Rover Acts Funny on the Mun?

[davidpsummers]

I have a rover (picture below). It drives fine around the space center, but it drives "funny" on the Mun. When I "hit the gas", it pitches forward! And it steers "OK" when I coast, but backwards when I applying power!

Thoughts?

Edited June 23, 2014 by davidpsummers

[Taki117]

The main issue is there is no forward facing control point. Also you are using Staging Controls to control the Rover. I recommend switching to Docking Translation controls. and turning on SAS.

[Claw]

Yeah, Taki is getting at fixing the problem for the control orientation.

The other problem is that the default rover movement keys (for the wheels) are the same as the torque controls (roll/pitch/yaw) in the staging control mode.

So when you press W to move forward, you're also appling a "pitch forward with torque" command. There are a few ways to fix it, depending on your preference.

1) Disable the torque modules via the right-click menu. (My least favorite option.)

2) Use the staging control mode as Taki suggests.

3) Remap the rover (or torque) controls so that the keys aren't the same. (My personal choice.)

I became used to having separate controls. What is nice about that (once you get used to it) is that you can separately control the wheels and the torque to get some amazing rover control.

Other things that tend to help rover stability:

- Disable steering on the rear wheels.

- Disable brakes on the front wheels.

- Leave the SAS on (but split the torque control from rover wheel control as discussed).

These things all become more apparent under the lower gravity...

Good luck,

-Claw

[Pecan]

In contrast to the other two I recommend disabling SAS. Whichever way the command core/pod is facing - and it certainly helps to have forward-facing - SAS will detect any gradient or camber as unstable pitch/roll/yaw and attempt to 'correct' it by steering all over the place or flipping over. Only engage SAS when you've flipped or rolled and need torque to right it again.

[MarvinKitFox]

You have rover controls as

W

ASD

You also have SAS torque controls as

W

ASD

When you intend to command a forward roll, of the tyres, you are also commanding a forward roll, of the whole vehicle around its torque axis.

To fix:

Quick: Switch off all torque elements. Yes, including those in control pods.

Correct: Keep your torque on, it's *great* for stabilising rovers. Now remap either rover or torque controls to a different keyset. Profit!

[davidpsummers]

Thanks for help. Using docking controls has fixed the problem.

As to a "forward facing control point". You mean I should have put the probe module on the front?

[Taki117]

Thanks for help. Using docking controls has fixed the problem.

As to a "forward facing control point". You mean I should have put the probe module on the front?

Or some other thing that you can select to control from (Like a docking port).

[Drew Kerman]

you should really mount the wheels higher on the body to lower its center of gravity for better stability as well, especially in a low-grav environment like Mun

[davidpsummers]

Well, with you guys helping me, I got into the canyon and even up the side for a good view.

[davidpsummers]

you should really mount the wheels higher on the body to lower its center of gravity for better stability as well, especially in a low-grav environment like Mun

I didn't see how to do that, I guess I could have added some sort of strut. I would have put the control pod and the light below the body. I also may look to see if I can't put a strut on that will move them out to the side. But I am in career mode, so sometimes I either use what I have or wait.