Overview

What if Kerbals couldn’t just reach into the fabric of their universe to determine their position? What if, like us, they needed to develop technology to measure their position with any certainty?

The Kerbal Space Program forum’s “KARPA GPS Challenge” thread gave me the idea to develop an actual working GPS plugin for the game. The result is a plugin that works the same way that the real global navigation satellite systems do! It calculates your vessel’s position by measuring distance to GPS satellites in known positions in orbit.

Now you can launch your own Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) constellation, and then start using your satellite network to navigate by adding a Figaro satellite navigation receiver module to any part in your spacecraft!

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======== Change Log ========

April 19, 2013 – Updated link to this mod’s KSP forum page

v1.0.19.01 released March 20, 2013.

– A couple of minor bug fixes.

– Rebuilt plugin using v0.19.1 libraries

Installation

The download file contains three folders. The two important ones are:

Parts – Contains the FigaroReceiver directory. The FigaroReceiver directory contains the receiver part. Copy this directory to your KSP\Parts\ directory.

Plugins – Contains the KerblGPS module (KerbalGPS.dll). Copy this file into your KSP\Plugins\ directory.

The “Sources” folder is included per the KSP add-on module distribution policy. Most users can ignore the contents of this directory. It can safely be deleted.

How to use

Launch a constellation of satellites. They should be well distributed around the globe. Ideally, there should be a minimum of four satellites visible from any point on the entire surface of Kerbin at all times. The higher you place your satellites in orbit, the fewer satellites you'll need to launch and maintain.

Your satellites do not need to have any special parts installed. They don’t even need to have the Figaro Receiver part installed. Just include the letters “GPS” (case sensitive) in the names of the satellites in your GNSS constellation.

Add the Figaro GNSS receiver part to your spacecraft to start navigating using your GPS network.

See the Kerbal Space Program Forums for more details and a Q&A section.

======== Please Note =========

This science mod offers players the challenge of setting up their own working GNSS constellation. It is intended to get players thinking about where their navigation information comes from. MechJeb or Protractor are probably better options for you if you merely want a mod that displays additional navigation information.

Comments

3 Comments for “Kerbal GPS”

1. Find the Kerbal Space Program’s KARPA GPS Challenge thread here:

   http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/27230-The-KARPA-GPS-Challenge

   PakledHostage November 25, 2012

2. FIRST =P

   power5000 December 1, 2012

3. Please don’t post your feedback about this mod on this page. Please use the dedicated thread on the Kerbal Space Program Forum instead. You can find it here:

   http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/31222-0-18-Figaro-Global-Navigation-Satellite-System-A-working-Kerbal-GPS-System

   PakledHostage December 4, 2012