Sandustry Drone Guide & Troubleshooter
Fix a Hauler that won't return, check a Drone's cargo or drop-off state, and learn what Recon and Digger Drones actually do.
What's wrong?
Drone problem?
Already have a save? Analyze a save
Drone Troubleshooter
Why isn't my Sandustry Drone working? Pick the type and the symptom. The first answer is never "it is lost."
Drone type
Drone problem?
Check a Drone job
Drone diagnosis
Likely area
ASSIGNMENT ISSUE
Why
Digger Drones handle automated excavation. When one is not doing what you expect, start with assignment and whether the target is still valid — not with a bug report.
Check
Next
Confirm the excavation job before changing upgrades or assuming the Drone is broken.
Plan Drone upgradesThis is Drone Status from Save, not a Lost Drone Finder. Coordinates stay off the map until they are verified against the live world.
Want a more specific diagnosis?
Analyze a saveNot returned is not the same as lost. A Hauler may still be travelling, carrying cargo, waiting for drop-off, facing a blocked destination, sitting on an incomplete route, or simply far from its origin.
A Hauler still carrying material usually means it hasn't completed the destination or drop-off stage yet. Check the endpoint before assuming the Drone is broken.
View database entryRecon Drone can quickly scout already-explored terrain. It does not reveal unexplored black terrain.
Explored area
✓ Recon can scout
Use it to inspect terrain you have already opened, including creature searches.
Unexplored / black area
✕ Recon does not reveal it
It is not a map-reveal tool. Open the area first, then scout.
Looking for a creature?
Recon Drone can help you inspect already-explored terrain more quickly. Purple candidate markers can be useful community clues, but they should not be treated as guaranteed Voidgrazer locations.
Open Missing Creature FinderHow Sandustry Drones work: each type has one job. Pick the Drone that matches the work, then diagnose from that job instead of from a generic attribute list.
| Drone | Best for | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Hauler | Moving materials | View database entry |
| Digger | Automated excavation | View database entry |
| Recon | Scouting explored terrain | View database entry |
Hauler upgrades
Fleet size · Speed
Digger upgrades
Cooldown · HP · Gravity · Fleet size
A Hauler still carrying material usually means it hasn't completed the destination or drop-off stage yet. Check the endpoint before assuming the Drone is broken.
Used for automated excavation and digging tasks.
Upgrades
Cooldown · HP · Gravity · Fleet size
Common checks
No confirmed current issue affecting this symptom.
A Hauler still carrying material usually means it has not completed the destination or drop-off stage yet. Check the endpoint before assuming the Drone is broken.
Check whether the task is still valid, then the route or target, cargo, destination, and whether the endpoint is blocked. A stopped route is not automatically a bug.
No. It does not reveal unexplored black terrain. Recon can scout already-explored areas more quickly.
Return to the original route, check the destination, look for cargo or a blocked drop-off, then inspect buried areas. If you have a save, use Drone Status. A missing Drone is not automatically lost.
Not yet. Save coordinates are recorded, but they are not shown on the map until they are verified against the live game world.
