automatic machine upgrading

[karambituminous]

Describe the feature you'd like

some way to upgrade machines, either as items or as blocks in the world, without player involvement. automatic upgrade removal is not considered.

possible vectors :
combiner

• would give it another use / reason for most players to make one
• acts on machines as items

modification station

• would need to add new I/O functionality to this block, change description, change UI slightly, etc
• acts on machines as items

new input mode

• excessive ? then again energy input mode exists
• not all upgradable blocks have input modes
• would act on blocks placed in the world, so would require some other mod to fully automate it since mekanism has no way to place blocks automatically (barring digital miner replace mode jank / at least until the block placing laser is added . . .)

integrate it into item input

• shouldn't conflict with anything, since upgrades are only ever outputs (of formulaic assemblicators)
• same block problem as before

as crafting recipes

• might make bulk processing cumbersome if e.g. you have to craft 8 times to add 8 speed upgrades. depends on implementation i guess
• acts on machines as items

from dispensers / droppers

• emulates how the player does it somewhat
• same block problem as before

some new machine

• call it the upgrade station ? idk
• would act on machines as items

lasers (either some new laser or a laser upgrade that fires upgrades into blocks)

• would look really cool
• not realistic
• same block problem as before

Describe alternatives you've considered

No response

Additional context

No response

[bukowski912]

What about QIO? If it can beam items from and into existence, surely it can beam upgrades too, right? That's my thinking, anyway. Perhaps some sort of "application" mode, besides the usual transport.