Here's an idea for a new kind of rail that would allow passengers to control redstone devices while riding in a moving Minecart: tilt rail.
Tilt Rail is pretty simple. When a minecart carrying a passenger passes over tilt rail, the passenger can press the arrow keys in the direction of either side of the rail. The side they press towards receives a redstone signal, as if the player were tilting the cart to trigger a switch on that side of the rail.
For example let's say this is a track with a piece of tilt rail in the middle. A minecart is traveling north:
The player is facing forward and presses the left arrow key. The tilt rail would power the left block, like so:
If the player pressed right instead, or was facing backwards when they pressed left, the other side would receive power:
This would let you steer the Minecart, and do things like pick which of two directions to travel in. You could also use it to trigger other devices on the side of the road.
Regardless of which direction the player chooses to power, if any, the block below the rail is always powered when a cart with passenger goes over it. That would allow you to sense players and mobs in carts, without detecting things like chest minecarts.
Tilt Rail is pretty simple. When a minecart carrying a passenger passes over tilt rail, the passenger can press the arrow keys in the direction of either side of the rail. The side they press towards receives a redstone signal, as if the player were tilting the cart to trigger a switch on that side of the rail.
For example let's say this is a track with a piece of tilt rail in the middle. A minecart is traveling north:
The player is facing forward and presses the left arrow key. The tilt rail would power the left block, like so:
If the player pressed right instead, or was facing backwards when they pressed left, the other side would receive power:
This would let you steer the Minecart, and do things like pick which of two directions to travel in. You could also use it to trigger other devices on the side of the road.
Regardless of which direction the player chooses to power, if any, the block below the rail is always powered when a cart with passenger goes over it. That would allow you to sense players and mobs in carts, without detecting things like chest minecarts.
although... what's the recipe for it?
BA
Nothing super expensive, since it's just another form of switch. Perhaps crafting powered rail together with a a stone press plate?