Molly Ayala
Building electric propellers in Kerbal Space Program (KSP) can be a challenging but rewarding endeavour. While propeller planes in KSP may have lower ceilings, thrust, and max speeds compared to jet engines, they can be useful for specific purposes such as colonizing Duna. To build an effective electric propeller in KSP, there are several key considerations. Firstly, the motors or engines in KSP tend to consume a significant amount of fuel, whether electricity or LiquidFuel, due to their overpowered nature. This highlights the importance of optimizing your propeller design to minimize fuel consumption. One approach is to set the main throttle to the torque limit of the motor and adjust the pitch of the blades accordingly, allowing for control over energy expenditure and adaptability across different speed ranges. Additionally, a counter-rotating prop system, utilizing two motors spinning in opposite directions, can help cancel out the torque and provide stable flight. It is also recommended to experiment with different pitch settings, such as a fixed prop design between 25 and 35 pitch, to find the optimal configuration for your specific use case. Building, testing, and modifying your electric propeller design is an iterative process that requires patience and persistence.
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What You'll Learn
Use a KAL-1000 controller to manage blade pitch
The KAL-1000 controller is a microcontroller part in the Kerbal Space Program that can be used to automate physical actions by different parts. When added to an assembly, new action groups appear, and you can add axis fields and/or part actions to the controller.
To use the KAL-1000 controller for blade pitch control, you can follow these steps:
- Set up the KAL-1000 controller for both the propeller deploy angle and the torque of the engine/rotor. The deploy angle can start at 0 degrees and increase to around 56 degrees over time, depending on the type of propeller used.
- Adjust the torque settings. The torque can start at 25% and gradually increase to 100% over a few seconds.
- Bind the RPM, torque, and deploy angle to separate axes if desired. This allows for more precise control over each aspect of the propeller's performance.
- Use the Track Editor interface to set the play duration and add vertexes (keyframes) to each part's track. The x-axis represents time, and the y-axis represents the settable value.
- Test and adjust as needed. You may need to experiment with different settings to find the optimal blade pitch for different speeds and manoeuvres, such as landing or cruising.
By using the KAL-1000 controller to manage blade pitch, you can fine-tune the performance of your propellers and have greater control over the speed and manoeuvrability of your craft.
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Set the main throttle to the motor's torque limit
Setting the main throttle to the motors' torque limit is a crucial step in building and controlling electric propeller planes in Kerbal Space Program (KSP). This step allows for precise control over the energy consumption and speed adaptation of the propeller craft.
To set the throttle to the torque limit, follow these steps:
- Understand the torque limit of your motor: The first step is to understand how much torque your motor can handle. This value represents the maximum rotational force that the motor can exert. In KSP, the motors introduced in the Breaking Ground DLC exert a significant amount of torque, often more than what a single reaction wheel can counter.
- Flight test your design: Before setting the throttle, it's essential to flight test your propeller plane design. This testing phase will help you gather data on how your craft performs and determine the optimal torque settings for different phases of flight.
- Adjust throttle to torque limit: Based on the data from your flight tests, adjust the main throttle setting to match the torque limit of your motor. This ensures that you don't exceed the motor's capacity, preventing potential overload or instability.
- Fine-tune propeller pitch: In addition to setting the throttle, you can fine-tune the pitch of the propeller blades. Adjusting the pitch angle can further refine the performance of your electric propeller plane, allowing you to optimize it for different speed ranges.
By setting the main throttle to the motors' torque limit and fine-tuning the propeller pitch, you gain precise control over your electric propeller plane in KSP. This setup enables you to manage energy consumption efficiently and adapt to different speed requirements during flight.
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Use two counter-rotating props to achieve zero net torque
When building electric prop planes in KSP, using two counter-rotating props is essential to achieving zero net torque. This design ensures that the torque generated by the spinning mass of one prop is cancelled out by the opposite spin of the other prop.
To implement this design effectively, follow these steps:
Firstly, understand that the size of the propellers matters. Larger propellers need to turn slower to maintain tip speeds within the desired range. Therefore, instead of using a single large propeller, which would also be impractical, it is more efficient to use two smaller counter-rotating props.
Secondly, ensure that both motors are inline with each other. Use the snap function to align them, and then utilise the micro-adjustment tools to make precise offsets and rotations. The "Absolute" positioning and rotational mode are recommended for this purpose.
Additionally, pay attention to the mounting of the propellers. Mount one motor on top of the base component by node, and mount the other motor radially to the same base component. Then, use the provided tools to offset the second motor so that it sits above the first motor.
By following these steps and utilising the counter-rotating prop design, you can effectively achieve zero net torque in your electric prop planes in KSP. This design not only improves stability but also enhances the efficiency of your craft.
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Avoid auto-struts and rigid attachments
When building electric propellers in KSP, it is important to consider the use of auto-struts and rigid attachments. While these features can provide stability to your craft, there are some drawbacks and alternatives to consider.
Firstly, auto-struts and rigid attachments can affect the flexibility of your craft. Rigid parts can fail more readily due to their inflexibility. In some cases, allowing a little bend in your craft can be preferable to prevent a clean break. For example, in the case of a rocket or airplane wing, too much bend can cause a loss of control or crashing, so rigidity is required. However, for other types of crafts, a little give might be better than a rigid structure that could snap.
Secondly, auto-struts and rigid attachments can sometimes be seen as a “cheat” or an unnatural solution in the game. Some players argue that these features defeat the purpose of struts, as you can simply make all parts rigid without considering the physics of the craft's structure. Additionally, the use of auto-struts and rigid attachments can limit your design options. For example, it can be challenging to build long, thin rockets or connect wing segments in the same plane without using struts.
To avoid relying solely on auto-struts and rigid attachments, consider using wings to provide lifting capability and control. Additionally, you can use the “snap” feature to ensure that both motors are inline and make micro-adjustments for precise positioning and rotation.
In conclusion, while auto-struts and rigid attachments can provide stability, they should be used judiciously. Consider the flexibility needed for your craft, explore alternative structural designs, and utilize other features and adjustments to fine-tune your electric propellers in KSP.
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Adjust prop pitch as needed
Adjusting the prop pitch is an important aspect of building electric props in KSP. Prop pitch refers to the angle of the propeller blades, which can be adjusted to control the thrust and power generated by the propeller. Here are some detailed instructions and tips on adjusting the prop pitch:
- The prop pitch can be adjusted using a KAL-1000 controller, which allows you to set the blade pitch authority and prevent the blades from exceeding certain pitch values. This helps maintain control and stability during flight.
- For a fixed prop design, a pitch range of 25 to 35 is recommended. This range provides a good balance between takeoff speed and in-flight performance. While it may take longer to reach takeoff speed, it offers a simpler design and can still achieve satisfactory flight speeds.
- To achieve maximum speed, consider using only a fraction of the available torque. By flight testing your design and analysing the power requirements, you can resize your engine and reduce its weight, improving overall performance.
- When adjusting the prop pitch, it is crucial to consider the direction of rotation. In a counter-rotating prop system, an even number of props rotate in opposite directions to cancel out torque. Ensure that the motors, deploy direction, and variants are set up correctly to achieve the desired rotation.
- Advanced pitch control can be achieved by binding the pitch of the blades to an axis group. This allows for precise control over the energy consumption and adaptation of the props for different speed ranges.
- It is important to note that adjusting the prop pitch is just one aspect of building electric props in KSP. Other factors, such as motor size, torque, and counter-rotation, also play a significant role in the overall performance of your electric propeller design.
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