Later in the game the player would have to build data collection systems and computing systems to generate and process data in his ever-complicating world. It would be cool if the player would have to build massive server racks for data processing and research purposes. This would be handled by a new computing and data mechanic, which includes:
Data production multiblocks
Data storage items
Computing power multiblocks
Optical fibers to transfer computing power
Research station and multiblock computing power hatches to "consume" computing power
Data storage items
More advanced research and computing processes will need higher tier data storages.
Disk drives (EV?)
Made from glass disc and cobalt alloy coating
Data orbs (LuV?)
Uses terfenol-D, which is used as a magnetic material in these drives
Not to be confused with computing. These processes simply create data to be stored in data items, which may be used in computing purposes. Information collection will span several tiers.
Space data production
Using information-collecting multiblocks such as radars and observatories, data orbs can be filled with information about outer space, so that the player can traverse the solar system and know the whereabouts of asteroids to mine. Data about the solar system can be gathered by:
Observatories/Radar Dishes
Satellites with sensory equipment (satellites in different systems collect different data)
Data about materials can be collected using several methods. This material data can be used to unlock new processes.
Microscope
Electron Microscope
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectoscopy (requires hyperpolarized gases)
X-Ray Crystallography
Scanning tunneling spectroscopy
Biological data production
Data about living organisms can also be collected using several methods. This biological data can be used to unlock new processes.
Ultrasound Imaging
Computed Tomography Scan
Magnetic Resonance Imagers (requires hyperpolarized gases)
Positron Emission Topography (requires special isotopes like oxygen-15 and others)
Computing power transfer
Computing units (measured with FLOPS) will be outputted from the computing output hatches, which convert electrical signals into optical signals to be sent by fiber cables. They are transferred to other multiblocks using optic fiber cables, which will be intercepted by computing input hatches, which convert the optical signals back into electrical signals. There will be different tiers of optic fiber cables and computing hatches, which will require more advanced materials for handling more information.
Materials for computing output hatches from least advanced to most advanced:
LED Chips: Requires blue & yellow phosphors encapsulated on indium tin oxide wafers and epoxy. The blue phosphors are made from magnesium-doped gallium nitride, while yellow phosphors are made from cerium-doped YAG crystals.
Lithium niobate optical modulators are used to improve the system
Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, made from doped Gallium-arsenide substrates and Bragg mirrors:
Optic fiber cables from least advanced to most advanced:
Normal fibers from germanium tetrachloride & silicon tetrachloride (Implemented in GCYS)
Germanium-antimony-tellurium chalcogenide glass
Erbium-doped ZBLAN glass
Materials for computing input hatches from least advanced to most advanced:
Indium gallium arsenide & schottky diodes
Mercury cadmium telluride & schottky diodes
Advanced SMD transistors
Computer multiblock
Blocks in the computer multiblock:
Research multiblock controller
Maintenance hatch
Power input hatches
Cooling fan blocks
Coolant ports
Computer racks (stores one circuit each)
Computer casings
Computing output hatch
Higher tier circuits provide more computing power but also produce more heat and consume more power. Each computer multiblock will have a temperature statistic, which goes up if the total heating outbalances the cooling provided. At a certain point, the computer will explode. Cooling fans are the most basic way to get rid of heat, but coolant ports and coolants will eventually have to be used to cool the more advanced circuits. These coolants range from water to liquid helium.
Uses for computing power
Processes that use computing units may include:
Assembly line
Research station
Particle colliders, fusion reactors, and other particle physics
Any other data-intensive process
Research station
This multiblock is responsible for modifying information in data-containing items, such as data sticks and data orbs. Data sticks and data orbs may then be used in multiblocks such as the assembly line to unlock new recipes. Here are a few things it can do:
Copy data from a full data orb into an empty data orb
Delete data from a full data orb to make an empty data orb
Research an inputted item and output data into an empty data orb
Processes raw data in a data orb (can include space research, nuclear research, particle collider results, etc) to get new data in the data orb
Overall Idea
Later in the game the player would have to build data collection systems and computing systems to generate and process data in his ever-complicating world. It would be cool if the player would have to build massive server racks for data processing and research purposes. This would be handled by a new computing and data mechanic, which includes:
Data storage items
More advanced research and computing processes will need higher tier data storages.
Disk drives (EV?)
Data orbs (LuV?)
Something in ZPM
Something in UHV
Data production
Not to be confused with computing. These processes simply create data to be stored in data items, which may be used in computing purposes. Information collection will span several tiers.
Space data production
Using information-collecting multiblocks such as radars and observatories, data orbs can be filled with information about outer space, so that the player can traverse the solar system and know the whereabouts of asteroids to mine. Data about the solar system can be gathered by:
Material data production
Data about materials can be collected using several methods. This material data can be used to unlock new processes.
Biological data production
Data about living organisms can also be collected using several methods. This biological data can be used to unlock new processes.
Computing power transfer
Computing units (measured with FLOPS) will be outputted from the computing output hatches, which convert electrical signals into optical signals to be sent by fiber cables. They are transferred to other multiblocks using optic fiber cables, which will be intercepted by computing input hatches, which convert the optical signals back into electrical signals. There will be different tiers of optic fiber cables and computing hatches, which will require more advanced materials for handling more information.
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiber-optic_communication#Technology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_fiber#Manufacturing
Materials for computing output hatches from least advanced to most advanced:
Optic fiber cables from least advanced to most advanced:
Materials for computing input hatches from least advanced to most advanced:
Computer multiblock
Blocks in the computer multiblock:
Higher tier circuits provide more computing power but also produce more heat and consume more power. Each computer multiblock will have a temperature statistic, which goes up if the total heating outbalances the cooling provided. At a certain point, the computer will explode. Cooling fans are the most basic way to get rid of heat, but coolant ports and coolants will eventually have to be used to cool the more advanced circuits. These coolants range from water to liquid helium.
Uses for computing power
Processes that use computing units may include:
Research station
This multiblock is responsible for modifying information in data-containing items, such as data sticks and data orbs. Data sticks and data orbs may then be used in multiblocks such as the assembly line to unlock new recipes. Here are a few things it can do: