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BSC Challenge: Rover + Skycrane - Yet another winner!

Xeldrak

By Xeldrak
in KSP1 Challenges & Mission ideas

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BSC: Rover + Skycrane - Final Vote  

  1. 1. BSC: Rover + Skycrane - Final Vote

    • Andrew Hansen - NOKERB Exploring Machine
      1
    • antbin - The One Way Ticket
      7
    • Deathsoul097 - Sojurner
      20
    • Ravenchant - R-31 Dustmarcher & Heron skycrane
      22
    • XolotlLoki - Simple, Indestructible Rover
      1
    • Xeldrak - CRAATRV
      2

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Kasuha

Kasuha

Posted
Posted
I think it could do with some science on it, because a new player should be able to download a ship that is ready to got and not get there and be like "I just brought this to duna and I have no science!"

If you haven't noticed yet, stock craft is not available in Career mode. So any science equipment has only aesthetic value.

For career mode you would need to consider tech level, too. Some of science equipment is available pretty late in career.

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Deathsoul097

Deathsoul097

Posted
Posted

Yes. That is true. However, the stock craft are meant to help new players by showing them how to build stuff, including placement of utilities, such as science stuff, monopropellant batteries, RTGs, solar panels, etc. Therefore it is perfectly fine to put science equipment on the rovers. I did put an accelerometer on mine, but that was meant to look like a camera.

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Xeldrak

Xeldrak

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Well, while I cant entertain you with the current ranking, I can give you all the Info I've got ;)

Right now, you have 17 registered voters, 9 have allready voted.

The vote will close in about 72h.

Also, thanks for all the reputation - lots of you gave me some after I reset the vote. I feel flattered and got the feeling that I did the right thing :D

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XolotlLoki

XolotlLoki

Posted
Posted (edited)

I've finished the testing I have time for (leaving for the weekend in the morning), and voted. Here's my final test matrix.

I liked antbin and Kashua's rovers, and voted accordingly. I really wish they had provided an action group to toggle torque, since Munar roving is impossible with it on, and crash recovery is impossible without. antbin's rover was especially bad for this, since the reaction wheels were buried in the plating sandwich (otherwise an excellent design choice).

The small wheeled rovers were annoying to drive on the Mun (as the challenge stated), and most of them drained batteries when driven at night, so they didn't get much vote love. Deathsoul's Sojurner was the lone exception. And again, torque toggling action group would have been very nice, though with the small wheels even an OCTO2 needs to be toggled.

Some of the entries had trouble doing Munar EDL. I'm amazed I got Sojurner down, and One Way Ticket had barely enough fuel to get the skycrane off (Sojurner didn't even have that much left). And Bloody_looser's skycrane (really love the dysentery imagery that name gives) couldn't maintain attitude with the engines lit.

Edited by XolotlLoki
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Kasuha

Kasuha

Posted
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I really wish they had provided an action group to toggle torque, since Munar roving is impossible with it on, and crash recovery is impossible without.

My experience is different, it's best driven with SAS on and in docking mode. Well, second best as the best is if you remap rover keys to something independent and use both.

So far I took it on Minmus, Dres, Mun, and Duna and the only thing I needed to improve on it was lights positioning. Because in jumps, you need to see better whats below you. So lights on my space program rover are aimed down a bit more than on the rover I have posted here.

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Xeldrak

Xeldrak

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Just a small reminder - the primaries will close in about 24h. I will then probably set up a 48h final poll ot decide the actual winner.

This is probably the longest running bsc since first one, that had one week building, one week voting ^^

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Kerolyov

Kerolyov

Posted
Posted

Wow is all I can say, you guys have all created some amazing rover + skycrane designs, I'm really really impressed! Been so busy recently I really don't have time to test and vote and would rather not repeat my hurried assessment of the BSC Kerbal X designs so I'll sit this one out but sit out very much in admiration of the design skill on these forums.

