Problem
Spatial placement in off-world colonies is a high-dimensional optimization problem. Random or purely aesthetic placement leads to resource bottlenecks, excessive cabling mass, thermal interference, and "single-point-of-failure" clusters.
The Layout Engine matters because it acts as the Systems Engineer. It resolves the trade-offs between competing objectives—such as wanting modules close together for efficiency but far apart for safety—ensuring the colony survives its first critical failure.
Solution
The Colony Layout Engine is the Integration Arm of the STC. It translates abstract module lists into a physical, coordinated map.
- Consumes: Parameterized modules from the STC Simulation Engine and terrain/hazard maps from the Planetary Surface Analyser.
- Produces: Coordinate-mapped assembly sequences and interconnection (power/data) topologies.
- Interfaces: Provides the "Ground Truth" for the final simulation step and robotic constructor instructions.
Method
The proposed architecture utilizes a Multi-Objective Optimization approach:
- Graph-Based Topology: Modeling the base as a weighted graph where edges represent power, water, and data umbilical runs.
- Spatial Packing Algorithms: Using constrained optimization to fit modules onto uneven topography while respecting keep-out zones (e.g., radiation areas or landing pads).
- Safety Redundancy Logic: Algorithms that ensure "Life Critical" modules are not clustered in a way that a single meteoroid strike or fire could disable all of them.
Tools & Technologies
Diagrams / Visuals
[Conceptual Diagram: Module Constraints + Terrain Data → Optimized Coordinate Map]
Results & Outcomes
This project is currently in the planning stage. No active codebase exists.
Current Credibility: NA
Next Steps
- To be confirmed.