Drones
Drones are autonomous vehicles based on stations or (some) M, L and XL ships. These drones perform specific functions for their commanders.
Acheter et Fabriquer des Drones
Les Drones sont contruits à partir de composants de drones et de puces intelligentes en utilisant des Cellules d'énergie. Lorsque vous posez un vaisseau pouvant contenir des drones sur un dock d'équipement ou un chantier naval vous pouvez commander des drones et les dock d'équipement ou le chantier naval lancera leur production instantanément et les transférera dans votre vaisseau. Ces Drones peuvent être utilisés sur le vaisseau ou être transférés sur une de vos propres stations. Néanmoins, pour approvisionner vos propres stations, il est bien plus pratique de laisser la station fabriquer elle-même ses Drones. Faites un clic-droit sur votre station et sélectionnez "Aperçu logique". Vous pourrez voir ici le nombre de Drones Cargo, Drones de défense et Drones de réparation la station devrait garder en stock. La station commandera des Composants de Drone, des Puces Intelligentes ainsi que des Cellules d'énergie et une fois approvisionnée de ces marchandises, elle produira des Drones toute seule et maintiendra leur nombre en cas de pertes. L'expérience montre que votre station pourrait attendre très longtemps avant que des PNJ vous apporte ces marchandises. Vous devriez envoyer l'un de vos transporteur si vous souhaitez que cela arrive plus vite.
Les Types de Drones
Il y a un certain nombre de type de Drones dans X4: Foundations et nous allons vous les expliquer à tour de rôle :
Drones Cargo
Cargo drones are used by stations with piers and by L and XL ships to transfer wares. If an L or XL ship is docked to a station's pier, for example, you can watch the Cargo drones fly back and forth between the drone bay at the front of the ship and the pier. The time needed to transfer the wares is governed by the amount of drones the station and the ship own between them, and the drones will return to their original owners after all wares have been transferred.
Consequently, your L mining ships shouldn't be equipped solely with Gas collectors or Ore collectors - include at least one Cargo drone to be certain you're able to exchange resources with any station you encounter.
Drones de Construction
Building drones are used by XL Builder-type ships to construct stations. Construction speed of stations depends on the number of Construction drones the Builder ship has, so choose NPC builder ships carefully with this in mind, and pick one carrying the maximum number of Construction drones usable at the same time when building a station module (30).
Drones de défense
Defense drones are auto-launched by stations and ships which come under attack (or launch an attack themselves) and can be set to attack or defend their bases. They are essentially small ships with a laser attached which they use to fight. After release it usually takes some time for them to return to docking storage on recall, therefore it can be prudent to disable their launch in the ship settings or via a configurable hotkey until you really need them in ships manned by yourself.
Drones Collecteurs de gaz
Gas collectors are used on L gas mining ships to collect gases (Helium, Hydrogen and Methane).
Drones Collecteurs de minerai
Ore collectors are used on L mineral mining ships to collect minerals (Ice, Ore, Silicon and Nividium).
Drones de Réparation
Repair drones are auto-launched by stations and ships which suffer damage. They fly to the damaged part of the ship and initiate repairs. They are essentially small ships with a repair laser attached, which they use to repair affected hull areas and surface fixtures such as drives, turrets, etc.
Drones de Terraformation
(see also Terraforming)
Terraforming drones are special because unlike regular drones they are built with a S/M Fabrication module. Additionally and most critically, they do not require any resources to be built and will be created out of nothing when terraforming resources are provided. In addition, terraforming drones come in two varieties medium and small drop drones respectively, this also makes the medium drop drone the only medium sized drone.