Pioneer

A modular long-range vehicle for driving, scanning, mining, and building in the field. The bare chassis does nothing; everything comes from the modules, batteries, and cargo you mount in its eight universal slots.

Stats: Stockpile 0 units (mixed; capacity comes from Cargo Racks)

How to obtain: Requires the Pioneer Chassis research (Terraform Index 100,000). Buy from the Shop for 5,000 cr.

Access: self / get_component(id) · Like every component, exposes .id and .name.

Status and power

.status()

Current physical activity, read fresh on each call (including through get_component(...)). An idle Pioneer may still have a script running or a job assigned.

Returns: One of "idle" / "moving" / "stranded" / "scanning" / "surveying" / "drilling" / "discarding" / "constructing" / "transferring" / "charging" / "queued" / "being_rescued"

.battery

Aggregated battery pool across every Portable Battery in every mounted Battery Holder. level() returns a 0-1 fraction, wh() raw watt-hours, capacity() the summed max. For per-holder detail, holders() returns each Holder with its .batteries list; the aggregate view covers most scripts. With zero Portable Batteries installed, the Pioneer can’t move. See Battery (Vehicle).

.is_being_rescued()

True while a Vehicle Charging Station rescue drone is actively recovering this Pioneer. Pause movement, mining, or construction scripts even if the battery has started rising above zero.

Returns: Boolean

.rescue_status()

Rescue mission phase: "none", "outbound", "charging", or "returning" ("returning" means the rescue drone is going home and the Pioneer is free again).

Returns: String

Capability modules

.nav

Drives the Pioneer: self.nav.set_target(x, y) returns immediately and the Pioneer keeps driving while the script runs. A distance tolerance means close enough, not stopped, so call self.nav.brake() before mining, constructing, or transferring cargo. The Pioneer stops and clears its route if the script stops, ends, or errors. Requires a Nav Module in a universal slot.

.sonar

Finds useful sites: self.sonar.scan() then self.sonar.survey(site) to reveal details such as mineral hardness, purity, or vent output. Scanning and new surveys take time and use battery; the script pauses while the sonar works. Requires a mounted Sonar Module.

.drill

Extracts one mineral unit from the surveyed site under the Pioneer with self.drill.mine(). The vehicle must be stationary with enough cargo space and power. Requires a mounted Drill Module.

.constructor

Builds or removes Planet Map blueprints from Plan Mode or scripts. Read pending work from get_component("construction_blueprint"), drive near construction.position, then call self.constructor.execute(construction.id). Building consumes kits or segments from cargo; removal returns reclaimed parts to cargo, so leave room. Requires a mounted Constructor Module.

Cargo and freight

.cargo

Combines the Portable Bins in the Pioneer’s Cargo Racks. count(), capacity(), full() for totals; racks() inspects the physical layout. Each bin holds one item type; take() and send() handle bins independently. compact() consolidates matching cargo into fewer bins without changing send() order. discard(rack_index) permanently empties one rack and takes 1 hour when cargo is present (an empty rack finishes immediately). See Cargo.

.input

Loads cargo from Inventory at home, local storage at outposts, field-extractor stockpiles, or a nearby stopped cargo vehicle. Field and vehicle transfers require service range; both vehicles must be stopped. Never destroys cargo (use self.cargo.discard(rack_index) to jettison a rack). Requires Auto Feeders. See VehicleInputSlot.

.output

Unloads cargo to Inventory, a Storage Bin, a Warehouse, or a nearby stopped cargo vehicle. Inventory freight is physically available only while parked at home; remote outposts use their local stores. Vehicle-to-vehicle handoffs need both vehicles stopped within ~2 m. Requires Auto Feeders research. See OutputSlot.

Hardware service

All four service calls require the Pioneer to be inside a founded outpost service area. This dedicated-hardware exception does not make Inventory a freight endpoint there.

.modules()

Inspect every slot on the chassis: a list of eight MountSlot entries. Each has .index (pass to mount/unmount), .type (always "universal" on Pioneer), .module_id (mounted id or None), .internal_count (non-zero for Battery Holders / Cargo Racks), .internal_items (installed portable item ids). Call before mount(...) or install(...) to find an empty target.

Returns: List of MountSlot

.mount(slot_index, item_id) `SELF ONLY`

Request a hardware service order from Inventory into whole-number slot_index: self.mount(0, "nav_module"). Biological field modules are drone-only.

Returns: ActionResult · Outcomes: "ok" / "not_at_service_point" / "locked" / "item_not_in_inventory" / "unknown_module" / "slot_not_compatible" / "slot_occupied" / "invalid_slot" / "capability_already_mounted"

.unmount(slot_index) `SELF ONLY`

Return the module at slot_index to Inventory: self.unmount(0). Empty every internal bay before removing a holder or rack.

Returns: ActionResult · Outcomes: "ok" / "not_at_service_point" / "slot_empty" / "invalid_slot" / "holder_not_empty" / "inventory_full"

.install(slot_index, internal_index, item_id) `SELF ONLY`

Install a Portable Battery or empty Portable Storage Bin from Inventory into a container’s internal slot: self.install(0, 1, "portable_battery") uses bay 1 of the Battery Holder at chassis slot 0; self.install(4, 0, "portable_bin") uses bay 0 of the Cargo Rack at slot 4.

Returns: ActionResult · Outcomes: "ok" / "not_at_service_point" / "locked" / "invalid_slot" / "invalid_internal_slot" / "slot_empty" / "not_container" / "item_not_accepted" / "internal_slot_occupied" / "item_not_in_inventory"

.uninstall(slot_index, internal_index) `SELF ONLY`

Return the portable item in a container’s internal slot to Inventory: self.uninstall(0, 1). Portable Storage Bins must be empty.

Returns: ActionResult · Outcomes: "ok" / "not_at_service_point" / "invalid_slot" / "invalid_internal_slot" / "slot_empty" / "not_container" / "internal_slot_empty" / "inventory_full" / "container_not_empty"

Command mailbox

peek_command() · next_command() · command_count() · clear_commands() (SELF ONLY): see Script Commands.