-> Suggestion post here. <-


I suggest adding a new type of solar panels that does not have a casing and instead it just "folds". I do not know of any real world satellite that would have a casing for its solar panels. This is how I imagine the setting sliders:
• Rows - same as now
• Row size - same as now
• Deploy speed - same as now
• Deploy amount - setting this to anything below 100% will mean that the panels will not fold out completely, retaining a bit of a "zig-zag" look
• Cell width - the width of each cell
• Cell height - the height of each cell
The "size" slider would be completely replaced by the cell width/height sliders. Because there is no casing that needs to be scaled with the panels, the panels could very well be square, or rectangular.
• Corner shape - the smoothness of the cell corners
Again, most real satellites simply use rectangular panels.

With the current panels and their fixed cell shape, it is not possible to replicate pretty much any existing satellite's panel. And while it is pretty easy to just build custom solar panels using the fixed one and moving parts for a realistic replica, such custom panels would not be able to track the sun.

I suggest adding this as a standalone part instead of replacing the current panels, because the current encased panels still make sense when it comes to futuristic spacecraft that may be re-entering the atmosphere of other planets. In that case, retracting the panels into a casing is realistic.
When the career mode is released, the exposed panels may function as a lower-cost alternative for the encased ones. For example, if you're delivering a satellite into orbit inside a fairing, there is no need for a casing.


EDIT: to better visualise what I mean, here are some real world examples;
(the width and height values are just ratios, because I can't be bothered to find the actual dimensions of the satellite's panels)


Rows: 1, Row size: 2, Cell width: 1, Cell height: 2
Rows: 1, Row size: 2, Cell width: 1, Cell height: 2


Rows: 1, Row size: 5, Cell width: 2, Cell height: 1
Rows: 1, Row size: 5, Cell width: 2, Cell height: 1


Rows: 2, Row size: 2, Cell width: 1, Cell height: 2
Rows: 2, Row size: 2, Cell width: 1, Cell height: 2


Rows: 3, Row size: 1, Cell width: 1, Cell height: 2
Rows: 3, Row size: 1, Cell width: 1, Cell height: 2

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11 Comments

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  • Profile image
    121 LiamW

    I'd be happy with the stock solar panels with options to have it pre-extended or case-less.

    4.9 years ago
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    3,242 Chancey21

    Better idea: Solar Tracking as a rotator input

    +4 4.9 years ago
  • Profile image
    36.7k GrayStar

    cool!

    4.9 years ago
  • Profile image
    Dev Pedro

    @DerekSP cool :)

    5.0 years ago
  • Profile image
    1,731 DerekSP

    @pedro16797 you're right, I made it more noticeable

    +1 5.0 years ago
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    Dev Pedro

    @DerekSP @AtlantikWall45 there's a link to the suggestion on top, the only thing that I would change is that I would make the forum post asking people to check the suggestion instead of repeating the content of the suggestion here. There's a lot of info and it's easy to go over the link without noticing

    +1 5.0 years ago
  • Profile image
    1,731 DerekSP

    @AtlantikWall45 I made both a forum post and a suggestion post, because I've seen some people saying that we should post to the forums and others to suggestions

    5.0 years ago
  • Profile image

    This Suggestion should be in the Suggestion under the Stuff Tab not here bc It's very rare to post here.

    5.0 years ago
  • Profile image
    1,731 DerekSP

    @MarioG also, it could shave off some parts from a spacecraft without really changing the looks

    5.0 years ago
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    1,731 DerekSP

    @MarioG that's what I've been doing, but I miss the solar tracking. Not a big issue in sandbox where the looks are more important than functionality, but I imagine that people who will want both looks and functionality in career mode would find this useful

    +2 5.0 years ago
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    45.4k MarioG

    You can make this with hinges and individual solar panels

    +2 5.0 years ago

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