[Add-On] A Mod Devoted to Rover Systems

[I.T Marcus]

The single largest issue that I have with manned rovers is the delivery system. I can't find an elegant system to deliver a rover. If someone could create a system to deliver a rover to the surface of a celestial body, I would be incredibly grateful.

I'll try to add in some one piece skycranes/rover landers so that it might be easier landing them... or doing the inflatable impact modules suggested earlier Thank you for the input!

[Helix935]

here is another Chassis which i based off of the old spacetech parts

https://www.dropbox.com/s/kvp2gp4leng83sh/Chassis%202%20-%20Copy.dae

https://sketchfab.com/show/053b6a45fc674f34bd3c3c23d71b94ce

[Neutrinovore]

Could we get some pictures, so I can decide whether I want to download this pack or not?

[I.T Marcus]

Could we get some pictures, so I can decide whether I want to download this pack or not?

Sorry I didn't think screenshots were neccesary yet, as the parts are not textured yet so their just white models

Would you prefer images of just the parts or rovers built with the parts, right now this mod relies heavily on some stock parts for most of the rover constuction

[Sauron]

Okay, a few things:

-What do you need me to do texture-wise? I need either unwrapped models unless you have meshes that are simple enough to take a unitary texture (you really still need to unwrap them to take full advantage of this though )

-Might I suggest some very generic chassis that'll work well with anything--those very basic building blocks are somewhat lacking in stock and they won't confine people like a prebuilt chassis will. I can sketch some concepts tomorrow. They should be easy to model

[Neutrinovore]

Sorry I didn't think screenshots were neccesary yet, as the parts are not textured yet so their just white models

Would you prefer images of just the parts or rovers built with the parts, right now this mod relies heavily on some stock parts for most of the rover constuction

Just pics of the parts themselves would be fine. Or, actually, whatever you feel best showcases the mod. Either way, I guarantee you'll start getting more interest if you post some photos. Anyway, it's okay if they aren't textured yet, I figure if I want to use them now, a future texture update would be easily integrated into the part folder, and shouldn't break any crafts I have wandering around. Hypothetically, I still don't know what anything looks like. ;P But I'm always looking for better rover parts, that's why I'm intrigued by this mod, and want to know more.

Thanks for responding promptly, btw.

[I.T Marcus]

Just pics of the parts themselves would be fine. Or, actually, whatever you feel best showcases the mod. Either way, I guarantee you'll start getting more interest if you post some photos. Anyway, it's okay if they aren't textured yet, I figure if I want to use them now, a future texture update would be easily integrated into the part folder, and shouldn't break any crafts I have wandering around. Hypothetically, I still don't know what anything looks like. ;P But I'm always looking for better rover parts, that's why I'm intrigued by this mod, and want to know more.

Thanks for responding promptly, btw.

Okay, I will start to upload some screenshots on the thread once I get on my computer... I'm posting from a laptop

But I just wanted to let you know that I'm not all that sure if updates may destroy exsisting modded crafts as this is in a very early state and is subject to VERY frequent change for instance some parts you use may become obsolete and replaced, but if you would like you could test this mod after I get a rough version out and post it officially on the thread, then let me know what needs to be changed, added, or tweaked!

But thanks for the feedback! I really get a sense of excitement when I see the unread posts icon

[blackheart612]

Okay, I will start to upload some screenshots on the thread once I get on my computer... I'm posting from a laptop

But I just wanted to let you know that I'm not all that sure if updates may destroy exsisting modded crafts as this is in a very early state and is subject to VERY frequent change for instance some parts you use may become obsolete and replaced, but if you would like you could test this mod after I get a rough version out and post it officially on the thread, then let me know what needs to be changed, added, or tweaked!

