Simple Drone question

[.l3lackstar.]

So basically is there a limit to how far you can send a drone to do a task.. lets say 15 km away? I need to know before I set up infrastructure.

[Dan2D3D]

Hi, I did not tested yet, the only long trip I have tried was to do a "Space X" like so a 2 way trip planet to space and back to planet using the Remote Control autopilot that worked very well.

About the AI blocks, we have to create "Approach Vectors" on all stations and Motherships so just 3 waypoints needed to lock on station/mothership connector that can be done with the AI recorder block,
-> add one "Approach Vector" per AI Recorder and enable the one we need for the Drone to return to.

Approach Vector example :
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3099916168

[Dan2D3D]

I will go in-game to test very long trip using the AI Blocks, be back later with more info ....

___________

A thing I can already share is to take advantage of the RC autopilot to move the Drone at a safe height to avoid mountains for a trip between 2 stations on Planet, something like that :
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3042381614

[.l3lackstar.]

Originally posted by Dan2D3D:

I will go in-game to test very long trip using the AI Blocks, be back later with more info ....

___________

A thing I can already share is to take advantage of the RC autopilot to move the Drone at a safe height to avoid mountains for a trip between 2 stations on Planet, something like that :
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3042381614

Getting it to space is way farther than I need to that's promising. Also this photo is spot on too. All I'm trying to is go pick up ice (15km away) and bring it back to base. I just don't know SE handles distance and things functioning.

[Dan2D3D]

Testing done so far :

-> AI blocks used for a 2 way trip planet to space and back to planet so 2 time 45Km worked but not a good move because the RC autopilot is more stable for landing on planet from space.

Details :

I have used 2 AI Recoders to create 2 Approach Vectors so one bound to Earth station Beacon and one bound to Space station Beacon :

Earth station Approach Vector
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3153439296
Space station Approach Vector
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3153439836
Also noticed the Drone will do a better landing when lowering its Max speed to 10m/s, lowering speed can help a lot when the Drone does not have enough thrusters on all sides.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3153455318

IMPORTANT

1 - The Drone MUST have A Lot of thrusters on all sides to be able to stop Fast in all directions especially to make the Drone fly at 100m/s.

2 - The Drone must have the needed power and a bit more to be sure it will never go overload while on autopilot, the Drone can bug when its power used go over 100% while on autopilot.

[Dan2D3D]

I will add about :

"The Drone MUST have A Lot of thrusters on all sides"

Tho the best Drones are the ones having the same amount of thrusters on all sides the very important thrusters are the ones used to slowdown so the Upward and Backward thrusters are a MUST have a lot.

Edit
sorry correction,
not downward but *Upward and Backward are the minimum requierments

[.l3lackstar.]

Originally posted by Dan2D3D:

Testing done so far :

-> AI blocks used for a 2 way trip planet to space and back to planet so 2 time 45Km worked but not a good move because the RC autopilot is more stable for landing on planet from space.

Details :

I have used 2 AI Recoders to create 2 Approach Vectors so one bound to Earth station Beacon and one bound to Space station Beacon :

Earth station Approach Vector
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3153439296
Space station Approach Vector
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3153439836
Also noticed the Drone will do a better landing when lowering its Max speed to 10m/s, that can help a lot when the Drone does not have enough thrusters on all sides.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3153455318

IMPORTANT

1 - The Drone MUST have A Lot of thrusters on all sides to be able to stop Fast in all directions especially to make the Drone fly at 100m/s.

2 - The Drone must have the needed power and a bit more to be sure it will never go overload while on autopilot, the Drone can bug when its power used go over 100% while on autopilot.

Noted for the speed when landing to dock. Time to start designing the drone(s) Thanks for all of this info