Circuit network connections for splitters

[Gandamir]

TL;DR

Add circuit controls to splitters for automated lane prioritisation.

What ?

I would love to automate setting of priority for outputs (but why stop there) for splitters to control where low flow items end up based upon my current base priorities.

Why ?

With the addition of assembler automation in FF#394, I can see this being needed to help control some of the inputs/outputs from the assemblers.

But also as mentioned to control when running low on an item on where it ends up.

[Qon]

I really wanted to control my splitter with combinator circuits before for the mixed bus and randomly placed assembler cells. I had to use inserters instead, but it was ugly and I would have much preferred controlling splitters instead.

[Illiander42]

I really wanted to control my splitter with combinator circuits before for the mixed bus and randomly placed assembler cells. I had to use inserters instead, but it was ugly and I would have much preferred controlling splitters instead.

This would let us do some really cool stuff with multibus setups and programmable assemblers.

[wilk85]

i wanted to create a topic with splitters controlled by the circuit network but here it is

but more important for me is to control filter with circuit network and control prority side also

+1

[Windsinger]

Filter logic (black/whitelist) applied to splitter, you only have to manually select the side which is unfiltered (or give a direction signal L/R)

[Glitch_Recursion]

TL;DR

Splitter Circuit conditions

What ?

Splitter conditions for (Left/Right priority input and output) Filter set condition

Set a condition for input priority and assign value for neutral. Signal(A) value:1 if signal value is less than value set priority is Left, if greater Value is right. if equal value is neutral and no priority is set.

Identical option for Output priority

with option on each condition to set which circuit networks are being monitored IE: Read from Green And/OR Red for each individual condition.)

Example:
A is 5 so higher than the selected value of 2 so priority goes to right,
B equals 1 but only on the green network which it is not monitoring(grayed out green button) and B is 0 on the Red signal line and is less than the selected value of 1 so left priority. if B was equal to 1 on Red it would be neutral and no priority would be selected.

Whitelist is monitoring Green only so Iron plates is added to the filter list

Factorio Splitter Sugestion demo 1.jpg (1.72 MiB) Viewed 332 times

Why ?

With the new changes of assembly machines recipes being settable the Load balancing can change and i think managing it with splitters being disabled/enabled or changing lane priority would be a easy way to fix that.

or if your running low on ammo for instance you can change priority of your iron plates to move towards ammo assemblers.

[Koub]

[Koub] Merged into an older thread with the same suggestion.

[rollc_at]

Adding my voice here, just saying that this would be a fantastic feature.

I can picture some interesting new use cases in Space Age, specifically:

- Controlling priority by circuit could allow gradual spillover, e.g. to avoid having too much spoilable cargo rotting on a dead-end belt (Gleba, Nauvis)
- One big sushi belt topping up a smaller sushi belt, e.g. some (but not all) red+blue chips on Fulgora getting sent away to make modules

This could all be done using inserters, especially since they've all received a major buff (filters, hand size, belt stacking, etc); or with a more complex chain of splitters and circuit-controlled belt segments. The last option doesn't mesh well with spoilables though, as when a belt is disabled there will always be some leftovers stuck behind.