Creating new entity that has 0kw consumption

[robertpaulson]

Hi, I want to create a radar that works without power grid, however when I place it with 0kw consumption setting the game crashes. I tried making it "solar" with 1w consumption but that didnt work- didn't crash the game tho. Is there a way to modify the energy source to allow it to function without power? I need it to scan only nearby sectors and only for a short duration (implementing charting will be more problematic)

[Adil]

Probably no. The game have things like this hardcoded to the very depth of it.

This might have been uncalled for, but the following statement

(implementing charting will be more problematic)

caught my thought and I've spent fifteen minutes to prove the opposite:

code

Code: Select all

local TIME_TO_LIVE=271--seconds
local TIME_TO_SCAN=30--seconds
local SCAN_RANGE=3--chuncks
local UPD_STEP=60--ticks between updates

local add_radar=function(entity)
    table.insert(global.radars,{
        entity=entity,
        timer=TIME_TO_SCAN,
        life=TIME_TO_LIVE,
        next_x=-SCAN_RANGE,
        next_y=-SCAN_RANGE,
    })
end
local update_radars=function(tick)
    local rs=global.radars
    local t=tick%UPD_STEP
    for i=#rs-t,1,-UPD_STEP do
        local r=rs[i]
        if not r.entity.valid then table.remove(rs,i) 
        else
            r.timer=r.timer-1
            r.life=r.life-1
            if r.timer<0 then
                local e=r.entity
                local p,s,f=r.position,r.surface,r.force
                local a={x=p.x+r.next_x *32,y=p.y+r.next_y*32,}--if area is less than chunk, whole chunk is charted anyway
                f.chart(s,{a,a})
                r.timer=TIME_TO_SCAN
                r.next_x=r.next_x+1
                if r.next_x>SCAN_RANGE then
                    r.next_x=-SCAN_RANGE
                    r.next_y=r.next_y+1
                    if r.next_y>SCAN_RANGE then
                        r.next_y=-SCAN_RANGE
                    end
                end
            end
            if r.life<0 then
                r.entity.die()
            end
        end
    end
end

script.on_init(function() global.radars={} end)
script.on_event({defines.events.on_built_entity, defines.events.on_robot_built_entity},
    function(event)
        if event.entity.name=="no-power-radar" then
            add_radar(event.entity)
        end
    end)
script.on_event(defines.events.on_tick,function(event) update_radars(event.tick) end)

[impetus maximus]

Creative mode mod has entities (including radar) that run without power, with power flashing icon still present.

[robertpaulson]

Probably no. The game have things like this hardcoded to the very depth of it.

This might have been uncalled for, but the following statement

(implementing charting will be more problematic)

caught my thought and I've spent fifteen minutes to prove the opposite:

code

Code: Select all

local TIME_TO_LIVE=271--seconds
local TIME_TO_SCAN=30--seconds
local SCAN_RANGE=3--chuncks
local UPD_STEP=60--ticks between updates

local add_radar=function(entity)
    table.insert(global.radars,{
        entity=entity,
        timer=TIME_TO_SCAN,
        life=TIME_TO_LIVE,
        next_x=-SCAN_RANGE,
        next_y=-SCAN_RANGE,
    })
end
local update_radars=function(tick)
    local rs=global.radars
    local t=tick%UPD_STEP
    for i=#rs-t,1,-UPD_STEP do
        local r=rs[i]
        if not r.entity.valid then table.remove(rs,i) 
        else
            r.timer=r.timer-1
            r.life=r.life-1
            if r.timer<0 then
                local e=r.entity
                local p,s,f=r.position,r.surface,r.force
                local a={x=p.x+r.next_x *32,y=p.y+r.next_y*32,}--if area is less than chunk, whole chunk is charted anyway
                f.chart(s,{a,a})
                r.timer=TIME_TO_SCAN
                r.next_x=r.next_x+1
                if r.next_x>SCAN_RANGE then
                    r.next_x=-SCAN_RANGE
                    r.next_y=r.next_y+1
                    if r.next_y>SCAN_RANGE then
                        r.next_y=-SCAN_RANGE
                    end
                end
            end
            if r.life<0 then
                r.entity.die()
            end
        end
    end
end

script.on_init(function() global.radars={} end)
script.on_event({defines.events.on_built_entity, defines.events.on_robot_built_entity},
    function(event)
        if event.entity.name=="no-power-radar" then
            add_radar(event.entity)
        end
    end)
script.on_event(defines.events.on_tick,function(event) update_radars(event.tick) end)

Well then, maybe I don't belong here or I'm really slow because it took me more than 15 to understand the code lol.... Much thanks for the work! btw, the variable e is never used, why is it there? to verify the r.next is there to simulate the radar scanning sector by sector? that's elegant!

Creative mode mod has entities (including radar) that run without power, with power flashing icon still present.

those can be removed with render_no_power_icon =false, but if its there the entity doesn't work on 0 power and the work is done by scripts (like the one provided by Adil, above)

[impetus maximus]

ok, i'm not a coder/modder. just trying to help.

[robertpaulson]

ok, i'm not a coder/modder. just trying to help.

no worries, I will probably take a look at the mod you mentioned. Thank you for info, and sorry if I came on rude, wasn't my intention. cheers.

[impetus maximus]

not at all. cheers

[Adil]

Much thanks for the work! btw, the variable e is never used, why is it there? to verify the r.next is there to simulate the radar scanning sector by sector? that's elegant!

You are welcome. Unused e is a typo, I've intended to read position, force and surface from it, not from r:

Code: Select all

                local e=r.entity
                local p,s,f=e.position,e.surface,e.force

Sorry, about that.

Yes. r.next_x and r.next_y are there to keep track of the next chunk to scan.

Also, I'm lagging behind somewhat. We didn't have the `render_no_power_icon ` field back then. With that, who knows, maybe adding a buffer to the entity's power source (like roboport has) and using scripts to refill it, will suffice.

something like this

Code: Select all

energy_source =
    {
      type = "electric",
      usage_priority = "secondary-input",
      input_flow_limit = "0W",
      buffer_capacity = "100GJ"
    },