In my spare time, I like to make game addons and modifications for different PC games out there.  So for the past few years, I’ve been working with a series of games made by Bohemia Interactive.  Their mil-sims are used by various governments and armies around the world for training of all sorts including mission execution, radio protocols, logistics, proper procedures training, group movement training, plan execution, etc.  The civilian version of these mil-sims is known as Arma2.  Currently, it is the 5th most popular download on Steam, which is pretty popular.

Anyway, I recently released an addon for the game of a small unmanned aerial vehicle called the RQ-11 Raven A.  The version 1.51 update has a lot of changes.  Here’s a link to the download:

http://www.gamefront.com/files/21693493/RQ-11_RAVEN_ARMA2OA_VERSION_1.51.rar

VIDEO:

 

RQ-11 RAVEN A

Author: FEINT (Jon Hillenbrand)

Concept date: April 1, 2012
Release date: May 4, 2012
Update date: May 5, 2012 (version 1.1)
Update date: May 12, 2012 (version 1.51)

Contacts:
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Web: http://www.jonhillenbrand.com

Required game: Arma2: Combined Ops
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Tested with Arma2: Combined Operations.
Tested with ACE2

Required addons: 
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CBA

Description: 
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This addon gives the Arma2:CO player the ability to assemble and operate an RQ-11 Raven.

FEATURES:

• Backpack that can be turned into a blanket of disassembled Raven parts
• Raven that can be assembled and disassembled
• Raven that can be carried in the back of a pickup (somewhat carefully)
• Custom sounds for beeps, servos and engines
• Colored addActions for ease of visibility
• Realistic altitude limits based on real-world data (10 meters to 150 meters AGL)

• Point and click auto flight
• Auto landing (returns to Ground Control Station (GCS))
• Accurate launching of the Raven using setVelocity to simulate throwing in the direction you look
• Ability to carry and drop Raven
• Ability to assemble and disassemble Raven to and from a standalone backpack
• Custom sounds for servos, engine noise and flight/landing complete indicator
• Post-landing strobe light and beep for night retrieval of Raven for recovery in tall grass, at night or in urban environments
• Strobe and beep test and reset functions
• Ground Control System camera with realtime data streams:
  • Distance of Raven from GCS
  • Current altitude ATL
  • Current azimuth of camera (compass direction)
  • Current speed of Raven
  • Current Date and Time
  • Current camera zoom level (focal length)
  • Current vision mode (DTV, NV, FLIR W, FLIR B)
  • Listing of Raven and camera controls
• Map marker tracking of Raven and Raven’s camera target positions
• Map marks can be made at Raven camera target position indicating time mark was made for target tracking

Changelog/known issues: 
=================
VERSION 1.51
-CBA IS NOW REQUIRED FOR MULTIPLAYER SOUND TO WORK
-ADDED: More zoom levels (11 now instead of 4)
-ADDED: Increased zoom max
-ADDED: new zoom controls (in and out)
-ADDED: Altitude ASL to in-camera data stream
-ADDED: Range limit of 8km (distance from Raven target to Ground Control Station)
-ADDED: marker elipse visible on map when changing targets
-ADDED: Battery limit of 60 minutes
-ADDED: Battery status to in-camera display
-ADDED: Autolanding near player when battery reaches zero percent charge
-ADDED: Camera shuts off when battery reaches zero percent charge
-ADDED: Ability to recharge battery in Raven
-ADDED: Restricted the ability to disassemble the raven when it is recharging
-ADDED: Battery level holds true from raven to raven (can recharge more than one raven at a time)
-ADDED: If you pick up a raven that is recharging, you can see a display of the charge level going up in real time
-ADDED: In-camera compass that tracks the camera position and rotation and zoom level
-ADDED: In-camera battery display shows minutes remaining on charge
-ADDED: Charge Battery action only visible if battery level is lower than 100%
-ADDED: Raven can be destroyed when engine is off (but not when flying)
-ADDED: New sounds for engine startup and engine loop
-TWEAKED: in-camera instructions so they are shorter for people running lower screen resolutions
-TWEAKED: in-camera data stream to better reflect altitude
-TWEAKED: in-camera data stream for easier and faster reading (right aligned right side elements)
-TWEAKED: DTV blurriness
-FIXED: Raven can now be assembled and disassembled from walkable ships (Nimitz, Kuznetzof, P99, BAM, Gnat’s Warships, etc.)
-FIXED: Raven can now approach and land on elevated positions such as buildings and ships at sea (if there’s enough room)
-FIXED: Multiplayer sounds should be heard on all clients now by using CBA
-FIXED: Autolanding was broken on certain maps with fake altitudes (Raven wouldn’t land)
-FIXED: Added minor fixes to autolanding script when autolanding is active
-FIXED: Added minor fixes to new target script when autolanding is active
-FIXED: addActions so that they can’t be activated during team switching by another unit (thanks DeltaForce96)
-FIXED: Missing semicolon in strobe script
-FIXED: Rare disappearing backpack problem
-FIXED: Changed the way the Raven chooses altitude so that it no longer flies underwater when depth of water is below 30 meters

