Is extractor AI bugged?

[Pro]

I've researched the extractor AI breakthrough, but my unmanned extractors aren't producing anything. Is there something you have to do to switch on automated production?

 

[dumbo11]

Turn all of the work-shifts on, then disable all of the worker slots.

 

[Wandering Sentinel]

Yeah, for some reason if there's even a single worker in the extractor, the game treats it as "manned" for the purpose of every shift and the breakthrough doesn't apply anymore.

 

[Pro]

I just built one far away from my single dome. It still says the building is powered down and it doesn't produce anything.

 

[Wandering Sentinel]

If it's connected to the power grid, I'm not sure what to say... If it isn't connected to any power grid, that'd be the problem.

 

[Gilmund]

If it's like the fusion reactor breakthrough you have to improve each extractor to get it.

 

[Pro]

"Current status: Not working". No indication why. No upgrade button that I can find.

 

[Andaries]

*picture*

"Current status: Not working". No indication why. No upgrade button that I can find.

becasue your third shift is turned off and the time of the sol is currently third shift. You have to turn 2nd and 3rd shift on.

edit: That is what the inactive work shift warning means. It means their is no work shift turned on for the time of day.

 

[Pro]

Even for non-crewed extraction? That makes no sense. An automated extractor should work regardless of work shifts.

 

[Wandering Sentinel]

You can switch off the concrete and water extractors at specific times of day, though. I assume that it's supposed to work like that.

 

[Gilmund]

Yes if you want it to work on all work shifts you have to open the 3 work shifts. Same with the fusion reactor once you have upgraded it.
I don't know this breakthrough though. With the fusion reactor the work shifts are turned into active or not, you are not able to put people there anymore.

 

[Tiakatt]

Yeah, it works differently than the reactor. For the extractors, you must activate the work shifts, and then manually disable the work slots.

 

[DanDanikov]

Just to be explicit, you must:

1. Click the clipboard with a pause icon for the two stopped work shifts. This should activate them like the first one already is.
2. Right-click the left-most worker or worker outline for all three shifts. All slots should turn red and any workers will be ejected.

More generally speaking, you can debug most work problems by the 'Warning' at the bottom, but for automation of extractors it must be entirely clear of human workers for that shift. This can be achieved in a softer manner by deprioritising the extractor (top-left triple arrow icon) and only accepting workers when other jobs have been filled, but disabling the work slots themselves forces the matter.

 

[Wandering Sentinel]

Low priority is usually better since Extractor AI cuts performance (and therefore productivity) in half to 50% and the average mining shift will therefore produce double (more if they have high morale and positive traits, less if they have low morale and/or negative traits) what the Extractor AI can produce in the same timeframe.

 

[Zinegata]

Even for non-crewed extraction? That makes no sense. An automated extractor should work regardless of work shifts.

You often want to turn off the night shift both to spare your colonists from going crazy and because you might not have enough power at night if you're reliant on solar. That's why even automated extractors like concrete have shift options.