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Andrew Hansen

Andrew Hansen

Posted
Posted (edited)
Andrew Hansen: This was another design that had to grow on me. At first, I saw the large wheels and thought it unnecessarily bulky, especially for not carrying any science equipment. Count in the fairly large skycrane, and it starts to become very big and ungainly. But then I watched the video. That's when everything changed. Seeing that rover being able to cover immense distances and survive the extreme bumps and dings that would have meant game over for any other rover, I instantly changed my mind. Your entry went from one I wasn't even considering, to first-place tie with another great entry. I then thought "Who sends out a rover to do science anyway? Humans, that's who, and we don't like them." At which point, I completely disregarded your lack of any science equipment on the rover and took it for what it is: An extremely rugged and durable rover able to cross any obstacle it comes across. I figure this is one of the best rovers for noobs, because what does every new player do the first time they go roving? They flip it. They get it stuck or get bored because it's so slow. You've made a tedious process such as driving a rover into an enjoyable psuedo-flight experience. Not to mention the excellent amount of character you sold it under. You also included an objective comparison sheet to all the other entries for judgement, it's not pretentious, it's not excessive, it's fun in every sense of the word. I like to think of this one like a Tonka toy. It's tough, takes a bit of abuse, and it's fun for everyone. Extremely well done, Andrew Hansen!

Thanks! I've been away recently and didn't see your post for a while, but I appreciate your votes! I suppose I did put a lot of effort into the presentation of my design. Now that I think about it, I should have put some more effort into the rover itself (it was pretty flippy!). I agree with your comments about science equipment. Well said.

My rover has wheels, but I'd say it's main feature is the ability to fly with RCS. Personally, I find rovers boring because you can't cover much distance in them very fast. Flying rovers on the other hand? Very fun. That said, it can only fly in Duna's gravity or less.

By the way M5000, since you seemed to have enjoyed my video, if you haven't seen another one I've made, you might enjoy this as well.

Edited by Andrew Hansen
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Xeldrak

Xeldrak

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Allright - primary vote is closed! The finalists are:

1. antbin - The One Way Ticket

2. tie:

Deathsoul097 - Sojurner verliert gegen antbin - The One Way Ticket

Ravenchant - R-31 Dustmarcher & Heron skycrane

4. tie:

Andrew Hansen - NOKERB Exploring Machine

XolotlLoki - Simple

6. Xeldrak - CRAATRV

Well, you guys know the drill - give me a few minutes ;)

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Andrew Hansen

Andrew Hansen

Posted
Posted (edited)

Note: Despite the fact this is posted after the final vote, I did actually get my votes in on time.

OK, I have made up my mind who I will vote for. I have made a changes to my votes, so I'm glad I get to vote once more. Below are the people I voted for:

  • XolotLoki: Your entry was my absolute favorite because it was simple, indestructible, and low part count. Since you used RTGs, you could power all the wheels and lights non-stop. And even on gravity as high as Eve, you can flip your rover over with the powerful reaction wheel included. Although at first I was skeptical of your use of the medium wheels rather than the rugged ones, I soon discovered that their lower traction ensures the rover doesn't flip as easily during turns. Great job! :wink: I also voted for you on the final vote.
  • Xeldrak: I love the CRAATRV because it has a wide wheel base and is probably the most stable rover in the whole competition. Although it's not possible to right the CRAATRV if it flips over on Kerbin (although on Duna you can), it's basically guaranteed not to flip over unless you drive it off a cliff, in which case no rover could possibly survive anyway. I also like the semi-low part count. Good job Xeldrak!
  • Antbin: The One-Way Ticket is a very stylish-looking and sturdy rover. I like the roll-cage that you spent a long time perfecting. Although 70 parts is a bit on the high side (for a stock craft in my opinion), I like the fact that it includes RCS. Great rover, antbin!
  • Ravenchant: Others have mentioned how nicely your entry demonstrates the use of the LV-R1 engine. I must agree. Your rover is a very nice expansion of the stock one, in my opinion. The stock skycrane has an extremely high thrust-to-weight ratio, making it nearly impossible to decouple the rover safely while hovering, but yours is much easier to control due to a lower thrust-to-weight ratio. And of course, the use of the tiny probe wheels means your rover is stable, just like the stock one - albeit not able to right itself if it falls over. Congratulations!
  • Rhomphaia: I like the Dunakhod SDS because it has low part count, pretty good stability, and is crammed with science equipment. It also has a wonderful array of spotlights. Unfortunately, it can't right itself on Kerbin if it flips over. Even though the skycrane has very low torque, the high gimbal of the radial engines makes it easy to control during descent. Nice job!

Honorable Mentions (10th place):

  • Kasuha
  • Speeding Mullet

Edited by Andrew Hansen
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Rhomphaia

Rhomphaia

Posted
Posted
Voted!

Personally I'm fond of the smaller rovers because that's more in the spirit of the stock craft.

I too prefer the smaller rovers, and prefer not to have a launcher or landing legs.

While I do love the looks of the R-31, I did notice on Kerbin descents it would tend to flip round so it was falling the wrong way and could not recover. So my vote goes to the Sojurner

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