🎉 NOW WITH PONDERS!

Take your Create Aeronautics contraptions to the next level.

Realtime Roadmap for planned features and what I'm currently working on!

Create Thrusters and Things adds propulsion, steering, power, and control systems built for ships, aircraft, and advanced moving machines. Build anything from a simple hover platform to a fully scriptable flight rig.

🔧 What you can build now

🔥 Fuel-powered and energy-powered thruster systems 🎯 Steerable propulsion setups with specialised bearings 🕹️ Manual flight controls with joystick input and controller channels ⚙️ Smart mechanical routing with dual-lane gearbox behavior ⚡ Full power loops with generation, transfer, and motor output 🤝 Utility systems for docking, grabbing, and automation

🧱 New Blocks

Block Block Block Thruster Thruster Bearing Analogue Joystick Contraption Controller Industrial Alternator Smart Gearbox Advanced Data Link Andesite Cable Industrial Motor Variable Transmission Claw Physics Gantry Powered Zipline

🎒 New Items

Upgrades

Processing Upgrades — Smoking, Smelting, Haunting (Tiers 1–4)
Propulsion Upgrades (Tiers 1–4)

Tools & Accessories

Thruster Lens
Physics Staff
Physics Goggles
Contraption Network Linker

✨ Feature Highlights

🎨 Color your thruster plume/beam with dyes for custom builds.
🔇 Run thrusters in quieter Peaceful mode for cleaner visuals and reduced noise.
🔆 Switch between classic fuel and Focused FE beam operation with the Thruster Lens.
🔗 Feed fuel and FE through mounted bearing/gimbal assemblies for distributed propulsion setups.
🔀 Use Smart Gearbox in passthrough or servo workflows for advanced control layouts.
🖱️ Flip face output direction on Smart Gearbox with simple right-click interaction.
📉 Slow down rotation with redstone using the Variable Transmission.
📦 Bulk process faster and more efficiently by placing depots or belts along the sides of the thruster plume/beam and in front of it to process everything around it!
🗺️ Add and store up to 15 maps inside the Navigation table at once, and pick one to set the table's navigation to at any time!
🥽 Use the Physics Goggles to see real-time physics information and contraption diagrams for any contraption you look at!
🛜 Use the Contraption Network Linker to wirelessly control redstone capable blocks from the Contraption Controller without needing redstone links!
🧰 Tom's Simple Storage Wireless terminal compatibility with Aeronautics has been added!
And so much more!

💻 Automation Ready

CC:Tweaked peripheral support for major systems, including thrusters, bearings, gearbox, joystick, controller, and more. Control single devices or orchestrate attached thruster groups from code.

📖 ComputerCraft peripheral snippets for all you programmers!

Build bigger. Fly farther. Automate everything.

Create Thrusters & Things — ComputerCraft API

This document covers every ComputerCraft peripheral exposed by this addon.

Getting Started

ComputerCraft peripherals let you control mod blocks from Lua scripts running on a Computer or Pocket Computer. To connect to a block, place the computer next to it (or use a Wired Modem) and use peripheral.find() or peripheral.wrap():

local t = peripheral.find("thruster") if t then t.setEnabled(true) t.setThrottle(0.5) end

Blocks default to "auto" mode, which means they'll respond to whatever input is present — redstone, computer, or manual. You can lock a block to a specific control mode through its GUI or via setControlMode() if you want to prevent other inputs from interfering.

Peripherals

Type string Block thruster Thruster thruster_bearing Thruster Bearing bidirectional_gearbox Smart Gearbox analogue_contraption_controller Contraption Controller analogue_joystick Analogue Joystick claw Claw rope_winch_cable Rope Winch Cable (when a Claw is attached)

1. Thruster

Type: "thruster"

