Linking storage and devices, semi-automatically?

EvilSmoo

Pretty much the visual effect of power transfer beams. You place a locker, and an item with storage- reactor, bioreactor, water filtration, fabricator, etc. Then, you create the item-link device and select which storage and device you want to link. Either automatic proximity, or clicking source and destination, in order, or facing it at the source, and having it output into the nearest valid inventory (face it at reactor to pull spent rods, face it at a locker to refill reactor from new rods).

Then, the device pulls from storage automatically. Like, a bioreactor/reactor pulling fuel from a locker. And another link outputting waste rods into a locker. Or a fabricator pulling resources from a locker, or perhaps even multiple lockers? And outputting to a locker as well? (Bonus points: fabricator queue?) And a water filtration maching, outputting into a locker, or salt into one locker, and water to another?

Not a very robust crafting system like some Minecraft mods, but slight automation.

Banquo

So much this. Not to bring up other games, but the #1 beef i have with survival/crafting mechanics is the running around one must do to build items or use machinery. Searching for that one needed item you have stored in one of dozens of containers makes a game tedious. This is especially true for refueling/power.

CAPSHAW

This could be something integrated into a multipurpose room. Like having a single panel that attaches to the machine. This could give at least a small locker for other fuel components. How about Larger structures?

Bioreactor built on top of an alien containment tank could pull fish as needed out of there. This could make tanks filled with larger fish more useful. If there was a large enough tank, with enough fish breeding in it, the power plant could become self-sufficient.