Any cool rover designs?

[notJebKerman]

im planning to send (another) unmanned rover to duna. this time im planning to launch a bit bigger one than last time. that first mission was a partial failure-rover was so slow it took it minutes to travel 100m and it was extremelly unstable. by now i cant even control (due to communication networks) it and it has barelly any science to collect (im playing in sandbox but science data like pressure, g force and temparatures is still interesting to a nerd like me). 

ill just get to the point: i need a new rover but i have no idea where to start and how it should look like. it would be great if someone could share his .craft file. i want  this rover to be able to travel at relatively high speeds (15-20m/s), have some science onboard and overall just look cool. i also want it to be unmanned. im ok with using any mods (i already have 30+ of them). if u r sharing .craft file just plz tell me which mods did u use.

thanks for sharing and helping me (and the others)!

[Agustin]

My last design is pretty good, I might improve some things but the idea behid it is very usefull for stability. If you are using Infernal Robotics, use the washing docking free rotation tool to create a suspension mechanism. This way when you pass over a non flat terrain all your wheels touch the ground and you get a more stable rover overall... Look at this video minute 15:00 and use the idea but in a larger scale. Just be sure to spreade wider arms connected to the washing docking free so it doesn't rotate more than neccesarily and use struts to hold it rigid for transporting to another world, then with kis/kas you can get ridd of them. I recently made a really good rover using this idea, but really bigger than the video, and weighting like 10 tons. But the weight is really worth it beause then it makes it more stable. Also, building is fun, make use of tips like mine but don't miss the building as it is so meaningfull having your own designs in another planet and working!
This is my first contribution to the forum as I recently registered. 

 

Edited December 2, 2016 by Agustin

[Castille7]

You can get some ideas from one of mind

Rover 7

https://kerbalx.com/Castille7/Rover-7

 

[Majorjim!]

Just now, Castille7 said:

You can get some ideas from one of mind

Rover 7

https://kerbalx.com/Castille7/Rover-7

 

He want's an un-manned one dude. I was about to post a load of pics but then read that bit of the OP.

[Castille7]

1 hour ago, Majorjim! said:

He want's an un-manned one dude. I was about to post a load of pics but then read that bit of the OP.

@Majorjim! Most every Rover I build has the option of man or un-manned, this one has a Rovemate.....mate! 

Edited December 2, 2016 by Castille7

[Majorjim!]

1 hour ago, Castille7 said:

@Majorjim! Most every Rover I build has the option of man or un-manned, this one has a Rovemate.....mate! 

Lol, k. Most do though it sounds like we wants science type rovers like curiosity. 

[Azimech]

Curiosity ... hardly exciting or entertaining. If I'd know the OP's available tech tree I'd probably be able to cook something hot.

[Spartwo]

Castille went in the same direction as I do. 4 wheels, low down, flat surfaces. Converting manned to unmanned is very easy and gives room for science equipment or a stronger antenna as you'll need it to maintain control.

[Majorjim!]

Just now, Azimech said:

Curiosity ... hardly exciting or entertaining. If I'd know the OP's available tech tree I'd probably be able to cook something hot.

That was just an example of an unmanned science probe.  Plus it was in my head as I have just finished mine and am about to release it. I assure you it's very 'exciting' and 'entertaining'.

 Also in the post he said he plays sandbox so no tech tree.

Edited December 3, 2016 by Majorjim!

[Azimech]

I have something with the impact tolerance of a Volvo in Roverland, this thing is meant for 6 kerbals but hey ... it already has a probe core so, unmanned ;-)

Download link: https://kerbalx.com/Azimech/77I--Lowell-Rosalie

Forgot: it's stock and has most ... if not all science instruments on board. On worlds without atmo it should be able to reach 40 m/s.

Edited December 3, 2016 by Azimech

[Vanamonde]

What do you think of this design I've been using for several years? 

Here's the craft file I use to launch it to orbit, where a mothership transports it to Duna. 

https://kerbalx.com/Vanamonde/V27-Atmoranger

[notJebKerman]

11 hours ago, Majorjim! said:

He want's an un-manned one dude. I was about to post a load of pics but then read that bit of the OP.

with this one it doesnt really matter. i willl just remove seats and add a probe

[notJebKerman]

5 hours ago, Azimech said:

I have something with the impact tolerance of a Volvo in Roverland, this thing is meant for 6 kerbals but hey ... it already has a probe core so, unmanned ;-)

Download link: https://kerbalx.com/Azimech/77I--Lowell-Rosalie

Forgot: it's stock and has most ... if not all science instruments on board. On worlds without atmo it should be able to reach 40 m/s.

that looks amazing... how much time did u spend making it? 5 hours? 10 hours?

