The forum's search function did not give me results to my question if this mod request has already been stated so I go on and ask.
How about some kind of "Smart Rails".
They are able to sense what is inside (a standing) cargo wagon and give this information to the red/green wire, just like a Smart Chest would do.
The behaviour is actually quite alike a smart chest with the differences
- the reported contents can change rapidly - empty if no cargo wagon is standing on the rails, and filled with whatever the cargo wagon has that is standing on it
- this chest itself has no items, it just pretends to have these items, because they are actually stored in the cargo wagon, but reports those to the red/green wire.
This could for exaple be used to fill supply wagons for remote outposts:
The smart inserters can check if the cargo wagon has all the needed items on board through the wires, and if not, can add more into the cargo wagon until their logic says it's enough. Useful for mixed transports without overfilling one item type.
Another idea would be to fully empty the locomotive while it is standing at the station, have the cargo wagon loaded as described above, when the contents reach the desired limit, have a smart inserter sense this and refuel the loco so it can resume to drive to the programmed stations or a nearly refuel station where the train is prepared for longer trips. This would allow dynamic schedules and trains to only drive when a logistics condition is met.
I made some small mockups
1) Smart Rail is free. It has a connection to the red wire. Maybe power supply is needed for the rail so it uses some energy.
2) Smart Rail has a cargo wagon on it. It reports the wagon's contents to the red/green wires.
So, what do you think?
