Programmable Flight Computer.

[Entroper]

Obviously there are going to be multiple people interested in developing an autopilot module. I am one of those people.

I just wanted to get the ball rolling and write down some of my thoughts for what I want an autopilot to do:

Actions:

• 
  [li]Set throttle level[/li]
  [li]Activate stages (possibly individual parts)[/li]
  [li]Set and maintain desired heading in:
  
  • 
    [li]Absolute coordinates[/li]
    [li]Relative coordinates to the body whose sphere of influence you are in[/li]
    [li]Relative coordinates to your velocity vector and orbital plane[/li]
    

[/li]

[li]Start a timer[/li]

A set of actions would be performed when a condition arises. One of the actions can be to activate or deactivate the next set of conditions. For example, you might want to automatically deploy your parachute when you reach 5 000 m of altitude, but not on the way up!

Conditions:

• 
  [li]Altitude reached[/li]
  [li]Speed reached in orbital, surface, or absolute[/li]
  [li]Orbital parameter reached (eccentricity, semi-major axis, what have you)[/li]
  [li]Timer expires[/li]
  [li]Fuel level reached[/li]
  [li]Boolean expressions combining any of the above[/li]
  

I\'ll add to this and give more examples when I have time. And I would of course appreciate any comments or suggestions.

[Rokker]

http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/forum/index.php?topic=8021.0

[Iskierka]

That is not what he\'s requesting.

[r4m0n]

That is not what he\'s requesting.

No, but half of it I already had planned for my remote control interface, and you betcha I\'ll add the rest too

[Entroper]

That is not what he\'s requesting.

Sorry if I wasn\'t clear, but this isn\'t a request, it\'s an announcement. This is what I plan to make.

[croxis]

Detect when headings arn\'t being maintained (rocket flips upside down mid launch) or when an attached part explodes, and then executes a pre scripted emergency pod eject script.

[CAPFlyer]

Sorry if I wasn\'t clear, but this isn\'t a request, it\'s an announcement. This is what I plan to make.

Then this is the wrong forum. Your announcement goes in the 'Projects and Releases' forum. This forum is for getting help with development and editing and is exactly what\'s explained on the description of the forum.

[NovaSilisko]

I am unfortunately not one to support autopilot modules. It takes the fun out of the game, at least for me, if it\'s just something that does it perfectly almost every time... I\'d imagine official navigation systems being based on the crew\'s piloting abilities - get a dumb crew, and they\'re liable to try to fly backwards. (For unmanned missions, I\'d guess they would be remote controlled by kerbals on the ground)

[CAPFlyer]

Thing is, the real things use autopilot for almost all operations, so why not have it here? You can still make errors, even with the best autopilots. That\'d be why only 50% of the Mars Planetary missions launched from earth have succeeded.

[Entroper]

Then this is the wrong forum. Your announcement goes in the 'Projects and Releases' forum. This forum is for getting help with development and editing and is exactly what\'s explained on the description of the forum.

Well, now it goes in the plugins forum, which didn\'t exist when I posted. Could a mod move it there please?

[killamatrix243]

8) this seems pretty kewl 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)