12 hours ago, Castille7 said:

You can get some ideas from one of mind

Rover 7

https://kerbalx.com/Castille7/Rover-7

 

ive seen this rover a while ago and tried to recreate it. wasnt very sucesful. glad to finally find the .craft file

[James Kerman]

These are 2 automated rovers that work great on Duna.  The little one is a science rover with crew capacity and it's great fun for dune jumping.  The other is an ISRU rig with long range coms.

[Majorjim!]

10 hours ago, notJebKerman said:

with this one it doesnt really matter. i willl just remove seats and add a probe

OK thank you for clearing that up! The speed you requested is reasonable and attainable so most designs should work ok. I have a few new-er rover designs you can get ideas from.

 My two kerbal RAGE buggy (The one shown in the pics had the old defunct ant engine suspension, since removed from the one in the link):

 

RAGE buggy KerbalX download: https://kerbalx.com/Majorjim/MJs-RAGE-buggy

 

And my 8 Kerbal 'Offworld' rover:

 

KerbalX download: https://kerbalx.com/Majorjim/Duna-Buggy-MJ

 

I have made a huge number of rovers that are now lost or buried in my huge pile of old KSP saves.. Here are a few more pics of older rovers for inspiration:
 

Spoiler

 

Rover with detachable science trailer:

 

Very old batman tumbler rover!

Land rover, also old

 

LOL, just a few of my rovers!

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 3, 2016 by Majorjim!

[Azimech]

10 hours ago, notJebKerman said:

that looks amazing... how much time did u spend making it? 5 hours? 10 hours?

 

Good question ... I never keep track of those things.

11 minutes ago, Majorjim! said:

OK thank you for clearing that up! The speed you requested is reasonable and attainable so most designs should work ok. I have a few new-er rover designs you can get ideas from.

 My two kerbal RAGE buggy:

 

RAGE buggy KerbalX download: https://kerbalx.com/Majorjim/MJs-RAGE-buggy

 

And my 8 Kerbal 'Offworld' rover:

 

KerbalX download: https://kerbalx.com/Majorjim/Duna-Buggy-MJ

 

I have made a huge number of rovers that are now lost or buried in my huge pile of old KSP saves.. Here are a few more pics of older rovers for inspiration:
 

  Hide contents

 

Rover with detachable science trailer:

 

Very old batman tumbler rover!

Land rover, also old

 

LOL, just a few of my rovers!

 

 

 

 

 

Very impressive! Nice to see those again!

[Majorjim!]

Just now, Azimech said:

Very impressive! Nice to see those again!

 

Thanks man! There are so many more lost in the mists of time though..

[Azimech]

My newest rover, capable of very high speeds while covering huge distances. Focused for use on Duna where it really shines, it can be used anywhere.

 

[Sharpy]

SXT's little trucky.

Circumnavigation of Duna should be enough of testimony of quality. 17m/s at 3x phys-warp is a safe cruising speed on Duna. You can go even 30m/s on a relatively flat terrain at 1x, but it's risky.

The MK2 parts were tweakscaled to 1m 'diameter'. You may also use the larger version, 2x as wide. Other than SXT and Tweakscale, the whole 'framework' is stock, but the cargo bay is brimming with various mod-derived payload.

[PhylumCnidaria]

12 hours ago, Sharpy said:

SXT's little trucky.

(image)

Circumnavigation of Duna should be enough of testimony of quality. 17m/s at 3x phys-warp is a safe cruising speed on Duna. You can go even 30m/s on a relatively flat terrain at 1x, but it's risky.

The MK2 parts were tweakscaled to 1m 'diameter'. You may also use the larger version, 2x as wide. Other than SXT and Tweakscale, the whole 'framework' is stock, but the cargo bay is brimming with various mod-derived payload.

Heh, there's Rarity on the bottom left. Just noticed that now. 

[TheKurgan]

These are heavily modded, but might give you some ideas. All of them have probe cores as to be manned or unmanned.