Methods

Method Returns Description setThrottle(throttle) — Sets throttle. Range 0.0 to 1.0. Throws if out of range. getThrottle() number Returns current throttle. clearThrottleOverride() — Removes the computer throttle override, returning control to redstone or auto. setEnabled(enabled) — Enables or disables the thruster. isEnabled() boolean isActive() boolean Whether the thruster is actively firing. getFuel() number (mB) Current fuel level. getFuelCapacity() number (mB) Maximum fuel capacity. getFuelType() string Fluid ID of current fuel, or empty string. getBurnTimeSeconds() number Estimated burn time remaining. getThrust() number Target thrust value. getRealThrust() number Actual thrust being applied. getLiftCapacity() number Max lift this thruster can provide. getAirflow() number Current airflow value. getRedstoneSignal() number (0–15) Incoming redstone signal strength. getControlMode() string Current mode: auto, redstone, or computer. setControlMode(mode) — Set control mode. getName() string Custom display name. setName(name) — Set a custom display name. isSoulMode() boolean Whether soul mode (peaceful/quiet operation) is enabled. setSoulMode(enabled) — Toggle soul mode. getStatus() table Full status snapshot (see below).

getStatus() return shape

{ enabled = boolean, throttle = number, computerThrottle = number, controlMode = string, fuel = number, fuelCapacity = number, fuelType = string, burnTimeSeconds = number, thrust = number, realThrust = number, liftCapacity = number, airflow = number, active = boolean, soulMode = boolean, redstoneSignal = number, }

Example

local t = peripheral.find("thruster") if t then t.setControlMode("computer") t.setEnabled(true) t.setThrottle(0.75) print("Real thrust:", t.getRealThrust()) end

2. Thruster Bearing

Type: "thruster_bearing"

Controls the bearing's pivot angle and steering mode, and manages any thrusters attached to it as a group. Most thruster methods accept either a specific thruster ID or "all" to target every attached thruster at once.

Bearing control

Method Returns Description getName() / setName(name) string / — Custom display name. getFacing() / setFacing(direction) string / — Facing direction. getPivotAngle() number (degrees) Current pivot angle. setPivotAngle(angleDeg) — Set pivot angle directly (servo/computer mode). clearPivotOverride() — Remove computer pivot override. getServoInputAngle() number (degrees) Target angle from servo input. getBearingControlMode() string Current mode: auto, redstone, computer, or servo. setBearingControlMode(mode) — Set bearing control mode. getMinAngle() / setMinAngle(angleDeg) number / — Minimum allowed pivot angle. getMaxAngle() / setMaxAngle(angleDeg) number / — Maximum allowed pivot angle. getForwardSignal() number Redstone signal on forward face. getBackwardSignal() number Redstone signal on backward face.

Thruster discovery

Method Returns Description listThrusters() table All attached thrusters keyed by ID (see below). getThrusterCount() number How many thrusters are attached. getOwnedThrusters() string[] List of thruster IDs. ids() string[] List of thruster aliases. thrusterAlias(idOrAlias, alias) — Assign an alias to a thruster for easier targeting. getNetworkInfo() table Full network summary.

listThrusters() return shape:

{ ["id"] = { alias = string, pos = {x, y, z}, fuelType = string, controlMode = string, enabled = boolean, throttle = number, } }

Per-thruster control

All of these accept a thruster ID, an alias, or "all". When "all" is used, read methods return a table keyed by thruster ID.

Method Returns setThrottle(id, throttle) — (accepts 0.0–1.0 or 0–100) getThrottle(id) number or map getThrottleMap(id) always a map setEnabled(id, enabled) — isEnabled(id) boolean or map getFuel(id) number or map getFuelCapacity(id) number or map getFuelType(id) string or map getBurnTimeSeconds(id) number or map getControlMode(id) string or map setControlMode(id, mode) — (auto, redstone, or computer) getThrust(id) number or map getRealThrust(id) number or map getLiftCapacity(id) number or map getAirflow(id) number or map isActive(id) boolean or map isSoulMode(id) boolean or map setSoulMode(id, enabled) — clearThrottleOverride(id) — getRedstoneSignal(id) number or map getThrusterStatus(id) telemetry table, or map of tables for "all"

Assembly totals

Method Returns getTotalRealThrust() number getTotalLiftCapacity() number getStatus() Full bearing + thruster snapshot (see below)

getStatus() return shape:

{ facing = string, forwardSignal = number, backwardSignal = number, controlMode = string, servoInputAngle = number, pivotAngle = number, targetAngle = number, minAngle = number, maxAngle = number, totalRealThrust = number, totalLiftCapacity = number, thrusterCount = number, thrusters = table, -- same shape as listThrusters() }

Example

local b = peripheral.find("thruster_bearing") if b then b.setBearingControlMode("servo") b.setPivotAngle(22.5) b.setThrottle("all", 80) local net = b.getNetworkInfo() print("Thrusters:", net.thrusterCount) end

3. Smart Gearbox

Type: "bidirectional_gearbox"

The Smart Gearbox has two operating modes. In passthrough mode it routes two independent rotation speeds through its lanes. In servo mode it drives each output face to a precise angle.

