Factorio Forums

TL;DR

Add circuit network connections for labs that reads the cost of the currently researching technology.

• Avoid overproduction

• Avoid spoilage

• Request science as needed

What ?

When a lab is connected to a circuit network, it outputs the cost of the current technology - e.g. if I am researching 'Nuclear Power', the lab would output the red, green and blue science signals each with a value of 800.

Even better, this could be the remaining cost instead of just the total cost.

Maybe an option to output either just the cost of the current technology or the entire research queue?

Why ?

To enable a factory to know what science it needs to produce or import. It may be advantageous to import science packs from planets where they are cheaper or easier to make, but currently there's no way for a factory to know what science packs it needs right now. With the introduction of biolabs, it might be good to bring the science to Nauvis to make use of the productivity bonus.

This is especially important for agricultural science as if you aren't researching a biological technology then you'll end up creating or importing lots of science that will just spoil. Knowing what science packs you need means you can request and produce science packs on-demand so they won't be wasted. I think the idea of a production line that turns on and off with demand is neat.

This could also be cool for small factories that want to avoid overproduction and instead produce precise amounts of science packs as they are needed

Adding to this, I would like the labs to output the currently available science packs that have been unlocked. For example, I have unlocked red, green and blue science, the lab would output a 1 on each of those science packs. This would allow to make circuitry enabling new lines or factories or inputs as new packs are unlocked.

I was about to post this request as well. I'd like to make science on demand (mostly for the perishable one) and this would let us do that with circuits

I have a slow science setup on Vulcanus. I would love to be able to automatically use it only when Metallurgic Science is the only off-world science pack in use.

This way, I could easily stock up on the packs required for the next low density structure prod while doing steel plate prod is researching.

+1 this would allow for some really funny builds when combined with assembler 'Set Recipe'.