Jump to content
  • Sky
  • Blueberry
  • Slate
  • Blackcurrant
  • Watermelon
  • Strawberry
  • Orange
  • Banana
  • Apple
  • Emerald
  • Chocolate
  • Charcoal
  • 0
sab0t

When to use Microcontrollers

Question

I'm really interested in building Microcontrollers to do various things around my base, but I've been struggling to find appropriate uses of them with how specific their utility is. After trying to use one for a very specific task just recently, I've been having a hard time thinking up when it makes sense to use them, and if there's maybe something I'm missing.

For some clarity, that last specific task I tried to use a Microcontroller for was running a very simple script to that controls a Nuclearcraft Fission Reactor's heat. It deactivates it when it passes a threshold, and eventually reactivates it when it gets low enough. After getting the script working on a normal Computer, I began to simplify it so that it could run off an EEPROM (refactoring the require calls and external library usage was the main thing here). It all came to a halt when I realized it wasn't able to "see" (and therefore, interact with) the Fission Reactor beside it.

Re-reading the Microcontrollers page, I was aware it explicitly stated that it cannot interact with exterior components, but I was sure that meant additional peripherals like Screens / Keyboards. It appears that Microcontrollers cannot interact with any exterior blocks at all in this fashion, though (please correct me if I'm wrong). At this point I was unable to think of a way that a Microcontroller could help with this task, as even if I simplified it to only emit a redstone signal to toggle the reactor, it has no way of reading the heat levels, unless something else were to pass it that information. And at that point, just using a normal Computer obviously  makes more sense, which is what I ended up going with.

 

Can anyone provide some insight on this situation? Was I doing something wrong and misunderstanding, or are Microcontrollers the wrong choice for this kind of task?

What are some examples of uses for Microcontrollers if they effectively can't interact with anything, other than via a Piston upgrade or emitting redstone signals? Is there some way of reading redstone signals with Microcontrollers from things in the world?

 

Hope I got this in the right section, I'm new here :)

Link to post
Share on other sites

5 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0

A thing microcontrollers are better at than a normal computer (built with a case) is they can house upgrades and run on very low power. World interaction upgrades, such as the tank controller, require a robot or drone. Computer cases do not have an "upgrade" slot

 

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 0

I'm glad I found this thread, as I was trying to do the exact same thing as @sab0t.

I'm kind of wondering the same thing now, and the answers above don't really satisfy me. Other than a low powered / solar powered GPS beacon, or maybe a wireless relay, what are micro-controllers good for? in RL their job is to control devices and machines, hence the name. Why is this functionality removed from micro-controllers in OC? I don't get it.

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 0

Well they can control devices and machines, just not that way. They can use redstone signals, network signals and they can also be upgraded with a transposer which allows them to use items and fluids. IMO the transposer is the most useful out of those.

 

I agree, it would be good if certain peripherals could be whitelisted, and they'd have to be next to the microcontroller, not connected with cables. They don't want you to be able to connect screens and keyboards, but some things are more like redstone than like screens and keyboards.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Answer this question...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.