How To Auto-Dock Using MechJeb?

[Aazo5]

So I am going to install Mechjeb so I can auto-dock (hopefully my first ever dock) one of my rockets to my space station. I know Mechjeb has a lot of tabs and stuff but how do I use it to kind of auto-dock when I get to the right location? Thanks.

[Sora]

Click mechjeb (top right of screen) it brings out a panel, click Auto Dock, right click a docking port on the station, click "Set as target" and then right click on the docking port from your current ship and choose "Control from" and then enable auto docking. mechjeb will dock the ship to the selected port.

[Maverick]

He will of course need to close the distance and burn off rV by using Rendevous Autopilot first :)

[I'm Ant]

Add some RCS thrusters otherwise it takes forever, a reaction wheel helps to reduce the use of RCS fuel. Don't use fast forward ti messes with the ai.

Use the Rendevous Autopilot to get to 100m then 30m then use docking autopilot.

[munch15a]

so how close do I have to be before I put on auto dock ?

[Pede]

at about 100m is fine. Set the max speed to 2m/s.

[Syd Khaos]

DO NOT let Mech-Jeb auto-dock!

This is by far the worst auto-pilot function mech-jeb has. It will use about 4 times the amount of mono-prop as any given craft needs for docking. Not only that, but unless your RCS thrust is PERFECTLY balanced to your center of mass it can take mech-jeb a LONG time to get docked.

There is a much easier way to get this done.....

Use either the Rendezvous Planner OR Auto-pilot to get your docking craft close to its target (the station). I would STRONGLY suggest you use the planner over the auto-pilot, as doing so will be a much better way for you to learn to do these manuvs on your own.
Ideally you want to be within 500meters before you change over to docking controls, closer to 100 is better though.

Once the rendevz is complete and the 2 craft are 500meters with velocity to one other killed off just a few simple steps:

Change to the target craft...in this case your station...select 'control from here' from the docking port the other craft will be docking to.

Target the craft that will be docking.

Use mech-jebs Smart A S S and select 'target' tab, then select 'Target+'.

Change to the docking craft (you can use [ & ] to swap between craft when they this close) select 'control from here' on the docking port, use M-J Smart A S S.
Again select 'target' tab and then 'Target+'

Now the docking ports are perfectly aligned, switch to docking mode, and just jet forward with RCS thrusters.

Easy-peasy docking!! Mech-jeb will keep the ports lined up, so you only have to worry about movement along a single axis.

This method can even be used to dock craft that have NO rcs at all......though I would not recomend doing that, as without RCS is something goes wrong its VERY hard to correct.

[Syd Khaos]

Originally posted by RoofCatA:

guys, this is a 2013 topic

Yes it is...but one that is obviously still relevent....

Originally posted by munch15a:

so how close do I have to be before I put on auto dock ?

That is a pertient, and new question.

Its not a necro if its relevent. Or else why even have a search function.

[funkynutz]

Originally posted by SydKhaos:

DO NOT let Mech-Jeb auto-dock!

AMEN.

[Kilo_60]

Is it possible to auto dock at a set heading to align heading w docking ship when docking side to side?

How is this done?

[AoD_lexandro]

You need to chose the control point (ie your ships docking port). Then chose the targets docking port.

[Crabs Are People]

just get gud

[A Terrible Modder]

oof necro much

[Jak]

Originally posted by Crabs Are People:

just get gud

[A Terrible Modder]

Originally posted by shaggy:

Originally posted by Crabs Are People:

just get gud

[Woj]

Set the ship your fixing to dock with as your target. match planes with target, do a hoffmann transfer to target. match speeds with target at closest approach. If your ship is manuaverable you will be real close to your target after this. If your ship is real little, you will want to set your match speed and then do a 1 second burn 90 degrees from your targete or you will potentially slam into it.

The most important part of docking is RCS. ill put 4 on each end of my ship and enough mono to power them. If your command pod has rcs, make sure the additional nozzles are lines up with the ones on the pod or you will never dock. If you find out afterwards they are not lined up, disable the ones on the pod, they are usually overpowered anyway meant for things other than docking.

Set your docking port on your ship as your control point ( right click the port, click control from here) Select the port on the ship you wanna dock with as your target. Open up docking in mechjeb and let it go.

The main issues ive had have come from not enough rcs to control the ship. Dont mix and match nozzles. On very large ships ill have up to 4 sets of nozzles spaced evenly from one end to the other.

A quick way to tell if you need to manually dock is when autopilot does its inital lining up with the target and the ship drifts past this point, this means you dont have enough rcs for mechjeb to dock you.

I put winches and connection ports on my stations near docking ports so if things go real bad, i can fly someone out there and attach them with a winch. the connection port will actually connect the ships so that you can transfer crew and resources just like that.

If you are manually docking, when you are just about to make contact with your target, turn rcs and reaction wheels off. There are magnets in the docking ports that your stabilizers will fight against if you have them on, potentially preventing you from docking.

I will usually jump to the target ship and align it with the direction its moving. then just back to the ship thats going to dock. If you are orbiting inside of your target, after you do your transfer to target you will end up behind your target usually. you will end up in front usually when your orbit is outside of your target. You can use this to your advantage when aligning your target ship so that there will be a port in the general direction of when you will be once you match speeds with your target.