[dougkeenan]

This project started as a thought experiment in building the smallest space dock capable of building a Constitution class starship. Soon it evolved into the "seedshuttle," a von Neumann probe type of self-replication. The whole idea became the "Project Von Neumann" or PVN.

I first found Orbiter several years ago when looking for a toolset to simulate PVN. Alternatively I tried coding it directly and quickly got swamped (see here). Recently I made a pass at an Orbiter vessel+MFD combination that gave promising results. Now it's only a little less swamped!

Someday I hope to return to this project so for now it's stuffed here as a reminder. (Scenario in the zipfile requires the Trek workbee found

here" target="_blank">here

here">here

. Activate PVNMFD in the Orbiter Modules Tab first.)

[Urwumpe]

Small bug report. activating it gives a error report because glut32.dll is not found. Looks like you have a OpenGL reference which needs to be remembered.

[dougkeenan]

Originally Posted by Urwumpe

 Small bug report. activating it gives a error report because glut32.dll is not found. Looks like you have a OpenGL reference which needs to be remembered.

Oops, you're right - the original app was openGL and I ported lots of it over. Thanks for pointing that out. The zipfile now contains two DLL's in the Windows/System32 subdirectory. Would you be so kind as to check that please?

[Urwumpe]

Originally Posted by dougkeenan

 Oops, you're right - the original app was openGL and I ported lots of it over. Thanks for pointing that out. The zipfile now contains two DLL's in the Windows/System32 subdirectory. Would you be so kind as to check that please?

As far as I can tell, it works now like that, but you don't need to put these into the system32 folder. Into the root orbiter folder is enough for windows finding the DLLs.

---------- Post added at 06:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:48 PM ----------

How do I use the MFD?

[liber]

Is it seedshuttle transparent or it's just problem at my PC?

[dougkeenan]

Originally Posted by liber

 Is it seedshuttle transparent or it's just problem at my PC?

No problem with your PC. The skin transparency is controlled on the XP- and XP+ keys. It's supposed to be "see-through" so the internal deck layout can be observed.

Be aware the MFD is not fully functional. BL- and BL+ adjust the number of constructed blocks - an overhead view appears graphically in the MFD. The rest of the buttons are not assigned and might do almost anything, since it's a quick hack off the orrery code. (I just wanted to see what it looked like in Orbiter.) The idea was to enable stepping through decks and observe energy and matter currents flowing into the construction.

Not quite cooked.

[liber]

Originally Posted by dougkeenan

 No problem with your PC. The skin transparency is controlled on the XP- and XP+ keys.

OK...thanks for tip.

[Eagle]

I like it. I suppose different methods could be used to simulate resupplying the seed shuttle, I guess an easy one would be to have it deplete a fuel tank to build.

I might suggest simplifying the construction model a little to make it easier on yourself (larger sections of deck at a time or focus on sections of outer hull etc.)

If you make it a little simpler you could get it further into complete ships which you can then launch (create new vessel, hide construction mesh parts). Maybe more than one type of vessel could be built. I suppose seedshuttles are able to build seedshuttles too?

Anyways I encourage you to keep working on this exciting addon.

[dougkeenan]

I suppose seedshuttles are able to build seedshuttles too?

Yes, in so far as one seedshuttle "grows" into a complete ship. After gathering enough resources (including crew) that ship can then build another SS in its hangar bay. Launch, build, gather, repeat.

What the model doesn't yet show is that the seedshuttle is largely a solid brick of raw materials. Once construction begins it gradually "dissolves" into the larger structure as it is disassembled and reconstituted, except for critical components delivered ready for immediate installation. Water and gases can be collected with atmosphere scoops.