Proper Infernal Robotics integration with RP-1 (Rabbit Hole)

[Clayell]

Ok, let me just start by saying that this is obviously a very long-term goal, and a very big rabbit hole. However, I would argue that having Infernal Robotics (IR), or some other form of functioning robotics system (not BG), working in RO and present in RP-1's tech tree would open up a lot of large opportunities for RP-1 missions. (and already have, for the people who have used IR in RP-1 to make some interesting mission concepts)

---

I'll state a few missions/ideas that are only possible with a robotics system like IR, and I know there are many more:

• Spinning stages on a hinge before release (ex: Explorer 1)
• Deploying rovers from a larger lander (ex: Sojourner)
• Viable VTOL jets (ex: F-35)
• Custom electric-powered propeller engines (ex: Ingenuity) (according to @Not-a-flying-brick, likely not possible in-game due to FAR)
• Custom yo-yo despin systems (ex: Phoenix)
• Spinning and stationary sections of a probe (ex: Galileo)
• Variable-sweep wing (ex: F-14)
• Deployable missile trucks (ok, this is silly, but TD Channel did it once with IR in RP-1)
• Extendable RCS
• Articulating Robotic Arms (ex: Canadarm, Curiosity) (this is technically a separate mod from IR)

---

Ok, saying "just integrate Infernal Robotics" is of course understating the massive amount of effort it would take to do this. Here's some things off of the top of my head that would need to be done to have IR as a well-integrated system with RP-1:

• Joint Reinforcement (one or the other)
  • Replace RO's use of KJR-Continued with KJR-Next, OR
  • Update KJR-Continued to be fully compatible with IR
• Cost (one or the other)
  • Update IR to make it compatible with RP-1's tooling system (as it has a fair amount of procedural-ness)
  • Update IR to give it costs that scale with the mass and/or size of the part and are time-accurate
• Mass
  • Update IR to have time-accurate mass for its parts, and to have the mass scale with the size of the part
• Electricity Usage
  • Update IR to consume a time-accurate amount of electricity (integrated with kerbalism ofc), and have this scale with the mass and/or size of the part
• Tech Tree
  • Remove IR's science parts (surface sampler/observer) or lock them behind certain tech nodes
  • Lock improvements to mass/cost/electricity usage behind certain tech nodes, similar to how the tanks work

---

Possible Balance Problems:

• Early Sun-tracking solar panels

---

Additional Notes:

• Infernal RO-Robotics is a decently old fork of IR that was supposed to be compatible with RO, might be good for inspiration

---

This is not an easy goal, not by any means. However, I feel that it is worthy to put this issue together to try to gather some thoughts on the idea. If you have any additional ideas/problems/etc. that should be brought up, please leave them in a comment here.

[Not-a-flying-brick]

Electric props with IR parts dont work, FAR dont kount these parts "lifting"

[Clayell]

Electric props with IR parts dont work, FAR dont kount these parts "lifting"

Even if you attach a procedural wing to them? Do helicopters not work at all in far?

[Not-a-flying-brick]

yes clayell, they just produce stupid amount of torque

[Clayell]

yes clayell, they just produce stupid amount of torque

Do you think thats an IR issue or a FAR issue though?

[Not-a-flying-brick]

FAR, with this amount of torque this should already lift off

[Not-a-flying-brick]

FAR in stock treats this issue by making dlc propeller parts "un-far", so it obeys stock rules
(which i learnt from ezsnack)