Technical Skills: Java; Flocking Simulation; Finite-state Machine; Artificial Intelligence; C++;
The project was to produce a flocking simulation. The flock (yellow) attempts to flock around the alpha (white) while evading the predator (red) who is seeking the alpha.
The AI in the simulation is built on a finite state machine so the appropriate behaviour is selected depending on certain key factors. The implemented behaviours are: seek; evade; wander; and align.
The basic logic for the finite-state machine for each agent is described below:
- The predator
- seeks the alpha.
- The alpha
- evades from predator if it gets too close,
- otherwise it wanders/continues at current velocity.
- A follower
- evades from predator if too close to predator,
- evades/separates from alpha if too close to alpha,
- aligns to the leader if close enough (factors the alpha’s velocity into its own velocity calculations),
- Seeks/cohesion towards the alpha if too far away from alpha for alignment to occur,
- otherwise wanders/continues at current velocity.
- Additionally, evades from other followers to avoid collisions if too close together (not part of the finite state machine).
The project was originally written for Windows PC in C++. A version was rewritten in Java and included in the James Potts Portfolio app released on Google Play Store in August 2016.
James Potts' Portfolio 