What are "scanning arms" for?

[strider3]

I included the small one on my Mun lander but, when I try to activate it landed on the Mun, it says "no target selected". What, exactly, is the purpose and correct usage of this Science collecting device?

[bewing]

Are you familiar with ROCs? They are explained in KSPedia. They are unusual features on the surfaces of all the CBs. Crystals, trees, special craters, mineral veins, etc. You need to drive up really close to one of these things and then activate the scanning arm. It counts as a new kind of science experiment. They are intended to be used with rovers. It's highly unlikely that you could park a simple lander close enough to a ROC to get a reading from it.

 

Edited October 5, 2019 by bewing

[Geonovast]

You need to be nearby one of the new objects on the surface.  The Mun is now covered with rocks and little craters.  You need to get close to one of those.

(Not my pic)

[Fierce Wolf]

A few considerations using scanning arms:

 

-They tend to fail a lot. On activation it will often say that colided with something and the process stops. After a lot of trial and error the best solution I came with is to attach the arm to an hydraulic expanding cylinder to separate the scanner from the rest of the vessel (or rover, most likely).

-They are fragile. Toppling your rover is 99% chance guaranteed to destroy the arm.

-They drain your batteries fast! Use with caution.

-I tend to ignore weaker arms, and only use the best one when available so I can get 100% science in offworlds features.

[strider3]

Thanks!!