Automated Workbenches, an expansion for hoppers (Idea)

[AnActualDuck]

I'd like to propose bringing some automation to Rimworld! This would greatly expand on the hoppers functionality and also help reduce on some of the tedious tasks during late game.

Here is an example of how I think it could work: Automated Stonecutting Bench. A colonist drops a chunk in a hopper that is connected to the bench. Instead of the colonist having to stick around to process the materials himself, the bench automatically starts producing the bricks. This turns stonecutting in to a hauler task and frees up your crafters for more pressing things. It also makes that brief time that would be spent cutting a chunk up by a colonist freed up for other activities.

Other benches that'd benefit from this are the butcher's table and smelters. I can think of some mods whose content would benefit from this as well but I'll keep this to vanilla suggestions.

For balance purposes automation would be unlocked via research and you'd need a multi-analyzer for it.

[Canute]

Auto-Assemblers
from  Project RimFactory
https://ludeon.com/forums/index.php?topic=30813.msg378562#msg378562

[AnActualDuck]

Love it, thanks!