Automation ribbons are 32 bit capable (but the last bit is fussy)

[EnTro]

I was curious about how the automation ribbon and the ribbon reader and writer worked and got to experimenting using chained writers (using ribbons to connect outputs to inputs) and chained readers (again ribbons from output to input). These are the lessons I learned: (It uses 32 bits with bit numbering: 0, 1, 2, ..., 31)

• Ribbons can carry up to 32 bits of useful data, although the last bit is fussy
• Regular sensors and most buildings interact only with bit 0
• Writers perform 0,1, 2 or 3 times a left arithmetic bit shift operation on the input, and output the result on their output.
• Readers perform 0,1, 2 or 3 times a right arithmetic bit shift operation on the input, and output the result on their output.
• The effect of the arithmetic shift is that if you turn bit 31 on and try to use readers, bit 31 stays on
• The last bit 31 can only be turned off by shifting an off bit onto it using ribbon writers
• The not gate inverts all bit in the signal
• Not gates could be used to turn of bit 31
• Buffer and filter gates will trigger on any bit that is on, and only output on bit 0
• Automation senders and receivers will send and receive al 32 bits

Spoiler

Apologies for not having demonstration images here. Perhaps I'll add some later

 

[EnTro]

Always wanted to make your dupes feel appreciated all throughout your space colonies? Here is a demonstration of the communication bandwidth potential of the automation ribbon:

Image display based on a signal send through space using just two broadcast and receiver pairs (left and right edge of the image are copied, the real image is 8 x 8 pixels):

Input encoder logic of the image that is send through two automation broadcasters:

The display logic is quite simple and fed directly from a receiver:

[Jann5s]