Is automated Space Infrastructure possible?

[orfest]

Hi,

Reading through the Atomic Rocket website, I found a fascinating picture of Orbital Propellent Depots (see below) by Hop David.

I like the idea of setting up the Space Infrastructure and spreading my Kerbal empire across the whole Kerbol System, consuming all the resources I can mine from celestial bodies.

There are many benefits from having Orbital Propellent Depots, such as decreased mass of rockets, reducing number of stages, etc, but it takes HOURS to bring a depot into space and to load enough fuel into it, because I need to be docking constantly, and docking always takes a lot of my time.

Do you know if this can be automated?

Say, after I bring a depot into orbit, and launch both 'green' (according to the image below) and 'red' ships, can I have them running constantly, refuelling my depots automatically?

If there are no mods currently able of doing this, do you think such a mod can be created? Can a mod control one ship, while I'm controlling the other ship and use time/physics warp?

Also, can a mod keep launching pre-selected ships into orbit?

I know that L1 and L2 LaGrange points are not going to happen in KSP, but L3, L4 and L5 can be easily faked, which is good enough for me.

Edited July 30, 2014 by orfest

[technicalfool]

Moved to Gameplay Questions for now. It might get punted into Add On Requests and Support, since there's definitely no stock way of automating refuel missions.

[MoonMan22]

That is a very interesting concept. And completely possible through the use of mods. The main one being KOS which will allow you to write a scriptable auto pilot system. I have just began experimenting with the KOS system and have successfully written a program that automates a rocket from launchpad to LKO. There are programs that can automate rendezvous and docking two crafts.

I would do a little research on the capabilities of the KOS system and test on a smaller scale. You can definitely achieve a automated launch, orbit, and docking by running a different program for each stage of the mission.

Its definitely something worth exploring.

[CalculusWarrior]

It looks like the image doesn't work (though if you right-click and open in a new tab, you can view it).

As for automated depots, I believe there is at least one mod which does what you're asking, though it may be still a work in progress. Alas, I cannot recall the name of it, so Google/forum searching will be necessary.

[Sirrobert]

Well Mechjeb is fully capable of succesfully launching reasonably build rockets, and put them in exact orbits.

It can even time correctly and launch a second rocket to meet up close to the first one.

It will however need you to initiate each launch, and it launches in real time offcourse. It can also rendevous, and dock on it's own (though the docking autopilot is pritty bad) (each of those actions will also need to be initiated by you)

As for a mod actually selecting a new rocket and launching it and docking it, I don't think there is such a thing.

So if you're going to use Mechjeb, you'll still need to be present to tell it what to do when it's done with each task. Though you'll be able to play with your phone or whatever while it's running

[Taki117]

I remember seeing a mod (Heaven help me if I can find it again) where you would atach the part to your station, run a refueling mission once, and then it would automatically refuel your station for you.

[Red Iron Crown]

I remember seeing a mod (Heaven help me if I can find it again) where you would atach the part to your station, run a refueling mission once, and then it would automatically refuel your station for you.

Davon Supply. This mod does pretty close to what the OP asks.

[orfest]

Thanks for letting me know about kOS, looks awesome.