Added: Video Tutorial

SeeJay · Post by **SeeJay** » Wed Feb 19, 2014 2:59 pm

Hi all.

I have created a tool for finding planets using Trilateration.
It's based on Trilateration since we use distances to locate it.
Triangulation uses angles from known locations and we don't know that when
stumbling onto a new system (planet).

I made it â€œsimpleâ€� and don't take the Y-axis into account since the universe is very flat.
Once you have pinpointed the SX and SZ you just need to go out there and check above
and below the SY=0 plane.

How does it work?
When your map â€œsystem nameâ€� changes from the known departing planet name to another
name, you know that you have equal distance to both planets. It does not have to be on a
straight line between the planets tho.
We use this point as center and draw a circle that crosses the starting (known) planet.
The unknown planet is somewhere on this circle arc.
We fly out to the same general area using another known planet as a starting point and do
the same procedure when the â€œsystem nameâ€� changes.
We now have 2 circles that crosses at 2 locations. The planet is at one of them.
With a third measurement we can pinpoint the location.

You can actually do this using only one starting point but cross the border at different locations.
The further the distance is between crossing points, the better accuracy you'll get.

Now, the Tool!
It's a website doing all this for you. All you need to do is enter the values for starting
locations and crossing points. That's all!
The map size is: 1400 x 1400.
You can â€œmoveâ€� the center of the map to any location you want.
You can update any value at any point using the â€œSet Valueâ€� button for each setup.
The graphics will move/update along the way when you add more values.
I have added default values to find planet C679 so you'll understand it easier.
Planet A: Erato
Planet B: R700
Planet C: V405
Those values are set as default. Just mouse over the crossing point of the 3 circles
to get the coordinates for C679.

The Webpage Values:
GRID SETUP
- Grid Center X and Z: Set center of map.
- Mouse Pos X and Z: Location on map to display mouse X and Z.

PLANET SETUP
- SX and SY: Known planet coordinates.
- Change SX and SZ: Location when the â€œsystem nameâ€� changes.
- Radius: Calculated! Don't enter anything here. This is the radius to draw the circle.

Buttons â€œSet Valuesâ€� send the input to the map.
Buttons â€œResetâ€� puts the values back to the default sample.

The webpage is located here:
http://evochron2.junholt.se/main/planetsearch3.htm
Manual by Marvin here: http://www.evochron2.junholt.se/Marvin/ ... torial.pdf

Once you find a new planet, check the light/shadow on it and fly towards the light to
find the star.

If you have any questions or find any errors, just let me know and I'll do my best to
help out or fix the problem.

Remember to keep a backup of your coordinates elsewhere. The site won't remember your
input if you leave it.

Hope this helps out a bit for all explorers out there.

/SeeJay

P.S.
The next step is to make it in 3D and use the SY coords as well, but that is another story

[Edited on 2014-3-3 by SeeJay]

Nigel_Strange · Post by **Nigel_Strange** » Wed Feb 19, 2014 5:25 pm

Can we assume that the sectors are spherical and centered on planets? I always thought that the system names were like political boundaries, and largely a function of political control.

For example, you would not be able to use this method to find the capitol of a state based on when you cross state lines.

If you can demonstrate the success of this method, I will be quite impressed.

Post by **Marvin** » Wed Feb 19, 2014 5:37 pm

The sectors are not spherical ... but the crossover point between any two planets is equidistant. If you use the crossover coordinates of three different known planets, you can triangulate to get the location of the inclusive new planet.

Post by **Marvin** » Wed Feb 19, 2014 5:43 pm

Btw, this is different from trilateration ... which uses one known planet and three crossover points ... two along the galactic horizon and one in the vertical. Triangulation is probably more accurate ... but it's harder to find three planets which surround an unknown planet without another unknown planet getting in the way (you gotta try it to appreciate the difficulty).

Iron man · Post by **Iron man** » Wed Feb 19, 2014 8:48 pm

Thx you going to try it out

Post by **Marvin** » Wed Feb 19, 2014 9:08 pm

I'm in the process of testing ... but, before I finish the test, I need to make a list of all the planets in charted space.

SeeJay · Post by **SeeJay** » Wed Feb 19, 2014 9:13 pm

There is an Excel file available on my site
containing all findings on my map.

