Genuinely new propulsion methods - part.cfg file only - needs no graphics or plugins

[spiritplumber]

This is a simple solar sail, and a simple quadcopter style electric impeller. No plugins, no new graphics. I'd like to see these go in larger mods.

Note that the solar sail will actually have to be "tacked"!

http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~diedrich/solarsails/intro/tacking.html

This is the solar sail; it may be expedient to turn sun tracking off for it.

RESOURCE_DEFINITION
{
  name = SolarWindIntensity
  density = 0.0001
  flowMode = NO_FLOW
  transfer = NONE
}
PART
{
// --- general parameters ---
name = SolarSail2
module = Part
author = NovaSilisko+mkb

// --- asset parameters ---
MODEL
{
   model = Squad/Parts/Electrical/largeSolarPanel/model
   position = 0, 0, 0
   scale = 1.0, 3.0, 0.5
   rotation = 0, 0, 0
// parent = anotherModelTransform	<---------Not necessary unless Second or subsequent part.
// texture = model000 , Squad/Parts/Command/probeCoreOcto/model000
// texture = model001 , Squad/Parts/FuelTank/fuelTank2-2/model001
}

MODEL
{
   model = Squad/Parts/Utility/CircularIntake/model
   position = 0, 0, 0
   scale = 0.5, 2.0, 0.5
   rotation = 0, 0, 90
// parent = anotherModelTransform	<---------Not necessary unless Second or subsequent part.
// texture = model000 , Squad/Parts/Command/probeCoreOcto/model000
// texture = model001 , Squad/Parts/FuelTank/fuelTank2-2/model001
}

// --- node definitions ---
// definition format is Position X, Position Y, Position Z, Up X, Up Y, Up Z
node_attach = -0.05, 0.0, 0.0, 1, 0, 0

// --- editor parameters ---
TechRequired = advScienceTech
entryCost = 666
Cost =5000
category = Science
subcategory = 0
title = LH-CP Orientable solar Sail
manufacturer = Robots Everywhere LLC
description = A thin, reflective surface that can be used to reflect solar radiation to provide thrust. Very fragile.

// attachment rules: stack, srfAttach, allowStack, allowSrfAttach, allowCollision
attachRules = 0,1,0,0,1

// --- standard part parameters ---
mass = 0.35 // same as the big solar panel, for ease of probe building.
dragModelType = default
maximum_drag = 0.2
minimum_drag = 0.2
angularDrag = 1
crashTolerance = 1 // very fragile
maxTemp = 3200

fx_exhaustFlame_white_tiny = 0.0, 1.0, 0.163, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, running

RESOURCE
{
 name = SolarWindIntensity
 amount = 0
 maxAmount = 1.0
}

MODULE
{
	name = ModuleDeployableSolarPanel

	animationName = bigsolarpanel

        sunTracking = false

	raycastTransformName = suncatcher

	resourceName = SolarWindIntensity

	chargeRate = 20.0

	powerCurve
 	{
		key = 206000000000 0 0 0
		key = 13599840256 1 0 0
		key = 68773560320 0.5 0 0
		key = 0 10 0 0
 	}
}

MODULE
{
	name = ModuleEngines
	thrustVectorTransformName = suncatcher
	exhaustDamage = False
	allowShutdown = False
	throttleLocked = True
	ignitionThreshold = 0.01
	minThrust = 0
	maxThrust = 1.0
	heatProduction = 0.1
	fxOffset = 0.0, 0.0, -0.7
	PROPELLANT
	{
		name = SolarWindIntensity
		ratio = 1.0
		DrawGauge = True
	}
	atmosphereCurve
 	{

	 key = 0 100
	 key = 0.1 100
	 key = 0.5 100
  	 key = 0 100
 	}
}


}

This is the electric impeller; it will work in oxygenless atmospheres, but not up to a very great height.

RESOURCE_DEFINITION
{
  name = ImpellerAirflow
  density = 0.004
  flowMode = NO_FLOW
  transfer = NONE
}
PART
{
// Kerbal Space Program - Part Config
// RT-10 Solid Fuel Booster
// 

MODEL
{
   model = Squad/Parts/Engine/sepMotor1/model
   position = 0, 0, 0
   scale = 3.0, 0.3, 3.0
   rotation = 0, 0, 0
// parent = anotherModelTransform	<---------Not necessary unless Second or subsequent part.
// texture = model000 , Squad/Parts/Command/probeCoreOcto/model000
// texture = model001 , Squad/Parts/FuelTank/fuelTank2-2/model001
}

MODEL
{
   model = Squad/Parts/Utility/CircularIntake/model
   position = 0, 0.07, 0.6
   scale = 0.3, 0.3, 0.3
   rotation = 0, 0, 0
// parent = anotherModelTransform	<---------Not necessary unless Second or subsequent part.
// texture = model000 , Squad/Parts/Command/probeCoreOcto/model000
// texture = model001 , Squad/Parts/FuelTank/fuelTank2-2/model001
}

// --- general parameters ---
name = ElectricImpeller
module = Part
author = NovaSilisko+mkb

// --- asset parameters ---
mesh = model.mu
scale = 1


node_attach = 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 1

// --- FX definitions ---

fx_exhaustFlame_white_tiny = 0.0, 1.0, 0.163, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, running

// --- Sound FX definition ---

sound_vent_medium = disengage
sound_rocket_mini = disengage
sound_vent_soft = disengage

// --- editor parameters ---
TechRequired = electrics
entryCost = 666
Cost =100
category = Propulsion
subcategory = 0
title = Electric Impeller
manufacturer = Robots Everywhere LLC
description = A light, powerful radially mounted electric motor that can be used in any atmosphere, if power is available. Useless at high altitudes and in vacuum, but does not require oxygen.

