Difference between revisions of "Conveyor Mechanics"

Revision as of 03:54, 18 October 2014

Example of a conveyor network between multiple inventories

Introduction

The conveyor network by definition, is the act of transferring of items between devices within the game. This can be achieved by either connecting devices next to each other through conveyor ports, or through the use of conveyor blocks.

Control

Currently, as of Update 01.046, it is not possible to determine where the conveyor network stores or deposits items. Although the player may manage inventories manually at their leisure, they however cannot control which inventories the network should pull from, where to store them, etc.

The only amount of control a player has over the network is by switching off its link to the conveyor network.

However, it should be noted that this toggle is not available for all devices such as cargo containers.

Mechanics

Quoted from George Mamakos.^[1]

This text is purely illustrational and cannot be taken for a design document or hard-coded rules that won't ever change. On the contrary - as we keep working on the game and making it better, a lot of the information here might become obsolete.

Conveyor Push-n-Pull principles

Some of the blocks (e.g. assembler, turrets, etc.) that can be connected to the conveyor system can automatically "push" or "pull" items to/from the conveyors. This works as follows:

If the block is set to use the conveyor system, it checks certain conditions when it is necessary (which are different for each block type) that say whether it should send a push/pull request.
If the conditions for the request are met, the block finds another block with inventory that can satisfy the request.

Push Request

If the block sends a push request, it finds a suitable remote inventory, which has the CanReceive flag set. Once the inventory is found, the request is fulfilled by sending the requested items to the remote inventory.
If the remote inventory does not have enough free space, only a part of the request is fulfilled and the request continues by searching for another remote inventory.

Pull Request

If the block sends a pull request, it finds a remote inventory with the CanSend flag set. The remote inventory also has to contain the desired items.
If these conditions are met, the request is fulfilled by transferring the items from the remote inventory.

Inventories with CanSend flag

Cargo container inventories
Assembler output inventory
Refinery output inventory
Ship drill inventory
Ship grinder inventory
Collector inventory
Connector inventory

Inventories with CanReceive flag

Cargo container inventories
Assembler input inventory
Refinery input inventory
Reactor inventory
Turret & gun inventories
Connector inventory

Requests of the individual block types

Assembler:

- If the input inventory is less than 60% full, the assembler issues a pull request for the needed materials according to the current blueprint
- If the output inventory is more than 75% full, the assembler issues a push request for its contents.

Refinery:

- See assembler; Refinery works similarly

Collector:

- Sends push requests for all of its contents

Reactor:

- If the fuel inventory is less than 60% full, sends pull request for some small amount of fuel

Turrets and ship guns:

- If their inventories ar less than 50% full, they send pull requests for ammo

Ship drill & ship grinder:

- Send push requests for all of their contents

Conveyor blocks

The conveyor blocks are more or less "pipes" that can be placed between devices when direct connections are impossible. In other words, conveyors are pipeline blocks the player can place to connect one inventory to another. The style in which players place the conveyors is completely up to them. The only requirement needed to establish a connection is by having two inventories on either end of the network.

List of conveyor blocks

The blocks listed below only function as conveyor and have no other purpose.

Large Conveyors

Conveyor
Conveyor Tube
Curved Conveyor Tube
Conveyor Frame - (Only usable on small ships)

Small Conveyors

Small Conveyor - (Only usable on small ships)
Small Conveyor Tube - (Only usable on small ships)
Small Curved Conveyor Tube - (Only usable on small ships)

Conveyor ports

Conveyor ports are the input/output slots that conveyors and/or other devices may connect to in order to allow items to be transferred to another inventory.

Small port

Small conveyor ports are small, and do not allow objects larger than the ports themselves through.

Items that can transfer through small ports

Small to Large port Incompatibilities

Players should be aware when using the conveyors that small ports & large are not compatible! You can not fit a smaller conveyor into a larger port, and a large into small port.