Suggestion for A.I. Air Refueling in Single Player

[=Skywarp=]

A lot of players have issues with air-to-air refueling.

I suggest implementing the task on Iceman/Jester Menu. Then, when air refueling is needed, the player can jump to Jester's seat and through the menu ask the pilot to make the hard work.

Edited August 24, 2023 by =Skywarp=

[blue_plasma]

Nice idea.

[MAXsenna]

Then you'd be missing out of all the fun!

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[scommander2]

2 hours ago, MAXsenna said:

Then you'd be missing out of all the fun!

Yup, I know.

Well, let AI does work sometimes and relax while seating back  

[Turd Ferguson]

Having had the Tomcat since launch day and manging to tank a grand total of twice i'd appreciate this feature

[IronMike]

Unfortunately Iceman would be utterly incapable of doing so, short of creating a real piloting AI (which he isn't, he actually just pretends to be). This is also why he does not do more complex tasks as landing, take off, dogfighting, AAR, BVR maneuvers like extending and recommitting. We tried a bunch of these, as we would kind of like him to be more capable, too, but unfortunately for the time being we need to continue to consider him feature complete. Maybe one day we will have the spare capacity to revisit Iceman, but it is not something we can or want to promise at this point. Thank you for your kind understanding.

[=Skywarp=]

Hey IronMike, thanks for the reply.

I taught it would be something easy to program as DCS already has the A.I. tasks.

Thanks and keep with the good job!!

[LanceCriminal86]

I think they described it best before that Iceman is basically an interface into the Autopilot.

[Kageseigi]

12 hours ago, =Skywarp= said:

I taught it would be something easy to program as DCS already has the A.I. tasks.

That's what has me curious... if the DCS AI could somehow be "rigged" to fly the plane instead of Iceman. It seems like a great concept for a modder, though I would guess modders don't have the access needed to pull it off.

If the DCS AI could fly the plane, I assume the human RIO would be nothing more than a passenger without a lot of modification. But I could see some potential if a modder could add some basic checks and changes... such as disabling the AI's ability to intercept if the RIO turns off the radar, or only enabling its ability to fire at long ranges if the RIO locks a target. Oh yes... just make the AI completely dependent on you doing your job... like how you are at Jester's mercy, haha! 

Nothing too serious, of course. Just for fun, and I think it would be an interesting experience.

P.S. Can DCS AI refuel from tankers? I haven't even paid attention to that 

[=Skywarp=]

20 minutes ago, Kageseigi said:

P.S. Can DCS AI refuel from tankers? I haven't even paid attention to that 

Yes, they can.

That was exactly what gave me the idea to open this topic.

Edited September 2, 2023 by =Skywarp=

[sLYFa]

The AI does not fly the same plane you do. AI flightmodels are very simplified which makes it possible for them to be controlled by AI pilots in the first place. Creating an AI that can refuel and land the Tomcat with the same flightmodel players have would be a huge undertaking. What we have now is in the form of Icemam is basically the ability to control the autopilot from the rear seat. But complex tasks such as AAR, BFM or approaches/landings cannot be done by the autopilot and hence not by Iceman. 

[Kageseigi]

On 9/1/2023 at 10:59 PM, =Skywarp= said:

Yes, they can.

That was exactly what gave me the idea to open this topic.

 

Ah, then we're halfway to solving that problem already! 

17 hours ago, sLYFa said:

The AI does not fly the same plane you do. AI flightmodels are very simplified which makes it possible for them to be controlled by AI pilots in the first place.

"Give me a lever long enough, a fulcrum on which to place it, and a firm spot on which to stand, and I will replace your plane's flight model when you're in the backseat!"

Smart man, that Archimedes 

[Moose_Jaw]

Hi gents,

 

can only agree if we get an ai - option for a2a refuelling... An absolute nice idea. 

[draconus]

On 9/2/2023 at 1:00 PM, sLYFa said:

approaches/landings cannot be done by the autopilot

*cough* acls *cough*

[sLYFa]

try a caseI pattern with ACLS/AP