Custom Turret Controller

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Custom Turret Controller
Icon Block Custom Turret Controller.png
Function: The Custom Turret Controller is capable of providing AI behavior to...
DLC? Vanilla
Fits small grid
Mass: 250.0 kg
Hitpoints: 871
Range: 600 m
PCU: 100
Size: 1x1x2
Time to Build: 10 sec
Fits large grid
Mass: 948.0 kg
Hitpoints: 3490
Range: 800 m
PCU: 100
Size: 1x1x1
Time to Build: 24 sec
Data Controls: [purge] (?))

The Custom Turret Controller (CTC) lets you aim custom turrets and control robot arms or cranes with your mouse. Secondarily, it can automatically aim custom turrets and align solar panels for you. The CTC only makes sense used together with a custom turret: a weapon/tool block on a hinge on a rotor.

Load video
YouTube

Usage

Example of custom turret: Block weapons on a hinge on a rotor on a station

You can control the custom turret or arm manually, or use the game's built-in automatic AI ("artificially intelligent") targeting.

The CTC Block doesn't do anything on its own. For details on how to build the required turret, see How to build a custom turret first!

Manual versus automatic

When used manually:

In automatic mode:

  • The AI can aim block tools at chosen targets (stations, ships, players)
  • The AI can lock block weapons on to specific subsystems (weapons, propulsion, or power).

From the Automaton update on, while flying/driving, the pilot is able to take manual control of a Custom Turret with the mouse, and still steer the ship/rover with the WASD keys, just as when controlling Block Weapons.

Pros and cons

Advantages of CTC:

  • You can build a custom turret out of any blocks (weapons or tools) you like, even multiple together.
  • A CTC is best for performing wrist-like movements with one hinge and one rotor.

Disadvantages of CTC:

  • Custom turrets are bulkier and have more weak points than vanilla block weapons.
  • Custom turrets are much slower to build and repair, because projectors and 3D Printers cannot project grids with rotor/hinge subgrids.
  • If you want to combine more than two mechanical blocks, or pistons, you still need to either configure the Tool Bar or use a script.

Control options

Control panel Screen Toolbar Description
Toggle on/off Toggle on/off

Toggle off
Toggle on

When a block is toggled off, it does not fulfill its function and does not use power.
Show block in Terminal If you have many blocks that clutter your Control Panel, but you never need to configure them, hide them here.
Show block in toolbar config If you have many blocks that clutter your toolbar config, but you never want to use them on the toolbar, hide them here.
Name Give the block a unique name that makes it easy for you to find it in the search with only few keystrokes.
Show on HUD on/off Show on HUD on/off
Show on HUD on
Show on HUD off 		If an antenna is broadcasting from this grid, you can use this to mark this block on the HUD. E.g. to highlight blocks that need repair, emergency exits, etc.
Custom Data Used by scripts only.

LCD Panels

  • The large-grid block has 4 configurable displays built in that you can optionally configure. Three are quite small and one is big. Select the LCD that you want to configure.
  • Content - For each LCD, select either No content, Apps, or Text and Images. For details, see LCD Surface Options.
    For example, set the large screen to Apps > Target Information.

Block-specific options

Control panel Screen Toolbar Description
Set up actions (trigger the action) (Optional) Select actions to trigger on the grid when the CTC activates. Play a sound, switch on a light, broadcast to chat, etc. Weapon and tool blocks are configured elsewhere.
Assign azimuth rotor Select the Rotor that turns left/right.
Assign elevation rotor Select the Hinge that turns up/down.
Assigned Camera (Optional) Select the Camera, if you want solar tracking. Default: None
Azimuth velocity multiplier Increase/decrease azimuth velocity multiplier How fast the turret turns left/right (rotor). Default is 9.0.
Elevation velocity multiplier Increase/decrease elevation velocity multiplier How fast turret tilts up/down (hinge). Default is 9.0.
Angle deviation Increase/decrease/set angle deviation How tolerant the manual or automatic aiming should be. Default is 5.0.
Available Tools and Weapons (Optional) Select a tool or weapon and click Add Tool or Weapon to make the CTC control it.
Selected Tools and Weapons (Optional) Select a tool or weapon and click Remove Tool or Weapon to make the CTC stop controlling it.
Always aim at sun Always aim at sun on/off
Always aim at sun on
Always aim at sun off 		Enable this and select a camera to make the turret (and the attached solar panels) follow the sun.
Enable AI Enable AI on/off
Enable AI on
Enable AI off 		Keep AI switched off for manual control, or switch it on for automatic AI aiming behaviour.
Control Control Enable manual control.
Enable target locking Enable target locking on/off Enable this if you want to coordinate several AI turrets' aim. For details, see Target Locking. Default is on.
Target options Target (class) on/off
Target (class) on
Target (class) off 		The CTC has the same AI aiming settings as a Block Weapon, so see there for details. Default is to aim at any functional block.
Focus locked target Focus locked target Prioritize the locked target. For details, see Target Locking.

