Implications/applications of ker-balls

[LethalDose]

I haven't had a chance to download the "world cup" mod pack from Squad yet. Not sure if I'm going to, since I try to keep my installs lean as far as mods go and neither soccer (I'm American) or novelty parts packs are really much my thing. Anyway, the pack indicate it adds soccer balls and "the physics to match", which I assume means they bounce.

It is possible that the physics/parts/mechanics used to make the soccer balls bounce could be extrapolated to create airbags for not-quite-so-soft landings they way

?

Thoughts?

[Moss]

Yep. I think people have already tried using the things for landing. Now that the physics are in, it doesn't seem like to much of a stretch for the devs to add deployable airbags.

[Guest]

There is a mod using the pack's API to create fantastic, bouncy airbags for those squishy landings!

[Red Iron Crown]

Apparently they make great landing airbags (and landing gear, for that matter) because of their incredibly high impact tolerance. They're a new texture away from being a realistic spacecraft part.

Like this (not mine, but cool):

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Edited June 21, 2014 by Red Iron Crown
Emphasized that this is not my creation.

[Tw1]

Apparently they make great landing airbags (and landing gear, for that matter) because of their incredibly high impact tolerance. They're a new texture away from being a realistic spacecraft part.

I think they're fine without a new textures, kerbals are nothing if not clever and willing to try anything.

[Red Iron Crown]

I guess so, it just breaks immersion for me a bit that they look like giant soccer balls.

Ugh, someone repped me for that gallery even though it's not mine. It was made by Jasonlii, I saw it in KasperVld's post here. I've edited my post to make it more clear that it's someone else's work.

[BagelRabbit]

I'm thinking of making the balls into unpowered, omni-directional rover wheels. You could place one or two in "wheel wells" at the front of a rover with two normal wheels. As the rover moved, the balls would turn in whatever direction the rover was traveling. (Theoretically, at least.)

This idea would aid in turning rovers. More importantly, it would be something to do.

The only thing preventing me from doing this now is the fact that the soccer balls are (arguably) modded parts, and that I have gone to great lengths to make only-stock craft. But, if the mod is made by Squad, I suppose there's no problem there...

[Link]

There is a mod using the pack's API to create fantastic, bouncy airbags for those squishy landings!

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/83134-23-5-Deployable-Airbags-%28plugin-version%29-v0-1-3-2014-06-18

Can't.....resist......the..........

BOUNCE!

[LethalDose]

Oh ker-balls. I must have been tired when I posted this.

Mods, can this get moved to the "General discussion"?

Anyway, it's cool that I'm not the only one that had this idea.

I guess so, it just breaks immersion for me a bit that they look like giant soccer balls.

... but the little green, bug-eyed aliens don't break immersion?

[Red Iron Crown]

Oh ker-balls. I must have been tired when I posted this.

Mods, can this get moved to the "General discussion"?

I thought it was in General Discussion. Maybe one of the mods moved it because it's about a mod? *Shrug*

... but the little green, bug-eyed aliens don't break immersion?

It makes no sense, but no, the Kerbals don't break the immersion but the soccer balls do. Consider it proof I'm not a Vulcan or robot.

[Link]

I thought it was in General Discussion. Maybe one of the mods moved it because it's about a mod? *Shrug*

You are correct, it was moved a couple hours ago