Planetary avionics, gravity, and IDS observations

Heavy Armor · Post by **Heavy Armor** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 3:17 pm

First let me say there's nothing I enjoy more than flying to other planets. Even if there's nothing to see once I touch down (which thus far has been my experience with EvoR), the simple fact that I CAN is just awesome.

I've noticed what I consider to be a few oddities about descending, and I was wondering if someone could explain the rationale behind it.

I've been toying around with freefall... kicking the ship into inertial mode just for the fun of it. Doing so causes all kinds of ruckus, damaging my shield, blowing up my ship. What I don't get is the fact that when switching from IDS to inertia, the gravity skyrockets but my velocity slows (if I was previously at full throttle). I imagine the velocity is slowing because I no longer have my engines pushing me, and there's an atmosphere to deal with. However, I don't understand the role gravity plays in damaging the ship. If, in the upper atmosphere, I'm traveling at 1030 with the IDS, and then my velocity slows to 700-ish in inertia mode, why do I suddenly take damage? I would expect damage to be a direct result of total velocity in an atmosphere, with or without IDS.

Maybe I'm looking at this the wrong way?

Also, just as an aside, I think it'd be fitting if the engines made noise the whole time you were in planetary avionics, not just for speed changes.

~HA

[Edited on 1-20-2009 by Heavy Armor]

BraveHart · Post by **BraveHart** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 5:21 pm

Vice will be on later to answer this more fully....some planets are different then others. I know that I had a Fun experience one time freefalling with Vice on the Homeworld of Vonari....What a Hoot that was!! I always increase the energy to my shields prior to doing any freefalling to help protect the ship and have the engines off and the IDS off to let Gravity do the work. An object will freefall at terminal velocity and no faster because of air resistence....this I know from 17 years of Sky-diving. Terminal velocity is 120 miles per hour. if you are going faster then 700 you will sustain damage due to the friction off re-entry......the gravity increases because your engines are no longer providing resistance to it....Hope this helps

Edit: Speeds faster then terminal velocity can be achieved by adjusting angle of attack of the object falling....for example: using the human body you can go into a tracking position...similar to a ski-jumper going down hill and then launching off a ramp...you can obtain a speed of 200 mph.

[Edited on 1-20-2009 by BraveHart]

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 5:42 pm

H.A.;
I see what you mean, if you are burning through the atmosphere at 1030 (probably taking at least SOME damage, yes?) , switch off (Inertial Mode) and drop to ~700, why the sudden increase in damage?

I'm guessing that it was easier for Vice to code it this way. One COULD code atmospheric friction, physics, and a complete model of atmospheric flight.

Or, as BraveHart might have been implying (if I understand correctly)... switch off your engines, and you are more effected by gravity, the APPARANT gravity (as seen by your ship) suddenly increases. Big Gravity = Damage, simple to code.
Wait until you try shooting a black hole the first time... *not all Black Holes can be used for travelling!!* There is a good one in Sapphire to practice with.

BraveHart - I used to skydive too (NOT "military jumping", I got started with a jump club at Clark AFB Philippines). Started with usual C-10, then got a Paracommander... I thought it was too hot so I switched to a Papillon. Never tried a "wing", I was kind of scared of those. I have a couple of "interesting" jump stories to tell sometime.

BraveHart · Post by **BraveHart** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 5:46 pm

Awesome Storm...I think I will start a thread for us that have, had or still Skydive

Post by **Vice** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 5:50 pm

It could be the planet you are descending in. Some planets have extremely high atmospheric pressures, which can crush your ship as you reach lower altitudes. So in that case, it isn't the friction that's harming your ship, just the pressure. Planetary gravity shouldn't crush your ship, but gravity from black holes and stars can. If you're planet descent is fast and you make sharp turns, you could have a lot of built up lateral speed that is causing hull damage. So even though your forward velocity might be around 700, if your lateral speed is high, it can risk damage to your ship. Just something else to consider. Lastly, you can reduce the effects of friction damaging your ship by boosting power to your shields and in many cases, can even survive for a long time in high pressure atmospheres.

[Edited on 1-20-2009 by Vice]

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:02 pm

Ah - (there we go, it 'splains it' as Ricky Ricardo would say)...

Your ship's velocity indicator only presents FORWARD velocity, NOT absolute velocity?

Daedalao · Post by **Daedalao** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:17 pm

there are velocity indicators for the y and z coordinates as well.

tha_rami · Post by **tha_rami** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:54 pm

Only FORWARD Velocity. The little indicators above the radar indicate lateral and vertical velocity.

MMaggio · Post by **MMaggio** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 8:12 pm

*** FOR SALE***
Parachute for sale. Only used once. Never opened. Make offer.

BraveHart · Post by **BraveHart** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 8:16 pm

Originally posted by MMaggio
*** FOR SALE***
Parachute for sale. Only used once. Never opened. Make offer.

hahahahahahaha

dragon573 · Post by **dragon573** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:58 am

Originally posted by MMaggio
*** FOR SALE***
Parachute for sale. Only used once. Never opened. Make offer.

Lol i just got it, it cant be new if it was already used once

[Edited on 1-21-2009 by dragon573]

BraveHart · Post by **BraveHart** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:06 am

Originally posted by dragon573
Originally posted by MMaggio
*** FOR SALE***
Parachute for sale. Only used once. Never opened. Make offer.

Lol i just got it, it cant be new if it was already used once

[Edited on 1-21-2009 by dragon573]

And the important part: "it Never Opened" hahahahaha

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:13 am

Air Force Parachute : A trained squirrel tied to a rope.

Yank on the rope, it cups its little paws around its mouth and blows down towards the ground very hard.