From b4c2916739e7d4d2fe9f6fcf8721c67d496879ce Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: MayaTheShy <MayaTheShy@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2026 16:08:15 -0400
Subject: [PATCH] Add dropper controller to handle dispense commands and
 trigger redstone pulses

---
 dropperController.lua | 64 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 64 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 dropperController.lua

diff --git a/dropperController.lua b/dropperController.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5cecb23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dropperController.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+-- Dropper Controller: Runs on Computer 1 (next to dropper_0)
+-- Listens for rednet "dispense" messages and fires redstone to the back.
+
+local REDSTONE_SIDE = "back"     -- side facing dropper_0
+local PULSE_TIME    = 0.3        -- redstone pulse duration in seconds
+local PROTOCOL      = "inventory"
+
+-------------------------------------------------
+-- Setup
+-------------------------------------------------
+
+-- Open any available modem
+local function setupModem()
+    for _, side in ipairs({"top","bottom","left","right","front","back"}) do
+        if peripheral.getType(side) == "modem" then
+            rednet.open(side)
+            print("[OK] Modem opened on: " .. side)
+            return true
+        end
+    end
+    print("[ERR] No modem found!")
+    return false
+end
+
+-- Send a redstone pulse to trigger the dropper
+local function pulseRedstone()
+    redstone.setOutput(REDSTONE_SIDE, true)
+    sleep(PULSE_TIME)
+    redstone.setOutput(REDSTONE_SIDE, false)
+end
+
+-------------------------------------------------
+-- Main
+-------------------------------------------------
+
+print("=================================")
+print("  Dropper Controller (ID " .. os.getComputerID() .. ")")
+print("=================================")
+print("")
+print("Dropper side: " .. REDSTONE_SIDE)
+print("Listening for dispense commands...")
+print("")
+
+if not setupModem() then
+    print("Cannot continue without a modem.")
+    return
+end
+
+while true do
+    local senderID, message, protocol = rednet.receive(PROTOCOL)
+
+    if message == "dispense" then
+        print(string.format("[RX] Dispense from computer %d", senderID))
+
+        -- Pulse once per item slot in the dropper to eject everything
+        -- A dropper has 9 slots; pulse enough times to empty it
+        for i = 1, 9 do
+            pulseRedstone()
+            sleep(0.1)
+        end
+
+        print("[OK] Dropper fired (9 pulses)")
+    end
+end