As for Fuel Cells, it's important to note that the mounted equipment is an ARRAY, not just a single cell. Having done quite a bit of driving around with 2 arrays during testing, I realised I was generating far more power than I was using, so I cut it down to just one and still I'm nowhere near exhausting supply. If this wasn't already looking challenging (and complicated!) enough, I might look into using just a couple of single Fuel Cells with battery storage and having to run them through cycles of charge on downhills/flats and supply for hill-climbs.

As for efficiency, well solar panels will always take the cake there, but my fuel storage should be plenty to keep me going for many hours at a time - in fact, even a single Oscar B could probably drive the car for longer than your typical RC car stays charged. For most short-range rover applications, I'd say fuel cells are really very competetive. In LF+O per EC, fuel cells are better than alternators - but actually, if u're reversing the system, using the alternator engine for primary thrust AND storing all the EC generated (with epic batteries!) for auxiliary electric propulsion with roverwheels, alternators are probably far and away better overall.

[Claw]

9 hours ago, The_Rocketeer said:

@Claw, I want to stay within the rules of the Elcano Challenge as far as possible, so where do you stand on this:

Quote

is it within the rules to get replacement vehicles from KerbinSide bases instead of all the way back at KSC?

 

For this one, I'm going to say no. Any replacement vehicle must come from KSC. You are free to use any method to move it there (air, land, space, or sea) and it doesn't have to redrive the route, but must be delivered somehow from KSC.

 

9 hours ago, The_Rocketeer said:

and also, what about supply drops/search aircraft - must they originate from KSC or can they launch from KerbinSide bases too? I can deal with whatever, it's just a question of whether I can use short-range aircraft only or have to go for faster/high-altitude jets.

So this one is a little harder, and I might be stretching a bit, but I'm in favor of your overall concept...so I think I'm in favor of some liberal adjudication on this one.

 

Resupply is covered via two rules:

Quote

7.  You may refuel if needed. Use of ISRU (or similar mods) is permitted.

Modded Category: An add-on’s technology level must be “near term” or of “next tier” type of capabilities as compared to stock. Mods that allow the user to skip elements of the challenge or violate the spirit of flying to and circumnavigating a body are not permitted.

ISRU is permitted and refueling is permitted. Gas stations and such are also mods of "near term" technology. The only hitch is that they are sort of magically appearing in place. However, since you are navigating mainly in the blind to get to a location that you didn't place (and all your other plans), I'd say your overall mission is well within the spirit of a circumnavigation. In that case, I'm apt to call it refuel/supply depots good, and see how your mission progresses.

But I can't in good conscience let the replacement vehicle come from there, because that seems to be a bit against the spirit of the rules that everyone else lived under (delivery of replacement). Though F5/F9 is allowed, so maybe this is all a bit arbitrary...

 

Hopefully that's all clear enough?

[The_Rocketeer]

6 hours ago, Claw said:

But I can't in good conscience let the replacement vehicle come from there, because that seems to be a bit against the spirit of the rules that everyone else lived under (delivery of replacement). Though F5/F9 is allowed, so maybe this is all a bit arbitrary...

 

Hopefully that's all clear enough?

Thanks Claw, seems fair and workable

One other quick one - how do u feel about the origin of parts from KerbinSide bases, and using KAS to modify/repair the existing rover with them?

F5/F9 is another interesting one for me. I'm willing to have the mission end in disaster - after all it's no fun if there's no gambit - but I don't want bugs, glitches and general kraken attacks to kill it. If the rover's wrecked or starved, it should be my own fault. So, while I'm not going to disable quicksaves/quickloads, I'm only going to use them if something catastrophic happens that's outside my control. If it happens but the rover can keep going, I'll do that instead.
 

Edited August 6, 2016 by The_Rocketeer

[The_Rocketeer]

Getting close to setting out soon.

Edited August 7, 2016 by The_Rocketeer

[Maverick_aus]

Hey @The_Rocketeer, how's the prep going? Haven't seen any updates on here for a while. 

RE: Your mapping qn. Was looking at Telemachus, and had a thought. It integrates with Kerbal Maps so you could display your position on map once every while if you wanted to. Alternatively, there may even be a way of exporting that as an image so you don't see it yourself - one of those following your journey could add the thread comment with the map. 
Just a thought. 

[The_Rocketeer]

5 hours ago, Maverick_aus said:

Hey @The_Rocketeer, how's the prep going? Haven't seen any updates on here for a while.

Regretably RL has stepped in by crapping all over me from a great height. General stresses are making it difficult to give this my full attention, so rather than start and risk abandoning the mission, I've decided to wait until I can give it the proper attention. Ain't life a female canine?

[Maverick_aus]

10 hours ago, The_Rocketeer said:

Regretably RL has stepped in by crapping all over me from a great height. General stresses are making it difficult to give this my full attention, so rather than start and risk abandoning the mission, I've decided to wait until I can give it the proper attention. Ain't life a female canine?

Very sorry to hear that, mate. Stress is a nasty one. I've had some periods with high stress and a general anxiousness most of the time. I hope it starts turning upward for you.

[The_Rocketeer]

48 minutes ago, Maverick_aus said:

Very sorry to hear that, mate. Stress is a nasty one. I've had some periods with high stress and a general anxiousness most of the time. I hope it starts turning upward for you.

Thanks for the moral support, mostly it's just circumstancial problems. I'd like to think in a week or two it'll be back to normal, but no promises