Project Small utility landing pad

[MVA]

As an Orbiter user, I often use the Deltaglider. And I do a lot of takeoffs and landings on landing sites. I had an idea to make the site look like helipads, which would be in 3D and add realism. I made a model, the dimensions of which allow you to receive small space shuttles.


This is a multibody part. I did not encounter any problems with exporting to Orbiter. It exports well and due to the design features it allows to compensate for surface irregularities.


But, before I start learning how to texture, I would like this pad to start working as a landing pad. If I check option LPAD in Orbiter Base Maker, then model incorrect rendering. If I remove fences on pad, then render is ok but landin pad anyway still no solid body and not to able to receive DG on pad surface.
So, the first question how to make this model avaible to landing?

 

[jedidia]

If I remove fences on pad, then render is ok but landin pad anyway still no solid body and not to able to receive DG on pad surface.

Orbiter has no collision detection except with the ground. That also applies to landing pads. There have been occasional hacks with attachment points that have made something similar possible, but it's a rather difficult problem with no pretty solution.

 

[MVA]

Orbiter has no collision detection except with the ground. That also applies to landing pads. There have been occasional hacks with attachment points that have made something similar possible, but it's a rather difficult problem with no pretty solution

Is there also no possibility to make an invisible part of the ground that would be at same level with the pad?

 

[dgatsoulis]

I had asked if such a feature would be possible to add, to be used with combination with the area flattening feature of the D3D9 client, but the response was this:

Possible but problematic. We should have an official way to do something like that. Client side hack doesn't sound like a good idea. It's getting too messy. Lot of things are already too messy.

As things are right now, you have 3 options, but as Jedidia said, none of them is pretty.

1. Raise the ground at the place you want to have the pad. You can use d3d9's area flattening feature or directly edit the elevation files. After that, edit your mesh in such a way to cover the raised ground.
2. Use a script or dll to change the height of your ship's touchdown points when on top of the pad.
3. Convert your mesh to a vessel with an attachment point and add another one to your ship. Then attach the ships when they are within a certain distance. (also requires script or dll).

If there is another way to do this (docking ports?), I haven't tried it yet.

 

[4throck]

Area flattening with a small radius might work, but beware that the radius is related to surface/elevation texture resolution.
So the raised area will probably be much larger than the pad.
Probably you need to edit and provide higher resolution elevation textures...


As mentioned in the last post, the ground system needs some sort of official overhaul. More hacks won't accomplish much.

Until then, it's best to just flatten a large area and do your 3d pad models taking that into account.
The raised surrounding structures look fine even with the pad at ground level.

 

[jacquesmomo]

If there is another way to do this (docking ports?), I haven't tried it yet.

Hello

I made (a long time ago) this system with a docking port to allow Tintin's helicopter to land on one of the 2 launch towers. (add-on Tintin on the Moon)
it works, but it is very difficult to reach .... otherwise the vessel pass through ....

 

[MVA]

Yes, that's the problem. Very hard task

 

[4throck]

Fighting Orbiter will only give you frustration. It's best to focus your efforts on what's possible.
A lot of scenery enhancements are possible within the current limitations.
Quick example: solar panels on permanently illuminated areas of the Moon, transmission relay towers for deep craters, light towers for shadowed areas, etc, etc.

 

[gattispilot]

Yes, Attachments work. We used that on Moonbase Alpha. Where an attachment was placed on the pad which could be lowered in the base with the Eagle.

 

[Urwumpe]

Fighting Orbiter will only give you frustration. It's best to focus your efforts on what's possible.
A lot of scenery enhancements are possible within the current limitations.
Quick example: solar panels on permanently illuminated areas of the Moon, transmission relay towers for deep craters, light towers for shadowed areas, etc, etc.

Bridges on Earth. There are so many boring standard bridges around in the real world, alone having those around a base quickly adds to realism.

For bases near the coast, you can add fishing boats and leisure boats, or big container ships at a port.

All of this can easily be done completely low poly and still improve the scenery.

For the moon, I would also think about generic boulders. Those are huge on the moon.

 

[jacquesmomo]

For bases near the coast, you can add fishing boats and leisure boats, or big container ships at a port.

All of this can easily be done completely low poly and still improve the scenery.

 

[Urwumpe]

Well, there is still enough ocean left on Earth for some VO70s. ?

 

[Max-Q]

So, the first question how to make this model avaible to landing?

As everyone has said, this is not easy… but it is possible.
If you can do a .dll, take a look at BrianJ’s crew dragon addon. The recovery ship has a landing pad using the attachment point method. (Source code is included)

 

[MVA]

Fighting Orbiter will only give you frustration. It's best to focus your efforts on what's possible.
A lot of scenery enhancements are possible within the current limitations.
Quick example: solar panels on permanently illuminated areas of the Moon, transmission relay towers for deep craters, light towers for shadowed areas, etc, etc.

It can be done enough quick, but I need a reference pic or something else for start.

As everyone has said, this is not easy… but it is possible.
If you can do a .dll, take a look at BrianJ’s crew dragon addon. The recovery ship has a landing pad using the attachment point method. (Source code is included)

Unfortunately not, because most of the time is spent on the design and making of flight controls. But my 3d modeling skills allow me to do a lot extra this work

 

[4throck]

It can be done enough quick, but I need a reference pic or something else for start.

Shackleton crater has been studied in detail:
https://www.leonarddavid.com/moon-boots-making-tracks-to-shackleton-crater/


Here are some EVA targets in that area:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0273117720303689

As for actual designs, on the first link you have some mirrors:


Solar panel design from NASA:
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-i...al-solar-array-technologies-for-lunar-surface


Here's something more futuristic:
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/marsha...inting-construction-systems-for-the-moon.html


Just stick with NASA studies and sources (because they have already selected relatively flat areas) , and add your creative imagination fill in the blanks ;-)
Later you can use VesselBuilder to add some functionality to your models (on/off lights, animations, etc).

 

[Max-Q]

Unfortunately not, because most of the time is spent on the design and making of flight controls. But my 3d modeling skills allow me to do a lot extra this work

If you want to send me a mesh, I would be happy make you a .dll for your landing pad.

 

[MVA]

If you want to send me a mesh, I would be happy make you a .dll for your landing pad.

It will be great! Thank's!

 

[Max-Q]

It will be great! Thank's!

Just sent you a PM.