Space Engineers: Mobile Survival (Episode 2) - We Have a Power Problem... (2023)

Welcome back to Space Engineers Mobile Survival! This is the series where we travel around the world in a rover that we upgrade along the way. In episode 2, we run into a few problems when we go to upgrade our rover. Turns out I underestimated the power draw of our rover and we have to solve this now!
Here's a recap of my Mobile Survival rules:
1) The base must be on a mobile rover, meaning NO stationary base
2) Flying is allowed, but only for little remote recon drones
3) Bridges and other static grids to help get around obstacles are allowed
If you like the video, be sure to leave comments and hit that like button! That's how I know to make more of these!
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[@dekar820]

I'm pretty sure the wind turbine would work if you have a landing gear locked on the ground. Love the challenge! Cheers!

[@AndrewmanGaming]

Thank you for the tip :)

[@walts440]

pretty sure turbines only work on stations

[@OccamsRaygun00]

I believe they also have to be a part of the same subgrid.

[@tylerhansen1892]

windmills only work on large static grids you need a mod to use them on rovers and the mod tends to break often.

[@anteshell]

Is is possible to cheese it by locking it to own vehicle?

[@morbror_]

if you wanted to use a wind turbine, you must use a land gear on the pistion so that you lock yours on the ground

[@andrasbesenyei8923]

That wouldnt work, the windturbine needs to be on a static grid and the rotor used to go to large grid is not static.

[@tonymabbott8147]

It would work, Wellington 6012 uses something similar to lock his behemoth rover to the ground, and his wind turbines work fine.

[@andrasbesenyei8923]

@@tonymabbott8147 he is probably using merge blocks or mods.

[@andrasbesenyei8923]

@@tonymabbott8147 but you are right, it could work with mergeblocks in vanilla

[@LazyDude915]

@@andrasbesenyei8923bud turbines work if you lock to the ground because it makes your grid static

[@Nymrod78]

Hi Andrew. A couple of hints: 1 - grid convertion by rotor is done way easier the other way around, you place the smallgrid rotor, cut the head and let fall on it a largegrid rotor head (useing the 3x3 s-grid rotor is easier as it have a bigger base on wich to drop the head). - The wind turbine can work on a rover but need to comply with 2 requirement: 1 need to lock to the ground by L.Gear/Mag Plate. 2 windturbine and L.Gear MUST be on same sub-grid. This last means that a L. Gear on your smallgrid rover will not work with the turbine wich is largegrid and will be on a sub-grid. On a small grid rover it will be impractical as you will end up with an enormus sub-grid for the turbine that will probably weight more than the rover itself Hope to be of help and you are makeing a really good a enjoyable work.

[@johnderat2652]

Man this episode passed so quickly haha. 42 minutes long and felt like 20. When can we expect Episode 3 ? This series is already quite entertaining!

[@AndrewmanGaming]

Tomorrow!

[@johnderat2652]

@@AndrewmanGaming Hallelujah !

[@cabbageplays6710]

Wind turbines dont work on vehicles, only stations, so you have to convert your rover to a station to make the wind turbine work Need to find ice, extend the rover and have a single large hydro tank with a hydro engine off to the side and the O2 gen on the other side, both connected via the small ports. in front of the Hydro tank via a large port you add a large cargo, and then what ever else you need small grid in front of that, so cockpit, survival kit, batteries, coming out the sides you add as many solar panels as you can, and double them up, sun passes through solar panels, so put them back to back, should get at least 6-8 on each side doing that, then its just your large grid stuff, and i have no idea how your gonna do that, other than maybe a 3x3 rotor base on a flatbed at the rear, remove the head and then drop a large grid head into it, add the assembler with the port facing up, and the refinery onto that so the ports meet up, probably gonna need 8 5x5 wheels for this thing, and might need em a little more spaced out width wise, but it should work.

[@DizzyDJW]

No, you only have to landing gear lock to the ground and it will work

[@BNETT21]

Yeah there is a way to get it to work. I've seen somebody use landing gear on subgrids

[@GhostOfSnuffles]

@@DizzyDJW This. You attach the wind turbine to the grid that has the landing gear and use a piston/rotor/hinge to lift the landing gear out of the way while your moving.

[@AndrewmanGaming]

Sun really passes through solar panels? So like I could have 5 stacked and they would all get 4 bars?!? I never knew! Thank you for all the tips :)

[@cabbageplays6710]

@@AndrewmanGaming not too sure if 5 would. But if you put them back to back. They both get sun. I've never tried 5 back to back. Lol 😂😂😂

[@bigbadcivic2]

this is awesome, you really get the feeling we are going on a long trip, really cool series!!