Might save you some time.

Post by **Marvin** » Wed Feb 19, 2014 9:20 pm

Do you have a default list of only the charted planets?

Iron man · Post by **Iron man** » Wed Feb 19, 2014 9:20 pm

Does that work to find "ghost" planets?

[Edited on 2-19-2014 by Iron man]

Post by **Marvin** » Wed Feb 19, 2014 9:21 pm

I have no idea. If you mean cloaked planets ... well, that can probably be tested. But actual ghost planets ... first you gotta find one.

SeeJay · Post by **SeeJay** » Wed Feb 19, 2014 9:37 pm

In the file all known items are should be tagged
with KQ1, 2, 3 or 4. (Gated systems)
Unknown UQ1, 2, 3 or 4.

If not, let me know.

You can only find planets tha are physically there Iron.

Post by **Marvin** » Wed Feb 19, 2014 10:34 pm

Thanks, SeeJay. I'd ask for a direct DL link ... but I already know where to look.

Iron man · Post by **Iron man** » Wed Feb 19, 2014 11:08 pm

Yes sorry im speaking about cloak planet.

SeeJay · Post by **SeeJay** » Wed Feb 19, 2014 11:16 pm

I made some minor Changes on the tool site.
Thanks Marvin for your feedback.

- The default image is still loaded on startup, but when using "Reset" for the planets the values are set to zero.
This will Clean up the image.
- Added is a textbox above the values so you can type whatever you want there. (Planet used name maybe!)
- The "Change X/Z" is refrased to "Crossover-Point X/Z" instead.

Any feedback on improvement is apreciated.
/SeeJay

Post by **Marvin** » Thu Feb 20, 2014 2:13 am

Yay! Thanks, SeeJay ... again.

SeeJay · Post by **SeeJay** » Thu Feb 20, 2014 7:37 am

You're welcome Marvin.

I made a minor change due to your latest feedback.

The Mouse Pos X/Z referred to the map center and if you move the center of the map, the mouse pointer coords might be "displayed" outside the map
if the Mouse Pos X/Z isn't changed as well when moving the center.

I changed it now so the Mouse Pos X/Z refers to the grid itself instead with 0, 0 at the top left spanning to 1400, 1400 at the bottom right.
This is probably much better.

Post by **Marvin** » Thu Feb 20, 2014 4:43 pm

It is. But there is still one glitch ... check your email if you haven't already.

Btw, this little graphic program probably is a visual method of doing trilateration. As soon as the one minor bug is fixed, I can complete the current test. If it works, I'll post a couple screenshots here to illustrate how it works ... using just one known planet!

SeeJay · Post by **SeeJay** » Thu Feb 20, 2014 10:21 pm

Hi Marvin.

Sorry for the delay but I've been busy all night.

That bug is fixed nowso the Z value shows correct values.
Good Catch. Can't Believe I didn't spot that myself LOL!;)

Post by **Marvin** » Fri Feb 21, 2014 12:32 am

I think the reason it was flipped was because the map is also flipped along the Z axis. Check my latest email when you get time.

P.S. Actually, I should say it's flipped "along" the X axis since it should be flipped in the vertical. Either way, the screenshots should clarify what needs to be done.

[Edited on 2-21-2014 by Marvin]

SeeJay · Post by **SeeJay** » Fri Feb 21, 2014 7:17 am

LOL Marv.

My brain is probably fried of consuming to much code.
The bug is fixed now. Thanks, good catch.

/SeeJay

[Edited on 2014-2-21 by SeeJay]

Post by **Marvin** » Fri Feb 21, 2014 3:55 pm

Check your email again.

SeeJay · Post by **SeeJay** » Fri Feb 21, 2014 5:56 pm

Works fine here.

Servers are a bit oveloaded at the moment. Keep trying.

Post by **Marvin** » Fri Feb 21, 2014 8:16 pm

Try entering a different center point (e.g. 100,100). Then plot a planet at the center. Then cursor over the planet. The X coordinate is correct but the Z coordinate is off.

SeeJay · Post by **SeeJay** » Fri Feb 21, 2014 8:51 pm

I think I know what it is. Will look at once the
kids are in bed.

SeeJay · Post by **SeeJay** » Fri Feb 21, 2014 9:27 pm

Fixed now!