# Usage
To enter the ship, there is a button on top of the center of the ship that will open a `Hatch`. Once inside you can also open and close the cockpit glass `Canopy`. The pilot `Chair` can be rotated around for easy access. Buttons for these are available in the pilot side consoles and also on the ceiling above the pilot seat.
## Flying the Ship
The left lever on the center console controls backwards thrust (braking) and the right lever controls forward thrust.
| Interface | Function |
|---|---|
| `Speed` | Current speed in metres per second. |
| `ForwardThrust` | Current forward thrust, maximum of 10,000 units |
| `Cruise` | Activates cruise control, forward thrust will not reset to zero unless turned down. |
| `Turtle` | Activates turtle mode which sets forward thrust to a maximum limit of `TurtleRate` of full thrust. |
| `Sloth` | Activates the low sensitvity mode of pitch and yaw by limiting thrust. Use the `Sensitivity` switch to set the maximum thrust rate of sloth mode.|
| `Aim` | Reduces the response time of key presses for pitch and yaw. |
| `Guides` | Activates rangefinders (except center one which can be activated separately). Can be used as guide lasers. `Red` warning lights show location of obstacles (left, right and centre). |
| `Range` & `Distance` | Activates center rangefinder, with `Distance` showing distance to object. |
| `Material Scanner` & `Materials` | Turns on the [Ore Scanner](#ore-scanner) and shows results of scan. |
| `Approach`, `Collect`, `Mine`, `Mining Lasers`, `Eco`, `Laser Sweep Height` & `Laser Sweep Depth` | Mining controls. See [Mining](#mining). |
| `Nav`, `Autopilot`, `Avoidance` & `Target` | Autopilot controls. See [Autopilot and Crash Avoidance](#auto-pilot-and-crash-avoidance). |
| `ISAN2` | Current ISAN coordinates of ship. |
| `NavGrid`, `NavP`, `NavC` & `Attitude` | [NavGrid](https://github.com/pcbennion/starbase-navgrid) system, see [Using the Waypoint System](#using-the-waypoint-system). |
| `SafeZone` | Whether current location is in the safe zone. |
| `StrengthFactor` | Current strength of ship. May fluctuate as ore crates are filled. Anything below 1.0 means ship is damaged. |
| Transponder `Toggle` & `Ping` | Transponder controls, `Toggle` turns on and off ship transponder while `Ping` will activate transponder for three seconds |
| `Timer` | See [Timer](#timer). |
**NOTE:** For safety, firing full braking thrust will deactivate `Cruise`.
## Using the Waypoint System
### Viewing and Selecting Waypoints
This uses the [NavGrid](https://github.com/pcbennion/starbase-navgrid) system. Use the `Down` and `Up` waypoints selectors to select waypoint. The selected waypoint information is shown on `NavP` and `NavC` panels.
On the pilot center console, `NavGrid` will show the compass towards the selected waypoint while `Attitude` will show the ship's pitch, heading and roll directions. `NavGrid` is best used while not moving.
### Editing and Saving Waypoints
Use `Set` to save waypoint of current location to the current selected waypoint position.
To edit currently selected waypoint, use your `U` tool to add name, X, Y and Z values to `nName`, `nX`, `nY` and `nZ` respectively. Then use the `Save` button to save.
**NOTE:** Waypoint 1 to 6 are presets and can not be over written.
### Loading Waypoint to Auto Pilot
Use `Load to Auto Pilot` to load curretnly selected waypoint to `Target` to be used with the auto pilot system.
## Auto Pilot and Crash Avoidance
The ship uses a modified version of [NavCas](https://github.com/fixerid/sb-projects/tree/main/NavCas) which uses the 3 in 1 ISAN from Compass. Waypoints are loaded from NavGrid waypoint system.
Use while the ship is stationary. Activating `Nav` will start point the ship towards `Target` waypoint and deactivate itself when done. `Autopilot` will activate `Nav` and fly to within 5km of `Target` waypoint with `Avoidance` activated.
**NOTE:** `Nav` may not be very accurate. I recommend using it in conjunction with the NavGrid compass. The `dd` panel on the pilot left console shows debugging information for NavCas.
`Avoidance` will activate `Guides`. If the guides detect objects it will cut thrust and strafe up or down (will flash either the top or bottom `Blue` warning lights on the pilot center console according to the direction) while sounding an alarm (check game settings if you do not hear the alarm).
It will also flash `Red` warning lights on the pilot center console according to the position of obstacle detected. If `Autopilot` is activated, it will readjust and continue its flight.
`Avoids` will show the counters for number of avoidances. The `Trip` counter can be reset by clearing the panel value using the `U` tool.