// attachment rules: stack, srfAttach, allowStack, allowSrfAttach, allowCollision
attachRules = 0,1,0,0,0

// --- standard part parameters ---
mass = 0.01
dragModelType = default
maximum_drag = 0.3
minimum_drag = 0.2
angularDrag = 2
crashTolerance = 7
maxTemp = 3600 

MODULE
{
	name = ModuleEngines
	thrustVectorTransformName = thrustTransform
	throttleLocked = False
	exhaustDamage = False
	allowShutdown = True
	ignitionThreshold = 0.01
	minThrust = 0
	maxThrust = 1.2
	heatProduction = 0.1
	fxOffset = 0.0, 0.0, -0.7
	PROPELLANT
	{
		name = ImpellerAirflow
		ratio = 5.0
		DrawGauge = True
	}
	PROPELLANT
	{
		name = ElectricCharge
	        ratio = 12.0
		DrawGauge = False
	}
	atmosphereCurve
 	{

	 key = 0 800
	 key = 0.1 1200
	 key = 0.5 1200
  	 key = 1 1000
 	}

}

MODULE
{
  name = ModuleResourceIntake
  resourceName = ImpellerAirflow
  checkForOxygen = false
  area = 0.00000666
  IntakeSpeed = 1
  IntakeTransformName = Intake  
}

RESOURCE
{
 name = ImpellerAirflow
 amount = 0.0
 maxAmount = 0.00125
}
}

[spiritplumber]

Does anyone have a use for this?

[Mekan1k]

Does anyone have a use for this?

Not really. See, Solar Sails are some of the most efficient forms of propulsion we can envision.

That said, they are really FREAKING slow to accelerate.

A burn with a solar sail would take MONTHS- only really feasible if you have time to burn, and since the code for time acceleration does not work for engine burns, this would be effectivley useless until someone decides to keep KSP on for months at a time...

[PolecatEZ]

Ahh, but through the magic of "rule of cool" a Kerbal kerbolar-sail would move at a much faster rate (and you can still time warp accelerated by holding left alt).

[spiritplumber]

The trust for the solar sail is about same as ion engine (KSP engine, not real engine) for that reason I was trying to simulate the mechanic.

[Scripto23]

I wonder if HoneyFox's warpable engine plugin would work for this: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/70881-0-23-Orbit-Manipulator-Series-%28WIP%29

[HoneyFox]

I wonder if HoneyFox's warpable engine plugin would work for this: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/70881-0-23-Orbit-Manipulator-Series-%28WIP%29

should work. but since KSPI has already implemented a dedicated realistic solar sail...

[8749236]

Not really. See, Solar Sails are some of the most efficient forms of propulsion we can envision.

That said, they are really FREAKING slow to accelerate.

A burn with a solar sail would take MONTHS- only really feasible if you have time to burn, and since the code for time acceleration does not work for engine burns, this would be effectivley useless until someone decides to keep KSP on for months at a time...

Check out honeyfox's N-Body plugin.. he got something neat integrated that you might want to take a look at...

I wonder if HoneyFox's warpable engine plugin would work for this: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/70881-0-23-Orbit-Manipulator-Series-%28WIP%29

Yes, if you tweak it properly...

He had cfg file under his mod folder..

e.g:

@PART[*]:HAS[@MODULE[ModuleEngines]:HAS[@PROPELLANT[XenonGas]]]

{

MODULE

{

name = WarpableEngine

}

}

Edited March 26, 2014 by 8749236
Merging reply..

[curiousepic]

Neat stuff with only a cfg!

[spiritplumber]

Thanks, I was trying to do something with a small memory footprint (no gfx/plugins)

[Boamere]

I'm guessing the acceleration while warping with the solar sail is like the one from KSI?

[problemecium]

Does this really work? How on Kerbin did you manage to make the ModuleEngines work with only one propellant? Whenever I've tried to write a CFG it's non-functional unless I use two propellants.

[spiritplumber]

It does work... Try to call the same propellant twice?

[HoneyFox]

Does this really work? How on Kerbin did you manage to make the ModuleEngines work with only one propellant? Whenever I've tried to write a CFG it's non-functional unless I use two propellants.

One propellant is enough, but make sure its density is non-zero. (ElectricCharge has zero density so...)

[HoneyFox]

I'm guessing the acceleration while warping with the solar sail is like the one from KSI?

Yes. Actually my plugin is using his codes with some small modifications to avoid several strange bugs.

[curiousepic]

Finally taking these for a spin (in .23.5); the impellers are pretty fun, but it seems like their hitboxes are about 4 or 5 times what they should be in the vertical direction. It looks like you've used the "scale" values in the MODEL sections; does the regular scale/rescale factor also need to be changed?

[spiritplumber]

I think so... good point, thanks!

[Helix935]

hmm i wonder if i can use this to mod the solar sail from KSPI so that it would work without the original plugin...

[spiritplumber]

Probably, if it has a suntracker animation. Go nuts!