Building a manned rover?

[Latias4Ever]

I'm trying to build a manned rover so I can drive around on Eve, and I'm trying to use the MK2 Lander-can for it, but I can't find a way to make any structure below the pod, as the RoveMate piece is just too small, and I'm not very creative or good at complex constructions.

My objective for this is to build a Rover with lots of solar panels so I don't need any kind of fuel or thruster, since liquid fuel eventually runs out, and I'm inexperienced with RCS, but since I only got KSP yesterday, I have absolutely no idea how to do this. Rocket-wise, I think I can build one to get to Eve... Hopefully, my problem is definitely the rover, so if anyone could assist me, I'd be really thankful.

EDIT: Thank you all who gave advice, managed to get a Rover up and running on Kerbin, all I need now is get it to Eve.

Edited July 26, 2013 by Latias4Ever

[Skorpychan]

Attach things to the lander pod directly?

Otherwise, lander cans are HEAVY, especially for rovers. I've had some* success with the rovemate body with a probe core and a couple of command chairs attached to it.

* It keeps running away down hills and crashing.

[capi3101]

Try one of the large ASAS modules for use as a rover body. Place four RTGs diagonal to the direction of travel (i.e. forward), then cubic struts on the ends on them and run struts in between them; you'll wind up with a square frame. Mount your rover wheels to the cubic struts - I'd suggest the big ruggedized ones. Then throw on any other hardware you want - lights, battery packs, and so on.

When you go to drive it, turn on SAS, lock the steering on the back wheels and use docking controls. The SAS will counter the lander can's torque (which is considerable) as will docking controls, and you should have a low enough center of gravity and wide enough wheelbase that it won't roll over easily.

I'd test this out on Kerbin before you took it to Eve, but I've got a similar design and have had good results with it so far.

You could also use an X200-8 tank. You wouldn't have any SAS authority but you could use it as a liquid fuel source if you needed to.

Edited July 24, 2013 by capi3101

[Xeldrak]

When you go to drive it, turn on SAS, lock the steering on the back wheels and use docking controls. The SAS will counter the lander can's torque (which is considerable) as will docking controls, and you should have a low enough center of gravity and wide enough wheelbase that it won't roll over easily.

I strongly suggest, you go to the controls and assign new controls for rover steering (I use numpad 4,5,6 and 8), so your commandpod does not apply torque when you try to drive your rover.

Yeah, I also needed some time to wrap my head around rover construction. But here are a few sceenshots that might help you.

An early, compact design with rcs

An unmanned long range rover, you can build a chassis with Modular Girder Segments

An manned long range rover, I used a Mk 1 Lander Can as core and a command seat for driving. This way the navball point in the actual direction you are driving.

Two lightwight rovers - they basically consist out of 2 M-1x1 Structural Panel, four wheels, one rtg, two batteries and command seat.

Edited July 24, 2013 by Xeldrak

[Latias4Ever]

Thank you all for the tips, I managed to create a small rover and tested on Kerbin, it flips a bit if I try to steer it while going at high speed, but other than that, it seems to work well enough.

I used 2x2 structural panels and RoveMates under them to attack the wheels, then attached some chutes and solar panels on the 2x2 panels so it has power while running on Eve. I believe this would work out nicely, but now I have yet another problem, getting to Eve... My ship is a huge mess.

The solid fuel boosters help me get a bit into orbit, but not fully, and when I detach them the ship goes crazy with its direction, and I don't think all this is even enough to reach Eve. I think the issue with the rover is taken care of, but now it's the ship that's preventing me from succeeding.

[espm400]

These are my two current rover designs:

In the front is my modular Kethane rig, meant for moving fuel tanks between the drilling rig and the 'Extraplanetary Launchpad' (not yet landed). I'm also making a dumper attachment with Damned Robotics for getting any debris away from the base (to save on lag). In the rear is sort of a construction rover. Used to put various modules together. Also serves as a back-up crew support habitat.

I know there are a lot of mods involved in these craft, but they're meant to serve as a guideline. As such, I'll try and make a stock version of each to post here when I get a chance.

EDIT: Mods used: B9 Aerospace (for the awesome rover cockpit), IonCross Crew Support (the life support modules, kind of necessary with that mod installed), Romfarer's 'Robotic Arms Pack' (Buran manipulator on the construction rig), Deep Space Mission Pack (2.5m battery on the construction rig), RemoteTech (Remote pod and antennae), FusTek Station Parts Expansion (Habitat module on the construction rig), and Quantum Struts (to hold the modular tanks on the Kethane rig, otherwise the just wobble around).

Edited July 24, 2013 by espm400

[Latias4Ever]

I think I can consider my rover good enough for Eve... I don't really want anything complex, just something that runs around without flipping. Thanks for all the tips, and I think I can consider this answered, now I just need help building my rocket so it actually gets to Eve.

[karolus10]

You can try use kerbal seats for rover, they allow for more compact designs.

Please note: using Crew heads to cushion rapid deceleration of the vehicle is NOT advised.

[Latias4Ever]

That is something I'd like to do, but how do I attach the Rover to the rocket if I have seats on it instead of a pod?

[CrashTestDummy]

I happened to make a landing can rover just yesterday. First time making a rover and landing one anywhere. The Mun in this case.

It was a real pain launching and landing something that asymmetrical but but I got it there after surprisingly few attempts.

There is the lander can as a main driver seat but also two external seats for additional passengers.

Underneath the can is also a remote guidance unit so it can be moved remotely.

The view from inside the can.

[Diche Bach]

You can try use kerbal seats for rover, they allow for more compact designs.

Please note: using Crew heads to cushion rapid deceleration of the vehicle is NOT advised.

Can't seem to get something like this to work. When I try to use the EAS-1 command seat as the command module it makes everything faded out like it doesn't have a command module.

Moreover, I tried one with a Probodobodyne OKTO2 as the base and when I was done and put the external seat on it, it said it didn't have any crew spots?

[Tw1]

Moreover, I tried one with a Probodobodyne OKTO2 as the base and when I was done and put the external seat on it, it said it didn't have any crew spots?

You can't start a ship with crew in external seats. You have to enter them on Eva.

You can make some compact, yet useful things with the seats.

[Diche Bach]

So basically, the way to get that extreme barebones one without any command module on it except the EAS seat, is to have it start 'attached' somehow to an 'official' command module and decouple it?

[Skorpychan]

Basically. Stick radial engines on your lander and sandwich the rover between it and the lifter. Struts and decouplers to make sure things attach and ensure you get just the rover off, and you're good.

Generally, I have transfer stage -> rover -> lander. The lander does it's thing, the rover fits snugly under the lander legs whenn you build the lander around a Rockomax tank and mk2 lander-can, and it's all nice and compact. Lander lands, and the rover is then dropped to the surface by a decoupler. With the brakes engaged, it won't even go zooming off downhill.

Plus, it works great for powering the ship, since my little rover has an RTG and a couple of solar panels to charge the batteries.