Had kind of a strange idea, but not quite sure exactly what it would be used for. I'd love if people could brainstorm it. I think it would have some uses in complex redstone devices.
The Redstone Slider
The redstone slider would be a little device that can automatically place and remove redstone dust. It would take up the same space as a slab, and it would itself conduct a redstone charge just like redstone dust.
Although it conducts a redstone charges to/from all directions just like dust, the slider would have a front and back. It would also have storage space like a chest, but it would only allow you to place redstone dust inside of it.
Ok, here's where it gets crazy.
When the slider receives a redstone charge it starts traveling forwards. Each time it moves one forward it places redstone dust on the space it previously occupied, taking the dust from its inventory. It would keep moving forward until it runs out of redstone dust, or until it meets any obstacle (a wall, a torch, a flower, already placed redstone dust, anything that isn't flat terrain).
Here's where it gets even crazier.
When the redstone signal turns off, the slider starts traveling backwards. As it moves back it would collect the redstone dust behind it, returning it to its inventory. It would continue traveling backwards until there's no more redstone to pick up, or until its inventory is full.
Basically, the slider would allow for retractable wiring.
I like the idea a lot actually, it's kinda neat. I was able to picture how it works ok, but I have no idea how something like that can be programmed. I'm sure it isn't too difficult, and it could definitely be useful in some traps. Good idea.
That's... strange. Before I'd support it I'd have to hear so possible uses.
Well, off the top of my head...
*A redstone wire that hides itself when not in use
*Circuitry that can automatically connect and disconnect from other circuits.
*Having multiple intersecting wires for different devices that share the same space, but retract when not in use to not interfere with the other devices.
*Retracting redstone wires before spilling water or lava in the area, could be useful in some auto-harvesting systems.
Thinking about it, these ones actually got me excited. I'm thinking that's got to be useful for some sort of control room shenanigans...
Another useful feature would be to move redstone dust out of the way of pistons, or blocks pushed by pistons, so it isn't knocked off.
It would also be pretty neat if redstone sliders themselves could be pushed and pulled by pistons, which would make sliders a useful way of relocating entire redstone wires with pistons.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Wow. I'm seeing circuitry that can change its self. And let me tell you, its better than a double rainbow.
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GENERATION 20: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and add 1 to the generation. Social experiment
But what if we want it to stay in one place, because the two positions are forward and backward. MAybe add another input?
You could control how far it goes by how much redstone you place inside of it. Once it runs out of redstone it would stop moving forward and stay in place until the signal is turned off.
So if you only want the wire to extend 10 blocks and then stop, only put 10 pieces of redstone dust in the slider.
Or you could block it from going further with an obstacle (pistons might be used for this to create a wire that can extend different lengths on command).
Or if you could hook it up to allocators which could add and remove redstone from it, to allow it to extend to different lengths...
That would be neat.
And if you wanted the slider to complete a circuit, but not travel too far, that's very simple. Just have it collide with already placed redstone. It won't be able to pick it up, if it's in front of it, but it can still carry signals to/from it.
You could also do neat things like have one slider collide into another slider. The second slider will stop the first from moving forward, but it will receive the charge and start moving on its own. And that second slider could be pointed to the side, allowing you to make the wire turn 90 degrees.
The Redstone Slider
The redstone slider would be a little device that can automatically place and remove redstone dust. It would take up the same space as a slab, and it would itself conduct a redstone charge just like redstone dust.
Although it conducts a redstone charges to/from all directions just like dust, the slider would have a front and back. It would also have storage space like a chest, but it would only allow you to place redstone dust inside of it.
Ok, here's where it gets crazy.
When the slider receives a redstone charge it starts traveling forwards. Each time it moves one forward it places redstone dust on the space it previously occupied, taking the dust from its inventory. It would keep moving forward until it runs out of redstone dust, or until it meets any obstacle (a wall, a torch, a flower, already placed redstone dust, anything that isn't flat terrain).
Here's where it gets even crazier.
When the redstone signal turns off, the slider starts traveling backwards. As it moves back it would collect the redstone dust behind it, returning it to its inventory. It would continue traveling backwards until there's no more redstone to pick up, or until its inventory is full.
Basically, the slider would allow for retractable wiring.
What do you think?
Well, off the top of my head...
*A redstone wire that hides itself when not in use
*Circuitry that can automatically connect and disconnect from other circuits.
*Having multiple intersecting wires for different devices that share the same space, but retract when not in use to not interfere with the other devices.
*Retracting redstone wires before spilling water or lava in the area, could be useful in some auto-harvesting systems.
*A way of deploying a slow to arrive current.
Another useful feature would be to move redstone dust out of the way of pistons, or blocks pushed by pistons, so it isn't knocked off.
It would also be pretty neat if redstone sliders themselves could be pushed and pulled by pistons, which would make sliders a useful way of relocating entire redstone wires with pistons.
GENERATION 20: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and add 1 to the generation. Social experiment
You could control how far it goes by how much redstone you place inside of it. Once it runs out of redstone it would stop moving forward and stay in place until the signal is turned off.
So if you only want the wire to extend 10 blocks and then stop, only put 10 pieces of redstone dust in the slider.
Or you could block it from going further with an obstacle (pistons might be used for this to create a wire that can extend different lengths on command).
That would be neat.
And if you wanted the slider to complete a circuit, but not travel too far, that's very simple. Just have it collide with already placed redstone. It won't be able to pick it up, if it's in front of it, but it can still carry signals to/from it.
You could also do neat things like have one slider collide into another slider. The second slider will stop the first from moving forward, but it will receive the charge and start moving on its own. And that second slider could be pointed to the side, allowing you to make the wire turn 90 degrees.