Interplatform Requests

A Factorio Space Age mod that adds "Planetary Orbit" as a request source for space platforms, allowing platforms to request items from other platforms orbiting the same planet.

Features

• New Space Location: Adds "Planetary Orbit" to the import_from grid of buttons in platform hub requests
• Robot Delivery Animation: Watch logistic robots fly between platforms delivering items
• Automatic Transfers: Items are pulled from platform hubs on other platforms at the same orbit
• No New Items: Uses the existing platform hub request system
• Cinematic: 9-second delivery animation with robots flying off one platform and arriving at another

How It Works

When you set a platform hub request with "Planetary Orbit" as the import source:

1. The mod scans other platforms at the same space location
2. Finds the requested items in their platform hubs
3. Creates a logistic robot on the source platform
4. Robot picks up items and flies off screen
5. Robot appears on the target platform and delivers items
6. Items are added to the requesting platform's hub

Quick Start

1. Have 2+ platforms orbiting the same planet (e.g., both at Nauvis orbit)
2. Open a platform hub on the platform that needs items
3. Click the logistics button to set requests
4. Set a request for an item (e.g., Iron Plate, minimum: 100)
5. Select "Planetary Orbit" from the "Import from" grid of buttons
6. Put items in another platform's hub at the same location
7. Watch the robot delivery! A robot will fly between platforms

Example Setup

Platform A (Requester):

• Orbiting Nauvis
• Hub has logistic request: Iron Plate (min: 100), Import from: Planetary Orbit
• Currently has: 20 Iron Plates

Platform B (Provider):

• Orbiting Nauvis
• Hub has: 500 Iron Plates

Result:
1. A logistic robot appears on Platform B
2. Robot picks up 80 Iron Plates and flies off screen
3. Robot appears on Platform A and delivers the items
4. Platform A now has 100 Iron Plates!

Delivery Animation Timeline

Total Time: 9 seconds

Source Platform (3 seconds):
- Robot appears at source hub
- Hovers for 1 second (picking up items)
- Flies off screen in a random direction for 2 seconds (could be left, right, up, down, or diagonal)

Transit (3 seconds):
- No visible robot (items in transit between platforms)

Target Platform (3 seconds):
- Robot appears just off-screen coming from the opposite direction
- Flies toward hub for 2 seconds
- Hovers at hub for 1 second (delivering items)
- Disappears

Key Features

• Same Orbit Only: Only transfers between platforms at the exact same space location
• Smart Transfer: Only requests the difference (current + in-transit vs requested)
• No Duplicates: Prevents multiple robots for the same request
• Visual Feedback: Watch robots fly between platforms
• Performance Friendly: Checks every 60 ticks (1 second)
• Works Alongside Vanilla: Normal planet-to-platform logistics still work