[@AndrewmanGaming]

It's gonna be a long ride!

[@maleficentia8390]

Not sure why you were pushing so hard to get a move on. With my playstyle - I definitely would have stuck around and built up at least the basics of the main rover and possibly the basics of a trailer for the refiner/assembler. Will be interesting to see how you deal with the challenges you'll face with the playstyle you seem to have opted for. In terms of the "mobile survival" i'm not sure if the whole turbine with a landing gear or magplate would apply as that would effectively make you a stationary grid for that time but its really the only effective way to do it since it requires a static grid to use them. I suggest a trailer with a hinge, piston. rotor setup for a solar array with some battery storage that will get some sunlight while your driving but can be extended during those times you arent moving to generate some extra power. I feel like if your going this far though you would just switch to a large grid rover at this point lol.

[@werd3426]

What I would personally do is have setting for my "suspension height" on the hotbar, it's very helpful because it allows you to make your front/back part of the rover to be lower/higher instead of trying to manage your weight. It also comes in handy when you encounter different terrain. Another thing I recommend doing is to have your "handbrake on/off" setting on the hotbar, because you will soon place landing gears for your turbines and pressing the forbidden "P" button is not good

[@tamasbiro1976]

I couldnt wait for this episode, keep up the good work my man!

[@AndrewmanGaming]

Thank you! :)

[@bcmpinc]

Windmills only work on static (sub)grids. So you need to stick it to the ground with a magnet plate or landing gear. For solar panels, iirc you can stick two on top of each other to double the output.

[@fearmaker1]

I think the wind turbines work only on static grids. Also: My jaw dropped in admiration when the rotor attached.

[@AndrewmanGaming]

Mine too!!!

[@Cr4sHOv3rRiD3]

You can replace those small solar panels and build 4 large solar panels on the assembler and refinery, much better solar collection than small grid. Also, when you decide to build up the back wheels, build 2 more (4 total) in the back with slight space between forward wheels. Place an rotor on bottom of the rovers mid space and slap large rotor part on it, then slap one large cargo on the rotor part, assembler on the cargo (forward) and refinery on back pointing up (then you can place 4 large solar panels on top of the assembler/cargo/refinery (you will need metal grids for the cargo like 4 i think) Build 4 more small batteries (or one large on the back, behind refinery. Keep up great content and channel Andrew, hope to see next episode soon whatever you decide to bring us it will be goood :D

[@JohnSmith-qr9yj]

It'd be really cool if you could record your path from birds eye view for time lapse at the end.

[@quuuimey]

I thought the same, a timelapse through the desert would have been really cool to understand the scale of the trip

[@Black-vo2tv]

I did a survival world like this with a buddy a while back. We kept and worked on the same large rover the whole time and ended up giving it a flight conversion upgrade after a while to end it off. Can't wait to see what you do with yours.

[@user-ve5ei2xe8h]

You could build your solar panels on a hinge, angled back a bit (since the sun will be behind you most of the time). This would also improve your 1st person view. Wind turbines only work on static grids.

[@mementomori5580]

Wind Turbines only work on static grids or on grids that are connected to a static grid. So the only way to use Wind Turbines on a Rover would be to use a landing gear (or magnetic plate) to connect to the ground, then the rover will be (temporarily) treated as a static grid and the Wind Turbines will start working. It might be that the Landing gear would need to be part of the Large Grid part that the Wind Turbines are put on. If you make the small grid "static" using a Landing Gear it will probably not work properly as the Large Grid is still not static as it's a subgrid on a rotor that can and will move...

[@AndrewmanGaming]

Thank you for the info! I had no idea wind turbines were static grid only. I dont think I've ever tried to use them on a non static grid (until today 😂)

[@sdhflapper]

So turns out that the idea I suggested below was still too easy. Its just easy to get ahead of the sun and then have plenty of time to mine, and build. My new idea is to start with the sun about to set. Then right off the bat you have to race to give yourself enough daylight to mine and build. Then race ahead again. I think that might give the sense of haste that this scenario needs. Thank you so much your videos and this concept, its been super fun trying to do something different.

[@craftermatt3609]

I very much agree with your thought here, throughout the video I feel this false sense of urgency. He always seems to be like, we have to go! but the sun is no where near even midday ever. If anything he has more then enough time to sit where he is full an entire episode building up.

[@Arcanidge]

When the series is done, please make a image pack for lcds using the images.

[@AndrewmanGaming]

That would be an awesome idea!!

