Fixing Pit Exit AI

GPLaps · Apr 14, 2020

Hi All,

I've searched around for some answers but was unable to find something relevant, please let me know if there is a better place to post this.

I am trying to simulate some 1988 CART races with AI using the HSO mod and tracks.The cars feel great but the big struggle has been getting the AI to work well. I am having a particular problem with the AI at the 1988 Indy track. I noticed on pit exit the AI comes to a near stop on the back straightaway when it is merging with the racing line. I have taken a look at the AIW file and it seems like the blue pit line connects with the green fast line correctly.

Does anyone have advise on a parameter or common reason the AI would slow abruptly at the merge point? I assume there is some setting somewhere that controls merge speed, or maybe the lines need to be laid out differently.

Appreciate the help!

Salvatore Sirignano · Apr 14, 2020

Could you post a screengrab of the merge point in AIW editor? I´ll be honest, unless you have the rfactor version it can be an absolute pain to modify, and even then in ISI´s editor you have to set the branch location before most of the rest of the AIW. Sounds like the blue line doesn´t merge gradually enough with the green one, they should run as parallel as possible before meeting.

GPLaps · Apr 14, 2020

Thanks for the speedy response!

When I noticed the issue originally I took a look at the AIW lines and noted that it seemed like there was quite an abrupt leap from the blue to the green line.

https://imgur.com/aQs4FEB

I tried adjusting this by editing the position in the editor. I don't have very much experience though and may have done it incorrectly (the red lines moved as well).

https://imgur.com/3zQcyZX

Either way the edit did not work and the cars still slowed to almost a stop before they pick up the racing line.

polo199 · Apr 14, 2020

Hi there,

I did fiddle a bit with pit lane entry while editing Macau's AIW for personal usage.
How did you smooth out the lines? By having the last pit lane WP connecting to a further race line WP? (=by editing the WP_PTRS)

GPLaps · Apr 14, 2020

polo199 said:
Hi there,

I did fiddle a bit with pit lane entry while editing Macau's AIW for personal usage.
How did you smooth out the lines? By having last pit lane WP connecting to a further race line WP? (=by editing the WP_PTRS)

In my screenshot the line still connects at the same position, I haven't found a way to extend it. I just moved each point one by one to make it a more gradual connection, but it hasn't seemed to help the issue.

polo199 · Apr 14, 2020

OK so you can have you pit lane line connect further down the race line. What you need to do is edit the WP_PTRS values. Here's an example:

What you want is to edit the WP_PTRS values. 1st value is "previous WP", 2nd: "next WP", 3rd: can't remember now, 4th: "0"=main race line or "1"=pit line. So I would make sure that the last pit lane WP (#1451 in my example) has its 2nd WP_PTRS value set to a race line WP which is located further down the track (WP #178 in my example). I would try to mix that with smooth line joining. I would make sure that the WP it connects to is not located backwards.
You could try to select a race line WP significantly further. AI should be able to calculate a path and accelerate.

I didn't test much but that's what I would try.