How to make multiple instances of an object - take different paths - when chasing another object???

Programming Questions

joacampb

How to make multiple instances of an object - take different paths - when chasing another object???

in Programming Questions • 9 months ago

you can find the working sketch online at: http://openprocessing.org/sketch/85451

Basically I have a class that creates and ellipse. This ellipse will chase the mouse with a little bit of logic.

Then I make five of those ellipses.

QUESTION:

how do I keep multiple ellipses from following the same path? So as their projectories are different and they approach the mouse from different sides as much as possible?

Its ok if its for a little bit but I want to keep them from bunching up and overlaying. Do I have to keep track of all their locations and adjust accordingly? or can the variables or "forces" added to them be tweaked enough to make this happen?

here is the code if you do not want to go to the link above:

'''''''''''''''''''''''main''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

//data variables
ArrayList ellipsoids = new ArrayList();
PVector mouse, direction, loc, vel, accel;
int numObjects = 5;
void setup(){
size(500,500);
//initialize and interate the ellipsoid class into the array list
for (int i = 0; i < numObjects; i ++){
//defines initial starting location and velocity
PVector loc = new PVector(random(0, width), random(0,height), 0);
PVector vel = new PVector(random(-1,1),random(-1,1), 0);
PVector accel = new PVector(0,0);
PVector mouse = new PVector(random(0,width),random(0,height));
//Ellipsoids(PVector tempMouse,PVector tempLocation, PVector tempVelocity, PVector tempAcceleration)
Ellipsoids tempEllipsoids = new Ellipsoids(mouse, loc, vel, accel);
ellipsoids.add(tempEllipsoids);
}//for
}//setup
void draw(){
background(100);
toScreen();
}//draw
void toScreen(){
//pull each ellipsoid out of the array and draw it to screen
for(int j = 0; j < ellipsoids.size(); j++){
Ellipsoids ellips = (Ellipsoids) ellipsoids.get(j);
ellips.run();//method in class that starts other methods
}//for
}//toScreen

''''''''''''''''''''''class''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

class Ellipsoids{
//our class of two dimensional aliens
//here to play tag with our mice
//avoid them!! all this class does is
//draw the ellipse with the given
//variables from the main code
//data variables
//Some PVectors to store our coordinates in for easy access
PVector location,mouse,direction,acceleration,velocity;
//floats to transfer data from PVectors and do math
float x,y,dx,dy;
float boost = 0.5;
boolean isFar = true;
boolean isShort = false;
//constructor
Ellipsoids(PVector tempMouse,PVector tempLocation, PVector tempVelocity, PVector tempAcceleration){
//initialize object data
mouse = new PVector(tempMouse.x,tempMouse.y);
location = new PVector(tempLocation.x,tempLocation.y);
velocity = new PVector(tempVelocity.x,tempVelocity.y);
acceleration = new PVector(tempAcceleration.x,tempAcceleration.y);
}//constructor
void run(){
//run all the other methods
trackMouse();
move();
tests();
updateFar();
updateShort();
render();
}//run
//this continually tracks and updates the mouse PVector
//so we can use that information in other methods.
void trackMouse(){
mouse = new PVector(mouseX,mouseY);
//also update the difference between mouse and object
direction = PVector.sub(mouse,location);
direction.normalize();//simplify PVector
}//trackMouse
//update PVectors for movement
void move(){
direction.mult(boost);//multiply by scalar
acceleration = direction;//transfer data from one to other
velocity.add(acceleration);//adds new accel data to velocity
velocity.limit(10);//limits how large velocity can get
location.add(velocity); //adds velocity to location
velocity.mult(0.9);//keeps object from going in circles around mouse
}//updateFar
//how close is the object to mouse
//change booleans appropriately
void tests(){
//are we 'x' distance away?
if(abs(mouse.x - location.x) >= 100 && abs(mouse.y - location.y) >= 100){
isShort = false;
isFar = true;
}//if
//did the mouse just move in a straight line up,down,left,right?
if(abs(mouse.x - location.x) >= 0 && abs(mouse.y - location.y) > 100){
isShort = false;
isFar = true;
}//if
if(abs(mouse.x - location.x) > 100 && abs(mouse.y - location.y) >= 0){
isShort = false;
isFar = true;
}//if
//are we within 'x' amount of distance?
if(abs(mouse.x - location.x) < 100 && abs(mouse.y - location.y) < 100){
isFar = false;
isShort = true;
}//if
}//tests
//update the PVectors for when object is far from mouse
void updateFar(){
if(isFar){
boost = 0.5;
println("isFar");
}//if
}//updateClose
//update the PVectors for when object is closer to mouse
void updateShort(){
if(isShort){
boost = 1.5;
println("isShort");
}//if
}//updateClose
void render(){
noFill();
stroke(0);
ellipse(location.x,location.y,10,10);
}//render
}//classEllipsoids

Replies(2)

GoToLoop

Re: How to make multiple instances of an object - take different paths - when chasing another object???

9 months ago

My idea would be to make a dumb variable!

It stores how slow an Ellipsoids would realize isFar = true already.

Thus, when mouse moves far away from them, Ellipsoids w/ less dumb would start chasing the mouse location before those w/ higher dumb!

joacampb

Re: Re: How to make multiple instances of an object - take different paths - when chasing another object???

9 months ago

this is a really good idea. I'm going to look into this. it makes sense to change the timing of the state changes, or even make a couple more conditions. thank you! I'll try to update if anything works out for me.

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