[@BNETT21]

Oh yeah. You may have been able to convert the LG rotor to a station via a button panel. That would have got the wind turbine going too

[@mischa7823]

I'm pretty sure Clang would not have liked that :D

[@koltinellis5782]

All I can think of going throug the desert is the song. Driving through the desert on rover with no name. Feels good to be out of the mountains. In the desert you can’t remember your name lalalallaa

[@AndrewmanGaming]

I love this 😂

[@JesAndersen]

The grid with a wind turbine needs to be attached to the ground in a static way. Attaching magplates below your pistons would not work since the subgrid with the windturbine is not attached enough, but you can attach a magplate to the large subgrid, and have it attach to a static grid. For a more advanced version I'll suggest a hinge instead of a rotor then the attach a column with a magplate below and a wind turbine on top...you can then flip the hinge to deploy the magplate to the ground and make the tower more or less upright at the same time.

[@AndrewmanGaming]

Thank you for the tips! I think for now we'll go without the wind turbine. Its just too much of a headache while trying to keep the small grid / large grid hybrid. But when we reach half way and swap to a large grid rover, I'll see if I can do something like this!

[@JesAndersen]

​@@AndrewmanGaming Sounds good, the comment were mostly to explain the mechanics, since the solar panel struggle makes for some fun content 😁

[@PoolOfTrees]

Given the desperate state of your power situation, as well as the advice on how to get a wind turbine working (mag plate to the ground), I'd suggest that you build another battery, set it to recharge and the original battery to discharge, suck the last of the power out of the original battery, then grind it down, have more power cells already made, and build a new second battery. These will hopefully both get somewhat charged by one or more wind turbines while you are not moving (building or ore gathering).

[@stephanevally170]

Wind turbines only function on static grids

[@AndrewmanGaming]

Thank you for the tip!

[@victor_creator]

36:52 Christmas Desert would be a good name

[@AndrewmanGaming]

Christmas Desert, I like it!

[@randallvolk8437]

You should spend some time quickly putting together a small grid rover that is designed with your goal in mind.

[@EKOMovers]

Solar panels can be placed against another (==). Rotor lock/ set limits to 0 to minimize clang. Medium cargo will increase your balance of the rover with out the need of gyros. turning down power on wheels when not climbing will also save power.

[@darren8517]

Coulee Canyon. A coulee is like a canyon, only much smaller. Think of it as a ravine. They're often the carved out feature of small rivers and streams.

[@joshuamuhan7547]

Andrew. This is a great video. Can you build a hovercraft in the future. And you can name it slick the slippery.

[@AndrewmanGaming]

LOL Slick the Slippery is a great name! I really do need to up my hover craft game 😂

[@sdhflapper]

I enjoyed this idea so much that I started my own scenario, starting at the same place. I am only a 1/4 way round but I think you will find it too easy and may want to think of a goal for the end. I think my goal will be to get back to the starting point then get off the planet before the end of the day with a warp capable ship. That will require extensive building, mining, power generation while traveling.

[@smokecrash2147]

You can build new batteries with what you can grind from the old one and some stone to rebuild the 20 power components and those new batteries will have >25% charge right away

[@danielros7798]

14:05 The mascot of the Pertam series is Mr. Sandman, so naturally the mascot of the Earth series is Mr. Blue Sky

[@MrTehNoms]

I gotta work in the morning, but I been waiting all day for this. If you start building parahutes, don't forget that suspension can jump!!

[@AndrewmanGaming]

I always forget about that!

[@theletsplayer9503]

You can go about rover building in 2 ways and I'm really interested to see which one you choose: 1. I don't know if there is a hinge like mechanic in Space Engineers, but even if there isn't you could build a long chain of trailers or platforms. One could be for storage, the other for power, etc. It would really test your driving skills! 2. You could build a MASSIVE landship. I'm sure this series is going to be a loooong while, so you could build a decent sized craft. Personally, I would try to build like a battleship or carrier with wheels mostly because building a large platform is easy and I would want to go for something with a little more design. I might even try this when I get my hands on Space Engineers ^^ You of course always have the option to just do whatever or mix the 2, but I'm really interested to see how this turns out

[@AndrewmanGaming]

The road train idea sounds ridiculously awesome!!!

[@D_Rogers]

You can definitely make land battleships in SE! I've made rover bases that are over 50m wide and can handle rough terrain, so you can really go nuts with it! :) There are hinges you can use as trailer hitches, but trailers are a little more fiddly than giant rovers in my experience....

