New Landing Legs

[Oznerol256]

As of 0.22 the Landing legs got reworked. I like the new shock absorbing feature. However, they just don't seem to be strong enough.

Example: I have a hab module for my modular base system. It used to work perfect with the big landing legs. Now look at that:

Is that behaviour intended? At least, it makes by base system completely useless. I can't dock to the ports when the suspensions stop at whatever point they want to.

Edit: Because no one seems to read beyond the first post: THIS IS IN SANDBOX MODE! I USE THE HEAVY LT-2 LEGS HERE!

Edit2: Want to mess with that craft? Download the .craft

Edited October 19, 2013 by Oznerol256

[Tw1]

I am waiting in hope of a 0.22.1 for this reason. And because something's making my downloads very slow.

Edit: Wait, broken? They are stronger than they look? Maybe time to try and download again.

[MalfunctionM1Ke]

They are not weak, they are broken probably

Maybe you should research the stronger LT-2's because the LT-1 was too weak for such a ship even in 0.21.

Btw. I love the way the suspensions work.

[Scarecrow88]

The new pneumatic landing legs have been causing me problems too, with things falling over as the legs compress. Hope they can have a look at this and make a small patch to fix it.

[Rage097]

I see a possible issue with the landing legs, Eve and Tylo. Since they compress, it's possible that on bodies with high gravity or atmospheric pressure the legs may compress to breaking point. But I havn't tested it yet, so don't quote me on this.

[MalfunctionM1Ke]

Guys, please add if you were using the LT-1 or LT-2.

Talking only about broken landing legs is a bit confusing.

[stringyquark]

They need to give us switches, so we can drop it like our lo ri der, bounce it to the beat, maybe an auto level feature.

I've been having tipping issues, but I only have the lt1 legs. I'm hoping the lt 2 will be sturdier. I doubt I've used lt -5 legs for even the smallest probes or anything for that matter.

This may be an issue for newer players though, might be discouragin.

Edited October 18, 2013 by stringyquark

[Oznerol256]

First, the screenshot was made in sandbox mode. Nothing to develop here. Also, i was using the largest landing legs (LT-2).

Also, im pretty sure that they are not broken because i didnt really do anything to them. The base modules were standing on the struts at the beginning. I decoupled them and they fell over on the landing legs. In 0.21.1 this worked very well.

Additionally, what does "broken" mean? They can't break, they can only be ripped off. Or has 0.22 introduced some breaking mechanism like the wheels already do?

[Rage097]

First, the screenshot was made in sandbox mode. Nothing to develop here. Also, i was using the largest landing legs (LT-2).

Also, im pretty sure that they are not broken because i didnt really do anything to them. The base modules were standing on the struts at the beginning. I decoupled them and they fell over on the landing legs. In 0.21.1 this worked very well.

Additionally, what does "broken" mean? They can't break, they can only be ripped off. Or has 0.22 introduced some breaking mechanism like the wheels already do?

Broken means: fualty code or incorrect function.

[Rakshasa]

Need more struts... err... legs.

[Prime flux]

Additionally, what does "broken" mean? They can't break, they can only be ripped off. Or has 0.22 introduced some breaking mechanism like the wheels already do?

Yes 0.22 did introduce a feature just like that. A "broken" landing leg can now also be repaired by a Kerbal.

[Kryssandra]

I believe that landing struts can actually 'break' and be repaired by the Kerbals now, in the same fashion as the rover wheels.

[MalfunctionM1Ke]

I believe that landing struts can actually 'break' and be repaired by the Kerbals now, in the same fashion as the rover wheels.

I can confirm this.

I also discovered that you are using the LT-2, OP.

This is really not the way how they should work.

[Traches]

If the landing legs aren't strong enough, use I-beams. They're astoundingly strong.

[jtyotJOTJIPAEFVJ]

You can fix this by going to the part.cfg and changing suspensionSpring = 1 to something larger. Or you can disable the suspension effect completely by setting suspensionUpperLimit to 0. This should let you play the game with landing legs again.

[Oznerol256]

Need more struts... err... legs.

Yes 0.22 did introduce a feature just like that. A "broken" landing leg can now also be repaired by a Kerbal.

I have added a few legs and sent a kerbal to see wheather one of the legs are broken. The kerbal can only retract them, so they aren't broken.

I can't use my modular base system with that crappy legs. I guess i will have to edit the cfg.

Also, i can't just use I-beams because i need to retract the gear in order to move the base parts with the base building rover.

Edit: Just noticed that the kerbal can't raise the legs. If you click on the button, nothing happens.

Edited October 18, 2013 by Oznerol256

[causito]

Try disabling SAS. I've noticed, that with SAS enabled suspensions of the landing-legs will "adjust" to the set Trajectory.

[Oznerol256]

Try disabling SAS. I've noticed, that with SAS enabled suspensions of the landing-legs will "adjust" to the set Trajectory.

Did not make a difference.

[Whackjob]

Add reaction wheels and force it upright, then lock it there. I have done this.

[nhnifong]

You can fix this by going to the part.cfg and changing suspensionSpring = 1 to something larger. Or you can disable the suspension effect completely by setting suspensionUpperLimit to 0. This should let you play the game with landing legs again.

Tried it, works like a dream got my old legs back!

[SkyRender]

If you need rigid landing legs because of the mass of your craft being way too huge and off-center from the legs, you really should use girders and other structural parts instead. The modular girder adapter in particular is pretty much designed to be a super-heavy rigid landing strut.

[Oznerol256]

Add reaction wheels and force it upright, then lock it there. I have done this.

Nope, doesnt work. The skycrane you see there has two large SAS modules as well as 2x8 RCS ports + 2x8 Linear RCS ports. I can't force myself upright with that.

If you need rigid landing legs because of the mass of your craft being way too huge and off-center from the legs, you really should use girders and other structural parts instead. The modular girder adapter in particular is pretty much designed to be a super-heavy rigid landing strut.

The mass isn't offcenter at all. Also, i need retractable legs on the base modules in order to move them and assemble the base. I actually planned to use girders in the beginning of my development for the modular base. However, i could not figure out a way that reliably allows me to move and dock base modules without using fuel and mods when they have girders as landing legs.

Edited October 18, 2013 by Oznerol256

[Kerbonautical]

Strangely these new legs cause me a lot of trouble with heavier vehicles in low gravity. So far all Minmus landings have left my rocket lightly bouncing on the surface. It's not caused a fatality yet but I have to be extra cautious not to knock into the rocket at all.

[JumpsterG]

It sounds like the tweakables system could help here (if/when implemented). Being able to specify how much spring you want in the suspension, between none and some maximum amount would give both new and old style legs from the same parts (being able to adjust during flight would also be good). Assuming, of course, the drooping effect of the suspension is fixed.

[Hodo]

I haven't run into this issue yet, and I put a base on the Mun last night in my sandbox mode. The Hab unit is about the same size as yours, except it has 2 crew modules, but I have 6 legs on it.