Make radars directional for space

Burrguy · Post by **Burrguy** » Thu Mar 20, 2025 10:49 pm

TL;DR

It would be great if there were a controls checkbox or option to make radars directional to target specific directions in space or create a specific zone to be targeted by the radar. The control output would be everything in the zone, this could allow for specific targeting of asteroids only in that zone.

What?

A way to control the radar so it only works in a specific zone and outputs targets in that zone. The zone could be as simple as a directional cone (90deg offset by 45deg , think NESW zones) and split into four quadrants, or a bounding box set by the user. All targets in this zone would be output in the control signal.

Why?

WHY do you think it increases the value of Factorio as a game?
This would make the game more fun because you could process targets in space and reduce wasted asteroid killing while the space platform is moving forward. It would also create incentives to solve control target problems and use the control system in space.

eugenekay · Post by **eugenekay** » Fri Mar 21, 2025 12:43 am

Radars are already of marginal use in Space, as Chunk exploration is totally different from Planetary Surfaces.

Adding any Circuit feature to Radars is incompatible with the Signal Transmission feature. You could add a checkbox, but I don’t even understand what this Idea is supposed to be for anyway? Getting a Count of Asteroids/Enemies that exist in an area? Turning off your defenses just because an enemy isn’t there right now is not a good idea.

Burrguy · Post by **Burrguy** » Fri Mar 21, 2025 3:33 pm

If I have a rocket launcher, I can't choose where it shoots, it shoots on the sides also. I only want it to shoot the things that are forward when the platform is moving forward and not target asteroids that I don't need to shoot on the sides of the platform

eugenekay · Post by **eugenekay** » Fri Mar 21, 2025 4:46 pm

So you want to Limit the Turret Firing Arc ? I have tried this mod; it does work good for having a "limited arc", eg to keep Explosive rockets from causing splash damage. I don't like that it has to create "Variants" of each turret, but hey, it works....

I don't understand what this has to do with Radars.

Factorio Forums