Automated Expansion

[ajranney]

I have been looking to build a factory that automates Expansion and I am at the point that It is almost complete. I wanted to share my factory with the community because I have been inspired by others that were interested in the same idea. I use a few mods to be able to do this and the main mod that is involved is "Recursive Blueprints". The current base size is 72 chunks square and increasing.

MODS

AutoDeconstruct
FARL
TimeTools
YARM
Blueprint string
recursive blueprints
RSO

For those unfamiliar with the mod “Recursive Blueprints” here is a quick explanation. The mod allows for combinators to activate placement of a blueprint. When deployed the placement can be offset with additional combinator signals for X and Y offset.
I use the deployers to expand my roboport network and base. Currently the blueprint is roboports only but later I plan on adding laser turrets to expand through bitter bases and to keep my base secure. I also plan on allowing the base to automatically determine when to expand based on available resources in the logistic network.

There are 8 Deployers that are used. They each have some offset values that are provided to them to allow for universal calculations as if they were all at the exact center of the base. Currently they have a blueprint for the Roboport with 4 big poles on each side of the Roboport. The deployers make a new ring of roboports around my base with a distance (distance is equal to half the length of my square base) equal to the signal provided.

Deployers

CenterLabeled.png (4.36 MiB) Viewed 11491 times

The deployers take a few simple signals and a constant combinator allows for offset values to be sent.
D = Distance in chunks from origin
I = Increment

Brain

Brain.png (1.41 MiB) Viewed 11491 times

This is my first time working heavily with combinators so I am quite certain that this could be simplified if someone else took a look at it. The timer 1 counts from 1 to 30 on a loop. Timer 2 counts from 1 to (distance). The S-R Latch controls activation of the unit on and off by sending a signal to the Signal Gate that allows the gate to open and forward its signal to the deployers. The expansion is currently activated by adding one chemplant to the logistic network but any other signal can be easily used. The chemplant goes to the requester chest where it waits until a new loop is about to start. Then it is placed in the middle chest that activates the S-R Latch and all signals are active for one loop. Then the chemplant is stored in the third chest and used to calculate the new distance from the center.

Detailed example of top right deployer

TopRightDeploy.png (1.88 MiB) Viewed 11491 times

This deployer is at x=48 and y =-16 so the constant combinator sends the opposite of these values.
The X distance is D *32
The Y distance is I *-32
D is going to be constant for a new ring and I will loop from 0 to D building a new roboport to the right middle of my base, then new roboports are each separated by one chunk north until it reaches the top right corner then the loop would stop.

I have an imgur album for those interested in the specifics of my base design:
http://imgur.com/a/DPvXZ

I also will attach the current save.

Future Throughts

Currently there is a player input to initiate expansion however it would be simple to change it to loop continuously. The challenge then would be resource processing. It would be possible to implement blueprints that determine if resources are present in a chunk and claim them. It would also be possible to expand power as needed.

Special thanks to:
Justarandomgeek for making the mod Recursive Blueprints
Doc for making the mod Recursive blueprints originally
GopherAtl for a proof of concept that inspired me AND the Combinators 101 information

[aober93]

Yea i wanted something like this, because manually expanding your base is tedious and boring. Gathering enough space to securely build an outpost takes like an hour or more. You can bet they rebuilt their nests in what you cleaned so it takes longer, before you secure it with a dense defense wall.

[Toch]

I love it and i was trying to run mod by myslef, but cant figure it out.

So i downloaded your save to look how its done, but doestn seem to work for me :/

I assume if i delete some ports your brain should rebuild them right ?

and even if i copypaste it into my save i doesnt do anything :/

Do yo uthing you could give me like really simple tutorial how to set up my first Duplicate step by step ? To test if it even works, cos i was not able to get single autoblueprint yet..

[nuhll]

I have no clue about all this.

But as far as i understand it doesnt work automatic (because theres no loop) you have to manual make it expand.. (dont ask me how)

[ajranney]

@nuhll
The expansion is currently activated by adding one chemplant to the logistic network.
@Toch
To help you let me know what are you trying to do? What are you planning on doing in the future? What exatly are you "copypaste"(ing) into your save?
The current build doesn't repair old ports.

[Toch]

I was trying to do this https://youtu.be/ygQSDEmY1Wc but thx for reply anyway