Solar tracking

Only for solar tracking, build a solar panel on a hinge and rotor and place a camera so it looks in the same direction as front of the solar panels.

  1. Assigned Camera - Select the Camera used for aiming.
  2. Always aim at sun - Enable this to make the turret's camera (and attached solar panels) follow the sun.

Weapons and tools

Select either a camera or a block weapon or block tool if you want to use automatic (AI) aiming. Then enable Enable AI to let the turret AI control a tool or weapon, or disable Enable AI to control tools and weapons manually by clicking.

  1. Add blocks from Available Tools and Weapons to Selected Tools and Weapons.
    • If you add more than one manual tool or weapon, add their on/off action to your toolbar as well.
  2. (Optional) Click Set up Actions.
    • To the first slot, assign the actions that trigger when the AI detects its target.
    • To the second slot, assign the actions that trigger when the AI detects no target.
  3. (Optional) Choose Enable Target Locking
  4. (Optional) Focus Locked Target
  5. (Optional) Choose Target Options
    • Default
    • Weapons
    • Propulsion
    • Power systems

Gallery

  • The small-grid variant of the Custom Turret Controller Block
    The small-grid variant of the Custom Turret Controller Block
  • A crane with mag plate grabber is a civilian example of a custom turret. (Image credit: Splitsie)
    A crane with mag plate grabber is a civilian example of a custom turret. (Image credit: Splitsie)
  • A turret optimised to defend a spaceship hull without shooting at the hull
    A turret optimised to defend a spaceship hull without shooting at the hull
  • A turret optimised to defend a terrestrial station against attackers from the ground
    A turret optimised to defend a terrestrial station against attackers from the ground
  • A minimal example of a tracking solar panel with camera aiming
    A minimal example of a tracking solar panel with camera aiming
  • Tanks using an Assault Cannon on hinges and rotors controlled with CTCs
    Tanks using an Assault Cannon on hinges and rotors controlled with CTCs
  • Station defense using multiple Assault Cannons on a hinge and rotor controlled with a CTC
    Station defense using multiple Assault Cannons on a hinge and rotor controlled with a CTC

Construction

The Custom Turret Controller block itself takes up 1x1x1 blocks in large-grid and 1x1x2 in small-grid size, with mount points on all sides. The small grid variant has one tiny LCD, and the large grid variant's front console has four LCD Panels that can display scripts, images, or text of your choice.

Using a CTC only makes sense used together with a hinge / rotor construction. The tool on the articulated end can be weapon blocks, or tool blocks, or magnetic landing gear (as a grabber), or gyroscopes, or a camera. Any additional blocks are also allowed. You can build the CTC anywhere on the grid, like a cockpit.

For building details, see How to build a custom turret.

Recipe

Icon Block Custom Turret Controller.png Custom Turret Controller
ComponentLarge Ship/Station
Required		Large Ship/Station
Optional		Small Ship
Required		Small Ship
Optional
Icon Item Steel Plate.png Steel Plate20—4—
Icon Item Motor.png Motor4—2—
Icon Item Interior Plate.png Interior Plate20—4—
Icon Item Display.png Display6—1—
Icon Item Detector Components.png Detector Components20—4—
Icon Item Construction Comp..png Construction Comp.30—10—
Icon Item Computer.png Computer20—10—


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