[@butchvandyk1051]

mabe for better power... build a battery solar bank on a trailer... that is not in the way and when you need power connect with a connector.. trailer is not stattic and still fall under your rules... just a hummbe opinion.. great work Andrew

[@BNETT21]

Setup a timer to attach on the rotor and then trigger now on itself. Then trigger the timer. It will loop an attach spam. Then drop large grid rotor heads from above until one attaches. You did it but not the quick way lol. I do it on starting rovers to get a large grid Ore detector.

[@HeruKane]

Okay so this is cool, though I have to admit I much prefer 'mega base on a massive rover' vs 'tiny vehicle traveling about'. Also the sun thing just seems like a reason to make things go fast because as a limit it just is like 'okay, I guess' to me. Honestly, to me, taking your time to see the sights and mine and build would seem more fun but I guess you like the limited series element. Either way, this is cool. Nice series.

[@garethbaker9220]

wind turbine will work if you connect the grid it's on to the ground ie; the same grid as a landing gear. no subgrid! you can use the wheel suspension to raise and lower the rover to connect the landing gear.

[@foamyflightmaster9385]

Enjoying the new series, you need to set up a wind turbine while stationary make it work by locking to the ground put a mag plate or landing gear on a piston.

[@AnonNopleb]

When you did the rotor thing, I was counting in my head: "Clang in T minus 3, 2, 1..."

[@AndrewmanGaming]

I know I was expecting it too!

[@7T_Primal_Wolf]

8:46 now only if those solar panels were aerodynamic you could Glide, lol

[@GhostOfSnuffles]

To attach large grid to small grid place a small rotor on your vehicle, cut off the head, then add a timer block. Then set up the timer block to attach for the rotor and trigger now for the timer block, then start the timer. Next fly above your rotor and carefully drop large grid rotor heads on top. Eventually one of then will attach. Normally i use the 3x3 advanced rotor for the small grid and the advanced large grid rotor head so i can pass components between the survival kit and the basic assembler but if all you're doing is transferring power the regular rotor works fine.

[@AndrewmanGaming]

You can do that? I coulda sworn there was a way but I figured the game would have an option to attach a large grid head in the UI. I'll have to try this out because it will probably work wayyyy better than my method.

[@D_Rogers]

@@AndrewmanGaming The trick is to look down on the rotor then fly backwards until you can drop a large grid rotor-head, without it automatically switching back to a small grid one... Pre-rotating the rotor-head so it faces the right way as it falls helps too.. (I do it in a bunch of my videos if you want to see the process in action...)

[@JohnSmith-qr9yj]

Flatbed truck the small advanced rotor on the bed can attach to the large rotor head if you drop it on there.

[@heighRick]

Thanks man, helps a lot.

[@shortar15]

for windmill have to do a combo of piston plus a landing gear to anchor to the ground so you can set as static grid then release raise piston and reconvert to mobile to drive that is the work around can't use it when moving down side.

[@AndrewmanGaming]

Oh do windmills only work on static grids? I did not know that!

[@lordsherifftakari4127]

Turbines do not work on mobile Grids. use a landing gear or Mag plate to lock yourself to the Voxels as a static Grid to use a Turbine. now that Automatons is out, Splitsie has released his Scrapyard Scenario. need Abandoned Settlements and ACS to make life interesting!

[@UtopssAKAPJ]

the vehicle is going to be come a beast

[@JustZephyr854]

37:17 The Christmas Tree of the Dune sea

[@werd3426]

A name suggestion for the Christmas tree desert - Merry Dunes

[@AlanW]

"Lone connifer sand sea"

[@EEMCsquared]

The sands of jolly. That’s what it should be called.

[@Christhulhu]

Yay! Next episode! :3

[@BNETT21]

Dude, you gotta build a sundial on top of your rover.

[@AndrewmanGaming]

I love your thinking!!!

[@nulledge5511]

For the desert: The Sea of Sand, with its Yule Tree. That sounds good, I think.

[@Glork4224]

You can place solar panels back-to-back for twice the power and almost the same space.

[@chrisfloreskithran7664]

Maybe making something like a trailer to tow would be plauisable to keep both small and large grid necessities seperate.

[@AndrewmanGaming]

I love this idea!

[@OccamsRaygun00]

You need the 3x3 rotor to have the option to replace with a large head from the menu.

[@quuuimey]

fun episode !

[@mastere6115]

You could always call the dunes something like Merry Dune Valley, or maybe relate it to spurce trees I don't know

[@MorbinNecrim86]

Awesome

[@Surzhyk10]

You should have a solar panel on the bottom too lol

[@cnorris5474]

I like the series so far! You did say that Ice spawns in the green areas and I am afraid you are wrong. That is only true on Pertam.

