Automation
Automation in Starsand Island allows players to reduce manual labor through sprinklers, robots, and automated processing devices. As you advance through the Crafter and Farmer profession tiers, progressively powerful automation tools become available. A well-automated farm saves significant daily time, letting you focus on exploration, fishing, and relationship building.
Sprinkler System
Sprinklers are the first automation tool most players encounter. They automatically water nearby crops each morning, eliminating the daily watering chore:
Sprinkler | Unlock | Range |
|---|---|---|
Basic Sprinkler | Junior Farmer | Small area around the sprinkler |
Sprinkler I | Junior Farmer | Slightly larger area |
Sprinkler II | Intermediate Farmer | Medium area coverage |
Pressurized Sprinkler | Expert Farmer | Largest coverage area |
Place sprinklers strategically to cover your crop fields. Higher-tier sprinklers cover more tiles, so fewer are needed. Plan your field layout around sprinkler coverage to maximize efficiency.
Robots
Robots are advanced automation devices that gather resources automatically:
Robot | Unlock | Function |
|---|---|---|
Mining Robot | Expert Crafter | Automatically mines ore nodes in its area. Place near mining deposits in the Moonlit Forest or surface nodes. |
Logging Robot | Expert Crafter | Automatically chops trees in its area. Place near tree clusters for automated wood gathering. |
Robots require a Robot Terminal to function. The Robot Terminal acts as a control hub that manages all robots in its vicinity. Place the Terminal and then position robots within its range.
Robot Terminal
The Robot Terminal is the control device for all automation robots. It was originally limited to surface-level placement, but patch v0.2.1515 enabled placement inside Moonlit Forest campsites. This was a significant quality-of-life improvement, as mining robots in the Moonlit Forest are one of the most efficient ways to farm ores without manual effort.
Automated Processing
Processing stations like the Separator, Furnace, Brewing Barrel, Jam Maker, and Pickling Jar run automatically once loaded. The v0.2.0909 patch also added Realm Box integration, allowing processing stations to pull materials directly from your shared storage. This means you can load raw materials into the Realm Box and any connected station will draw from it.
Automation Bug History
Automation devices had some bugs during early Early Access:
v0.2.1598 fixed automation devices failing under certain conditions.
v0.2.1515 enabled Robot Terminal placement in Moonlit Forest campsites.
v0.2.0909 added Realm Box integration with processing devices.
These issues are resolved in the current version. If you experience automation problems, ensure your game is updated to the latest patch.
Building an Automated Farm
Start with sprinklers as soon as you reach Junior Farmer. Automated watering is the single biggest time saver.
Set up a processing pipeline: Separator for instant ingredient processing, Brewing Barrel/Jam Maker/Pickling Jar for timed fermentation.
Place a Realm Box near your processing stations so they can pull raw materials from shared storage.
At Expert Crafter, deploy Mining and Logging Robots with a Robot Terminal for passive resource gathering.
Use Fertilizer Boxes (unlocked through Farmer tiers) for automated fertilizer application.
Tips
Sprinklers are the highest-priority automation investment. Buy the blueprint and build them as soon as you hit Junior Farmer.
Place the Robot Terminal in a Moonlit Forest campsite for passive ore farming while you do other activities on the surface.
Load processing stations before bed. Timed stations like the Brewing Barrel and Jam Maker work overnight.
Plan crop field layouts around sprinkler coverage. A grid pattern with sprinklers at regular intervals wastes the least farmland space.
Robots have ongoing upkeep. Ensure you have the materials to maintain them before deploying multiple units.