Space Shuttle Ultra development thread

[C3PO]

Sorry to disappoint you guys again.:sorry:

This Parent/Child stuff really screwed up the way I used to do non-linear animations.

So until Martin changes the way animations are handled, we'll have to do without realistic gear, door hinges etc.

Here's the crappy version that starts and ends up in the correct position, but IMHO should not be added. The mesh is great, but the anim is just too ugly.

[ANIM_COMP_1]
;left door hinge
SEQ=0
GROUPS=56
RANGE=(0.01,0.5)
ROT_PNT=(-2.73,1.27,0.0)
ROT_AXIS=(0,0,1)
ANGLE=92
 
[ANIM_COMP_2]
;left door hinge
SEQ=0
GROUPS=57
RANGE=(0.01,0.5)
ROT_PNT=(-2.50,1.46,0.0)
ROT_AXIS=(0,0,1)
ANGLE=16
PARENT=1
 
[ANIM_COMP_3]
;left door hinge
SEQ=0
GROUPS=55
RANGE=(0.01,0.5)
ROT_PNT=(-2.636,1.162,0.0)
ROT_AXIS=(0,0,1)
ANGLE=-97
PARENT=1

If you really want this, I suggest making group 57 invisible. Would it be possible to have it visible only in position 0.0 and 1.0?

 

[DaveS]

How about posting the full example so we others may take a look at it. Maybe we could toghter find a good solution.

 

[C3PO]

How about posting the full example so we others may take a look at it. Maybe we could toghter find a good solution.

Of course Donamy could publish the payloadbay changes, but I don't think it would make much difference.

To get a non-linear motion, you'll have to animate the group(s) using multiple ANIM_COMP's, and vary the RANGE parameter.
If you do that in the current version, the animation only works if you start the scenario with the animation in state 0. If it starts in any other state, the groups are all over the place.

I don't know if there's a way to split it into separate animations, and string them together in the dll.

I'm out of ideas, and that's extremely rare.

 

[Donamy]

A bit of a bear, isn't it ?

 

[DaveS]

Of course Donamy could publish the payloadbay changes, but I don't think it would make much difference.

To get a non-linear motion, you'll have to animate the group(s) using multiple ANIM_COMP's, and vary the RANGE parameter.
If you do that in the current version, the animation only works if you start the scenario with the animation in state 0. If it starts in any other state, the groups are all over the place.

I don't know if there's a way to split it into separate animations, and string them together in the dll.

I'm out of ideas, and that's extremely rare.

Maybe it's just a problem with Spacecraft3.dll? I know it has a few problems with animations, like it can't handle time acceleration too well.

So just publish the stuff and we can take a look using custom DLL stuff which is alot more versetile and better than Spacecraft3.dll.

 

[C3PO]

I think I'm going to let Donamy publish his mesh.

If you can work this out, I'm going to finish the landing gear meshes I stared on before I ran into this problem.

 

[Donamy]

David, I sent you the mesh, could you publish it please ?

 

[DaveS]

The new orbiter mesh with revised payload bay doors and radiator panels have been checked in.

 

[DaveS]

Checked in a few fixes:

-Fixed SRMS stowing bug reported by Donamy
-Fixed SRMS label bug from LEE(Latching End Effector) to EE(End Effector). LEE is a term only used for the SSRMS.

 

[Donamy]

I have the animation for the center latching hooks if you want them.

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VFHaOKy5x0"]YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia]

 

[DaveS]

I have the animation for the center latching hooks if you want them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VFHaOKy5x0

Send the along! I would be more than happy to implement them!

 

[Donamy]

Has the RMS bug been fixed yet ?

 

[DaveS]

Has the RMS bug been fixed yet ?

Yes, it has been fixed.

 

[Donamy]

has it been uploaded ?

 

[DaveS]

has it been uploaded ?

The RMS fix? Yes. Just do an SVN update to get the latest files to build.

BTW, could you separate each PLBD centerline hook from each other? On the real orbiter they move in so called "gangs" which contains four centerline hooks each.

This is a quote from section 2.17 of the SCOM which is the mechanical systems section:

Centerline Latches
The centerline latches are grouped in four sets
of four latches each, or four centerline latch
"gangs." The latches are numbered from 1 to 16,
starting forward and moving aft. ​

Each latch gang is driven by a single typical orbiter
electromechanical actuator using two threephase
ac motors. The motors are reversible,
which allows the crew to latch or unlatch the
doors from each other at the centerline.​

The starboard door contains the centerline latch
hooks and the port door contains the centerline
latch rollers. The hooks are the active portion of
the centerline latch system; they rotate to grasp
the latch rollers.​

As the electromechanical actuator torque shaft
rotates, the bellcrank and link cause the hook to
rotate closed or open, engaging the latch roller
on the port door. It takes 20 seconds to open or
close a gang of centerline latches (dual motor
time).​

The status of the centerline latch gang is
provided by limit switches. Two open and two
closed limit switches are associated with each
centerline latch gang. These limit switch
indicators relay the position of the latch gang
(i.e., latch gang is open or closed). They also
provide a method for enabling and disabling​

latch drive motors.

And attached to this post is a image of the various "gangs".

 

[DaveS]

Since I can't make heads or tails of the parent animation coding, here's the relevant animation data for the new mesh:

[ANIM_COMP_0]
;right door
SEQ=0
GROUPS=2,31,45
RANGE=0.0, 0.4632)
ROT_PNT=(2.82,1.39,0.0)
ROT_AXIS=(0,0,1)
ANGLE=-175.5
 
[ANIM_COMP_1]
;left door
SEQ=0
GROUPS=3,32,46
RANGE=(0.5368, 1.0)
ROT_PNT=(-2.80,1.39,0.0)
ROT_AXIS=(0,0,1)
ANGLE=175.5
 
[ANIM_COMP_28]
; latch hooks
SEQ=13
GROUPS=61
RANGE=(0,1)
ROT_PNT=(0.05,3.47,0.0)
ROT_AXIS=(0,0,1)
ANGLE=90
PARENT=1

 

[Donamy]

Yes I know about the gangs, there is also aroller that pulls the doors together that I have to do as well.

I think I will do them in a timed step fassion.

 

[DaveS]

Yes I know about the gangs, there is also aroller that pulls the doors together that I have to do as well.

I think I will do them in a timed step fassion.

The drive time for each gang is 10 seconds. So for each complete group of gangs(4 gangs/group) the drive time should be 40 seconds.

The sequence of gang movement is as follows. Taken from the SCOM, section 2.17 mechanical systems:

First, centerline latch groups 5-8 and 9-12 open.
These groups secure the mid-centerline region
of the doors. When the orbiter is exposed to the
cold environment of space, warping of the doors
is likely. Opening these two groups first
relieves the tension in the doors caused by
thermal expansion and contraction.

Next to open are centerline latch groups 1-4 and
13-16, which secure the centerline near the
forward and aft bulkhead. Opening these
groups next helps relieve the tension in the door
caused by thermal warping.​

​

​

​

 

[DaveS]

BTW, Donamy: once the modelling is all done, is a really new radiator panel texture to come?

Sorry for all the nagging, you have done some great work so far and a new texture would be the icing on the cake!

 

[Donamy]

Dave,

I am definitly not done with the door textures. You've got mail.