[WIP][1.11][beta] Cargo Accelerators

[Ranchoth]

On 6/14/2020 at 1:35 PM, allista said:

@Ranchoth, @theJesuit

Another problem is the trajectory; atmospheric launches are, of course, out of the question. But even in vacuum, launching from any planetary body would only allow you to either achieve a suborbital trajectory with high apoapsis, or an escape trajectory which is hard use for precise navigation.

Heck, that's what kick motors and/or laser sails are for!

[allista]

The barrel construction release is still pending due to several severe bugs in launch mechanics that were exposed during the previous stream.

But today at 20:00 UTC I will be streaming several manned launches 
Key new feature: fully automated accelerator-assisted maneuvers

This means, that when an accelerator cannot completely fulfill dV requirements, it can still help with what it can, which makes it a lot more usable 

[allista]

Have to delay the stream for half an hour: 20:30 UTC

[allista]

Latest stream

 

Edited June 23, 2020 by allista

[allista]

v0.2.0

 allista released this now

• Added in-orbit barrel construction
  • Construction is started by pressing a button in PAW.
  • This deactivates the accelerator and creates construction
    scaffold on the end of the barrel that is gradually deployed
    (the scaffold slowly grows in length).
  • Required resources are configured per accelerator.
  • Current Orbital Accelerator requires
    • Material Kits - 95% of the mass of a segment
    • Specialized Parts - 10% of the mass of a segment
    • Electric Charge - 1000 units per ton
  • Construction also requires qualified Engineers on board
  • To provide both resources and workers the construction
    scaffold has (an invisible) docking port on its end.
• Added Partial Launch mode
  • It is activated in the PAW of the accelerator
  • It allows to perform the launch even if the accelerator
    cannot provide the required dV
  • But if you have TCA installed and the payload has
    its own thrusters, the accelerator will instruct the TCA of
    the payload to continue the maneuver.
• If TCA is installed, the recoil compensation is done by the
  accelerator automatically.

Assets3

CargoAccelerators-0.2.0.0.zip 761 KB

Source code(zip)

Source code(tar.gz)

 

Compatible with KSP 1.9.1 -  1.10.0

Edited July 5, 2020 by allista

[allista]

v0.2.1

 allista released this now

• Separating messages in InfoPane with additional empty line
• Moved InfoPane to its own prefab in AT_Utils.UI
• Adapted to changes in AT_Utils

Assets3

CargoAccelerators-0.2.1.0.zip 835 KB

Source code(zip)

Source code(tar.gz)

[allista]

v0.2.1.1

 allista released this now

• Compiled against AT_Utils-1.9.6
• Project maintenance and minor fixes

Assets3

CargoAccelerators-0.2.1.1.zip 814 KB

Source code(zip)

Source code(tar.gz)

 

[IanCanberra]

I am wondering why you are not using say a Minmus launch site. You can then have lots of power generation of the site and you will not have to worry about the issue of reverse thrust.

As to assisting the positioning of the launch vehicle you could have the coil launcher on a turntable. Given that the rotation of Minmus should allow a launch window with reasonable frequency, and coupled with the turntable, you can have a good dV for most planets. To do in flight corrections you can then use normal technology (rockets, solar sails, matter transportation, future ideas)

This means you could build it on site using many launches like you would do for a mining operation.

 

For the capture building a large funnel, 2km+ wide opening going to say 500m, and magnetic to power storage (or beaming power to on surface storage. Then it would only require a small space tug to lower the vehicle to the surface site

Just some thoughts

 

[MonkeyCan'tDock]

This is the last time someone tried a big ground based mass driver. I think it was before kerbalkonstructs and pathfinder's mass drivers.

Might offer clues to what you are looking for. Good luck, this game needs more megastructures.

[allista]

I'll create a new thread for the 1.0 release that is to come next.

For now it's just another (BIG) step toward it.

Consider it to be BETA

v0.3.0

• KSP: 1.11.1
• Orbital Accelerator
  • integrated textures made by @JadeOfMaar
  • lowered mean density to 1.5t/m3
  • decreased deployment and construction speed
  • improved model in-game performance
  • added all colliders
• UI:
  • Added Construction Window to control segment construction
  • Construction can now be aborted via UI at any stage
  • Extended the range of PAW controls to 500m
• Added remote connection capability: no more need to enter the loading chamber
  to communicate with an accelerator
• Workforce is updated on vessel change (e.g. on dock) as well as on crew change
• Fixed FPS drop in CONSTRUCTION state

Contributors

•  JadeOfMaar
   
  •  CargoAccelerators-0.3.0.0.zip 2.12 MB
  •  Source code (zip)
  •  Source code (tar.gz)

[Grumpy_Bud]

I can't wait to see where this leads!