The Probodobodyne OKTO2 Solar Speed Challenge

[DoctorDavinci]

1 hour ago, Triop said:

No.

I regret starting this challenge with the line: "Ok, this is simple,".

apparently it is not....

 

Nothing is ever simple ... especially when it's involving KSP and the Forums

As I have mentioned before, there are always going to be those who's main objective is to circumvent the rules (whether implied or static) .... not to mention those who just want to pick a challenge apart and stomp on the spirit of said challenge

You all know who you are

 

[qzgy]

Why not have a second leader board (like the gatecrasher leader board or so) for those who slightly abuse the rules, but are technically "legal" under the rules?

Edited December 16, 2016 by qzgy

[Opus_723]

Oh, this got serious. I actually had this ready earlier, but it felt a little mean to post it right after that cute 11 m/s  QBE rover.

So here's my best attempt: 53.4 m/s

 

And a quick carriage shot to confirm no batteries or other shenanigans:

 

The black wheels have 58.0 m/s listed as their max motor speed, so I have a feeling that we're not going to go any faster than that. From here on out I think it's just a matter of getting the mass as low as possible while keeping a serviceable amount of solar panels to try and eke out those last few m/s.

We've all seemed to independently converge on black tires+cubic struts+stat-XL panels as a winning formula. Hmm.

 

EDIT: Also, Martian Emigrant, you should redo yours on the runway instead of flat grass to qualify under the new rules. If you can repeat that speed you'll beat me for the top spot!

Edited December 16, 2016 by Opus_723

[Gordon Fecyk]

10 hours ago, Triop said:

I regret starting this challenge with the line: "Ok, this is simple,".

Welcome to the club. Should I start passing out barometers?

/me ducks

[Tex_NL]

7 hours ago, Opus_723 said:

EDIT: Also, Martian Emigrant, you should redo yours on the runway instead of flat grass to qualify under the new rules. If you can repeat that speed you'll beat me for the top spot!

The grass is a fairer surface than the runway. The first part of the runway is actually downhill ever so slightly, the last part goes uphill. The grass is flat all the way.
Besides that, the runway is too short to push out that last 0.1m/s you'll need to qualify as #1.

Edited December 16, 2016 by Tex_NL

[Martian Emigrant]

10 hours ago, Opus_723 said:

EDIT: Also, Martian Emigrant, you should redo yours on the runway instead of flat grass to qualify under the new rules. If you can repeat that speed you'll beat me for the top spot!

Hi.

 

I had to rebuild it as it wasn't saved.

Here is basically the same craft.

SPH:

Runway:

53.8 m/s

 

ME

EDIT:

Ran a version with 8 wheels, 4 panels....Maybe time of day would help.

New speed 53.9 m/s.

 

 

 

Edited December 16, 2016 by Martian Emigrant

[SuicidalInsanity]

I rebuilt my racer and tried it again, got 54.1m/s:

 

[Tex_NL]

Time to reclaim the throne. 54.2m/s

[Triop]

Updated leaderboard.

54.3 anyone?

[Tex_NL]

11 hours ago, Triop said:

54.3 anyone?

Not yet.
Squeezing out that last 0.1m/s will be difficult. Soon we'll need a more precise speed measurement. As far as I know both KER or MJ can display speed with more precision.

Edited December 17, 2016 by Tex_NL

[Eidahlil]

What's the call on using gyroscopes and/or aerodynamics for the speed, so long as you stay on the ground?

Meanwhile, a wheeled entry, 56.1 with only minor tricks (wheels in cargo bay, I hope that's alright?).

And a video

Spoiler

 

and the craft file for the truly skeptical: http://kerbalx.com/juzeris/Spidron-2E

It works reliably (for me, at least) when launched from the SPH, but occasionally has performance issues when reverted to launch (wheels stop being in the cargo bay).

 

[Triop]

1 hour ago, Eidahlil said:

What's the call on using gyroscopes and/or aerodynamics for the speed, so long as you stay on the ground?

Meanwhile, a wheeled entry, 56.1 with only minor tricks (wheels in cargo bay, I hope that's alright?).

And a video

  Hide contents

 

and the craft file for the truly skeptical: http://kerbalx.com/juzeris/Spidron-2E

It works reliably (for me, at least) when launched from the SPH, but occasionally has performance issues when reverted to launch (wheels stop being in the cargo bay).

 

Incredible.

[Martian Emigrant]

Please don't shoot me.

I have managed 56.2 m/s but cannot reproduce it.

I Tried to "Tweak" it after that run but it just don't work anymore.

 

The ship is just a structural fuselage with service bays.

When I spawn it to the runway the wheels get sucked in for some reason I can't fathom. It's just rendered that way as the fuselage hovers over the runway.

So this is my last try. I throw the towel.

 

ME

 

[Eidahlil]

The service bays are a pain to work with for this particular purpose, that's why I switched to the cargo bays. And my wheels also get sucked inside.

Anyway, we have to keep moving forward.

I figured if putting wheels into a cargo bay made it go faster, maybe making it "long(er) and pointy" would make it go even faster? It did. http://kerbalx.com/juzeris/Spidron-2L

Also, @Triop, can we use gyroscopes and/or aerodynamics to gain speed, so long as the contraption stays on the ground? I have things like these, and not sure if they are valid entries or not:

Spoiler

Consider this entertainment if it's not a valid entry. THE vehicle for the environmentally conscious supervillain.

 

 

[Tex_NL]

9 minutes ago, Eidahlil said:

 

  Hide contents

Consider this entertainment if it's not a valid entry. THE vehicle for the environmentally conscious supervillain.

 

 

As far as I can see it does not violate any of the rules in the OP.
It totally destroys my best speed but I do admire your out of the box thinking.

[Triop]

1 hour ago, Eidahlil said:

  Reveal hidden contents

Consider this entertainment if it's not a valid entry. THE vehicle for the environmentally conscious supervillain.

 

 

What sorcery is that ???

I saw it go 75 M/S before it left the runway.

Redo it and stop it on the runway and you will be number 1.

Updating the results...

[Mjp1050]

Fun fact: if you push A and D really, really quickly, you get a lot of speed.

166.7 m/s.

[Triop]

39 minutes ago, Mjp1050 said:

Fun fact: if you push A and D really, really quickly, you get a lot of speed.

166.7 m/s.

Ok, you won, challenge is over, we all learned a lot...

[bobston314]

On 12/15/2016 at 9:17 PM, qzgy said:

Why not have a second leader board (like the gatecrasher leader board or so) for those who slightly abuse the rules, but are technically "legal" under the rules?

I want that (if only for the reason that I just made something slightly faster than the previous gatecrasher...)

http://imgur.com/a/PB6qr

330 m/s - slightly faster!

EDIT: With more engines, I've upped it to 570 m/s. This is getting interesting.

EDIT2: With even more engines, I've surpassed 600 m/s. Please incorporate a gatecrasher leaderboard.

Edited December 22, 2016 by bobston314
better results

[Rath]

On 12/15/2016 at 9:21 AM, DoctorDavinci said:

Weighing in at 0.542 tons and consisting of 9 parts, I now present for your consideration, the CANUKWorks Somethin' For Nothin'

Top Speed: 44.6 m/s

I'll just leave this here .......

 

Yay! Rush!