My hunch is that AI visuals is being effected by a similar, if not the same behavior/bug that effects SD radar.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...&postcount=119

In the AI_sensors.dat, by default there is no minimum height from the surface of the water specified. Meaning that as long as it protrudes the surface, it should be spottable. So if you remove envirormental effects, and specify the AI visual to detect the smallest of objects then it SHOULD be detected. if its not, then i suspect similar behavior as in the above linked post.

It hit me earlier today like a flash of lighting when i started thinking more about my test results and the varing parameters ive tried. If this experiment does not result in a player detection, then my hunch is a very plausible explantion, and would explain some of the behavor's exhibited by the game. I honestly hope this hunch is wrong, because that means it probably cannot be fixed by mod. Planes will always just suck, and the only thing you could adjust for would be surface ship detection.

As most of you know from all my posts that I do much testing on about
everything I see here posted on the forums. I wanted to check out this
aircraft visual myself so I set up a mission with no weather (all perfect)
my sub at full stop and a H6K flying past at different distances. OK, no
sightings on me till the 2.0 nm mark, then the plane turned in my direction
and made the bombing run as it approached. I had plane set to "competent"
I hit flank speed as soon as the event box appeared and the bomb drop was
just off my tail. Below is the sim.cfg. file on visual I was using:

[Visual]
Detection time=0.5 ;[s] min detection time.
Sensitivity=0.01 ;(0..1) at (sensitivity * max range) we have a double detection time.
Fog factor=1.0 ;[>=0]
Light factor=1.0 ;[>=0]
Waves factor=1.0 ;[>=0]
Enemy surface factor=400 ;[m2]
Enemy speed factor=15 ;[kt]
Thermal Layer Signal Attenuation=1.0


JIM

At 3700 meters, he should have been setting up for his attack run, not making his initial sighting. Opinions on that will vary of course.

OK, I ran this test about 3 more times. My sighting on the plane is always
between 4.0 and 4.5 nm. I am sighted at about 2.0 nm every time. If I wait
and do my crash dive when he sees me, I will die every time. If I start it when
I see him, 3 out of 4 times he will not see me at all & no drop. One time I get the
drop when I am already under but this one is off the mark...

JIM

OK, ran more tests with some variances between each one:

1. crew,comp. raised altitude from 1000 to 2000m = no change
2. crew,comp. lowered altitude from 1000 to 500m = no change
3. crew,vet. altitude at 1000m = no change
4. crew,elite altitude at 1000m = no change
all above tests were with my sub 180 deg (stopped) & H6K going 90 deg behind me
5. crew,comp. altitude at 1000m - sub now at 90 deg show broadside to H6K (0 speed) The H6K now sights me at 2.3nm and makes turn towards me. Before it
was a 2.0nm so there is a slight difference in the heading of the sub....

JIM (sim.cfg still at above settings, not changed)

Ive made some progress on sorting this mess out. To summerize, my earlier hunch was (thankfully) wrong. I did get a surface ship to visually detect a periscope (with 4-5 feet exposed above the surface) at about a range of 850 meters.

The only problem is that in the same scenario, same settings, simulating an end around on a small convoy, you become visually detectable,even when outside the AI's max visual distance (by about a range of 1 to 2 km im guessing). Since its virtually impossible for the ai to "see" past 9KM, my assumption that visual detection is more of a function of signal strength. Where as the current settings give a high signal which the AI picks up on.

Currently im in the process of trying to get the smallest possible surface factor that wont make you detectable past 9KM in a 0 kt wind, daylight, scenario. That i beleive will be the baseline from which to adjust the AI's visual detection settings.

Same Issue
 

I noticed that after Patch 1.2 that they have trouble spotting you , and when they do they make a run on your Sub, then do crazy cartwheels in the air abouve your boat before crashing into the sea and sinking.
If my gunners are shooting them down then Im not hearing any gunfire, nor am I seeing anyhting else to indicaye that they are actually doing something besides sleeping



Charlie