
This idea is an addition to the already existing player drones. These larger 2x2 drones could be the tier 2 drones. The concept is that you have a drone with modules on its side that auto-collect materials like the mining drones but as an addition to that have their own hub production and refinery wich could be assigned to specific recipes wich they start producing at different locations. These outposts have the same grid system like the drill ship where you install modules. These outposts could also be used for traveling back to the drill or any areas on the map.
This would automate production and give a kind of satisfactory feel. And of course they would go underground at eruptions.

Wouldn’t automatically return or go underground, i would say they have to be recalled to the ship before the eruption

Whatever

Because a suggestion that is progressing the idea of this post is not worth talking about yeah im down voteing this now

the point is these are left all over the map maybe at towns (they have basic workbench refinery research.)