parts [1.12.x] USI Exploration Pack - Small parts, big adventure! [v 0.6.0]

[RoverDude]

B & N? Yes. I attach it to the ground pylon, but I can't get the first piece to lay flat like you did in the video.

Dunno, just using stock KAS and the rotation keys

[AetherGoddess]

B & N? Yes. I attach it to the ground pylon, but I can't get the first piece to lay flat like you did in the video.

Two things you might try. First, make sure your mouse is pointing at the flat part on top of the Plyon. this is the attachment point, which is pretty far offset from the part itself. Second, use B&N to rotate in one direction, and Alt-B and Alt-N to rotate in another.

Rover: i don't know how much work it would be, but you might consider adjusting the construction order to start with the front chassis, rather then the front fender, since it's much easier to feel how the orientation will end up on a big flat plane part, rather then a directional box part. i ran into the same thing, and at the time, KAS was super explody; i detonated at least 2 fenders trying to get them to just lie flat enough that i could build the thing.

[MaverickSawyer]

Second, use B&N to rotate in one direction, and Alt-B and Alt-N to rotate in another.

I didn't know about the bolded part. I will try it ASAP.

[RoverDude]

Two things you might try. First, make sure your mouse is pointing at the flat part on top of the Plyon. this is the attachment point, which is pretty far offset from the part itself. Second, use B&N to rotate in one direction, and Alt-B and Alt-N to rotate in another.

Rover: i don't know how much work it would be, but you might consider adjusting the construction order to start with the front chassis, rather then the front fender, since it's much easier to feel how the orientation will end up on a big flat plane part, rather then a directional box part. i ran into the same thing, and at the time, KAS was super explody; i detonated at least 2 fenders trying to get them to just lie flat enough that i could build the thing.

A lot harder than you'd think because of the extreme trickery we're doing with KAS containers

[RoverDude]

So many glass IVAs...

[AetherGoddess]

A lot harder than you'd think because of the extreme trickery we're doing with KAS containers

ya, i figured it would be in the "more trouble then it's worth" pile, given the assembly magic. maybe EVA assembly is something Kospy could be implementing as a more general solution. meh.

[Errol]

Feature request: side view ports for the EVA pod.

Also, could it be compatible with RPM?

GitHub request please - would be a new model. RPM - if someone pull requests a cfg I will include it

I don't know how or what a pull request is, or how to create .cfg files, or if the creation of a .cfg file is all that is needed to add even just one (I think that would be a neat twist) Multi Function Display (identical to the ones all the stock pods get with RPM) to these exploration pack capsules. Could someone either donate their time/experience to this end, or otherwise point me in the right direction to do what rover asked for myself?

It'd be sick to have a single MFD set to external cam on a rover with a IR rotatron to turn the camera, with the navball just above in these little pods. The option to briefly view all the other data the MFD can give you, with the trade off of only being able to look at one screen at a time, would be super fun. I would immediately be sending missions to eve (which I have not really explored much) and would have tons of fun using scansat and the karbonundrum scanner to go prospecting (and easter egg hunting with hullcam)!

Edited September 28, 2014 by Errol

[AetherGoddess]

I don't know how or what a pull request is, or how to create .cfg files, or if the creation of a .cfg file is all that is needed to add even just one (I think that would be a neat twist) Multi Function Display (identical to the ones all the stock pods get with RPM) to these exploration pack capsules. [...]

a PULL REQUEST is github speak for code submitted by a participant (i.e. you) to be pulled into a maintained project (i.e. Umbra space universe-o-stuff) by the original maintainer (i.e. Rover) without granting the first party full control over the source repository (i.e. "Here Errol, just run rampant over my code"). the most common usage is a fork-n-pull, where the first party forks (i.e. makes a private copy) the release, makes their changes, and then sends a pull request back to the maintainer with the code changes they want.

if you don't code, this is not the thing you want.

a GitHub request slang for Issues telling a maintainer about a thing you want or bug you've found, and lets them keep track of what's been done. if you have the skill to make the changes yourself, a pull is prefered, since the maintainer just has to review your code, and merge it, where as the issue requires the maintainer to write code and make things and such, and has to be balanced against all the other things that need doing.

[MaverickSawyer]

I didn't know about the bolded part. I will try it ASAP.

Okay, it works now. Learned something new today, which is always good!

[AetherGoddess]

Okay, it works now. Learned something new today, which is always good!

