[Program] Remote Tech 2.0 - Relay Stuff Calculator

[JoePatrick]

So I have just finished making what seems like a simple program and is fairly simple, although uses some fairly complicated maths. The program is for use with a mod called Remote Tech for Kerbal Space Program. First you enter the omni-directional range of each satellite and then how many satellites you would like in your relay orbit. Then just press the calculate button and it will tell you:

-The lowest orbit you can have where all the satellites will be connected

-The highest orbit you can have where all the satellites will be connected

-The required angle of separation between each satellite

Screenshots:

Public Class Form1 

    Function angle(ByVal x) 
        Dim rad As Single = x 
        Dim deg = rad * Math.PI / 180 
        Return deg 
    End Function 


    Dim dist As Single 
    Dim sideBMinString, SideBMaxString As String 
    Dim units As String 
    Dim radius As Integer 
    Dim satcount As Integer 
    Dim limit, atmoLimit As Boolean 
    Dim angleA, angleB, sideA, sideC, sideBMin, sideBMax, clearSide As Single 
    'Dim alt As Integer = 1 
    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click 
        limit = False 
        atmoLimit = False 
        If TextBox1.Text = "" Then TextBox1.Text = 0 
        dist = TextBox1.Text 
        units = "m" 
        satcount = NumericUpDown1.Value 
        radius = 600000 
        angleA = angle(360 / satcount) 
        angleB = angle((180 - (360 / satcount)) / 2) 
        sideA = dist 
        sideBMax = ((sideA / Math.Sin(angleA)) * Math.Sin(angleB)) - radius 
        sideBMinString = "Coming soon..." 
        If sideBMax > 0 Then 
            If sideBMax > dist Then limit = True 
            SideBMaxString = Format(sideBMax, "#,###") 
        Else 
            SideBMaxString = "0" 
        End If 
        Label4.Text = "Min Altitude: Calculating..." 
        Label5.Text = "Max Altitude: Calculating..." 
        Label6.Text = "Angle of Seperation: Calculating..." 
        BackgroundWorker1.RunWorkerAsync() 
        If limit = False Then 

            Label5.Text = "Max Altitude: " & SideBMaxString & units 
        Else 

            Label5.Text = "Max Altitude: " & Format(dist, "#,###") & units 
        End If 
        If sideBMax > 0 Then 
            Label6.Text = "Angle of Seperation: " & Math.Round(360 / satcount) & "" 
        Else 
            Label6.Text = "Angle of Seperation: 0" 
        End If 
    End Sub 


    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load 
        Control.CheckForIllegalCrossThreadCalls = False 
    End Sub 


    Private Sub TextBox1_KeyPress(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyPressEventArgs) Handles TextBox1.KeyPress 
        If Not Char.IsDigit(e.KeyChar) And Not Char.IsControl(e.KeyChar) Then 
            e.Handled = True 
        End If 
    End Sub 


    Private Sub BackgroundWorker1_DoWork(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.ComponentModel.DoWorkEventArgs) Handles BackgroundWorker1.DoWork 
        For alt = 1 To 84159286 
            Dim satDist As Single = Math.Sin(angleA) * (alt / Math.Sin(angleB)) / 2 
            clearSide = Math.Sqrt((satDist ^ 2) + (alt ^ 2) - (2 * satDist * alt * Math.Cos(angleB))) 
            If clearSide >= 600000 Then 
                BackgroundWorker1.ReportProgress(100) 
                sideBMin = alt - radius 
                If sideBMin < 70000 Then 
                    atmoLimit = True 
                End If 
                Exit For 
            End If 
        Next 
    End Sub 


    Private Sub BackgroundWorker1_RunWorkerCompleted(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.ComponentModel.RunWorkerCompletedEventArgs) Handles BackgroundWorker1.RunWorkerCompleted 
        If sideBMin > sideBMax Then 
            Label4.Text = "Min Altitude: 0m" 
            Label5.Text = "Max Altitude: 0m" 
            Label6.Text = "Angle of Seperation: 0" 
            MessageBox.Show("You cannot put " & satcount & " satellites with an omni-range of " & Format(dist, "#,###") & "m in orbit and have a connection as the minimum required altitude is higher than the maximum") 
        Else 
            If atmoLimit = False Then 
                Label4.Text = "Min Altitude: " & Format(sideBMin, "#,###") & "m" 
            Else 
                Label4.Text = "Min Altitude: 70,000m" 
            End If 
            If atmoLimit = True Then 
                MessageBox.Show("Your setup is capable of having a minimum altitude of " & Format(sideBMin, "#,###") & "m but because of Kerbin's atmosphere, this is limited to 70,000m") 
            End If 
            If limit = True Then 
                If sideBMax < 84159286 Then 
                    MessageBox.Show("The omni-range you have chosen cannot receive a signal from Kerbin above " & Format(dist, "#,###") & units & " but this setup has the potential for a max altitude of " & Format(sideBMax, "#,###") & "m if you add a dish with enough range to reach Kerbin") 
                Else 
                    MessageBox.Show("The omni-range you have chosen cannot receive a signal from Kerbin above " & Format(dist, "#,###") & units & " but this setup has the potential for a max altitude of 84,159,286m (edge of Kerbin's SOI) if you add a dish with enough range to reach Kerbin") 
                End If 
            End If 
        End If 
    End Sub 

End Class 

Edited December 11, 2013 by JoePatrick

[lmw5201]

It seems really useful! Where can I get it?

[djnattyd]

Sounds good, any chance of a d/l link?

[Peppe]

Tried to get this to run, but without the designer code as well you would have to make all the labels/messages.

Went ahead and made the same thing in excel / google docs if anyone comes accross this thread in the future:

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/52132-Spreadsheet-Orbit-Night-Darkness-Req-Battery-Capacity-and-Satellite-Relay-Coverage

Spreadsheet version.