[@AndrewmanGaming]

Oh lol, thank you for the correction :)

[@FazekasPK]

I think the progression techtree was a needless addition to the game. The available and processable resources are already providing the player with a resource based progression system. There's just no point of having a techtree. How that resource based progression looks like (90% of the times): Tier 1: Just started, you have 3 basic materials (Fe, SI, Ni) mainly from rocks. You may have a basic scouting vehicle. Tier 2: You probably have built a small basic facility, with basic refining capabilities. Now you can process Co and Mg. Now you are armed and dangerous. You can also optionally get out to space. (Hydro thrusters...) Tier 3: Ag and Au. You have medical bay, superconductors, capable of warp-jumping. Tier 4: Pt and U. Basically end-game. You have everything and probably visited more than one celestial objects.

[@AndrewmanGaming]

You have a good point. There is a sort of natural progression in SE.

[@Fenrir414]

@37:13 , here is your request... Credits to ChatGPT: The forest was desolate and bleak, with dead trees stretching as far as the eye could see. But amidst the lifeless landscape, a single Christmas tree stood tall and proud. Its twinkling lights and bright red ornaments seemed out of place, almost like a beacon of hope in a world gone dark. As the snow began to fall softly around it, the tree stood strong, a symbol of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity.

[@user-gb1ff7mg4t]

Now you need large (wings) solar panels to improve charging speed

[@erickmartin8959]

Wind turbines only work for stations

[@AndrewmanGaming]

Thanks for the info :) I didn't realize!

[@TheMicah97]

The Bumps are a Jaw.

[@Kami8705]

The wind turbine doesn't work unless it's at least landing geared to the ground

[@dreadisdarkore2703]

you almost had the right idea. what you have to do is drop a large grid rotor head onto the 3x3 small grid rotor.

[@AndrewmanGaming]

Ohh that works? Thank you for the tip!

[@dreadisdarkore2703]

@@AndrewmanGaming I mean it's really hard to line up so you can hit attach head but it does work

[@d234d9]

Nice

[@bloodkiss4491]

i am afraid if you drive into the shadow of an mountain for a few seconds and the energy is gone and you have no way of getting it back till the sun is above you XD

[@AndrewmanGaming]

I would have to figure something out! I think this scenario wouldnt be the worst thing that could happen given the hazards of the Earth!

[@Dinkleberg96]

The wind turbines won't work on mobile grids. U need ether a landing gear or a mag plate to lock it to the ground

[@VME-Brad]

Evergreen dunes

[@tylerhansen1892]

10:10 dragon tooth valley.

[@JarutheDamaja]

I'd turn off the wheels when not driving, especially the 5x5.

[@TheBenjaminArgo]

Lonely Pine Dunesea

[@IronGearProductions]

12:54 😊

[@managerdoyungpastor]

To get wind power, u have to turn ur grid into static

[@AndrewmanGaming]

Thanks for the info!!!

[@tohpingtiang4878]

32:00 It's "Silicon valley" ...

[@justinmcdaniel8193]

Why did you move the wheels down by a block why not move them up by one or two blocks with the bigger wheels to try and lower the center of gravity to reduce the chance of flipping or rolling

[@spohnarthur8347]

could a train carts sistem be safer fir driving around and adding carts with needed machinery

[@Igrok723IRL]

turbines only work on stations

[@DizzyDJW]

You only have to landing gear lock to the ground and it will work

[@sebastianrichter6943]

Dead Christmas sandy land

[@virtualecho2222]

is this series inspired by Peter Jackson's "mortal engines" movie? :P

[@AndrewmanGaming]

It's not, but that would be a cool concept for a series! Instead of a mobile base, a proper mobile city!

[@virtualecho2222]

@@AndrewmanGaming yeah that would be epic if you manage to do that :D

[@calebka8898]

Whats mods are you using

[@spitfiredj7614]

Small grid solar vers large grid solar ??? Name "lonely Pine"

[@Retrogen_boi]

Maybe first?

[@AndrewmanGaming]

First 10, that's for sure!

[@Retrogen_boi]

nice

[@managerdoyungpastor]

First

[@HeilTec]

👍

[@anth5189]

It's Space Engineers. There is absolutely nothing anywhere. Unfortunately I feel this game has been a major scam. The developers have done nothing with this game. The only additions have been purchases or mods. Imagine Minecraft with no Mobs, No villages, No loot. Just wander around and dig holes. That is what this game basically is. They even give you a gun. Has anyone asked why? What are you going to shoot?

[@AndrewmanGaming]

We're gonna explore all of that nothing!