Hurray! thanks math teacher Sarah!

[Errol]

if you don't code, this is not the thing you want.

Yeah, as stated, I don't know any code, unfortunately. When I originally posted this request, rover replied asking for a pull request of a .cfg, not a github issue. I created a github issue for the other request, the windows, which may or may not have resulted in rover's inspiration for this new pod. Either, I mentioned it there as well, but as you said, rover is a busy guy and has to way real life vs. mod maintenance/comparability and new features to add. I completely understand him not being able to drop everything and make all the things for all the people.

What I did ask for was the volunteered time of another talented individual to implement this request OR to be point in the direction of what to learn to be able to generate this required .cfg file.

[AetherGoddess]

[...] What I did ask for was the volunteered time of another talented individual to implement this request OR to be point in the direction of what to learn to be able to generate this required .cfg file.

I had to go back and look through the thread to figure out what you were talking about. it looks like you want to make sure the released pods can use RasterPropMonitor? unfortunately, it looks like Rover is doing his IVAs using an internal plug-in (unless i'm reading it wrong, hard to tell, at least i can't find anything that looks like IVA computer panel to me.) even worse, the RPM documentation looks like it need model elements and texture names as part of it's config ( i have no method of getting this, mainly because i can't be arsed to go and set up a modeling environment to disassemble the model files), and requires extensive configuration to set up the buttons, pages and programming for the computer.

in short, it's a lot of work, and i can see why Rover asked for a pull request instead of an issue.

Edited September 28, 2014 by AetherGoddess
phrases, how do they even work?

[Errol]

I don't want any custom work of any kind done. RPM includes some sort of default basic multi function display, which it module managers into all the stock pods in sets of three. I just want to have one of those panels module managered into this mod. I didn't think that would require setting up dissamblies and buttoning configurations. I figured it was something more along the lines of, take the lines of code that add the monitors to the stock pods, and add that to these pods. Figuring those lines of code would be a short reference of some kind to the RPM library, where the code for the default MFDs lives. I might have no idea what I'm talking about, and if that is the case, let me know.

[AetherGoddess]

I don't want any custom work of any kind done. RPM includes some sort of default basic multi function display, which it module managers into all the stock pods in sets of three. [...]

ya, so i went back through the RPM release and looked at how that's being done, and Mihara has remodeled (or at least reconfigured) the IVA space in order to get that working correctly. this is supported be the fact that the page on how to make a IVA that works with and without RPM suggests creating a separate IVA config and using MM to replace it at load-time.

so it looks like even the "default basic multi function display" behavior requires more work then i am willing to put in. sorry about that.

[RoverDude]

*poking in*

Yeah, I normally don't use RPM because of the memory footprint so I am not an expert in it Was hoping someone who was in fact an RPM expert could make some configs, etc. in any case, log in an issue if one is not already there and it can go on the list

[RoverDude]

0.2.1 is up!

Download via the USI Catalog Page. All USI mods are updated at once, so for your convenience there is also an all-in-one pack on DropBox that includes all of the goodness in one package.

• Synced ORSX/CRP changes
  
• Added the HERP command bubble and Jumpseat pods!
  
• FAR/NEAR support
  
• Engine tweaks for the ducted fan engines
  
• DRE support
  
• ATM support
  
• Better packrat wheels!
  
• FireSpitter Hover Mode!
  
• Corrected model for ducted fan (transform issues)
  
• Switched to latest USI DLLs
  
• Switched to ORSX and new CRP
  
• The PackRat has been adjusted again - be careful, old ones may have bees.
  
• Updated RDS cage (3.75m) with matching fairings
  
• Ducted fans have attachment nodes and should play symmetry better
  

[mike9606]

BUG REPORT! The Jumpseat Pod has the same description and name in the editor as the HERP Pod (It says HERP Pod as its name and as the same description as the HERP).

[RoverDude]

BUG REPORT! The Jumpseat Pod has the same description and name in the editor as the HERP Pod (It says HERP Pod as its name and as the same description as the HERP).

As bugs go, I'll take that one

[Shad0wCatcher]

That's no lie. No red text to mull through at all. Haha.

[MaverickSawyer]

Okay, some feedback from the field with the previous version...

