Suggestion: Autonomous transport rockets

[DarkMaster13]

For the purposes of streamlining the later stages of the game and rocketry mechanics, I think one important thing to include is a way to automate deliveries of resources from one planetoid to another.  This needs to be something that doesn't require dupe interaction to work.  So we need some kind of drone control unit for spaceships and the ability to program it to run routes.  This should be limited to keep dupe operated rockets important.  Here's what I think are necessary options to program for rockets:

• Refuel to x% full.  Rocket will wait until its fuel reaches x%, no further fuel is added.
• Empty fuel to x% full.  Rocket will unload fuel until it reaches x%.
• Travel to landing pad x.  Rocket will launch and then take the most direct route to the planetoid landing pad x is on.  If the rocket does not have enough fuel for the trip, sends a message to the player and does not launch.  If the landing pad is occupied, sends a warning to the player and the rocket will wait in orbit for the landing pad to be free or its order to change.
• Load x kg solid.  Accepts input through the solid port until it contains solid resources of x kg.  Rocket will wait until this is done.  Does not specify the type of solid to accept, only the weight.
• Load x kg liquid.
• Load x kg gas.
• Unload x kg solid.  Rocket unloads resources through the solid port until the solid storage is either empty or has unloaded x kgs.  Does not specify the type of solid, only the weight.  Works similar to current storage tanks.
• Unload x kg liquid.
• Unload x kg gas.
• Wait x time.
• Wait for automation signal.  Rocket waits until it receives a green automation signal.

All wait actions can also be given a maximum wait time.  If this time comes, then the rocket will move onto the next action anyway.

The rocket will automatically calculate how much fuel is needed for a round trip and if it has enough refueling stops to complete it.  While you can save a route that doesn't have enough fuel stops, you cannot implement it.  This minimizes the chance that the player ends up with a rocket stuck in space.

[blash365]

I am pretty sure we already had this in vanilla.

You already have an automation input for rockets to start. You already have an automation output to give you most of the relevant information listed above to combine the input signal with.

This includes unloading previous cargo and fueling & maning the rocket.

I am pretty sure that the current system is going to be expanded to what you suggest. Some of your checks might be helpful and still missing. But honestly, i dont see the purpose of most of them.

E.g. "fueled to%". What is the purpose of fueling your rocket for more than a roundtrip? Or less than one?

[DarkMaster13]

5 minutes ago, blash365 said:

I am pretty sure we already had this in vanilla.

You already have an automation input for rockets to start. You already have an automation output to give you most of the relevant information listed above to combine the input signal with.

This includes unloading previous cargo and fueling & maning the rocket.

I am pretty sure that the current system is going to be expanded to what you suggest. Some of your checks might be helpful and still missing. But honestly, i dont see the purpose of most of them.

E.g. "fueled to%". What is the purpose of fueling your rocket for more than a roundtrip? Or less than one?

I figured it would be good to have a list of requirements for what we need.  That's generally the first step when tackling a programming problem.

The existing rockets require dupe piloting, which we need variants that don't require it.

The reason you might not want enough fuel for a round trip is if the rocket refuels at multiple stops.

[TripLykely]

20 minutes ago, DarkMaster13 said:

The existing rockets require dupe piloting, which we need variants that don't require it.

I'm torn on this. On the one hand, I like the engineering/automation possible with something like what you layout with drones, but I also like needing a pilot and keeping the dupes involved in the process. 

 

21 minutes ago, DarkMaster13 said:

The reason you might not want enough fuel for a round trip is if the rocket refuels at multiple stops.

This is an example of what I mentioned above, automating a rocket to go from planet A to B, unload cargo X, refuel and load cargo Y, go to planet C, etc. sounds fun. All kinds of possibilities. But again, I'm torn on if I need a drone over the dupe pilot. Why not automate leaving the rocket at certain stops for food/bathroom/etc.? 

From what I can tell so far from the DLC, you can do a lot of automation and setup some pretty cool rocket networks, but you bring up some interesting ideas. Of course Klei has mentioned late game rocket mechanics haven't really been fleshed out as they're focusing on a sound early/mid game. The more engineering puzzles the better. 

[kerosene]

17 hours ago, DarkMaster13 said:

The existing rockets require dupe piloting, which we need variants that don't require it.

Why?

[babba]

I like to not be forced in to rocket interior play - I like how it is the the current base game:

I see a pilot getting in...and a pilot getting out.

If Klei can cater for both kind of players, rocket interior & non-rocket interior players - Great