[Plugin][0.17] PowerTech v0.2.6.1

[anaximander]

Just to clarify... The PowerSat part downloaded from here decouples itself and doesn\'t need a separate decoupler; I get that part. What I\'d like to know is whether it\'s possible to have a multi-part object designate as a satellite using this plugin - for example, using the Silisko Probodobodyne kit to build a satellite that will then change name, orient itself etc. Wouldn\'t building a part around a PowerSat module result in it decoupling from somewhere in the middle? Also, I\'d love to be able to get Silisko\'s solar panels to rotate to follow the sun like that... is it possible to have this plugin output a vector that a custom part could use to orient?

[Alchemist]

Just to clarify... The PowerSat part downloaded from here decouples itself and doesn\'t need a separate decoupler; I get that part. What I\'d like to know is whether it\'s possible to have a multi-part object designate as a satellite using this plugin - for example, using the Silisko Probodobodyne kit to build a satellite that will then change name, orient itself etc. Wouldn\'t building a part around a PowerSat module result in it decoupling from somewhere in the middle?

if you want to make something multimodular of it, just insure that the PowerSat part is the one that should work as decoupler (BTW, I\'m planning to release the attitude controller as a separate part module).

Also, I\'d love to be able to get Silisko\'s solar panels to rotate to follow the sun like that... is it possible to have this plugin output a vector that a custom part could use to orient?

The plugin already includes StationPanels part module that has all the functionality of PowerSat solar panels. See the OP for documentation (or give me the model and I\'ll adjust it for the full functionality - that could require splitting the model in several parts and adding additional colliders)

[Maraz]

I\'m working on a new attitude control module (codename SurfaceSAS for one of the main uses - surface orientation of satellites and stations).

I am waiting with interest for these developments. This attitude controller appears to be vey useful, a sort of 'mechjeb for unmanned satellites' but with extended functionalities.

Will this attitude controller be a separate part from the part that has the PowerSat logic in it ? I hope that all can be integrated in the same part, that could make satellite design neater (no need to stack parts on top of other parts).

Bye

Maraz

[Alchemist]

I am waiting with interest for these developments. This attitude controller appears to be vey useful, a sort of 'mechjeb for unmanned satellites' but with extended functionalities.

Will this attitude controller be a separate part from the part that has the PowerSat logic in it ? I hope that all can be integrated in the same part, that could make satellite design neater (no need to stack parts on top of other parts).

Bye

Maraz

Well, the idea is to make an attitude control core to be easily implemented into different types of modules - from satellite control gyroscopes to fully functional autopilots (including replacing of the currently implemented in PowerSat - don\'t worry it won\'t break anything, just add the ability to tweak the axis).

For the SurfaceSAS there will be 2 options:

1) preset (in part.cfg) modes and directions - when activating or decoupling the module (possible also with some delay) it will turn the craft in the set direction (similar to what\'s implemented in the PowerSat).

2) Keeping the attitude - when packing/unloading/switching away from the craft, decoupling the module or activating SAS on the active craft it will remember the current directions of the vectors (according to the mode) and keep the attitude in the given frame of reference

Later there will also be an autopilot that allows to select these modes in flight (similar to MechJeb SmartASS).

The system will be such:

For mode will be such vector selecting options:

Surface-relative: UP, NORTH, EAST, SURFACE (with separately set vector in NORTH-UP-EAST coordinates)

Orbit-relative: PROGRADE, NORMAL, RADIAL, ORBIT (with separately set vector in PROGRADE-NORMAL-RADIAL coordinates)

Special: SUN, BODY (with celestial body name imput), ABSOLUTE (with separately set vector in absolute coordinates), KILLROT (just rotation dampener), ROTATE (with given angular speed, for secodary axis only)

if for modes that require a vector it\'s not set, the autopilot will work as KILLROT for given frame. In case of other errors the autopilot will work as KILLROT.

The total list of parameters will be this:

primary - setting given relative axis in the given direction

primAxis - the axis to turn into the given direction

primMode - mode for this

primDir - vector for modes that require it

primName - name of celestial body for BODY mode

secondary - rotating around the primary axis:

secAxis - relative axis. Use of it depends on secType parameter

secType: MATCH - matching the vector as close as possible, COLLINEAR - same as MATCH but will turn to match the opposite direction if that direction is closer, PERP - perpendicular/maximal angle, same as COLLINEAR with secAxis perpendicular to given primAxis and secAxis.

secMode - mode for this

secDir - vector for modes that require it

secName - name of celestial body for BODY mode

secRate - angular velocity for ROTATE mode (degrees/second)

current system of PowerSat will correspond to this:

primAxis = 0, -1, 0

primMode = UP

secAxis = 0,0,1

secType = COLLINEAR

secMode = SUN

solar orientation of Soyuz spacecraft ('???????? ?? ??????') would be this:

primAxis = 0, 0, 1 //turn the panels to the Sun.

primMode = SUN

secMode = ROTATE

secRate = 3 // full cycle in 2 minutes (or how fast it was?)

