Logistics Carrier Engine

Logistics carrier engine is an infinite research item that improves the flight speed of Logistics bot, Logistics Drone, and Logistics Vessel. As its level rises, logistics units move faster and can transport more goods per unit time, which reduces the number of drones or vessels needed to satisfy a given throughput.

The research is especially important for interstellar logistics. At level 4, Logistics vessel warp becomes available, which makes interstellar transport effectively mandatory for serious long-distance supply networks. Warp speed also scales with further research, so the benefit continues after warp is unlocked.

The research effects are not uniform across all logistics units. From level 3 to level 10, Logistics vessel power consumption also increases with each level, while Logistics bot and Logistics drone do not gain that extra power cost. Because faster vessels still need time to recharge, speed upgrades are most useful when the power supply is sufficient; if power is tight, it is better to delay further research until the network can support it.

A few practical details matter when planning logistics:

• The speed increase shown in the research is relative to the original base value, not the previous level.
• Station takeoff and landing still take time, so actual throughput increases less than pure flight speed increases.
• Since the effect is infinite, it remains a long-term upgrade for all stages of the game, but its biggest impact comes once interstellar logistics are in use.

Research costs and effects by level are:

• Initial: Logistics bot 6.0 m/s, Logistics drone 8.0 m/s, Logistics vessel 600 m/s
• Level 1: cost 400 each; bot +10% to 6.6 m/s, drone +20% to 9.6 m/s, vessel unchanged at 600 m/s; requires Planetary logistics system
• Level 2: cost 600 each; bot +10% to 7.2 m/s, drone +20% to 11.2 m/s, vessel unchanged at 600 m/s
• Level 3: cost 800 each; bot +15% to 8.1 m/s, drone +30% to 13.6 m/s, vessel +50% to 900 m/s; requires Interstellar logistics system
• Level 4: cost 1000 each; bot +15% to 9.0 m/s, drone +30% to 16.0 m/s, vessel +50% to 1200 m/s, warp 0.100 ly/s; requires Drive engine Lv4
• Level 5: cost 1200 each; bot +15% to 9.9 m/s, drone +40% to 19.2 m/s, vessel +50% to 1500 m/s, warp 0.125 ly/s
• Level 6: cost 1600 each; bot +15% to 10.8 m/s, drone +40% to 22.4 m/s, vessel +50% to 1800 m/s, warp 0.150 ly/s
• Level 7 and above: cost 2000 and increasing; bot +20%, drone +50%, vessel +50%

For levels 7 through 10000, the total speeds follow these formulas:

• Logistics bot: (1.2^Lv - 2.1) m/s
• Logistics drone: (4.0^Lv - 1.6) m/s
• Logistics vessel normal speed: 300 × Lv m/s
• Logistics vessel warp speed: 0.025 × Lv ly/s

In practice, Logistics carrier engine is one of the most valuable logistics upgrades in the game because it improves every transport layer at once: local bots, planetary drones, and interstellar vessels.