This proof-of-concept demonstrates worker AI + assignment using mining drones that run a closed loop: travel to a resource node → mine into their own cargo → return to the mothership → deposit → repeat. The focus is clarity: you should always know what each drone is doing and why.

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What you can do

1) Launch drones

Use Launch Drone to deploy up to 6 drones from the mothership.

2) Assign drones to a node

• Left-click a node to select it.
• Then either:
  • Assign Selected Drone (if a drone is selected), or
  • Assign All Idle (sends every idle drone to that node)
• Recall From Node pulls drones off that node and forces them to return.

3) Manage individual drones

• Left-click a drone to select it.
• Use:
  • Recall: forces the drone to return to the mothership immediately
  • Clear Task: cancels its assignment and sets it to idle
  • Reset (only when Stuck): teleports it back to the mothership

4) Auto behaviors

• Auto-Repeat (ON by default): after deposit, drones automatically return to the same node if it still has resources and the mothership has capacity.
• Auto-Retask (OFF by default): if a node empties, drones automatically switch to the nearest non-empty node.

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Drone states (what they mean)

Each drone is always in one of these states, shown in the roster:

• Idle — waiting near the mothership for an assignment
• To Node — traveling to its assigned node
• Mining — extracting resources into drone cargo (you’ll see a beam to the node)
• Returning — flying back to the mothership to deposit
• Blocked — cannot proceed (the UI shows the reason, e.g. Mothership Full or No Slots)
• Stuck — pathing failed (use Reset)

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How resources flow

1. While Mining, the node’s remaining ring drains.
2. The drone’s Cargo fills with that resource type.
3. On Returning, the drone docks at the mothership and deposits cargo into the mothership inventory.
4. The mothership cargo bar fills and the per-resource totals (Ice / Ore / Rare) increase.

If the mothership cargo is full, drones will return and then enter Blocked: Mothership Full until space is available.

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Visual clarity features (intentional POC choices)

• Fixed mining slots around each node prevent drones from stacking on top of each other.
• A node displays an “xN” badge showing how many drones are mining it.
• Mining uses a visible beam + particle flow from node → drone to make extraction legible.
• The bottom roster is the authoritative truth table for drone behavior and yield.

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HUD guide

Top-left: Controls & Simulation

• Launch controls, drone counts, and the Auto-Repeat / Auto-Retask toggles.

Top-right: Selection Inspector

• Shows details and actions for the currently selected node or drone.

Bottom-left: Mothership Cargo

• Total cargo fill, per-resource totals, active mining count, and global extraction rate.

Bottom-right: Drone Roster

• Per-drone state, assignment, cargo, rate, trip yield, lifetime yield, plus Recall/Clear actions.

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Success criterion for the POC

You can launch multiple drones, assign them to one or more nodes, and clearly observe:

• drone state transitions,
• mining and depletion,
• return and deposit,
• and per-drone yields updating correctly.