Autopilot gets stuck sometimes on longer trips?

wavek · Post by **wavek** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 1:55 am

Hello all. I just joined and got the game this week. So far I am enjoying it but I have noticed an odd issue that I wonder about..

Sometimes when I set a navigation waypoint and engage auto pilot my ship flies part way there then gets 'stuck' jumping onto the same coordinates my ship is at over and over again instead of making jumps to get me closer to my destination.

Any idea why this would be happening?

Post by **Marvin** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 3:01 am

Probably you have engaged inertial. Hyperjump does that if you're heading someplace else via inertial. And the autopilot uses hyperjump technology.

Post by **Vice** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 3:20 am

Could happen close to the destination (the autopilot is not given complete smarts, particularly with lower model jump drives which can have lower reliability/consistency/accuracy, the pilot is still expected to be aware and involved), but not when you're far away. As you approach, you'll want to start manually plotting jump points anyway, this can reduce the chance you'll 'automatically' jump into a planet or moon while also letting you control the precise arrival point. Also watch for obstacles along the way that could block or interfere with your travel path.

BraveHart · Post by **BraveHart** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 6:04 am

Welcome aboard wavek Looking forward to seeing you online in MP

warsign · Post by **warsign** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:10 am

Welcome home.
See you out there in MP.

DennyMala · Post by **DennyMala** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:20 am

Autopilot tends to get you drifting sideways while jumping, this is why it is useful to get back to IDS between jumps so that the ship is aligned back into the course.

This is not happening when you jump manually.

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 12:23 pm

Space is unpredictable, so is autopiloting long distance through space!LOL:P

warsign · Post by **warsign** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 2:21 pm

As DennyMala points out, due to flight mods (inertia,IDS), sometime needs correction. If you think have enough fuel, try it with "IDS on" during your journey. Otherwise, you need to calibration your coordinates occasionally,let IDS on sometime.

[Edited on 7-13-2009 by warsign]

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 2:25 pm

Hi wavek, Also Welcome to the Game and Forum!

wavek · Post by **wavek** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 3:00 pm

Hello. This happens to me even if I leave IDS on during the jumps. Usually the ship will make the first jump or two but then get stuck.

warsign · Post by **warsign** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:34 pm

Originally posted by wavek
Hello. This happens to me even if I leave IDS on during the jumps. Usually the ship will make the first jump or two but then get stuck.

Hımm, I didn't see that. Tried somethings for long distances, It works well for me.

wavek · Post by **wavek** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:26 pm

Hello again. I upgraded to Fulcrum Drive 3 and this seems to no longer happen. So far, since I got it, I havent got stuck like I used to. Before I had only the first Fulcrum drive.

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:36 pm

Hi wavek, welcome to the Sim and the forum.

MMaggio · Post by **MMaggio** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 5:49 pm

Originally posted by wavek
Hello again. I upgraded to Fulcrum Drive 3 and this seems to no longer happen. So far, since I got it, I havent got stuck like I used to. Before I had only the first Fulcrum drive.

Well no wonder! You didn't tell us that little item!
Auto jump was designed for C5 drive!

wavek · Post by **wavek** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 5:57 pm

Why would a drive with a shorter distance be unable to auto-jump though? It would try to jump but the waypoint would center on my ship instead of someplace farther along the path to my destination. The jump drive would engage and the ship would just wobble in place and not go anywhere.

Post by **Marvin** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 6:05 pm

Originally posted by wavek
Why would a drive with a shorter distance be unable to auto-jump though?

Confusion. The autopilot needs to see far enough to make a proper calculation. If it's told (by a "cheap" jump drive) that it can only travel soooooo far, it gets confused.

For example, take decimal fractions. If you can only jump 1.4 sectors but the autopilot computes in whole numbers ... it rounds off and thinks it's plotting from 1 to 1. In other words, it thinks it isn't going anywhere. And gets confused.

warsign · Post by **warsign** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 6:32 am

Awesome!
Impressed again.

warsign · Post by **warsign** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 6:33 am

Originally posted by MMaggio
Originally posted by wavek
Hello again. I upgraded to Fulcrum Drive 3 and this seems to no longer happen. So far, since I got it, I havent got stuck like I used to. Before I had only the first Fulcrum drive.
Well no wonder! You didn't tell us that little item!
Auto jump was designed for C5 drive!

Rofl.
For rich mercs!

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 7:16 pm

Originally posted by MMaggio
Originally posted by wavek
Hello again. I upgraded to Fulcrum Drive 3 and this seems to no longer happen. So far, since I got it, I havent got stuck like I used to. Before I had only the first Fulcrum drive.
Well no wonder! You didn't tell us that little item!
Auto jump was designed for C5 drive!

Oooooooooooh! and I thought it was designed only for the Mantis jump drive! LOL:P:P:P:P:P