Ok lets get to answering.
karlsen, on 27 October 2013 - 10:20 PM, said:
This is the kind of program I've always dreamed about creating. I have a few ideas about features you could implement:
1: Make it possible to set up multiple mining areas using different channels.
Already possible - requires manual edit of channel variable in scanner and swarminer files on disk before starting quarry - channels should be higher than 10000 cause they talk a lot.
karlsen, on 27 October 2013 - 10:20 PM, said:
2: As seen on this screenshot
http://i.imgur.com/4SdRNjr.png it seems like the turtles "line" up after each other because the first "layer" of a section isn't mined. Would it be possible for the turtles in the "line" to make a path between the sector it is trying to get through and the one it wants to get to like in this picture:
http://i.imgur.com/sjTBIQa.png (where the glass would be the possible pathing between the sectors).
2 ½: An alternative "fix" the above "problem" would be to allow the turtles in the section to communicate and divide the area they have to mine (adaptive sub-sections).
2.75: Another way to "fix" the problem from #2 would be to mine the first layer of the sections in an alternative way by mining out the edge first then going back to the regular mining of this section.
I Don't understand exactly whats your problem with pathing - system - can you try explaining it again. Also you could bee seeing anti-collizion system that kinda counterintuitive in actions - take a look few posts before.
karlsen, on 27 October 2013 - 10:20 PM, said:
From here on it's more "wishes" than actual requests
3: If #1 Would become possible another feature could be to have "master" turtles which automatically sets an entire mining operation. (requires GPS coverage in the area?) Given they get the coordinates, the facing and unlabled empty turtles, drop off materials (ender chest for example), disk drive, disk, and coble stone.
Nope - design idea - no lords no masters each turtle is equal - i will add deployer/collector turtle after i finalize its code. will still require you to set order youself but will deploy and program turtles automagicly.
karlsen, on 27 October 2013 - 10:20 PM, said:
4: If #3 then you could use a different channel on the modem to send information about that specific digsite through an adhoc like network of "gps towers". Where this information would be sent with progress updates of each section every 10 seconds which would consist of the y-level/the depth/ number of layers completed in every section.
This while idea is good i am not good at - ad-hock networking - this wwhole program is based on brodcast-net turtle don't "link" with each-other they simply send info what they are doing to all in area. Also scanners send data of what they see in their area to each other to speed up information sharing. IF you want to seend this information onwards all you need to do if figure out how its send by scanner and make program plugging into that.
karlsen, on 27 October 2013 - 10:20 PM, said:
5: If #4 then you could possible make these master turtles automatically move mining operations once they have been completed to another area. This could be achieved through temporary enderchest storage for the labeled & already programmed turtles. If this feature was created the user would probably have to give it some "upper" bounds of areas it's allowed to move to. If this "fully" automatic system would be set up it would probably need "blacklisted/whitelisted" areas.
Again - no lords no masters - to many times i lost whole mine cause "master" turtle got broken or destroyed.
As for blacklisted areas its possible with this version - take a look at
List Of Argument Line Commands in Files and What They Do [For Advanced Users Only] : in floppy section - addzone commands - allows you to blacklist cuboids (turtles will not mine them - never)..
karlsen, on 27 October 2013 - 10:20 PM, said:
6: Have a suggested dropsite being a bit above the center of the entire "map" with all the sections. Or possible add the option of having multiple drop locations where the turtle would figure out which one it is closest to and choose that one.
If all these things would be set up it would be possible to have a fully automated mining system which adaptivly moves to new digsites once it has completed it's current one.
Multiple dropsides would require lots of changes in code that i don't really see point in making - with one dropspot its easier to menage your mine - also you can select dropsite point to be in (center) of mine but as i stated before there is no 100% endurance it will work 100% times.
karlsen, on 27 October 2013 - 10:20 PM, said:
I have a question about the movement of the turtles: I've noticed they stop up a lot and wait a tiny bit before they move on. Is this due to the information they send/receive ?
Can you tell me when exacly they stop a bit? if while mining then they are stopping to see if there is noting to mine - while pathfinding there are no stops to mine. Also if turtle attempts to mine another turtle its locked for a second as a punishment
we don't want them to mine each other.
There is also queue system but its not "send/receive" based but "compare to what i know" based - it will not stop turtle unless it knows turtle should /stop for a sec.
karlsen, on 27 October 2013 - 10:20 PM, said:
Another question would be about the connection between the turtles. Do they work like ad-hoc networks in real life where if Turtle1 and Turtle3 are too far from each other to communicate but Turtle2 is in between Turtle1 & Turtle3 and has a connection to both of them. So Turtle2 would passthrough information Turtle1 need to send to Turtle3?
All turtles broadcast all they know about what they are doing - informations slowly spreads onto whole mining areas - thats how map of mine is updated with information far more than 64 blocks away - simple nah? so yes no ad-hoc connection per se but information still spreads.
karlsen, on 27 October 2013 - 10:20 PM, said:
Hope I did not overwhelm you but I really enjoy seeing this project of yours since it's almost what I have dreamed of achieving with computercraft. Please reply if some of my suggestions/questions are unclear and I'll make sure to edit them to be more detailed.
No problem i enjoy answering tho those long posts . Take care!