Auto-roving rovers

[footballdude]

Hello. I am here to suggest auto-piloting rovers and why it would be cool to have them. I think it would be very cool to add a separate part in the VAB that allows the auto-roving ability of a rover. This would be very cool because while your off flying other missions their off exploring. You could also add some science tools with it like an attachable arm to the rover that will slowly drip science. However, this arm will drain a lot of energy. If there are any mods like this, let me know.

[NQMT]

Very good idea. I think something to have with it could be a map of the rover's area, and you can plot where you want the rover to drive to, stop, surface sample, etc etc.

[footballdude]

Anyone else have an idea?

[RSwordsman]

Very good idea. I think something to have with it could be a map of the rover's area, and you can plot where you want the rover to drive to, stop, surface sample, etc etc.

Bingo. Having it go totally autonomous doesn't sound feasible, what with steep slopes, obstacles, anomalies, etc. But being able to map out and pre-program its route? Awesome.

[KASASpace]

Perhaps it can be "remote-piloted" from Kerbin? You know, like most IRL rovers (at least they tell it where to go)

[rkman]

For this to be possible it must first be possible that a craft can be active while it has no focus and is out of physics range of the craft that does have focus.

[Tex]

Or perhaps have a slight time delay, much like IRL!

[Justin Kerbice]

Mechjeb already allow plotting path of an auto-rover.

Regarding terrain and obsticles, it is possible to make a small program in a part that can get altitude, slope and detect "walls" (rocks, debris, crater wall, anything that can't be rolled over) and act according to this like "slope 20% = cruising speed + x m/s", "wall in front = turn 45° left, free or not ? turn 45° right, free or not ?" and so on. Or even more advanced path-finding algorithms as used in games (RTS for example).

Anyway, rkman get the point, for now it's not really usefull/possible/whatever, choose your word.