Here's my new excel sheet. This time it's a calculator useful for lone wanderers that find great joy in exploration and discovering new systems in the Evochron universe. It comes with 5 integrated tools that will help you:
- Keep track of your discoveries (System database)
- Find your way across the universe (Star map)
- Relieve you from excessive Alt+F2ing (Autopilot calculator)
- Help you locate new star systems (Star localizer)
- Orbit around a star in order to refuel safely (Orbit calculator - experimental)[/list=1]
Download link: http://www.mediafire.com/?c3a5s990gcy5cno
Usage:
I. System database
This tool is meant to keep track of your discovered systems. I realize that there are some other tools that help you do this, but this little helper won't upload your stuff to the net in case you don't want to. There are some uncharted systems I found myself included, so in case you don't want things to be spoiled for you, you should delete them.
II. Star map.
This is a map that shows your discoveries in a graphic manner. Unfortunately, you will need to select your newly added stuff manually as it's either me being not capable of making this process automatic, or excel isn't smart enough for this task.- Black diamonds represent charted systems.
- Crosses represent uncharted systems that you entered manually
- Solid red dot represents ship's current position you inputted in autopilot calculator
- Solid blue dot represents final coordinates the autopilot calculator produced
- Empty square represents the point you measure distance to in the autopilot calculator
- Empty diamond represent expected star position the star localizer calculated
Ever felt tired of alt+F2ing in the same direction for 10 minutes? Ever wanted to simply enter desired heading, pitch and number of systems to jump and go make yourself a coffee? If so, autopilot calculator is the solution for you. All you need to do is enter your ship's position, desired heading, pitch, number of systems to jump and hyperdrive range (optional). Autopilot calculator will produce coordinates you need to input in your autopilot console to get where you want. It will also calculate a bunch of useful data such as fuel used, ETA, number of jumps, etc. It's also integrated with your system database, so if you're in a known system all you need to do is input the system's number.
You can also use it to calculate distance between ship's position and a specified point in space.
IV. Star localizer.
Warning: This section may contain minor spoilers on finding stars in space. Read at your own risk.
Following the light in space can sometimes be very misleading, as you don't know how far the star is. By using this tool, you can calculate a star's approximate position by measuring heading and pitch towards it from 2 different positions. Usage:
- Face the star you try to measure. The better you align the ship, the better result you will get.
- Note your SX,SY,SZ, Heading (compass in the middle of the top bar), and pitch (vertical scale on the HUD) and input the data in the "Position 1" column
- Change your position and repeat steps 1-2, but this time input the data in the "Position 2" column.
- If you want a precise result, the heading difference should be greater than 10-15 degrees. If it's not, move further away from the first point and enter new coordinates for the second position. You should not move towards the light in a straight line, as well as change system (the light source will also change). Ideally, you should move 30-50 sectors in the direction of the first measured heading +60 (or -60) degrees.
- Final coordinates are marked as "Final" in the top right panel (Cell J5).
- If you also entered pitch (which is not actually required), there is high possibility that the two directions you entered do not point towards the same position (and not actually intersect). Inequality parameter shows the smallest distance between the two lines it calculated. In other words - the smaller inequality is, the more accurate the result is.
- Distance 1 and 2 are distances measured from point 1 and 2 respectively.[/list=1]
The star localizer can also be used as the container localizer. In that case, you should input ship's X,Y,Z instead of SX,SY,SZ.
V. Orbit calculator
This tool is still experimental, and it's purpose is to help the pilot to enter a stable orbit around star for whatever reason (refueling mostly). Use at your own risk - any collision with a star is your own fault
. Usage:
- Leave the star's gravity field (GRV indicator should show 0) and come to a full stop. You should be in the same SX,SY,SZ coordinates as the star you're trying to orbit.
- Enter your nav screen and right click the star. Do not engage your fullcrum drive!
- Enter your ship's position as well as the star's position (which you get from your nav screen) to the assistant.
- Enter your desired orbiting speed. Radius 1 and radius 2 cells will auto-fill. Select your desired radius and enter it in the desired radius field. Orbit entry points will auto-fill.
- Both entry points are valid, but one will make you orbit clockwise, and the other counter-clockwise. Select whichever you see fit and enter the X,Y,Z coordinates into your autopilot.
- Do not engage the autopilot! Navigate your way to the waypoint manually. At the moment of contact maintain orbiting speed, as well as pitch and heading the calculator provided. Just as the distance equals 0, engage inertial mode to start orbiting.
- Theoretically, if you did everything correctly, the GRV indicator should show constant value. Apply thrust to equalize differences.[/list=1]
Note 1: The entry points do not account for the star's gravity. That means that you need to approach them manually and correct the path as you fly because you are pulled in the star's direction! At the moment of contact with the entry point, you need to have correct speed, heading and pitch, or your orbit won't be stable.
Note 2: Due to craziness of the math used, I needed to apply some limitations on the approach. You may not start perfectly above the star in Y axis (X and Z axes are fine).
[Edited on 6-2-2012 by tsuki]
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:P
Check SeeJay's website. The link is in his sig.