[Alchemist]

Now you can set model animations for panel deploying! See the panel modelling guidelines in the OP.

[CardBoardBoxProcessor]

perhaps you can assist me? Pm me please

[f3n3k]

hello

little question:

for install this plugin, I must install powerteck pack 0.23 ?? http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/forum/index.php?topic=9879.msg146934#msg146934

thanks in advance

[Alchemist]

hello

little question:

for install this plugin, I must install powerteck pack 0.23 ?? http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/forum/index.php?topic=9879.msg146934#msg146934

thanks in advance

That pack is just some sample parts for this plugin (but there\'s an old version of the plugin included). Of course, you don\'t have to install them, you may use this plugin with some other parts (for example, DynaSat) or even make your own parts.

[f3n3k]

ok thanks you for your help

and you do a good job

[zYnthethicz]

What is 'NightGlide Mode'?

Found it.

[tadeass]

Please, can anyone to send me the old-way-maked .blend or .dae/.DAE file including the objects? It would be great way to understand to it all much better.

Thanks, Tadeass

[Dani-Sang]

Help me out here buddy, what are the radiator abilities for a solar panel... never heard of it! What does it do?

[Alchemist]

Please, can anyone to send me the old-way-maked .blend or .dae/.DAE file including the objects? It would be great way to understand to it all much better.

Thanks, Tadeass

Check PowerTech parts thread. These are in .dae format.

Help me out here buddy, what are the radiator abilities for a solar panel... never heard of it! What does it do?

Just a bit of heat management:

increasing heat dissipation when deployed

panel temperature increases when exposed (the coefficient can be different for both sides, like in case of solar panels with radiator on the rear side)

there\'s also anti-sun rotation mode for radiators

[tadeass]

Thanks.

[Dani-Sang]

I can\'t seem to deploy my panels for some reason and tried everything. What am I doing wrong? Did I miss something?

// --- PowerTech Parameters ---

// --- Animation ---

FoldAnimationName = C4D Animation Take

FoldDefState = 1

// --- Towards the Sun Rotation ---

phase1 (float) = 0

panelRotateRate (float) = 1

doubleSidedPanels (boolean) = false

panelInitRot (float) = 0

NightGlide (boolean) = true

maximum_drag (float) = 5.0

minimum_drag (float) = 0.1

RotatingPanels (boolean) = true

IconColor (Color) = red

[Alchemist]

Don\'t know about deploying (can\'t say anything without seeing the panel, it may not work if the animation name is wrong), but for rotation there are some mistakes.

First of all, remove these data types

Second, you forgot to define the rotation root element.

Tried your panel from 0.1 test release - made it to rotate with this config:

// --- general parameters ---
name = MMI Test Solar Panel
module = SolarPanels_Powertech
author = Dani-Sang

// --- asset parameters ---
mesh = model.mu
scale = 0.1

// --- node definitions ---
// definition format is Position X, Position Y, Position Z, Up X, Up Y, Up Z
node_attach = 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1

// --- editor parameters ---
cost = 400
category = 3
subcategory = 0
title = MMI Test Solar Panel
manufacturer = Mechanical Mouse Industries
description = Test Solar Panel
// attachment rules: stack, srfAttach, allowStack, allowSrfAttach, allowCollision
attachRules = 0,1,0,0,0

// --- standard part parameters ---
mass = 0.05
dragModelType = default
maximum_drag = 5.0
minimum_drag = 0.1
angularDrag = 0
crashTolerance = 14
maxTemp = 3400

// --- Animation ---
FoldAnimationName = C4D Animation Take
FoldDefState = 1

rotRoot1 = MMI Solar 03 - Extreme Long
rotAx1 = 1, 0, 0

phase1 = 0
phase2 = 5
panelRotateRate = 1
doubleSidedPanels = false
panelInitRot = 0.5
NightGlide = true
RotatingPanels = true

[Dani-Sang]

Don\'t know about deploying (can\'t say anything without seeing the panel, it may not work if the animation name is wrong), but for rotation there are some mistakes.

First of all, remove these data types

Second, you forgot to define the rotation root element.