VERSION 1.1
= ACE2 COMPATIBLE
= FIXED RARE “DISAPPEARING RAVEN” BUG WHEN ASSEMBLING
VERSION 1.0
= INITIAL RELEASE (05/04/12)

KNOWN ISSUES:
=Minor texture bug on underside of assembled wing – no big deal.
=Raven can not be damaged while engine is on

Installation: 
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1) Extract @RQ-11_Raven folder to your Arma2 directory.
2) Start Arma2
3) Go to Expansions
4) Enable “@RQ-11 Raven [by Feint]”
5) Restart Arma2
6) OPTIONAL: Add example mission to your documents folder under your username

Usage:
=================
1) Open editor.
2) Place a unit
3) Place an empty RQ-11 backpack (Empty > [RQ-11] Raven Backpacks > [RQ-11] Raven Backpack)

(SEE PREVIEW MISSION SUPPLIED WITH DOWNLOAD)

5) Preview mission.
6) OPTIONAL: You can place an already assembled Raven on the map instead (Empty > [RQ-11] Raven Parts > Raven (static))

Credits: 
=================
BARAKA – 3d models and textures
BARAKA – Testing
FEINT – Original concept and research
FEINT – Enhanced Textures
FEINT – Scripting
FEINT – Sound design, recording and editing
FEINT – Screenshots and videos
FEINT – Testing
FEINT – 17 page instruction manual

The Arma2 community is full of very helpful people and without them, this addon would not have been possible. On this particular project, knowledge I gained while working on my Underwater Diving Module and Aerial Refueling Scripts really helped. Please see those readMe files for specific people who helped me along the way.

Disclaimer/License:
=================
THIS IS AN ADDON FOR THE GAME ARMA2:OA (BOHEMIA INTERACTIVE). IT WAS CREATED FOR FUN AND IS FREELY DISTRIBUTED TO THE COMMUNITY OF PLAYERS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. THIS ADDON IS BEING GIVEN AWAY FOR FREE AND NOT FOR PROFIT. AS SUCH, COMMERCIAL OR MILITARY USE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

THIS ADDON IS NOT AFFILIATED IN ANY WAY WITH AEROVIRONMENT, INC.

ALL SECTIONS OF THIS ADDON ARE FREELY DISTRIBUTED TO THE COMMUNITY AND MAY BE OPENED (UN-PBO’D) AND REVERSE ENGINEERED FOR THE PURPOSES OF LEARNING. HOWEVER, IF YOU WISH TO REPRODUCE ANY PART OF THIS IN YOUR OWN ADDONS OR SCRIPTS, WRITTEN PERMISSION MUST BE OBTAINED IN WRITING IN ADVANCE. THE SOUND EFFECTS MAY NOT BE RE-USED IN ANY WAY AS THEY ARE FROM PURCHASED LICENSES and original recordings.

The author(s) of this software accept no responsibility for damages resulting from the use or misuse of this product and make no warranty or representation, either express or implied, including but not limited to, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This software is provided “AS IS”, and you, its user, assume all risks when using it.

©2012 – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED – JONHILLENBRAND.COM

SCREENSHOTS:
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