Positional Interchange

Positional Interchange
Identifier:	East 3-8
Area:	Eastern Wetlands
Puzzle Type:	Main
Previous Puzzle:	Backward Propagation
Next Puzzle:	Transposition

Positional Interchange is the eighth main puzzle in the Eastern Wetlands area of The Talos Principle 2.

Puzzle elements

Overview

As you enter this puzzle, you find yourself in a large centeral room with a pillar in the middle. There are rooms to the left, right, and in front. The left room is blocked off by a blue door that is initially inactive, because there is a pressure plate behind it with a connector already standing on it. In the right room, there is an inverter, a red receiver, and a fan with a hexahedron on it. This room is blocked off by a purple barrier on one side, and a standard height grill on the other side. The pillar in the center has a blue emitter on the far side, facing the room in front. In that room, there are two blue doors one after the other. The first one has a red emitter outside, then an inverter is placed in the middle. The second one needs both a blue and a red receiver to be deactivated.

Hints

A basic hint:

[ hint ]

Since the name of the puzzle is Positional Interchange, at some point you will have to exchange the positions of two of the equipment.

If you're wondering which elements need to be activated:

[ hint ]

You have to activate the two receivers closest to the progress wheel in order to get access to it. But this cannot be done without every other receiver being active as well.

If you're having trouble with intersecting beams:

[ hint ]

First, read the first hint carefully. Second, notice that it is impossible to move equipment across purple barriers. Finally, notice carefully what receivers are visible from the left room.

If you're unable to open the outer blue door to the progress wheel:

[ hint ]

Notice that there are two blue doors that lead to the progress wheel. Try to open the outer door using a single piece of equipment. You will need a few steps to accomplish that, but it gives you more pieces to play with.

If you're not sure why the fan is even there:

[ hint ]

It provides a source of light high in the air, but it doesn't connect directly to any receiver.

Solution

[ solution ]

Take the inverter by the fan and connect it to the red receiver in the main area.
Take the connector, connect it to the blue emitter and the inverter.
Take the second inverter and bring it in the small room with the connector.
Take the first inverter and place it on top of the hexahedron.
Move the connector away from the pressure plate.
Take the inverter and connect it to the blue emitter, all three red receivers and the other inverter.
Take the connector inside the corridor to the Progress Wheel and connect the airborne inverter to the blue receiver.