-The PackRat rover goes surprisingly well with both BoxSat and DMagic science parts. A pair of BoxSat chassis with batteries in them gives you better than 1800 Ec storage, and they can be swapped in the field for science instruments or fuel cartridges using KAS. And the Roof Rack is perfect for the DMagic surface instruments.

-B9 Aerospace HL fuselages are able to carry a fully assembled PackRat with ease. A pair of KAS winches on the rover and a pair of ports on the floor of the cargo bay keep it from rolling (or bouncing) about when you are pulling a last minute go-around.

-The KarryKans are fully loaded with Karbonite right out of storage. Any chance you could change that? It'd simplify things when setting up a mobile refinery.

-Finally, slight graphics bug to report: If there are two AES pods on a Rover Delivery System frame, the second one will have its occupant and the interior of the pod simply vanish from view. They're still there, but you just can't see them, even from external view. The issue can be replicated by loading a fully assembled rover into the RDS in the hangar or the VAB, then attaching a pair of individual AES pods to the uprights on either side.

Otherwise, a fantastic addition to the game. Can't wait to see what else you come up with!

[Angelo Kerman]

0.2.1 is up!

Download via the USI Catalog Page. All USI mods are updated at once, so for your convenience there is also an all-in-one pack on DropBox that includes all of the goodness in one package.

• Synced ORSX/CRP changes
  
• Added the HERP command bubble and Jumpseat pods!
  
• FAR/NEAR support
  
• Engine tweaks for the ducted fan engines
  
• DRE support
  
• ATM support
  
• Better packrat wheels!
  
• FireSpitter Hover Mode!
  
• Corrected model for ducted fan (transform issues)
  
• Switched to latest USI DLLs
  
• Switched to ORSX and new CRP
  
• The PackRat has been adjusted again - be careful, old ones may have bees.
  
• Updated RDS cage (3.75m) with matching fairings
  
• Ducted fans have attachment nodes and should play symmetry better
  

yay for the all in one download package !

[RoverDude]

Okay, some feedback from the field with the previous version...

-The PackRat rover goes surprisingly well with both BoxSat and DMagic science parts. A pair of BoxSat chassis with batteries in them gives you better than 1800 Ec storage, and they can be swapped in the field for science instruments or fuel cartridges using KAS. And the Roof Rack is perfect for the DMagic surface instruments.

-B9 Aerospace HL fuselages are able to carry a fully assembled PackRat with ease. A pair of KAS winches on the rover and a pair of ports on the floor of the cargo bay keep it from rolling (or bouncing) about when you are pulling a last minute go-around.

-The KarryKans are fully loaded with Karbonite right out of storage. Any chance you could change that? It'd simplify things when setting up a mobile refinery.

-Finally, slight graphics bug to report: If there are two AES pods on a Rover Delivery System frame, the second one will have its occupant and the interior of the pod simply vanish from view. They're still there, but you just can't see them, even from external view. The issue can be replicated by loading a fully assembled rover into the RDS in the hangar or the VAB, then attaching a pair of individual AES pods to the uprights on either side.

Otherwise, a fantastic addition to the game. Can't wait to see what else you come up with!

yay for the all in one download package !

So... I fixed the 'only can see one' bug and promptly replaced it with 'IVAs look weird for all but one'. So they are fine when running around, but really should not have two of the transparent pods on the same frame or IVAs get a little weird. Known issue, will have to play with it.

[Errol]

*poking in*

Yeah, I normally don't use RPM because of the memory footprint so I am not an expert in it Was hoping someone who was in fact an RPM expert could make some configs, etc. in any case, log in an issue if one is not already there and it can go on the list

The first issue I logged, asking for side windows, mention RPM support. I can log it as a separate issue if you like, but here is the link:

https://github.com/BobPalmer/ExplorationPack/issues/20

[MaverickSawyer]

So... I fixed the 'only can see one' bug and promptly replaced it with 'IVAs look weird for all but one'. So they are fine when running around, but really should not have two of the transparent pods on the same frame or IVAs get a little weird. Known issue, will have to play with it.

Uhm... Haven't tried it with the latest version, actually. I had started to write up the report before the new version was available. KSP's loading now, so I'll run the same situation again and see if I get the same result.

EDIT: Invisible interiors bug is gone... now the IVA's in the middle of the craft. *sigh* Good thing I don't use IVA much.

Edited September 28, 2014 by MaverickSawyer

[Aedile]

Weird - I can seem to be able to disassemble, but the parts seem to be missing KAS attach option...