Pathfinding in partially explored games environments: The application of the A∗ Algorithm with occupancy grids in Unity3D

John Stamford; Arjab Singh Khuman; Jenny Carter; Samad Ahmadi

doi:10.1109/UKCI.2014.6930151

Pathfinding in partially explored games environments: The application of the A^∗ Algorithm with occupancy grids in Unity3D

John Stamford, Arjab Singh Khuman, Jenny Carter, Samad Ahmadi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

One of the key aspects of games development is making Non-Playable Characters (NPC) behave more realistically in the environment. One of the main challenges is creating an NPC that is aware of its surroundings and acts accordingly. The A^∗ Algorithm is widely used in the games development community to allow AI based characters to move around the environment however unlike real characters they are often given information about the environment without having to explore. This paper combines the use of the A^∗ Algorithm with the occupancy grid technique to allow Non-Playable Characters to build their own representation of the environment and plan paths based on this information. The paper demonstrates the application of the approach and shows a range of testing and its limitations.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2014 14th UK Workshop on Computational Intelligence, UKCI 2014 - Proceedings
Editors	Mariam Kiran, Daniel Neagu, Paul Trundle
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)	9781479955381
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/UKCI.2014.6930151
Publication status	Published - 20 Oct 2014
Externally published	Yes
Event	14th UK Workshop on Computational Intelligence - University of Bradford, Bradford, United Kingdom Duration: 8 Sep 2014 → 10 Sep 2014 Conference number: 14 http://www.computing.brad.ac.uk/ukci2014/ (Link to Conference Website ) https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/conhome/6917611/proceeding

Workshop

Workshop	14th UK Workshop on Computational Intelligence
Abbreviated title	UKCI 2014
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
City	Bradford
Period	8/09/14 → 10/09/14
Internet address	http://www.computing.brad.ac.uk/ukci2014/ (Link to Conference Website ) https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/conhome/6917611/proceeding

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Stamford, J., Khuman, A. S., Carter, J., & Ahmadi, S. (2014). Pathfinding in partially explored games environments: The application of the A^∗ Algorithm with occupancy grids in Unity3D. In M. Kiran, D. Neagu, & P. Trundle (Eds.), 2014 14th UK Workshop on Computational Intelligence, UKCI 2014 - Proceedings [6930151] Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/UKCI.2014.6930151

Stamford, John ; Khuman, Arjab Singh ; Carter, Jenny et al. / Pathfinding in partially explored games environments : The application of the A^∗ Algorithm with occupancy grids in Unity3D. 2014 14th UK Workshop on Computational Intelligence, UKCI 2014 - Proceedings. editor / Mariam Kiran ; Daniel Neagu ; Paul Trundle. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2014.

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abstract = "One of the key aspects of games development is making Non-Playable Characters (NPC) behave more realistically in the environment. One of the main challenges is creating an NPC that is aware of its surroundings and acts accordingly. The A∗ Algorithm is widely used in the games development community to allow AI based characters to move around the environment however unlike real characters they are often given information about the environment without having to explore. This paper combines the use of the A∗ Algorithm with the occupancy grid technique to allow Non-Playable Characters to build their own representation of the environment and plan paths based on this information. The paper demonstrates the application of the approach and shows a range of testing and its limitations.",

keywords = "A Algorithm, AI, Games Development, Mobile Robots, Occupancy Grids, Unity3D",

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note = "14th UK Workshop on Computational Intelligence, UKCI 2014 ; Conference date: 08-09-2014 Through 10-09-2014",

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Stamford, J, Khuman, AS, Carter, J & Ahmadi, S 2014, Pathfinding in partially explored games environments: The application of the A^∗ Algorithm with occupancy grids in Unity3D. in M Kiran, D Neagu & P Trundle (eds), 2014 14th UK Workshop on Computational Intelligence, UKCI 2014 - Proceedings., 6930151, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 14th UK Workshop on Computational Intelligence, Bradford, United Kingdom, 8/09/14. https://doi.org/10.1109/UKCI.2014.6930151

Pathfinding in partially explored games environments : The application of the A^∗ Algorithm with occupancy grids in Unity3D. / Stamford, John; Khuman, Arjab Singh; Carter, Jenny et al.

2014 14th UK Workshop on Computational Intelligence, UKCI 2014 - Proceedings. ed. / Mariam Kiran; Daniel Neagu; Paul Trundle. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2014. 6930151.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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AB - One of the key aspects of games development is making Non-Playable Characters (NPC) behave more realistically in the environment. One of the main challenges is creating an NPC that is aware of its surroundings and acts accordingly. The A∗ Algorithm is widely used in the games development community to allow AI based characters to move around the environment however unlike real characters they are often given information about the environment without having to explore. This paper combines the use of the A∗ Algorithm with the occupancy grid technique to allow Non-Playable Characters to build their own representation of the environment and plan paths based on this information. The paper demonstrates the application of the approach and shows a range of testing and its limitations.

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Stamford J, Khuman AS, Carter J, Ahmadi S. Pathfinding in partially explored games environments: The application of the A^∗ Algorithm with occupancy grids in Unity3D. In Kiran M, Neagu D, Trundle P, editors, 2014 14th UK Workshop on Computational Intelligence, UKCI 2014 - Proceedings. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2014. 6930151 doi: 10.1109/UKCI.2014.6930151

Pathfinding in partially explored games environments: The application of the A^∗ Algorithm with occupancy grids in Unity3D

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