Dynamic Autonomous Agents: Game Applications

We present a method for the generation of real-time dynamic autonomous agents in game environments. The method is based on the use of dynamical systems theory which allows us to express intelligent behaviors using systems of differential equations. These differential equations operate at two distinct levels. At one level, the differential equations governing movement comprise a carefully designed set of attractor-repeller fields. At a second level, behavior selection is modeled using a competition dynamics that determines the relevant contributions to the movement dynamics at each time instant. Thus, our autonomous agents are capable of exhibiting useful behaviors in complex environments. Using this approach we are able to demonstrate in real time behaviors such as single and multiple target tracking with both stationary and moving obstacles.