Old docking bugs back, with some new ones when using robotic arms

[Ultimate Steve]

I do realize that bug reports should be specific, but I've had many problems and the details of each are pretty different.

I'm playing on KSP 1.7.1 with both expansions installed, nothing else, on Windows 10.

I built a space shuttle with a robotic arm. The arm uses the Klaw as an attachment mechanism (because the bugs involving using docking ports became insurmountable, more on that later).

In this most recent episode, I put the robotic arm into position. I had a fuel pod docked in the space shuttle. I undocked it and then quickly grabbed it with the robotic klaw arm (so I wouldn't have to klaw my own ship). The klaw engaged. The fuel pod has two docking ports, one on each end. The first one was connected to the shuttle and the second one was free. Using the robotic arm, I spun the pod around and connected it back to the shuttle, but with the other docking port. I released the Klaw in an attempt to alleviate docking weirdness, so the pod floated free before docking.

The two modules docked, but now neither port shows the "undock" option.

I recall a long time ago that there were many bugs related to undocking, and they all seem to be back when I try to use robotic arms.

Pictures of the setup:

The robot arm in question.

Neither port displays the undock button, even after quickloading.

 

Another frustrating thing when using robotic arms is the fact that docking ports will sometimes lose magnetism if they get close to the target but then back off - something that happens naturally with very flexible robotic arms. So when you finally get ready to dock, it won't unless you edit the persistence file.

Another bug I ran across is that sometimes, docking ports, when part of the same craft, can be "docked" but not snapped to the proper angle, sometimes with both ports inside each other.

 

I hope that these issues get acknowledged - I would love to be able to use robotic arms in a non frustrating way.

 

[HebaruSan]

That sounds like something I encountered a while back:

In both cases, the "magnets" are engaged before a vessel separation event allows the docking to occur. Do you still have the same problem if you avoid that? Granted it would pretty much defeat the purpose of the arm to let go of the cargo floating on its own in space and then dock with RCS, but it could give some insight into the bug.

[Ultimate Steve]

24 minutes ago, HebaruSan said:

 

In both cases, the "magnets" are engaged before a vessel separation event allows the docking to occur. Do you still have the same problem if you avoid that? Granted it would pretty much defeat the purpose of the arm to let go of the cargo floating on its own in space and then dock with RCS, but it could give some insight into the bug.

 

I might test that, I might not, but you're right, that would defeat the purpose of using an arm. If the thing I'm moving isn't directly connected to the same vessel initially, it's very difficult to grab.

Thank you for your input.

[Kerbolitto]

21 hours ago, Ultimate Steve said:

Another frustrating thing when using robotic arms is the fact that docking ports will sometimes lose magnetism if they get close to the target but then back off - something that happens naturally with very flexible robotic arms. So when you finally get ready to dock, it won't unless you edit the persistence file.

Totally agree with that! I can dock it onto a fuel tank in the cargo bay but once it's on the arm, I can float the tank around with no collision and I'm not able to redock it to the ship (magnets do not interact) :

 

To me the whole purpose ofrobotic parts is to put docks at the end, and move stuff around, assemble large outposts or spacestations .. Right now I'm a bit disappointed : /

 

Edited June 2, 2019 by Kerbolitto