BotProgramming Basics

Basics

The robots in Gladiabots are autonomous and obey their Artificial Intelligence (AI). Bots can only execute one of the possible actions at a time. The AIs task is to determine what action to use in the current situation. Each bot checks its AI counterclockwise, searching for the first valid branch leading to an action.

All elements an AI can contain.

The AI of a bot is shaped like an upside down tree. It can be composed of the following elements:

Element	Description
Root node	Each AI contains exactly one root node that defines the starting point of the AI check. Nodes linked from the bottom of the root node are evaluated counterclockwise. The root node indicates the name of the AI.
Action node	If a rectangular-shaped action node is evaluated valid during AI check, the described action is executed for the current tick. An action node is considered invalid if the bot cannot perform it.
Condition node	If an oval-shaped condition node is evaluated valid during AI check, the nodes linked from the bottom of the condition node are evaluated counterclockwise. A condition node is considered invalid if the current situation doesn't fit it.
Connector node	The diamond-shaped connector node is always evaluated valid during AI check. It connects every node linked to the top of the connector node with every node linked from the bottom of the connector node. A connector node can be used to simplify the layout of the AI.
Sub-AI node	One can reuse an AI inside another one, by using a Sub-AI node. When evaluating this node the whole sub-AI is checked for a valid action. A sub-AI can again contain its own sub-AIs. Dividing the AI in sub-AIs also improves performance when viewing or editing the AI.
Link	Nodes can be connected with a link. A link is a directed connection from the bottom of one node to the top of another node.

AI checking process

Nodes are evaluated counterclockwise

Branches are explored with depth-first search

To determine the action a bot should use in the current situation, the valid nodes are traversed by a depth-first search algorithm beginning with the root node:

[Expand]Details of the AI checking process  Use the root node as reference node and start at step (1): 1) Get a list of all subnodes linked from the bottom of the reference node. Traverse this list of subnodes ordered counterclockwise: 1a) If the current subnode is an action node and evaluated valid, then the AI checking is discontinued as a valid action is found. 1b) If the current subnode is a sub-AI, then this sub-AI is evaluated. If a valid action is found in it the AI checking is discontinued. 1c) If the current subnode is a condition or connector node and evaluated as valid, then use this subnode as reference node and start a recursive evaluation at step (1). If no valid action is found there, continue at step (1d) afterwards. 1d) If there are further subnodes in step (1) continue with the next subnode at step (1a). 2) If there are no further subnodes in step (1), try to backtrack to the previous evaluation in step (1c). If there is no previous evaluation no valid action could be found. The bot idles instead.

Branches are not executed counterclockwise but checked counterclockwise.

The evaluation of nodes is instant and is not wasting any time from the current tick.

Naming AIs

By adding prefixes like "1 " and "2 " or "A " and "B " in front of the AI name, similar AIs can be shown grouped together for easy selection in the AI list.

Possible AI groups:

1. Main AIs assigned to bots
2. Test AIs
3. Basic sub-AIs used by many AIs
4. Specific sub-AIs used in some AIs
5. Sub-AIs used in sub-AIs
6. Old AIs not in use anymore

Furthermore one of the following elements could be added as prefix, suffix or infix in the AI name:

• Bot class (for example: "SN", "SG", "AS", "MG")
• Map name (for example: "7w", "syp", "mp", "...")
• Game version (for example: "9.1", "10.4")
• AI version (for example: "1.4", "3.2")

[Expand]Chars to use in AI names  The following chars can be used in AI names: !, #, $, %, &, (, ), *, ,, ., /, :, ;, ?, @, [, ], ^, _, `, {, |, }, ~, +, =, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, -, a, A, b, B, c, C, d, D, e, E, f, F, g, G, h, H, i, I, j, J, k, K, l, L, m, M, n, N, o, O, p, P, q, Q, r, R, s, S, t, T, u, U, v, V, w, W, x, X, y, Y, z, Z,   The following chars can not be used in AI names: ", ', <, >, \

Debugging

It is important to check if the AIs work like intended or if some bugs have sneaked in. To help understanding the AI there are lines drawn from each bot to the target of its current action upon execution.

Debugging window

By selecting an allied bot one can additionally see the state of its AI. At this point one needs to recall that an AI always uses data from the past. It uses actions from the last tick and the health and shield values as well as the range distances are evaluated at the beginning of the current tick for determining the current action. (for details see game mechanics)

Debugging sub-AI

Debugging AI from Ritter Runkel

To visualize everything a bot did sense when making its decision in the current tick one can create a debugging sub-AI. This will avoid confusion about delay when analyzing an AI.

Two assaults and a machine gun are attacking the full health and full shield sniper from long range.

A debugging sub-AI contains:

• ...not a single action node.
• ...condition nodes indicating what the bot senses. Examples:
  • Health and shield of self
  • Bot class, range and count of enemy bots attacking myself
  • Health, shield and range of enemy bot attacked by self
  • Actions performed by allied or enemy bots
• ...sub-AIs not connected to the root node
  • They point to other important sub-AIs as a quick link.

A debugging sub-AI is used in the main AI by linking to it as the very first node that is evaluated from the root node.

Combining condition nodes

It is possible to create logic terms like A and B or A or B by combining several condition nodes. In the following examples Is a Sniper attacking me is used as Condition A and Is a Machine gun attacking me is used as Condition B.

Arrangement	Logic term	Negated arrangement	Negated logic term
	A and B Is a Sniper and a Machine gun attacking me? This arrangement is evaluated valid, if both condition nodes are evaluated valid. This arrangement is evaluated invalid, if one or both of the conditions are evaluated invalid.		not (A and B) The opposite of the arrangement "Is a Sniper and a Machine gun attacking me?" is: Is there no Sniper attacking me or is there no Machine gun attacking me. This arrangement is evaluated invalid, if both condition nodes are evaluated valid. This arrangement is evaluated valid, if one or both of the conditions are evaluated invalid.
	A or B Is a Sniper or a Machine gun attacking me? This arrangement is evaluated valid, if one or both of the conditions are evaluated valid. This arrangement is evaluated invalid, if both condition nodes are evaluated invalid.		not (A or B) The opposite of the arrangement "Is a Sniper or a Machine gun attacking me?" is: Is there no Sniper attacking me and is there no Machine gun attacking me. This arrangement is evaluated invalid, if one or both of the conditions are evaluated valid. This arrangement is evaluated valid, if both condition nodes are evaluated invalid.
	A xor B Is either a Sniper or a Machine gun but not both of them attacking me? This arrangement is evaluated valid, if exactly one of the conditions is evaluated valid. This arrangement is evaluated invalid, if none or both condition nodes are evaluated valid.		not (A xor B) The opposite of the arrangement "Is either a Sniper or a Machine gun but not both of them attacking me?" is: Is there a Sniper attacking me and is there a Machine gun attacking me or is there no Sniper attacking me and is there no Machine gun attacking me. This arrangement is evaluated invalid, if exactly one of the conditions is evaluated valid. This arrangement is evaluated valid, if none or both condition nodes are evaluated valid.

Truth table

Description	Sniper	Machine gun	A and B	not (A and B)	A or B	not (A or B)	A xor B	not (A xor B)
There is a Sniper and a Machine gun.	✔	✔	✔	✖	✔	✖	✖	✔
There is a Sniper but no Machine gun.	✔	✖	✖	✔	✔	✖	✔	✖
There is a Machine gun but no Sniper.	✖	✔	✖	✔	✔	✖	✔	✖
There is no Sniper nor a Machine gun.	✖	✖	✖	✔	✖	✔	✖	✔