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NEW RELEASE! v1.3: MP protocol upgrade

ATC-pie is a radar air traffic control simulation program for the FlightGear multi-player network.

NEW RELEASE! v1.3: MP protocol upgrade

Postby mickybadia » Mon Jun 26, 2017 10:01 pm

Hello,

Those of you following the project must have noticed: v1.3.0 is out. The most significant work was on implementing the new FGMS protocol v1.1.2, featured in FG 2017.2 clients. In short, this protocol is more network-efficient, but old clients cannot read the full contents of new packets. In FG, the new "compatibility" MP option allows to revert to the old data encoding scheme, but sooner or later the new one will be adopted.

Also, new properties are being phased in, only available with the new scheme. They account for a full and proper transponder simulation (thanks Sanhozay). So that was certainly a reason for the Pie to upgrade, and it should now be able to read all of it: old packets by old FG clients, old-style packets by new ones, and new packets. It also features a "legacy protocol" encoding option (default is set for now) to make its own sent data backward-compatible and visible to all connected clients. Without it, pre-2017.2 clients will not be able to read your text messages for instance.

Of course, more stuff was included...

1. Speech synthesis for AI pilot readback in solo games

Self explanatory. The voice is robotic, but the sound&feel of an actual readback can make for a much better exprience, especially if using voice commands. By the way, surprisingly very little feedback for such a cool feature in my opinion. Are people having trouble to install it?


2. Approach spacing hints

This is a novel proposal to assist APP radar vectoring for optimal spacing between incoming traffic (toggle from the options menu, or Alt+A). Here is how it works.

For every strip S2 racked immediately behind another S1, if all the following are true:
- both are linked to radar contacts (A2 and A1 respectively);
- both have the same destination airport;
- neither is on the ground;
- both speeds are known;

then the second line of text on strip S2 is prefixed with a spacing hint. That is, the "min:sec" touch down time difference between A2 and its preceeding traffic A1, assuming:
- A1 and A2 are maintaining their current speed;
- A2 is following A1 on approach to the airport (flies via its position).

Also, an arrow will point upwards on S2 if A2 is flying faster than A1 (getting closer), or downwards if slower. This should help analysing the relative speeds in the sequence, and better choose which traffic to accelerate or delay.

Further notes:
- repeat: the time diff is NOT a time-to-fly to the traffic ahead (use mouse-over as usual for that), but an expected time difference on touchdown;
- if this theoretical difference is negative, the "!!overtake" warning is appended, suggesting you to switch the two aircraft in the sequence, or significantly delay A2.


3. ATC collecting racks

This is useful for those coordinating with ATC neighbours. A collecting rack for an ATC callsign enables to automatically place all strips received from that ATC at the bottom of the chosen rack. E.g. assuming TWR, you can set all strips received from GND to be placed on a rack for "ready departures". If none is given, the default rack will be used, as was the case before.

Collecting racks can be saved with their current order and colours.


And some more GUI changes, saved options, etc. (see ChangeLog).
EDITS: missing words
Last edited by mickybadia on Wed Jun 28, 2017 9:08 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: NEW RELEASE! v1.3: MP protocol upgrade

Postby CaptB » Mon Jun 26, 2017 10:38 pm

Wonderful job. Thank you for all that you are doing for multiplayer(and not only)
Ongoing projects(3D modelling): A320, MD-11, A350, B767
FG767: https://fg767.wordpress.com/
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Re: NEW RELEASE! v1.3: MP protocol upgrade

Postby Octal450 » Tue Jun 27, 2017 12:09 am

Nice job Micky!

PS: I have forgetten how to put an online FP into a strip?

Kind Regards,
Josh
Skillset: JSBsim Flight Dynamics, Systems, Canvas, Autoflight/Control, Instrumentation, Animations
Aircraft: A320-family, MD-11, MD-80, Contribs in a few others

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Re: NEW RELEASE! v1.3: MP protocol upgrade

Postby mickybadia » Tue Jun 27, 2017 8:48 am

Thanks guys.

it0uchpods wrote in Tue Jun 27, 2017 12:09 am:I have forgetten how to put an online FP into a strip?

Basic answer is that you just need to link them (middle click). For a more comprehensive one, refer to your own question answered here. ;-)

Also related to FPL linking and brought by v1.3.0 (so thanks for asking): the new strip dialog allows to link a flight plan if the strip is not already linked to one. When you start typing a callsign, a number appears next to the input field, counting the FPLs matching the filter, due to depart or arrive today. If it is not zero, you can click on it and choose a FPL to link.
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Re: NEW RELEASE! v1.3: MP protocol upgrade

Postby Octal450 » Tue Jun 27, 2017 3:29 pm

Ahhh, it seems I forget things quickly! Thanks!

Kind Regards,
Josh
Skillset: JSBsim Flight Dynamics, Systems, Canvas, Autoflight/Control, Instrumentation, Animations
Aircraft: A320-family, MD-11, MD-80, Contribs in a few others

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Re: NEW RELEASE! v1.3: MP protocol upgrade

Postby mickybadia » Wed Jul 19, 2017 11:10 pm

Version bump to 1.3.1, with the following change log:
- SSR mode capability selection
- taxiing AI aircraft stop to avoid collisions
- teacher can create taxiing aircraft
- initial solo strips linked to radar contacts
- strip count and more runway details in env. info dialog
- "!!ident" and individual cheat/comment indicators in radar tags
- octal XPDR code spin boxes
- X-plane nav data update (data cycle 201703)

Wiki pages updated.
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Re: NEW RELEASE! v1.3: MP protocol upgrade

Postby mickybadia » Sat Jul 22, 2017 6:48 am

Sorry for the back-to-back, but there was a bad bug in solo where departing aircraft had transponders stuck in ground mode. Cleaned in 1.3.2.
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Re: NEW RELEASE! v1.3: MP protocol upgrade

Postby mickybadia » Sun Jul 23, 2017 7:38 pm

One more bump to 1.3.3, as I noticed an annoying bug.
Also, GND filter is now on a per-radar basis, so you can have, say, one screen for ground and one for something else, each with the appropriate setting (it hardly made sense to do it at the session level).
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