Tried your panel from 0.1 test release - made it to rotate with this config:

// --- general parameters ---
name = MMI Test Solar Panel
module = SolarPanels_Powertech
author = Dani-Sang

// --- asset parameters ---
mesh = model.mu
scale = 0.1

// --- node definitions ---
// definition format is Position X, Position Y, Position Z, Up X, Up Y, Up Z
node_attach = 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1

// --- editor parameters ---
cost = 400
category = 3
subcategory = 0
title = MMI Test Solar Panel
manufacturer = Mechanical Mouse Industries
description = Test Solar Panel
// attachment rules: stack, srfAttach, allowStack, allowSrfAttach, allowCollision
attachRules = 0,1,0,0,0

// --- standard part parameters ---
mass = 0.05
dragModelType = default
maximum_drag = 5.0
minimum_drag = 0.1
angularDrag = 0
crashTolerance = 14
maxTemp = 3400

// --- Animation ---
FoldAnimationName = C4D Animation Take
FoldDefState = 1

rotRoot1 = MMI Solar 03 - Extreme Long
rotAx1 = 1, 0, 0

phase1 = 0
phase2 = 5
panelRotateRate = 1
doubleSidedPanels = false
panelInitRot = 0.5
NightGlide = true
RotatingPanels = true

Thx m8!

[rkman]

I\'m trying to use ZO2pwr_Regenerator to make a basic zo2 system (without zo2 solar panels), but so far without much success.

Before i continue trying: is possible at all?

Powertech provides zo2 generation but i see no method for storing generated zo2, and the zo2 generator uses no electricity.

The craft has a battery and zo2 tanks from the Zoxygene plugin, and solar panels that i know do work with the battery. But the battery does not active when i turn on the zo2 generator.

ZO2pwr_Regenerator popup menu works, showing main and craft zo2 quantities and 'zo2 gain: 0' while my kerbals are turning blue.

If i use ZO2pwr_Regenerator_PowerTech_MuMech the craft does not properly initialize on the launchpad and the connections between parts turn to rubber...

[Alchemist]

I\'m trying to use ZO2pwr_Regenerator to make a basic zo2 system (without zo2 solar panels), but so far without much success.

Before i continue trying: is possible at all?

The basic version needs a bit better request code, but it works. MuMech version works as expected. I\'ve flown several deep space missions this way.

Powertech provides zo2 generation but i see no method for storing generated zo2, and the zo2 generator uses no electricity.

The craft has a battery and zo2 tanks from the Zoxygene plugin, and solar panels that i know do work with the battery. But the battery does not active when i turn on the zo2 generator.

ZO2pwr_Regenerator popup menu works, showing main and craft zo2 quantities and 'zo2 gain: 0' while my kerbals are turning blue.

What\'s the battery? this version works with PartResource based batteries (i think there\'s such in the latest version of Kreuzung\'s pack). Also it\'s recomended to put it on the battery itself (the next release will have new request code that doesn\'t has this problem)

If i use ZO2pwr_Regenerator_PowerTech_MuMech the craft does not properly initialize on the launchpad and the connections between parts turn to rubber...

How? Maybe you have incompatible version of MuMechLib? It may result in glitches.

[rkman]

What\'s the battery? this version works with PartResource based batteries (i think there\'s such in the latest version of Kreuzung\'s pack). Also it\'s recomended to put it on the battery itself (the next release will have new request code that doesn\'t has this problem)

The battery uses 'module = Battery'. Is that PartResource based? It\'s from the electric energy plugin.

I put the zo2 generator on the battery but it still don\'t use electric power.

How? Maybe you have incompatible version of MuMechLib? It may result in glitches.

It is version 1.8.4.1

Is the icon of ZO2pwr_Regenerator supposed to be a question mark?

[rkman]

I figured it out: i had not updated the electric energy plugin. It seems to be working now.

...except for the fact the the battery does not drain, it does not even activate. But is does supply energy; ion engine and my homemade zo2 generator do work.

...Upon further investigation i found that the battery does not recharge. Back to the drawing board.

Fixed: had to update a bunch of part cfgs.

[Dani-Sang]

Hey Alchemist,

Got a question regarding deploying solar panels (SolarPanels_PowerTech_MuMech - which I will use soon)

I\'m planning solar panels that come out of a hull. Currently with the ones I have rotate as a whole. Is there a way that when the deploy animation is done. That only the solar panels will rotate and not the hull itself (because it is one big object)?

[Kreuzung]

SolarPanels_PowerTech_MuMech is outdated (assuming that you want to use it together with my plugin), use SolarPanels_adv_PowerTech instead. There is a part module for making them generate energy.

I KNOW U LOVE PART MODULEZ ;P ;P ;P

[Alchemist]

I\'m planning solar panels that come out of a hull. Currently with the ones I have rotate as a whole. Is there a way that when the deploy animation is done. That only the solar panels will rotate and not the hull itself (because it is one big object)?

That\'s why you can specify the root element for rotation.

[Dani-Sang]

That\'s why you can specify the root element for rotation.

OH wait, I see.. got it!