But thanks for the feedback! I really get a sense of excitement when I see the unread posts icon

Please let me test

I really want to venture into making rovers

[I.T Marcus]

Please let me test

I really want to venture into making rovers

No problem, if anyone wants to be a dev tester just let me know so I can make a list on the thread, these people will be sent smaller updates so that they can make sure everything works correctly Then bigger and less-buggy updates will be released officially

Right as soon as I get on my cpu, I'll put together everything I have and send it to you via PM, unless more people want to test then I'll just make a reply with the link

[I.T Marcus]

Okay, a few things:

-What do you need me to do texture-wise? I need either unwrapped models unless you have meshes that are simple enough to take a unitary texture (you really still need to unwrap them to take full advantage of this though )

-Might I suggest some very generic chassis that'll work well with anything--those very basic building blocks are somewhat lacking in stock and they won't confine people like a prebuilt chassis will. I can sketch some concepts tomorrow. They should be easy to model

Sorry for delaying this response I kept forgetting to respond... but yeah!

Can I send you the entire model? And if so, what format would you prefer for texturing? I use blender so I'm pretty sure I should be able to export to formats that other programs like 3ds should be able to import

But yes right now I would need you to texture all the models, the textures don't have to be amazing just something that looks good when used with stock parts

Thanks so much for helping out

[Sauron]

.obj is ideal for me. Unless you're animating stuff it should work as well as anything else. I'll have to learn how to unwrap in Blender. I still can't get 3ds working and it's making me really mad.

I may have set up an older machine with XP and work on that if I can't figure Blender out

Right now I'm working on a library of (mostly) stockalike textures extracted from the game which I can tweak for a wide variety of applications. (and hopefully share with others )

[I.T Marcus]

.obj is ideal for me. Unless you're animating stuff it should work as well as anything else. I'll have to learn how to unwrap in Blender. I still can't get 3ds working and it's making me really mad.

I may have set up an older machine with XP and work on that if I can't figure Blender out

Right now I'm working on a library of (mostly) stockalike textures extracted from the game which I can tweak for a wide variety of applications. (and hopefully share with others )

In blender it's easy to set up a simple uv map.... select model with right click>ctrl-U>UV Unwrap THEN BAM! There is a UV map that has been auto-generated in the image editor tab

Hope everything goes well with your textures

[I.T Marcus]

Thread updated, taking a break on the jack... now onto the solar panels

[Neutrinovore]

Thread updated, taking a break on the jack... now onto the solar panels

Umm, okay, I decided to download this pack to give the parts a try. But, I can't find a download link anywhere. I'd swear that they were in the o.p. a few days ago, though. What am I missing? It's okay, if it's something really obvious, you can call me stupid.

Edit: Just found it. On post #31, if anyone else goes looking for it.

Edited February 1, 2014 by Neutrinovore

[Jasmir]

There are pictures missing

[blackheart612]

So I finally got my hands to making it for some rover stuff of course.

Was the floaty node for this purpose?

Another pic here:

Where I realized the scale of things weren't too good.

These are just my opinions:

The low profile looks cool. I really love it.

The compact body is good. The scale of KSP's things are the problem. (I know cfg editing but just saying in normal scale)

Batteries look really bad and uncompact, maybe add electric storage on the chassis?

I don't know how to put a small unmanned pod because the floaty node is the only node you can attach it to.

[I.T Marcus]

There are pictures missing

Sorry about that I forgot to add them... again Eventually I will remember things!

[I.T Marcus]

So I finally got my hands to making it for some rover stuff of course.

Was the floaty node for this purpose?

Where I realized the scale of things weren't too good.

These are just my opinions:

The low profile looks cool. I really love it.

The compact body is good. The scale of KSP's things are the problem. (I know cfg editing but just saying in normal scale)

Batteries look really bad and uncompact, maybe add electric storage on the chassis?

I don't know how to put a small unmanned pod because the floaty node is the only node you can attach it to.

