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Bug #25020

Inconsistent / Unpredictable behavior with servos - Broken track editor

Added by Samg381 about 4 years ago. Updated about 3 years ago.

Status:
Confirmed
Severity:
Low
Assignee:
Category:
Robotics
Target version:
-
Start date:
03/10/2020
% Done:

10%

Version:
Platform:
Windows
Expansion:
Breaking Ground, Core Game
Language:
English (US)
Mod Related:
No
Votes:
Arrow u r green
Arrow d r red

Description

I've been dealing with this issue for months now hoping it would eventually be addressed in an update, and seeing as it hasn't been fixed and I've reached the end of my patience tonight I figured I'd at least try submitting a bug report.

The track editor is broken. Servos and other robotics are completely inconsistent when controlled via the track editor as well. 'Toggle lock' for servos is completely useless and constantly kicks out the "Cannot lock robotic part, servo is moving." error. Mirroring servos and controlling them via the track editor almost always results in improper behavior. Even adding servos and controlling them individually results in only half of them working.

Here's a reddit post I made regarding just one of the various servo related issues I've had: https://www.reddit.com/r/KerbalSpaceProgram/comments/feyk59/error_cannot_lock_robotic_part_servo_is_moving/

Here's a video I recorded tonight featuring a simple robotic landing gear system completely failing to function:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nusrWj0Hlxk&feature=youtu.be

I'm not going to go into any more detail because it's simply not necessary. Launch your game and experiment for fifteen minutes with some basic multi-servo vehicles and you'll notice what the issues are.

Screenshot_1.png (586 KB) Screenshot_1.png Samg381, 03/10/2020 02:14 AM
51763

History

#1 Updated by Anth12 about 4 years ago

Video is Private. I cant see it

#2 Updated by Anth12 about 4 years ago

Also can you upload the craft with the issue?

#3 Updated by Samg381 about 4 years ago

  • File F45B V.craft added

Anth12 wrote:

Also can you upload the craft with the issue?

Take off from the runway and open/close the landing gear. Take note the behavior of the folding landing gear bay doors.
The behavior is also noticeable in VTOL mode. Before taking off, press the 'Abort' button and notice the error message that occurs ~10 seconds later.

#4 Updated by Samg381 about 4 years ago

Anth12 wrote:

Video is Private. I cant see it

Apologies. I've set the video to unlisted.. It documents the same issue in the craft I described in my other comment reply.
Skip to around the six minute mark.

#5 Updated by Anth12 about 4 years ago

Tested the craft. There is an issue.
I will do some further testing to see what exactly happening to see if its something Squad should be looking at, or is a design issue.

#6 Updated by Anth12 about 4 years ago

  • File F45B V Anth12 Variation.craft added

Samg381 I have attached a slightly modified version of your plane.

The problem seemed to be for some reason your gear/hinge was hitting other parts when they shouldnt have been.

I did the following:
  • I removed and deleted the hinges + landing gear on both sides
  • I recreated the hinge and landing gear and put them in symmetry in approximately the same place (pulling the parts fresh from the menu)
  • In the 'Gear Bus' I moved the lock/unlock to points where the movement of the hinges would have been in the final position for an exaggerated amount of time to ensure that the hinge had stopped before the lock/unlock engaged
  • Landing gear is the first thing to retract, then the last thing to extend.
  • I increased the runtime of the controller 'Gear Bus'to 15 seconds, more for testing to see the entire process work correctly than anything.
  • Removed landing gear Retract/Extend from the Gear Action Group because the 'Gear Bus' is controlling it instead.

My hunch would be that parts were set to same vehicle interaction, then were turned off, but didn't actually turn off.
With my testing I pulled the mechanism apart and tested each part. The hinge and/or landing gear were pushing against parts around them causing them to not move into position and keep trying (without success) to get into the required position which is why locking/unlocking didnt work, until I replaced the hinge and gear.

Does the propeller part of it work? Wasnt quite sure how to get that running.
Impressive design.

Need to do more testing before I can confirm its a bug though.

#7 Updated by Samg381 about 4 years ago

Thank you for the diagnostics. The ducted fan can be activated using the Abort key.
For the sake of testing, you may also use the hinge on the door above the ducted fan as another source of locking failure without many other nearby moving parts. The door should unlock and open when the abort key is clicked and close + lock when clicked again. I've made significant improvements in the VTOL capability since posting last, however these locking issues have persisted.

One working hypothesis of mine is that the logic controllers do not play well with multiple nodes positioned at the same time within the track editor. This will of course require further testing.

#8 Updated by Anth12 about 4 years ago

Do note, that wasnt a diagnosis. I fixed the landing gear, they work perfectly now.

I was explaining my theory of what was causing the issue you experienced and how I fixed it

#9 Updated by just_jim about 4 years ago

  • Status changed from New to Confirmed
  • Assignee set to just_jim
  • % Done changed from 0 to 10

I had to mess with it a bit, but I was able to repro the error message.

Note: I had to mess with it a bit, but was able to repro the error with the attached F45B V craft. The 4th sequencer is the problem. It's bound to the G key, and is tied to the landing gear, and is a fairly impressive set-up. But if you start hitting the G key too fast, or while they're still in motion, it can reach a point where the servo will try to lock while it's still moving, and the error message shows up. This should not happen.
What i did was hold the jet in place with launch clamps on the runway, and just extend and retract the landing gear... Again, try extending them, then retracting before they're fully extended... or vice versa... After a couple attempts you should be able to trigger the error. It only took a few seconds to repro it for me once I knew what to look for.

#11 Updated by Anth12 about 4 years ago

good to know

#12 Updated by Samg381 about 4 years ago

Thank you for confirming the issue. Please let me know if anything further is required or if I can help in any way.
Looking forward to this issue being rectified.

#13 Updated by Samg381 almost 4 years ago

  • File deleted (F45B V.craft)
  • File deleted (F45B V Anth12 Variation.craft)

#14 Updated by Samg381 over 3 years ago

This is still an issue. Bumping for support.

#15 Updated by Samg381 about 3 years ago

Still an issue. Please fix this.

#16 Updated by Samg381 about 3 years ago

just_jim wrote:

I had to mess with it a bit, but I was able to repro the error message.

Note: I had to mess with it a bit, but was able to repro the error with the attached F45B V craft. The 4th sequencer is the problem. It's bound to the G key, and is tied to the landing gear, and is a fairly impressive set-up. But if you start hitting the G key too fast, or while they're still in motion, it can reach a point where the servo will try to lock while it's still moving, and the error message shows up. This should not happen.
What i did was hold the jet in place with launch clamps on the runway, and just extend and retract the landing gear... Again, try extending them, then retracting before they're fully extended... or vice versa... After a couple attempts you should be able to trigger the error. It only took a few seconds to repro it for me once I knew what to look for.

Can I have a status update on the progress being made on this issue? Thank you.

Edit 2023: This is still an issue.

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