SSU Crawler Transporter development

[DaveS]

Are you using the Crawler.vcproj file on sourceforge or your own version?

What seems to be happening is that two different versions of the DiscreteBundleManager.h file are being included (one in the libUltra folder and one in the regular SSU code folder). This isn't occurring on my computer.

Well, my own as for some reason with the checked in VCproj file ISubsystem.h isn't being included and the process fails when it can't find it.

 

[SiameseCat]

Added ISubsystem.h (I forgot to check it in earlier). You should be able to use the checked in vcproj now.

---------- Post added at 11:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:07 PM ----------

At the moment, the engine should be working, but the steering is stuck in CRAB mode. This should be fixed soon, once I have the steering PBIs working.

 

[DaveS]

Added ISubsystem.h (I forgot to check it in earlier). You should be able to use the checked in vcproj now.

---------- Post added at 11:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:07 PM ----------

At the moment, the engine should be working, but the steering is stuck in CRAB mode. This should be fixed soon, once I have the steering PBIs working.

For best possible realism, we should simulate the twin 2000 kW DC V16 ALCO Diesel generators. The 2000 kW DC ALCOs are what supplies the DC power to the drive trucks and are the ones responsible for making the distinct sound you hear from the CT. So once the the 2000 kW generators have been started, the EXCITER ON indicator should be lit.

Each of the 2000 kW ALCO provides 5,500 hp. There's also two smaller 750 kW DC ALCOs which provide 2,130 hp and provides the power for leveling, steering, lighting, ventilating and electronic power.

And for backup MLP power generation there's two 150 kW AC generators.

I have attached a shot of the interior body layout of the CT.

 

[Urwumpe]

Do you also have information about how the engineering control room looks like?

 

[DaveS]

Do you also have information about how the engineering control room looks like?

Best photo I have:

 

[Urwumpe]

Looks really like the engineering control station of a modern ship, including the accessories.

 

[DaveS]

Well, the CT is really a train as "ALCO" doesn't have anything to do with propellants but it's the acronym for American Locomotive Company:

Part 2:

Part 3:

 

[Urwumpe]

Yes, I know, ALCO did some of the most famous diesel trains in the 1960s, but is a bit forgotten today. But what I meant is actually just the look of this control room, it is not much different in layout to what you have below deck in big cruise ships. That is what it makes so impressive, because it is absolutely different to the diesel trains or mining vehicles that had been the origin of the CT.

 

[DaveS]

How near a properly drive-able version are we? I'm almost done with the new CT mesh. Just some close-out work needed. Right now I'm very happy with this 1980's version.

Right now, I would put the ETA sometime Sunday. Also, I think we'd better get started on the VAB.

 

[SiameseCat]

What does properly driveable mean? The steering should be working in a day or so. After that I'll work on the FWD, REW and NEUT PBIs.

 

[DaveS]

What does properly driveable mean? The steering should be working in a day or so. After that I'll work on the FWD, REW and NEUT PBIs.

Just that you can drive it, with steering! So, the three steering modes have been implemented?

Will be nice seeing Columbia roll out of the VAB on this new CT. The CT had a distinct color back then, a rather deep blue-grayish color, rather than the pale gray color it has today.

 

[DaveS]

Well, here's the nearly finished CT. Just some final hand-rail work and the addition of the steering arms(4/corner).

 

[SiameseCat]

I'm hoping to check the steering in today. All 3 modes are implemented, but I still need to get the PBIs fully working.

 

[DaveS]

I'm hoping to check the steering in today. All 3 modes are implemented, but I still need to get the PBIs fully working.

Well, with this new mesh, it will be easy to differentiate between the cabs. Cab 1 will be the equivalent to Side 1 of the MLP, while Cab 3 while the equivalent to Side 3 of the MLP.

Right now I would estimate that I have about 1 hours worth of work left to do.

Any way you think you could animate the steering of trucks? That could be done in parallel with the addition of the DC traction motor disc spin animation.

Traction motor article on Wikipedia: [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traction_motor"]Traction motor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

---------- Post added at 09:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:17 PM ----------

Checked in the new CT main body mesh. This is how the CT looked between 1978 and 1988.

---------- Post added at 09:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:39 PM ----------

Also, for rev 823, resource_Crawler.h is missing. Please check it in.

 

[SiameseCat]

Checked in resource_Crawler.h. I also added the D flag to the PBI texture file in the VC meshes.

 

[DaveS]

Checked in resource_Crawler.h. I also added the D flag to the PBI texture file in the VC meshes.

Now, Crawler.rc is the missing file preventing a successful build of the sources.

 

[SiameseCat]

Ok, added Crawler.rc. I think this is the only missing file.

 

[DaveS]

Checked in new CT scenario which has it parked at the CT refurb site. Fixed a problem in the scenario which made the CT crab no matter which steering mode was selected.

---------- Post added at 12:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:19 AM ----------

Something I have noticed is that steering seems to disabled even if you enabled it after exiting Orbiter. Saving/loading not implemented?

Also, could you do a quick implementation of the speedometer, Command Voltage and Steering gauges? Those are needed for basic operation of the CT. The Command Voltage to verify that the DC Traction motors have started and the steering gauges for steering inputs.

---------- Post added at 12:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:13 PM ----------

Just took the CT out for a roadtest and it handles very nicely in G CIRC! Managed to return the CT to within a centimeter of the original starting point!

At end while parked, I decided to exercise the JEL system and noticed that the steering arms get disconnected from the trucks. Also, the large brackets are supposed to stay with the trucks, as it is welded to them.

They were a late addition to the CTs to increase the redundancy at full load.

 

[DaveS]

Checked in an updated 1980's CT main-body mesh along with a meshres header file. This one now has the various steering arms/cylinders properly named so that the code can be used with different meshes.

 

[SiameseCat]

Saving hasn't been implemented yet. I'll work on the speedometer and steering gauges once I get this done.