Methods

Method Returns Description getMode() / setMode(mode) string / — Current operating mode. isServoMode() boolean hasGyroSource() boolean Whether a Gyroscope Link is providing input. getLaneMode(axis) / setLaneMode(axis, mode) string / — Get or set mode for a lane. Axis accepts x, east_west, east-west, ew, z, north_south, north-south, or ns. isReverseMode() boolean getSpeed() number getLaneSpeed(axis) number Speed of a specific lane. getSignal(face) number Redstone signal on a face. Accepts north, south, east, west. getFaceAngle(face) / setFaceAngle(face, angle) number / — Get or set the target angle for a face. getFaceMaxAngle(face) / setFaceMaxAngle(face, angle) number / — Get or set the maximum angle limit for a face. clearFaceAngle(face?) — Clear the angle override for a face, or all faces if omitted. clearFaceMaxAngle(face?) — Clear the max angle limit for a face, or all faces if omitted. getStatus() table Full status snapshot (see below).

getStatus() return shape:

{ servoMode = boolean, gyroSource = boolean, mode = string, reverseMode = boolean, speed = { north_south = number, east_west = number }, laneModes = { north_south = string, east_west = string }, signals = { north = number, south = number, east = number, west = number }, angles = { north = number, south = number, east = number, west = number }, maxAngles = { north = number, south = number, east = number, west = number }, }

Example

local gb = peripheral.find("bidirectional_gearbox") if gb then gb.setMode("servo") gb.setFaceAngle("north", 30) gb.setFaceMaxAngle("north", 60) end

4. Contraption Controller

Type: "analogue_contraption_controller"

The Contraption Controller manages named channels, each of which can be configured with different input behaviors like latching, stepping, or momentary press. Channels output a value from 0.0 to 1.0 that maps to a redstone signal strength.

Methods

Method Returns Description getName() / setName(name) string / — Custom display name. listChannels() string[] Names of all configured channels. getChannel(name) table Current state of a channel. setChannel(name, value) — Set a channel value directly. Range 0.0–1.0. getChannelMode(name) / setChannelMode(name, mode) string / — Get or set the channel's behavior mode. getChannelConfig(name) table Full channel configuration. setChannelConfig(name, configTable) — Update channel configuration (see keys below). press(name) — Simulate pressing a channel. release(name) — Simulate releasing a channel. tap(name) — Simulate a quick press and release. reset(name) — Reset a channel to its default state. resetAll() — Reset all channels. getAxis(name) table State of a named axis. getAllSignals() table Current output values for all channels.

setChannelConfig keys

Key Type Description mode string Channel behavior mode. min, max number Output range. riseRate, fallRate number How fast the value ramps up or down. stepAmount number Step size for step mode. deadzone, smoothing number Input filtering. debounceTicks, repeatIntervalTicks number Timing values (integer). resetToZero boolean Whether to return to zero on release. repeatWhileHeld boolean Whether to keep firing while held. value number Sets the channel value directly. frequencyA, frequencyB string Item IDs for wireless link frequencies (e.g. "minecraft:iron_nugget"). Blank string to clear.

Example

local c = peripheral.find("analogue_contraption_controller") if c then c.setChannelMode("throttle_up", "latch") c.setChannel("throttle_up", 1.0) print(textutils.serialize(c.getAllSignals())) end

5. Analogue Joystick

Type: "analogue_joystick"

The joystick outputs tilt values to redstone links and can be wrapped as a peripheral for naming. For reading live tilt values in code, wrap the bound redstone links as peripherals or read their outputs via the Contraption Controller.

Methods

Method Returns getName() string setName(name) —

Example

local j = peripheral.find("analogue_joystick") if j then j.setName("Pilot Stick") end

6. Claw

Type: "claw"

The Claw grips and releases physics sub-levels. Signal strength controls grip — 15 means the claw will never drop its load, 0 means fully open. The drop chance scales with how low the signal is.

