Kinda Fed up with Rovers...

[JoeSchmuckatelli]

2 hours ago, KerikBalm said:

... .

 

Or... You can use the really big wheels that don't turn, but work by differential torque.

... 

Color me intrigued. 

What are these "really big wheels that don't turn" of which you speak? 

[KerikBalm]

The rove max xl3 ones... 1.25 tons per wheel... A set of just 4 is thus 5 tons.

https://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/wiki/RoveMax_Model_XL3

[AHHans]

2 hours ago, JoeSchmuckatelli said:

What are these "really big wheels that don't turn" of which you speak? 

They are fairly high up in the tech tree. But if you don't know them, then you need to give them a try. Especially on an otherwise fairly small rover. Then you may understand why my first reaction to them is: "Why?!?"

[Gargamel]

On 5/21/2020 at 12:26 PM, JoeSchmuckatelli said:

What are these "really big wheels that don't turn" of which you speak? 

As mentioned, they're the really big wheels.   They don't steer like a normal wheel, but end up reversing their direction on one side to turn, very similar to how a tank (Or most tracked vehicles) turns.  By quickly tapping A & D, you can spook the rover to go very very fast without expending much energy. 

As you can see from this thread, players "discover" this old bug feature from time to time:

 

[JoeSchmuckatelli]

5 minutes ago, Gargamel said:

As mentioned, they're the really big wheels.   They don't steer like a normal wheel, but end up reversing their direction on one side to turn, very similar to how a tank (Or most tracked vehicles) turns.  By quickly tapping A & D, you can spook the rover to go very very fast without expending much energy. 

As you can see from this thread, players "discover" this old bug feature from time to time:

 

This game makes me laugh... and yep; those are some pretty big wheels.  

 

Look forward to unlocking them!

[AHHans]

15 hours ago, JoeSchmuckatelli said:

This game makes me laugh... and yep; those are some pretty big wheels.  

Hmmm: multiplayer KSP and then a race with these things.

[Pds314]

1. Low center of mass is good. As is increasing the turn radius by disabling steering on all but one set of wheels.

2. Even very squirrely-looking or unstable-looking rovers can do doughnuts at high speed if you lower the wheel "friction control" enough.

3. And since props are more energy efficient than rover wheels anyway, why not lower it to zero and build a hovercraft.

Edited May 24, 2020 by Pds314

[JoeSchmuckatelli]

13 hours ago, Pds314 said:

1. Low center of mass is good. As is increasing the turn radius by disabling steering on all but one set of wheels.

2. Even very squirrely-looking or unstable-looking rovers can do doughnuts at high speed if you lower the wheel "friction control" enough.

3. And since props are more energy efficient than rover wheels anyway, why not lower it to zero and build a hovercraft.

I felt like I was dealing with a hoover craft on last night's trip to Minimus... My rover would start downhill and I would fight to stop it the whole time. 

Of course my EVA Kerbal would do the same thing.

I tried fiddling with the traction control but did not have much success. Hoping that's just the way Minimus is 

I'm guessing all the way to the right gives you sticm and the left slicm in a higher gravity environment? 

 

[Pds314]

On 5/24/2020 at 6:37 AM, JoeSchmuckatelli said:

I felt like I was dealing with a hoover craft on last night's trip to Minimus... My rover would start downhill and I would fight to stop it the whole time. 

Of course my EVA Kerbal would do the same thing.

I tried fiddling with the traction control but did not have much success. Hoping that's just the way Minimus is 

I'm guessing all the way to the right gives you sticm and the left slicm in a higher gravity environment? 

 

Yeah. More friction control (NOT Traction control) = more sticky but more flippy. Less friction control = more slippy but more slidey. Find a level where your rover won't flip over all the time but can still turn effectively and can still park on a hill. Also for parking, turn the brakes all the way to max on the wheels.

Edited May 26, 2020 by Pds314

[JoeSchmuckatelli]

On 5/19/2020 at 5:38 PM, Klapaucius said:

My Kerbin Rovers are jet-powered. 

I built this originally for @Triop's Dakar Rally of 2018(?).  The jets mean it can climb up nearly vertical walls.

 

https://kerbalx.com/Klapaucius/Thesiger-Rover--Transport

So  -- inspired by your wall climber, I built something similar.

Such an unholy abomination should not fly - but it DOES!  I even undocked both the rover and flyer while flying and landed both (with chutes).  Totally helped me get a mission done that had been bugging me (quartz).

Thanks for sharing!

[Klapaucius]

32 minutes ago, JoeSchmuckatelli said:

Thanks for sharing!

My pleasure!  Photos?

[JoeSchmuckatelli]

27 minutes ago, Klapaucius said:

My pleasure!  Photos?

Lets see if this works:  https://imgur.com/jMD0E04https://imgur.com/jMD0E04

[AHHans]

On 5/26/2020 at 11:42 PM, JoeSchmuckatelli said:

Such an unholy abomination should not fly - but it DOES!

Have a look at the Asymmetrical Aircraft Challenge for more inspirations on what people can get to fly - even if it looks like it shouldn't.

[JoeSchmuckatelli]

2 hours ago, AHHans said:

Have a look at the Asymmetrical Aircraft Challenge for more inspirations on what people can get to fly - even if it looks like it shouldn't.

Thank you for that link!  I needed a good laugh.

...

This community!

[king of nowhere]

my solutiion to flipping  has been to put some robotic arms that can overturn a flipped rover. unless the rover explodes, of course.

my solution to the rover problem has been to stop accepting contracts that require roving to a position. or flying to a position. the pay is low, the trip is long, and they are more boring than fun. I mean, I took two contracts and I have to bring my rover to the opposite sides of Mun, in a trip to rival that of Mark Watney.

however, now that I know those massive wheels, i may start roving on kerbin again after i unlock them.