Project Universal Car for Orbiter (UCO)

[Lucy]

That and as well, most companies would prefer it if you didn't download games and stuff while at work. Especially since there are games (like orbiter) that are simply "extract to install" - I installed Orbiter while I was back in school once, in my user area. Worked like a charm, but the IT department weren't too happy about it...

 

[dansteph]

NEWS
------

As cargo is supposed to be universal and so fit to many types of vessels I'm sure a "drop chute" feature would have missed, so I added it.

As UMmu first a small chute to slow down if speed to big, then the big one:

I reworked the outside cockpit that was flashy red somewhat in 3d to fit more with the VC style, reworked also the side lights, maybe less appealing but more realistic:

Started working on UCGO doc, cleared some bugs, added joystick support for Cars, worked on
flight caracteristique of Arrow (in case you want to modify the config and fly on earth) etc etc...

Best

Dan

 

[willy88]

NEWS
I reworked the outside cockpit that was flashy red somewhat in 3d to fit more with the VC style, reworked also the side lights, maybe less appealing but more realistic:

I think it looks just as good, if not better. Besides, it's a pretty minor adjustment.

 

[jinglesassy]

awesome drop chute feature you could drop in supplies for bases then send out recovery vehicles to recover them and return it ucgo seems like it will revolutionize orbiter

 

[dansteph]

I remember that by defaut the Arrow is not made for atmospheric or hi-G planet like earth. Hover are too weak for that. But the DGIV and a ShuttleA will also at least support cargos (Doug was interested also) while waiting some others hopefully.

For Arrow howewer one can also modify hover power for earth operation. This is why I worked on atmospheric flight. It's very heavy (4000 ton), to be handled with care but it fly.

Here's the Arrow's config file:

--------------------------------------------------------------
HERE BELOW ARE THE VALUE YOU CAN CONFIGURE TO CHANGE BEHAVIOUR
OF THE MOTHER SHIP UCGO ARROW FREIGHTER 18
--------------------------------------------------------------

ANGULAR_DAMPER_ACTIVATED    =1    ; Limit the angular velocity (0=deactivate 1=activate)
RADIO_CHATTER_PLAYDELAY        =3    ; Chatter Delay in fonction of altitude 3= long delay 2=medium delay 1=short delay
VESSEL_NEED_CREW        =1    ; Disable ship control if no crew aboard (1=disable 0=enable always)
MONTH_OXYGEN_RESERVE        =13.7    ; O2 reserve in month for a full crew of 20 (max 96 month)
MAIN_THRUST_POWER        =50e6    ; Power of main thrust in newton.
RCS_THRUST_POWER        =13e5    ; Power of RCS thrust in newton.
HOVER_THRUST_POWER        =10.0e6    ; Power of Hover Thrust in newton.
ISP                =50e4    ; ISP (Change fuel consumption)

---------- Post added at 02:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:55 AM ----------

I remember that by defaut the Arrow is not made for atmospheric or hi-G planet like earth.

But I must shamelessly confess that flying on earth is pretty darn fun... as flying with the Titanic but without sunking risk. :lol:

As it fly mainly with the hull the drag is considerable and you must maintain a positive AOA, turn should be handled with care, in anyway you really feel like you are in a flying paquebot.

Still by defaut it will be configured only for moon operations, but the inline doc is clear about config file modification and I'll give the "good" hover numbers for those that like (unrealistic) earth operation.

Dan

 

[Dambuster]

That is just too cool for words!! I did my first flight to another planet today (Mercury, in a DGIV of course ) and was thinking how nice it would be to leave something behind...I thought about ditching a turbopack, but decided not to. But soon...I'm gonna leave a whole surface base behind with the Arrow!!

Is the Arrow going to have any damage modelling? Also, will 3D meshes of the crew be visible inside the cockpit? I've always thought that that's a very nice touch on the DGIV.