The Claw can also detect and target nearby connector blocks for precise docking.

Methods

Method Returns Description setSignal(signal) — Set grip strength. Range 0–15. clearSignalOverride() — Remove computer signal override. open() — Fully open the claw (signal 0). close() — Fully close the claw (signal 15). release() — Release the held sub-level. getSignal() number Current effective signal. getComputerSignal() number Computer override value. -1 means no override. isHolding() boolean Whether the claw is holding a sub-level. getHeldConnectorPos() {x,y,z} or nil Position of the connector being held. getSelectedConnectorPos() {x,y,z} or nil Position of the targeted connector. getNearestConnector() {x,y,z} or nil Nearest connector within default range. getNearestConnectorInRange(range) {x,y,z} or nil Nearest connector within a given range. getConnectorsInRange(range) [{x,y,z}, ...] All connectors within range. getConnectorsInRangeLimited(range, limit) [{x,y,z}, ...] All connectors within range, up to a limit. isConnectorInRange(x,y,z) boolean Whether a connector is within default range (3). isConnectorInRangeWithRadius(x,y,z,range) boolean Whether a connector is within a given range. selectConnector(x,y,z) boolean Target a specific connector for gripping. clearSelectedConnector() — Clear the targeted connector. getStatus() table Full status snapshot (see below).

getStatus() return shape:

{ signal = number, computerSignal = number, holding = boolean, heldPos = {x=number, y=number, z=number} | nil, selectedPos = {x=number, y=number, z=number} | nil, }

Example

local claw = peripheral.find("claw") if claw then local p = claw.getNearestConnectorInRange(5) if p then claw.selectConnector(p.x, p.y, p.z) end claw.close() end

7. Rope Winch Cable (Claw passthrough)

Type: "rope_winch_cable"

Only registered when the Rope Winch has a Claw attached. Exposes the same control surface as the Claw peripheral directly, so you can control the claw through the winch cable without needing a direct connection to the claw itself. All claw methods throw "no claw connected to this rope winch" if the attachment is missing.

Methods

Method Returns isConnected() boolean getRemoteType() "claw" or "none"

Plus all Claw methods listed in section 6. Note that position methods return {} instead of nil when there is no result, unlike the direct Claw peripheral which returns nil.

Example

local rw = peripheral.find("rope_winch_cable") if rw and rw.isConnected() then rw.open() local s = rw.getStatus() print("Holding:", s.holding) end

Create Thrusters & Things — External Compat ComputerCraft API

This document covers native ComputerCraft peripherals that this addon exposes for external Simulated and Aeronautics block entities.

Getting Started

Wrap or find a peripheral by its type string:

local burner = peripheral.find("hot_air_burner") if burner then print("Signal:", burner.getSignal()) print("Gas output:", burner.getGasOutput()) end

Most peripherals below use a shared reflection-backed helper surface. directional_gearshift is the exception: it now has its own purpose-built API with gearshift-specific methods instead of the generic signal/range/color set.

Peripherals

Type string External block entity id(s) Block laser_pointer simulated:laser_pointer Simulated Laser Pointer laser_sensor simulated:laser_sensor, simulated:ir_sensor Simulated Laser Sensor analogue_transmission simulated:analogue_transmission, simulated:simple Simulated Analogue Transmission redstone_accumulator simulated:redstone_accumulator Simulated Redstone Accumulator redstone_inductor simulated:redstone_inductor Simulated Redstone Inductor redstone_magnet simulated:redstone_magnet Simulated Redstone Magnet optical_sensor simulated:optical_sensor Simulated Optical Sensor docking_connector simulated:docking_connector Simulated Docking Connector altitude_sensor simulated:altitude_sensor Simulated Altitude Sensor hot_air_burner aeronautics:adjustable_burner Aeronautics Hot Air Burner steam_vent aeronautics:steam_vent Aeronautics Steam Vent mounted_potato_cannon aeronautics:mounted_potato_cannon Aeronautics Mounted Potato Cannon

directional_gearshift

local gearshift = peripheral.find("directional_gearshift") if gearshift then gearshift.setOutputs(true, false) print("Left:", gearshift.isLeftPowered(), "Right:", gearshift.isRightPowered()) end Method Returns Description setLeft(powered) — Set the left-side gearshift input/output state. setRight(powered) — Set the right-side gearshift input/output state. setOutputs(left, right) — Set both left and right states together. clear() — Clears both gearshift states back to off. isLeftPowered() boolean Current left state. isRightPowered() boolean Current right state. getRotationModifier(face) number Returns the rotation modifier for a face name like north, south, east, or west. getStatus() table Returns leftPowered, rightPowered, sourceFacing, blockPos, and className.