**NOTE:** There is very limited coverage of range finders for the crash avoidance system. **Use at your own risk!**
## Resetting Navigation
If ISAN or NavGrid is not working, it can be reset using the `Reset ISAN` button. Press once to take ISAN offline, then press again to reset.
For v1.0.2 and below, do this by using your universal tool on the ISAN panel on the pilot console and clearing the value of the `_` field.
The first time will show ISAN as offline, repeat clearing the value again to reset ISAN and NavGrid.
## Mining
To approach an asteroid, point the center range finder at an asteroid and activate `Approach`. Once in range (optimum range is 10 to 14m on `Distance`), activate `Mining Lasers` to turn on the mining lasers.
`Laser Sweep Height` and `Laser Sweep Depth` will adjust sweeping distances of the lasers. `Eco` mode will only use the top two lasers to conserve power if needed.
`Mine` is a button which will activate automated mining. Point the center range finder at an asteroid and activate. It will activate `Material Scanner` and `Approach`, and once in range it will automatically activate `Lasers`.
`Collect` turns on the two ore collectors. Ore collectors automatically adjust to point towards objects detected by the center range finder.
If batteries start running out of charge while mining, turn on `Min Gen`. Continous use of the lasers and collectors at the same time requires a `Min Generator Limit` of around 90%.
**NOTE:** For safety, lasers will turn off if the total fuel is less that 2,000 units.
### Ore Scanner
Activate using the `Material Scanner` button. The laser will try to adjust to point at the objects detected by the center range finder. Scan results will show on the `Materials` panel in number of stacks. It has a maximum range of 100m.
## Managing Power and Fuel
| Interface | Function |
|---|---|
| `Propellant` | Total propellant remaining in propellant tanks, maximum of 70,000,000 units. |
| `PropTime` | Time and distance remaining of propellant based on current usage. Distance is calculated from speed. |
| `FuelTime` | Time and distance remaining of fuel based on current usage. Distance is calculated from speed. |
| `WithBackup` | Same as FuelTime but takes into account backup rods available. Use the switch for `Backup Rods` to set the number of backup rods available. As standard there are 20 extra rods. |
| `Fuel Rod 1` to `Fuel Rod 12` | Fuel remaining on fuel rods in individual fuel chambers, maximum of 300,000 units for each. |
| `Generator` | Current generator rate, maximum of `Generator Limit`. |
| `Min Gen` & `Min Generator Limit` | Toggle and sets minimum generator rate. See [Managing Power](#managing-power). |
| `Shutdown` | Will turn off all fuel chambers thus shutting down generators. |
| `Battery` | Shows current battery charge of the batteries, maximum of 10,000 units. |
| `HeatTransferRate` | Current heat transfer rate of the heat sinks, maximum of 100%. |
| `StoredHeat` | Current stored heat in the heat sinks, maximum of 15,000 units. |
| `Flow In` & `Flow Out` | Toggle flow modes of resource bridges. See [Refueling Propellant](#refueling-propellant). |
| `Lights` | Turns on and off internal lights. |
| `Canopy` | Opens or closes glass canopy. |
| `Hatch` | Opens or closes ship entry hatch. |
| `Chair` | Rotates pilot chair. |
### Managing Power
By default the generator will only run and ramp up when the batteries need charging so there is minimum management needed. But you can set a minimum generate rate by setting the `Min Generator Limit` value using the switch for the minimum rate and turning on `Min Gen`.
### Refueling Propellant
All four resource bridges can be used for refuelling propellant. To refuel from another ship, turn off `Flow Out` on the pilot right side console and leave `Flow In` turned on. Then connect a resource bridge to the other ship. To refuel another ship, do the opposite, `Flow Out` turned on and `Flow In` turned off.
The two red propellant tanks behind the generators can also be used to refuel the ship. Connect the `Red` resource bridge to the `Green` resource bridge to transfer propellant.
You can then unbolt the red tanks and craft refills for the tanks using ice and then bolt the tank back to the support. Rinse and repeat until full. The `Red` and `Green` buttons toggles the respective resource bridges.
Remember to turn `Flow In` and `Flow Out` back on if you are using the Endo to collect ore via any of the ship's resource bridges.
## Other Stuff
### Timer
On the pilot center console there is a `Timer` panel which acts as a timer. It will run when the ship is active and show total time in years, weeks, days, hours, minutes and seconds. To reset the timer, use your universal tool (`U` key) and clear the value of the `Timer` field.
### Odometer
On the pilot right console there is a `Odometer` panel which will keep track of the ship's estimated flight distance based on speed. To reset the trip odometer, use your universal tool (`U` key) and clear the value of the `Odometer` field.