How Can AI Account for Gravity in Space Navigation?

[Taremos]

Hi,

In the future I want to make a realistic game set in space. Part of the realism is physics and sizes/distances.

Thus, one of the things I want to have solved before I even begin on designing the game graphically is that of navigation.

Navigation will be done primarily through AI; i.e. the player will tell the ship where to go and it will go there.

Before I even get into 3D, I must solve the problem of navigation in the 2D.

I already pretty much have the equation for what the AI would do if there isn't any near solar masses to effect it gravity.

What I have so far is this:
If the ship is already pointing in the direction it wants to go:

a = acceleration
d = distance
ra = rotational acceleration

1: forward thrust for t = sqrt(2*d/a)/2 - sqrt(pi/ra)
2: rotational thrust for t = sqrt(pi/ra)
3: negative rotational thrust for t = sqrt(pi/ra)
4: forward thrust for t = sqrt(2*d/a)/2 - sqrt(pi/ra)

to explain:
1: accelerate toward target
2: half way there minus half the amount of time it'll take to turn around, start turning around faster
3: slow down the rotation to that the ship is facing the 180 degrees from original direction
4: slow down the ship to stop at the point you wanted.

Pretty simple.

But now comes the problem of gravity. How can I have a navigation AI account for the effects of gravity of nearby planets, moons, and the sun?

Since the effects are negligible, I won't worry about other ships or other masses.If anyone can solve this for me, or even just point me in the right direction... feel free to post!

Thanks

Edit: PS, this is assuming ships with only rear primary thrusters and small side thrusters for rotation.

 

[gtoguy97]

One solution could be to use a combination of Newtonian mechanics and vector calculus. In this approach, the AI would calculate an effective acceleration vector for the ship based on the acceleration vectors from each object exerting a gravitational force, summed over all objects in the vicinity. The AI would then use this effective acceleration vector to determine the optimal acceleration and rotational acceleration required to reach its destination. This method would allow the AI to account for the effects of gravity while still providing realistic navigation.

 

[sir-pinski]

Hi there,

The problem of navigation in space is indeed a complex one, especially when it comes to accounting for the effects of gravity. Fortunately, there are some existing solutions and techniques that can help you with this problem.

One approach is to use a simplified model of gravity, such as the two-body problem, which assumes that the only significant gravitational forces are between the ship and a single massive object, such as a planet or moon. This can help you calculate the trajectory of the ship and make adjustments to account for the gravitational pull of nearby objects.

Another option is to use a more advanced physics engine that can simulate the effects of multiple gravitational forces on the ship. This would require more complex calculations and coding, but it can provide a more realistic and accurate navigation experience in your game.

You may also want to consider implementing a pathfinding algorithm, which can help the AI navigate around obstacles and calculate the most efficient route to a target destination while taking into account the effects of gravity.

Overall, the key to solving this problem is to break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks and to utilize existing solutions and algorithms. I hope this helps and good luck with your game!