directional_gearshift is now the recommended pattern for blocks that have distinct left/right behavior; the controller and CC layers both map to those explicit sides rather than a generic setSignal() call.

Common Method Surface

Every non-gearshift type above exposes the methods below.

Method Returns Description getName() string Custom name if exposed by target block entity, otherwise empty string. setName(name) — Sets custom name when supported. getSignal() number (0-15) Reads signal-like value from the block entity. setSignal(signal) — Writes signal-like value when writable (0-15). Throws if unsupported. isPowered() boolean Whether block is currently powered/active. getRange() number Laser/sensor range for compatible blocks. setRange(range) — Set range for compatible blocks. Throws if unsupported. hasHit() boolean Sensor hit status for compatible sensor blocks. getDistance() number Hit distance / blocked distance when available; -1 if unavailable. getColor() number Laser color as RGB integer when available. setColor(color) — Set RGB laser color (0x000000 to 0xFFFFFF). Throws if unsupported. isRainbow() boolean Rainbow laser mode for compatible blocks. setRainbow(enabled) — Toggle rainbow mode. Throws if unsupported. getAirPressure() number Atmospheric pressure for altitude-capable devices; -1 if unavailable. getWorldHeight() number World height from block sensor API when exposed. getGasOutput() number Gas output for burner/vent blocks; 0 if unavailable. getState() string Machine state enum/string if present, else "unknown". isBlocked() boolean Blocked-state indicator for cannon-style devices. getBlockedLength() number Blocked penetration distance where exposed. getFacing() string Facing direction if available from API or block state. getPosition() table { x, y, z } block position. getClassName() string Runtime Java class name backing this peripheral. getStatus() table Full merged status snapshot (see below). methods() string[] Human-readable list of method signatures. help(method?) table or string Documentation map, or single method help string.

getStatus() return shape

{ type = string, name = string, signal = number, powered = boolean, range = number, hasHit = boolean, distance = number, worldHeight = number, airPressure = number, gasOutput = number, state = string, facing = string, blocked = boolean, blockedLength = number, color = number, rainbow = boolean, position = { x = number, y = number, z = number }, className = string, }

Block-Specific Notes

Laser devices

laser_pointer, laser_sensor, and optical_sensor are the best fit for:

getRange() / setRange(range)
hasHit() / getDistance()
getColor() / setColor(color)
isRainbow() / setRainbow(enabled)

Altitude and atmospheric devices

altitude_sensor, hot_air_burner, and steam_vent provide the most useful results for:

getWorldHeight()
getAirPressure()
getGasOutput()

Mounted Potato Cannon

mounted_potato_cannon is the primary user of:

isBlocked()
getBlockedLength()
getState()

Redstone machines

analogue_transmission, redstone_accumulator, redstone_inductor, and redstone_magnet primarily expose:

getSignal()
isPowered()
getState()
getStatus()

Example Scripts

1) Laser Pointer Control

local p = peripheral.find("laser_pointer") if p then p.setSignal(15) p.setColor(0x00FF66) p.setRainbow(false) print(textutils.serialize(p.getStatus())) end

2) Altitude Monitoring

local a = peripheral.find("altitude_sensor") if a then while true do print("Height:", a.getWorldHeight(), "Pressure:", a.getAirPressure()) sleep(0.5) end end

3) Burner + Vent Snapshot

local burner = peripheral.find("hot_air_burner") local vent = peripheral.find("steam_vent") if burner then print("Burner gas:", burner.getGasOutput()) end if vent then print("Vent gas:", vent.getGasOutput()) end

4) Cannon Safety Polling

local c = peripheral.find("mounted_potato_cannon") if c then print("Blocked:", c.isBlocked(), "Length:", c.getBlockedLength(), "State:", c.getState()) end