Anyways, one thing I've been thinking of that would be absolutely awesome for DF is just a way to link a setup to an axle/gearbox/etc that, when the device is active, acts like a pulled lever, and when not active acts like an unpulled lever, and can be linked to objects just like a lever or pressure plate, and of course have an inverted output option. Some people might say it's silly (we have water logic, after all), but I can see a good use for this, at least for everyone who wants to start building fortress automation devices and specialized traps and such, and if they're like me, would prefer to deal with machine logic rather than water logic.
#1 There could be a bridge linked up to one of those and a waterwheel on a pit of water (or lava if you can find a way to get rid of it later) under the bridge with a floodgate controlling the water and the switch far in the fort. The invaders charge in, the floodgates open turning the waterwheel placed past the bridge (so that there is water at the "dropsite" to flush away those monsters) flushing away those evil goblins...
Lv 0
code:
~~~~~
~~~~~
XXXXXXXXX
X+++++++X
XXXXXXXXX
~~~~~
~~~~~
^That's a bridge over a pit (currently empty).
Lv -1
code:
###~###
###X###
#~~~~~#
#~~~~~#
..~~~~~..
..~~~~~..
..~~~~~..
#~~~~~#
#~~~~~#
##=~###
M-=~###
##=~###^ The level below with:
X - A floodgate
M - The Rotary Sensor
=
= - A Waterwheel
=
~ - Water
. - Area covered by bridge
# - Wall
As above, the floodgate is operated by a lever, the bridge is operated by the rotary sensor, and the water will flush out to somewhere else.
quote:
Originally posted by Align:
<STRONG>In that particular case, why not just link the switch directly to the floodgate and bridge?
I like the idea though.</STRONG>
Because you want the gobos on the bridge when it goes up.
Is what you want a NOT-pressure plate? An inverter?
I then asked that an inverted output option be made available (e.g. activates when power is off as opposed to when it's on)
Would be very useful.
*Total Power (i.e. activate when total power is ___ to ___)
*Available Power
*Total Power in Use
The above argument is invalid because this is Dwarf Fortress.
This must be implemented.
Is it instantaneous across the whole system? What if it loops back, that would be bad.
Would it be just like..one frame or something? Or more? Could get confusing.
Also, GM? Pretty easy to do in real life, actually. ASCII sucks for illustrating it though, I'll try to make up an image for you tomorrow.
Not to mention if it does I have about 8+ pages worth of Machine Logic contraptions (well, 8+ on my TI-89+)
RPM can be measure by a Tachometer (invented 1817)
And the earliest dynamometer was the De Prony brake (invented 1821)
Both of these inventions could be built with dwarven technology.
However, they they occur after the time horizon Toady has chosen (or so I am told).
[ April 16, 2008: Message edited by: Othob Rithol ]