Autopilot Control

[woodfyr]

Autopilot as implemented in OR is very erratic, or to put it another way "Jerky" ! Braking applications of 1/2 to 1 second, full sacale and back is not prototypical. And, I have seen NO use of dynamic brakes in any scenario. The same is true for throttle apps.

It appears that some PID control (Propertional, Integral, Derivitve)(or Gain, Reset, Rate) is needed to smooth things out. This is not rocket science and is the basis for most industrial controls. Back in the "Ole" days this was done by "feel", then mechanically, then pneumatically, then electrically and finally digitally. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PID_controller gives a fairly good description of what I am talking about.

This is meant as an observation and hopefully constructive criticism of what is a really great undrtaking. My chapeau is off to the develpment team.

Russ G.

[R. Steele]

Just information for everyone, What is Autopilot?
See screenshot from ORTS current manual (as usual - click to enlarge)

AutoPilot Mode.jpg

[ATSFFAN]

I like the autopilot mode. I can kick back in the caboose and let the "computer hogger" run the train while I watch the rear or ride as a passenger onboard the California Zephyr while rolling through the Feather River Canyon.

=ATSFFAN=

[LionelDave]

Where can I find more information on "autopilot control" a search of the manual I have turned up nothing. I would love to be able to do what ATSFFAN does because I like to watch the scenery and usually crash my train because I forget to watch what my engine is doing.

Dave

[sidp]

Hi,
The version of the manual at http://openrails.org/files/Manual.pdf (Feb.10,2015) has the autopilot discussion in Section 7.7 (page 52). A newer version of the manual (Mar.1) should appear there shortly.
EDIT: Go to http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~twpol/o...Documentation/ for the newest version of the .pdf manual.
Cheers,
Sid.

[LionelDave]

sidp

Thanks for the link. It looks like OR just got a whole lot better. I have some testing to do to know for sure but it sure sounds like what I want.

Dave

[scottb613]

Hi Folks,

Yeah - combine the "Autopilot" with the "Advanced Shunting" and you can sit around the yard all day watching trains come in - shuffle cars around - make up new trains - and - watch them depart... I've spent many hours just watching... It really is amazing...

Regards,
Scott

[R. Steele]

Hi Folks,
Yeah - combine the "Autopilot" with the "Advanced Shunting" and you can sit around the yard all day watching trains come in - shuffle cars around - make up new trains - and - watch them depart... I've spent many hours just watching... It really is amazing...
Regards,
Scott

Well, a caveat, "Extended AI train shunting" will only work if the proper format of waiting points has been inserted into the path in the correct sequence with reverse points. You just cannot check the box and automatically extended AI train shunting will happen.

[scottb613]

Hi Gerry,

Yep - LOL - but it is sooo worth the effort...


I'll send you some "Advanced AI Shunting" activities on the Cumberland shortly - still working on it...

Regards,
Scott

[LionelDave]

This is getting better and better. I just drove my first cab forward over Donner's pass with the aid of Autopilot. and now I find I can use advance AI shunting (once I figure out how that works LOL). That is really great.

All I can say is good bye to railworks (or whatever it's current name is) and even better I can say good bye to Trainz DCC.

I love the way you can turn Autopilot off an on anytime you want in the same activity. Now I can sit back and just watch the trains run.

Dave

[R. Steele]

Hi Gerry,

Yep - LOL - but it is sooo worth the effort...


I'll send you some "Advanced AI Shunting" activities on the Cumberland shortly - still working on it...

Regards,
Scott

Completely agree Scott, it is worth the effort. Especially when you watch the whole activity unfold in Autopilot. Using that for testing along with time acceleration and the free roam camera 8 makes checking an activity so easy and fast.

I've got a rework of the LN_03_First_Run_To_Chad.act - renamed OR_LN_03_First_Run_To_Chad.act. I have started renaming all the pat, srv and trf and con files so they don't overwrite what may exist for use in MSTS.

The rework has a switcher filling the tracks with empties while the player makes up a train of loaded coal cars. I put in 4 traffic trains.
When a traffic train ends up in the Loyall yard the engine uncouples and returns to the repair shed!
The OR team has done a fine job implementing these new extended shunting features.
We should upload a couple of the reworked activities to the library and let others in on the fun.
Enjoy

[ericson38]

Autopilot is excellent. I own MSTS Donner Pass, and have downloaded Surfliner II. So I created an activity (autoP does not work in explore mode) that runs one of the excellent SP consists between SLO and SD. Since this is OPEN RAILs, all details at max, and frame rates are always 30-50 fps. For multicore machines, OPEN RAILs is the application. Thanks OPEN RAILs team.

[OTTODAD]

What is your DASH-9 like when driven with the ORTS Autopilot turned on ?

http://www.otto-wipfel.co.uk/video/orts-auto-pilot.wmv

[Komachi]

What is your DASH-9 like when driven with the ORTS Autopilot turned on ?

http://www.otto-wipfel.co.uk/video/orts-auto-pilot.wmv

Bahaha, Otto your D9 sounds like a steamer! :P


Also on a side note guys, you think Auto Pilot can ever be done WITHOUT an activity? While I like activities, sometimes I don't really feel like setting them up and thus, I"d wanna just sit back as a passenger and urn in a 'explore' mode Autopilot mode is all. Think that'll ever be possible?

[cn bala]

Otto -- I was watching your video and noticed that you turned on " Autopilot " with the DASH-9 locomotive. Which key command you use to turn on " Autopilot " in DASH-9 locomotive.

John