Watch officer scanning cycle

LGN1 · 12-12-09, 10:10 AM

Hi all,

I have a question concerning the watch officer's scanning cycle. If I ask the watch officer for the distance to the nearest visual contact, he puts down his binoculars and tells me the distance. Then he takes them up again, but does not continue to rotate again (the figure). Now I am wondering whether only the figure does not rotate anymore or whether also the sensor is frozen to a direction. The latter would be really bad.

I am wondering about it because some time ago Kpt. Lehmann wrote in a thread ( http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=135244 )

'In addition to loss of bridge crew interaction, the free cam mod caused the watch officer to periodically freeze his scanning cycle... and as he represents one of the more powerful visual sensors aboard, exclusion of the mod was logical.'

So, the question is whether the scanning cycle is also frozen when I ask for the nearest contact.

Thanks in advance for any comments.

Cheers, LGN1

Magic1111 · 12-12-09, 12:20 PM

Hi !

Interesting question LGN1 , I've not even noticed! The answer I would also be interested!

!

Best regards,
Magic

DivingDuck · 12-13-09, 04:05 PM

Moin,

I´m certainly not the authority on this subject, but this is what i reckon. The models of the crew just rotate to give the impression of a real scanning process. The state machine system indicates that they will spot a target regardless of direction of view as long as it is present in their sector. There is an entry named 'RotateToTarget'. Whenever a target enters the detection range / range of view the respective watch will report it and turn to it´s direction immediately. So, you´ll never know he reported the target before actually looking into the right direction. The watch officer is indeed a more powerful sensor, but the reason for that is obvious in 'WatchMan' node. While the sectors of each watch crew covers 90° only, the watch officer has a full 360° view. As a conclusion it does not matter whether any of your watch crew is standing still transfixed to the spot or not. He will spot the target anyway when close enough.

That´s my two EuroCents. I´m not sure I´m right. So, please, don´t nail me down on that.

Regards,
DD

Draka · 12-13-09, 04:12 PM

Just as a confirmation on that - watch him while you are manuevering through a busy harbor. He will be constantly turning to you, reporting a ship contact, then never gets back to scanning before another contact report comes in and he re-starts the whole routine.

LGN1 · 12-13-09, 04:32 PM

Hi all,

thanks for the comments. It was also my impression that the sensor rotation and the rotation of the WO are disconnected. However, I am still wondering about the comment of Kpt. Lehmann. How did he/the GWX team figured it out that there was a problem? What is the problem exactly?

Anyway, I guess I will ask him via PM.

Thanks again, cheers, LGN1

LGN1 · 12-14-09, 10:23 AM

Hi Padvotke,

I would like to know in general how the scanning cycle can be broken and how to find it out. The reason is that, e.g., in the Open Hatch mod a free cam is implemented. In this mod you can also not klick on the WO again. The only way to get him rotating again is to leave the bridge.

In addition, I have assigned a key to get the distance to the nearest target and I use it a lot when shadowing a target (in map view). So, I do not want to go to the bridge all the time to get him rotating again.

Anyway, I think we agree that the distance to nearest target command is no problem. However, the questions remains how the cycle can be broken and how to find it out. I think the answer to this question is important for the OH mod and many other camera mods.

Best, LGN1

12-12-09, 10:10 AM	#1
LGN1 Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,138 Downloads: 147 Uploads: 12	Watch officer scanning cycle Hi all, I have a question concerning the watch officer's scanning cycle. If I ask the watch officer for the distance to the nearest visual contact, he puts down his binoculars and tells me the distance. Then he takes them up again, but does not continue to rotate again (the figure). Now I am wondering whether only the figure does not rotate anymore or whether also the sensor is frozen to a direction. The latter would be really bad. I am wondering about it because some time ago Kpt. Lehmann wrote in a thread ( http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=135244 ) 'In addition to loss of bridge crew interaction, the free cam mod caused the watch officer to periodically freeze his scanning cycle... and as he represents one of the more powerful visual sensors aboard, exclusion of the mod was logical.' So, the question is whether the scanning cycle is also frozen when I ask for the nearest contact. Thanks in advance for any comments. Cheers, LGN1

12-12-09, 12:20 PM	#2
Magic1111 Silent Hunter Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Germany - Sailing on U-552 in North Atlantic Posts: 4,429 Downloads: 783 Uploads: 0	Hi ! Interesting question LGN1 , I've not even noticed! The answer I would also be interested! ! Best regards, Magic __________________

12-13-09, 04:05 PM	#3
DivingDuck Grey Wolf Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 902 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 1	Moin, I´m certainly not the authority on this subject, but this is what i reckon. The models of the crew just rotate to give the impression of a real scanning process. The state machine system indicates that they will spot a target regardless of direction of view as long as it is present in their sector. There is an entry named 'RotateToTarget'. Whenever a target enters the detection range / range of view the respective watch will report it and turn to it´s direction immediately. So, you´ll never know he reported the target before actually looking into the right direction. The watch officer is indeed a more powerful sensor, but the reason for that is obvious in 'WatchMan' node. While the sectors of each watch crew covers 90° only, the watch officer has a full 360° view. As a conclusion it does not matter whether any of your watch crew is standing still transfixed to the spot or not. He will spot the target anyway when close enough. That´s my two EuroCents. I´m not sure I´m right. So, please, don´t nail me down on that. Regards, DD __________________ http://www.filefront.com/user/DivingDuck \| OpenHatch_V3_RH (SHIII)

12-13-09, 04:12 PM	#4
Draka Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 256 Downloads: 322 Uploads: 0	Just as a confirmation on that - watch him while you are manuevering through a busy harbor. He will be constantly turning to you, reporting a ship contact, then never gets back to scanning before another contact report comes in and he re-starts the whole routine.

12-13-09, 04:32 PM	#5
LGN1 Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,138 Downloads: 147 Uploads: 12	Hi all, thanks for the comments. It was also my impression that the sensor rotation and the rotation of the WO are disconnected. However, I am still wondering about the comment of Kpt. Lehmann. How did he/the GWX team figured it out that there was a problem? What is the problem exactly? Anyway, I guess I will ask him via PM. Thanks again, cheers, LGN1

12-14-09, 10:23 AM	#6
LGN1 Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,138 Downloads: 147 Uploads: 12	Hi Padvotke, I would like to know in general how the scanning cycle can be broken and how to find it out. The reason is that, e.g., in the Open Hatch mod a free cam is implemented. In this mod you can also not klick on the WO again. The only way to get him rotating again is to leave the bridge. In addition, I have assigned a key to get the distance to the nearest target and I use it a lot when shadowing a target (in map view). So, I do not want to go to the bridge all the time to get him rotating again. Anyway, I think we agree that the distance to nearest target command is no problem. However, the questions remains how the cycle can be broken and how to find it out. I think the answer to this question is important for the OH mod and many other camera mods. Best, LGN1