Ah yes the floaty node... well tbh I realized it had some use because the best way I found to make rovers with it was to get a cubic probe core and add a panel to it's top node and then attach the floaty node to the top of the panel. The floaty node was on accident because the config came from the small beam part

The scale and attachment problems such as the wheels not quite being in the center of the mounts, was due to my laziness not to import the wheel into my blender session and model around that... sorry about that

I will fix these later today when I get on my computer, sorry for uploading a version that kinda sucked lol

But I really do appreciate the fact that you took the time to test the mod and build something with it and let me know your opinion

EDIT: And yes it was my original plan to have the chassis to store electric charge... (btw it allows fuel crossfeed) but alas the memory failure reached me once again lol

Edited February 1, 2014 by I.T Marcus
forgot to address the electric charge issue

[blackheart612]

Did I say something about your own chassis scale? Sorry, I meant that KSP's stuff are large.

I meant you can make your own rover's size parts. (I really hope you don't mind me suggesting stuff)

Meanwhile, I used another mod for an unmanned computer.

Regarding the floaty node, you can always add another one.

I'll let you know when I tink of something else.

Additionally, here're some wheel ideas

Edited February 1, 2014 by blackheart612
Derped my own image

[I.T Marcus]

(I really hope you don't mind me suggesting stuff)

Not at all! I really like it when I know what needs to be done.. I tend to get a bit off track when I don't know what should be done

I'll research some about attachment nodes and then fix it... then upload a new version for you with a bit more parts (p.s the tiny rover chassis, for some reason ksp wanted to make it HUGE)

[I.T Marcus]

Thread Updated! Now it includes a download link of a version that hopefully sucks less lol

Also, as far as the thread pics go I wanna showcase what you guys do with the mod so feel free to either pm me or link some images of your crafts using this mod here! I'll use as many as I can!

[blackheart612]

Additional feedback for the newer version. Imma keep it fast paced while I still can

The External Harddrive is a cool idea.

It has floaty nodes again though. and radial attachment is also floaty

(Yeah, Infernal Robotics)

I also noticed that 2x1Panel and LongSTriangle share the 1SPanel's name on config.

I suggest you give them their own names or they will appear as 1SPanel continually if you launch the vehicle. (I think this is the reason why you said your small chassis keeps getting bigger)

I made sure I could test them with the right models so here, I made a fix

It's not only for rover uses:

Awesomesauce. Very awesome. 10/10 would always use for landers.

Searched the Gamedata and found out there was such a thing called "RoverJack" where I can't find anywhere in my tabs.

I can't see nodes in noded wheels.

Keep it up

[I.T Marcus]

Yes the science parts are all really buggy, but I will fix the attachment nodes in the next update lol always I have a problem with attachment nodes

(Btw did you get the harddrive and sample storage container to work?) I think I set up the module correctly but couldn't get it to work so I figured it wasjust me and left them there so someone [like you] to figure out how to work em lol)

The noded wheel has a node attachment in the config but I couldn't change the settings to make it appear... I'll try a new node config set-up and see if that works

And btw the teeny rover chassis should be it's size (I fixed rescale factor) so yeah.... warning: it's really tiny lol

Lastly, THANK YOU for taking the time to beta test this and give me feedback! And btw, realy nice lander escape pod! I didn't really think of using the panel for that And I will fix the config names too (I was trying to put up a lot of the panels up at once so I guess I skimmed over it's name)

EDIT: The RoverJack didn't work but I'm still trying to create it so I left the folder in there I had a working version but it was too small so I tried editing it (i could of just used scalefactor but I'm stupid lol) and broke it

EDIT2: BTW sorry for replying so late

Edited February 2, 2014 by I.T Marcus
Forgot to address the Rover Jack folder

[blackheart612]

That's fine and no problem.

The harddrive functions well enough except the attachment problems

Sample storage though has a different problem. It can do crew reports lol

BTW, I can store other reports in Sample Container and can store surface samples on a harddrive. Maybe this is a default KSP feature but you could change it to data storage container radial and inline

and teeny is really tiny.

Edit: More Suggestions

Sorry for the unforgivably small image. I drew them badly

Edited February 3, 2014 by blackheart612
Suggestions

[Sauron]

I'm still here--just have a busy weekend at the moment. Also, I've got my copy of 3ds working so unwrapping stuff on my own has suddenly become an option again--worth the fuss .

Edited February 3, 2014 by Sauron