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Heli Assist

Heli-Assist is available on Github[github.com]. All verified bugs are listed on the GitHub issue tracker, so please check there before posting a bug report.

Heli-Assist is a programmable block script-based flight control system specifically designed to pilot helicopter-like terrestrial aircraft. Heli-Assist was inspired by (and shares code with) Flight Assist by NayoSmith. Heli-Assist allows terrestrial craft with only a single axis of thrust to move in any cardinal direction using the WASD keys and dampen any lateral/inertial motion.

Heli-Assist works by pitching and rolling the craft according to natural gravity to achieve both forward and lateral motion, similar to a real helicopter. By pitching down, the downward thrust shifts backwards, propelling the craft forward. Pitching up does the inverse, as does rolling left and right propel the craft right and left, respectively.

1. Create a group labeled 'heli assist' (or whatever you have configured the Heli-Assist group to be called) containing the gyroscopes, thrusters and cockpits you wish to use with Heli-Assist.
   
2. Load the Heli-Assist script into a programmable block.
   
3. (optionally) Configure the Heli-Assist config as described in the configuration section.

Once installed, Heli-Assist will align the craft with natural gravity. Using the WASD keys will, , result in the craft pitching and rolling in the appropriate direction as to result in forwarding or lateral motion. Additionally, it will regulate thrust accordingly to maintain altitude.

Using the mouse or up down left and right keys will orientate the craft accordingly in addition to any pitch or roll already applied to move. Activation of the inertial dampeners will result in the craft pitching and rolling in the appropriate direction to slow the craft.

For ease of use, Heli-Assist provides different flight modes for multiple situations.

• Flight mode will make the craft behave as described above and is activated by running the program with the argument 'flight'. The 'toggle_flight' argument will toggle between flight mode and manual mode.
  
  
• Landing mode behaves almost identically to flight mode, except that the maximum pitch and roll (and thereby rate of acceleration) will be reduced to allow for more precise movement. Additionally, the inertial dampeners will automatically activate. Landing mode is activated by running the program with the argument 'landing'. The 'toggle_landing' argument will toggle between landing mode and flight mode.
  
  
• Manual mode will disable the WASD keys and inertial dampening affecting pitch and roll but will still regulate thrust in order to maintain altitude. Manual mode is useful for aiming at targets or ignoring the limits of Heli-Assist's other flight modes, without the Heli-Assist automatically correcting. Manual mode is activated by running the program with the argument 'manual'. The 'toggle_manual' argument will toggle between manual mode and flight mode.
  
  
• Standby mode will cause Heli-Assist to relinquish control of all gyroscopes and thrusters, allowing the pilot or another script to control them. It is helpful for switching between different craft configurations (such as shifting from hovering configuration to a high-speed configuration like a modern VTOL aircraft such as a harrier) or allowing for another script such as Vector Thrust to take control. Standby mode is activated by running the program with the argument 'standby'. The 'toggle_standby' argument will toggle between standby mode and flight mode.
  
  
• Shutdown mode will power off all thrusters and gyroscopes associated with Heli-Assist. Shutdown mode is activated by running the program with the argument 'shutdown'. The 'toggle_shutdown' argument will toggle between shutdown mode and flight mode.

Heli-Assist provides multiple flight parameters in addition to its modes for customizability.

• The Precision Aim parameter can be used in flight, landing and manual mode, reducing the sensitivity of the mouse/joystick to make aiming easier. It is toggled on/off by running the program with the 'toggle_precision' argument.
  
  
• The Lateral Override parameter can be used in flight and landing mode and overrides inertial dampening on the lateral axis, meaning that disabling the inertial dampeners will only disable forward and backwards dampening, to make cruising easier. It is toggled on/off by running the program with the 'toggle_lateral_override' argument ('toggle_lateral_dampening' does the same and is retained for compatibility reasons).

Heli Assist is configured by editing the Custom Data of the programmable block and is automatically generated on first use.

• block_group_name - This allows for the setting of a custom group name for blocks associated with Heli Assist. By default, it is 'Heli Assist' (without quotes).
  
  
• start_mode - This sets the mode that Heli Assist will be in when it is first started, as described above. By default is 'flight'.
  
  
• remember_mode - This setting determines whether Heli Assist should attempt to remember the mode it was last in when the script is restarted. By default, it is 'true'.
  
  
• max_pitch - This sets the maximum allowed pitch in degrees for both the WASD keys and the motion dampeners. By default, it is 45.
  
  
• max_roll - This sets the maximum allowed roll in degrees for both the WASD keys and the motion dampeners. By default, it is 45.
  
  
• max_landing_pitch - This sets the maximum allowed pitch in degrees for both the WASD keys and the motion dampeners while in landing mode. By default, it is 10.
  
  
• max_landing_roll - This sets the maximum allowed roll in degrees for both the WASD keys and the motion dampeners while in landing mode. By default, it is 10.
  
  
• precision - This sets the reduction in movement from gyroscopes when in precision aim mode. By default, it is 16.
  
  
• mouse_speed - This sets the mouse sensitivity in all modes. By default, it is 10.

v1.15

• Fixed a bug where craft would gradually drift up due to incorrect craft mass being used.

v1.14

• Fixed a bug where high pitch and roll config settings would cause craft to pitch and roll indefinitely.
  
• Fixed a bug where script config is not auto-generated when left blank.
  
• Added mouse sensitivity setting to config.

v1.13

• Fixed a bug that prevented lateral dampening override from working.
  
• Added proportional dampening to inertial dampening.
  
• Changed lateral dampening to lateral override for less ambiguity
  
• Updated readme.

v1.12:

• Fixed a bug where control seats facing specific directions would make craft uncontrollable.

v1.11:

• Added automatic detection of new gyroscopes, thrusters and cockpits, updating every 10 seconds.
  
• Fixed a bug where specific gyroscope configurations would make craft uncontrollable.

v1.10:

• Added precision aim.
  
• Added lateral only dampening.
  
• Added standby mode.
  
• Changed landing mode so it will no longer force the use of dampeners.

v1.01:

• Fixed a bug where gyroscopes would fail to respond when placed in specific directions.