This is the opposite of https://github.com/OpenRA/OpenRA/issues/17802 as in skirmish this may be wanted.
My Lonestar AI has logic for collecting crates around the base: https://github.com/OpenRA/OpenRA/blob/bleed/mods/ra/maps/fort-lonestar/fort-lonestar-AI.lua#L165-L188
I suppose something similar could be done via another bot module that specifies the scan range around the base center and sends one idle unit (or a group?) out to collect spawning crates.
and sends one idle unit
This could be combined with AttackWander and have a special duplicate unit trainable only by the AI to use it as a scout, and toggle the condition when it comes closer to a crate maybe?
There could be a separate scout bot module as discovering the crate would already trigger the crate collection module
these behaviours would be more cleanly handled at the squad logic level.
Just my 2 cents as a Bot Skirmish player, I like it.
Probably a separate idea, but I've always wondered if bots/AI opposition could use engineers to take over neutral buildings like oil wells or neutral MCVs in proximity to their base too.
I have a patch ready for that at https://github.com/OpenRA/OpenRA/pull/17831 as well.
Most helpful comment
There could be a separate scout bot module as discovering the crate would already trigger the crate collection module