 

[dansteph]

Damage modelling not yet, I balance since 15 days about adding some failures that require EVA with the new action area but I'm sure everyone preffer now that the *damn* things is released overs some new features.

In outside cockpit the crew would probably make 2 pixel, I'm not sure it worth the time spend, inside VC... mhhh adding 4000/8000 poly just for a static view of one humain ?

In anyway Arrow's dev is now complete, I might see all that as well as other VC, probes, damage, failure in "Arrow Freighter 19" due fall 2010 or later. I cannot live from fresh air and water forever.

Best

Dan

 

[jinglesassy]

I cannot live from fresh air and water forewer.
Dan

yeah you need your 2 hours of sleep a night too :lol:

 

[dansteph]

2 hours of sleep AND a good fresh beer

Dan

 

[sunshine135]

Awesome work Dan. I like the way the flight deck looks. I think it is more realistic than the red windows. Maybe in the next version (Arrow 19) you could add a flood-light switch that bathed the flight deck in red light and changed the exterior windows to the red tint, but as you stated- I am one of those people that want the "damn thing now"

In all seriousness- I love the airdropped cargo. It reminds me of my C-130 days dropping CDS bundles (Container Delivery System). That makes a really nice touch. Just out of curiosity, could a UMMu grapple the cargo before it is airdropped and "ride it down"? I'm think that some pretty creative and inventive cargo could be made.

 

[Ark]

Can cargo be airdropped from orbit? I just pictured an Arrow, slowing to a high-angle reentry trajectory, dropping cargo, and accelerating back to orbit.

 

[Tomato3017]

Damage modelling not yet, I balance since 15 days about adding some failures that require EVA with the new action area but I'm sure everyone preffer now that the *damn* things is released overs some new features.

In outside cockpit the crew would probably make 2 pixel, I'm not sure it worth the time spend, inside VC... mhhh adding 4000/8000 poly just for a static view of one humain ?

In anyway Arrow's dev is now complete, I might see all that as well as other VC, probes, damage, failure in "Arrow Freighter 19" due fall 2010 or later. I cannot live from fresh air and water forever.

Best

Dan

I really was looking forward to the possibility of damage simulation. I also understand your need for a break and to release . You deserve a long long break!

 

[jinglesassy]

I really was looking forward to the possibility of damage simulation. I also understand your need for a break and to release . You deserve a long long break!

how about a 6 month long break long enough for you to have a break and long enuf to get through about 1% of this addons potential

 

[dansteph]

Can cargo be airdropped from orbit? I just pictured an Arrow, slowing to a high-angle reentry trajectory, dropping cargo, and accelerating back to orbit.

No problems, cargo have no burn simulation and so can reentry without damage, this allow the creation of "Probe" cargos.

Dan

 

[Lucy]

Looks like I'll need to brush up on my orbital bombardment skills...

 

[the.punk]

This is an cool feature with drop cargo. This is getting better and better.:thumbup:

 

[dansteph]

This is an cool feature with drop cargo. This is getting better and better.:thumbup:

Then wait the next feature in a couple of hours
(Was planned since a long time in my TODO list, it's not a "one more idea never ending dev")

Dan

 

[Lucy]

Then wait the next feature in a couple of hours
(Was planned since a long time in my TODO list, it's not a "one more idea never ending dev")

Dan

There's more? *dies of awesome*

 

[n122vu]

*cheesy infomercial announcer voice* "But wait, there's more! Not only do you get the UCGO, The Arrow, the virtual cockpit, the new UMMU skins, the cargo drop parachutes, but if you order in the next five minutes, we'll throw in..."

 

[Lucy]

"All for the low, low price of... *checks with producer* are you serious? Really?

That's right folks, they're literally giving this stuff away! And by that I don't mean they're priced so low it seems like they're giving it away, I mean the price is literally 0.00 of whatever currency you use! *checks with producer again* hey, wait... you promised me 10%... what's 10% of nothing?..."