[0.22] Shock absorbing landing legs V1.2 (21-11-2013)

[zitronen]

This is a bit of a side project, angusmcbeth asked if it is possible to make a landing leg out of a wheel collider. I said impossible without plugins. Then I learned to make plugins...

Update 21/11/2013

Updated cfg for 0.22. Under nodes survivability and adv. landing.

Update 05/09/2013

Finally finished the heavy duty version:

Designed for 25-40T landers, 0.8m travel.

Download link updated below for both parts.

Update 11/08/2013

Tested to work with 0.21, no changes needed

V1.1

V1.0

This has a travel of 0.6m, and will cushion the stock 2 stage lander below 10m/s. Also, reduced contact friction means it is more likely to slide with high lateral velocity than topple over.

Remember the model in the VAB is in the fully retracted position.

V1.1

Added retraction action (press G or use landing gear button)

Added incremental raise/lower action (right click or use action group)

Now you can manually level your craft on a slope!

Increased size of skid (only graphical difference)

Included source code

Issues:

Because it's based on the wheel module, the default wheel actions still show up in the menus, they don't do anything, just ignore them for now.

V1.0

Initial release

Direct download link: V1.2 (for 0.22)

https://sites.google.com/site/zitronfiles/LandingStrut022.zip

SpacePort: V1.0

http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/alandinglegwithsuspension/

License:

There is no license, you can do whatever you want with my parts and code.

Edited November 21, 2013 by zitronen

[zitronen]

Edit:

Oh forgot the code. It's so simple it's hardly worth posting, just one line in OnFixedUpdate: Wheel.brakesEngaged = true;

[Darren9]

Looks like it'll come in handy, I'm having to fix wheels on all my VTOL type craft at the moment as it's quite hard to stop dead in an atmosphere if you've got any lift parts. Is it at all possible to combine a suspension end and conventional two position extended/retracted leg?

[scottholio]

Looks really cool, going to try it out right now. Do they sort of self level at all?

[zitronen]

Looks like it'll come in handy, I'm having to fix wheels on all my VTOL type craft at the moment as it's quite hard to stop dead in an atmosphere if you've got any lift parts. Is it at all possible to combine a suspension end and conventional two position extended/retracted leg?

Of course, that's what the stock landing gear is. I might look into making the strut extend and retract if people are interested.

Looks really cool, going to try it out right now. Do they sort of self level at all?

Well they act like springs, so kind of but not really. I've been thinking about that though, it should be possible to do.

[Darren9]

I'd be interested in one I could retract Could I suggest as well a skid or ski type thing on the bottom, something that looks a bit more like it's partially designed to slide over the ground a bit without immediately digging in. At the moment it can soak up a reasonable amount of horizontal velocity but doesn't really look like it should be able to. Very useful for bad pilots like me though.

[stupid_chris]

If you can make bigger models and that can extend/retract like the stock legs do, or if you can actually configure the large stock ones to absorb shocks like those, you have me.

[deadshot462]

This will be nice for Viking-style landers

[zitronen]

If you can make bigger models and that can extend/retract like the stock legs do, or if you can actually configure the large stock ones to absorb shocks like those, you have me.

When you say bigger, how big are you talking about? Unfortunately I don't think it's possible to modify the stock parts.

So I have bigger, more skid-like and retract animation on my list. I will have a think about what I can do.

[stupid_chris]

When you say bigger, how big are you talking about?

I think something that can give clearance for some LV-T engines would be enough.

[Greys]

I realize this would take a lot more of a mod to do; but would it perhaps be possible to make single use crush suspension legs that can absorb a greater shock but once they have they go into a broken state and the suspension retracts?

[zitronen]

Well you can kind of do that with the stock broken wheel mechanism, which can then be repaired by a Kerbal. Why would you want that though?

[CaptainArbitrary]

Well you can kind of do that with the stock broken wheel mechanism, which can then be repaired by a Kerbal. Why would you want that though?

Lithobraking.

[Greys]

No good reasons, but it sounds like it would lead to some fun bad ideas, like a parachuteless disaster-escape-system

[Temeriki]

Ground penetration tests

[Blinkin]

Mm nice, I just tested this out at the launch pad and went 168m high and felt straight down with the engine off (a very simple lander).

Those 4 legs absorbed the impact which was 40m/sec!

Nice idea, I love it. ^^

Simple test lander:

[zitronen]

Those 4 legs absorbed the impact which was 40m/sec!

You have just voided your warranty!

[Greys]

Taking things too far

and getting somewhat unsurprizing results

[Moon Goddess]

Why would you release this now after my jool mission is already in route!!!!

Now my landers are all obsolete.

[zitronen]

Taking things too far

and getting somewhat unsurprizing results

What I don't even...

Why would you release this now after my jool mission is already in route!!!!

Now my landers are all obsolete.

Don't worry, you are just in time for V1.1 update. See first post.

[BFGfreak]

Taking things too far

and getting somewhat unsurprizing results

[scottholio]

These are absolutely even more brilliant with the addition of the incremental raise/lower. Immensely useful, great job zitronen. I already rescaled a 2x and a 3x version for my bigger mining bases, great for the more rocky planets.

[Sathurn]

This look great. Let mechjeb auto-land at 10 m/s on Kerbin and they worked great.

When you said there tuned for 15t 20t lander is that based on 4 legs? (5t per leg?) Don't have time to test right now, going to work.

Couple of comments:

They look a little dinky. (Which is great for small landers)

But could we get 2x and 3x sixe as a standard part of the mod?

And a small request to add to the pop-up menu:

A fully retract button,

And a fully extended button.

To scottholio, what are the steps to re-scale the legs?

[Blinkin]

Ooh you made an update, time to void the warranty again!

I haven't tested it yet but the raise/lower buttons will be very helpful for some off my landers. Thanks for making this!

[Greys]

Zitronen, could this mod be made to apply to anything that conforms to the standard wheel requirements?