General Question Universal Autopilot for Launchers

[Noxinecrotic]

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone could point me to a autopilot that can launch a wide variety of launchers, more specifically manned and unmanned rockets that may dock to the ISS. I have other autopilots for all the other functions (docking, aligning etc), however there does not appear to be a good, reliable autopilot with launch capabilities for launchers.

I have looked at the velcro rockets, is there anyway of transporting the autopilot functions from that addon to all other launchers?

 

[Cras]

Launch MFD

 

[Donamy]

UAP

 

[Loru]

Numpad

 

[Enjo]

Launch MFD for launchers currently offers altitude based and time based pitch programmes. Probably at some time this year it will offer a "Multistage PEG" - an extension of the currently used single stage PEG (powered Explicit Guidance by NASA).

 

[Noxinecrotic]

thanks guys. I just played around with the Quasar Heavy Lifter.... how do I program the autopilot?

Also, is there a way of making it so the autopilot runs when I press a specific key?

 

[Enjo]

Which one? The launcher's specific one (if any), UAP's or Launch MFD's?
For the Launch MFD, Shift P starts the AP. Here are examples of altitude based pitch programmes. The time based you'll have to figure out. The documentation will help as well.

 

[Pipcard]

Numpad

You know what, the roll maneuver (rolling to a target heading) is too hard with that.

 

[Noxinecrotic]

just using the in-built autopilot, not Launch MFD or UAP. I know there's a guidance file, and a roll program within it, but the manual does not say about editing the roll program for specific times for launches or editing it so I can set the launch to a key.

 

[Urwumpe]

You know what, the roll maneuver (rolling to a target heading) is too hard with that.

Not that hard, just don't assume perfect heading after roll. 2° error have to be handled.

 

[Loru]

You know what, the roll maneuver (rolling to a target heading) is too hard with that.

That's why I use launch compas component of launch MFD.

 

[garyw]

I do the same as Loru, roll to almost the right heading then tidy up during the flight. Launch MFD makes it much easier.

Quasar uses multistage so there is an .ini file with the launch process. I've not used quasar but both Neptune and Jarvis worked file with the provided ini file.

 

[Noxinecrotic]

okay, I'm gonna give it another go using the Launch MFD compass.

---------- Post added at 01:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:19 PM ----------

Okay, I feel comfortable getting the desired inclination, however I cannot seem to figure out how the MFD give me the required pitch readout.

I have enter in the desired inclination and altitude, but the program seems to send me the wrong way, and sends me too high. How do I read the pitch manually for a manual launch?

 

[Enjo]

As I said, you need to define a pitch program.
Otherwise, you can use the MFD only for azimuthal guidance, by pressing DEF button in standard mode, and then AP.