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SM Detect-Explore-Drone

09/01/16 update: Added a bottom facing camera to assist with the base connector docking.

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Here's my minimalist starter drone that I use in early survival mode on multiplayer servers (planet start). The bare bones design means you won't waste any mats, while it's extended functionality ensures your early survival. It is very light at under 10K kg and it's made of only 25 blocks.

- Multiplayer Survival:
It can be build with salvage from your lander and then used to explore the surrounding area to find a suitable location for your base. Make waypoints and use the autopilot to ferry materials from your lander to your base (and yourself), quickly and efficiently. When ready, strip the medic room and reactor and install them at your base to make it your permanent spawn point (if no uranium is left from your lander, add a couple solar panels to recharge the battery).

- Explorer mode (ore detection):
The seat is installed so you can use the SM Drone for exploration beyond it's antenna range. It also replenishes your energy after an exhausting digging trip. So take a seat and then use the remote (K) to control the drone and explore the area. Place waypoints to any suitable ore deposits you find and let the autopilot ferry you back and forth to your base.

If you install a connector to your base, add 2 waypoints for docking and landing on it (1st waypoint at height and 2nd directly on the connector to avoid unnecessary collisions and accidents - drone flight mode set to "one way", collision avoidance "off" cause if there are any other vehicles close-by it will never land).

Note: The battery will be recharged very quickly through the base connector (@4.3MW input ~15mins fully recharged from flat). The battery is needed to fly safely as it provides high enough power output to keep the drone going. If it runs out and there is uranium in the reactors, the drone can fly for about 1-1.5Km (or ~2mins with 50% cargo load) before overloading. Just land it for a couple mins to temp charge and repeat until you are back at base.

- Drone mode:
Well it is a drone, so it can be flown remotely! This is useful if you, like me, often misplace the drone and can't find it. A number of reasons for that, a) SE (beta) bug on MP servers where small grids just fly away at random times or after reset/crash, b) you are under attack or enemies around, c) dismounting at a speed etc If you are within antenna range, add a waypoint on upir location, remotely take control, add waypoint to your autopilot and have the drone come back to you (or send it to your base).

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Further revisions:

This bare bones drone is a work in progress. Lots that can be done to extend its functionality. For example, being able to send it out exploring unaided and add waypoints to new ore deposits it detects automatically, while you are busy building other things. Or add armour and weapons on it and have it patrol around the base attacking enemies before they reach you. Or add a couple drills and send it to dig that ore it mapped and get it back to you etc etc