Piece by piece: obstacle detection and turning got a few more improvements today.
Also tried to help out some 'thin corridor turning' logic, but wasn't successful yet. Hopefully can refine that idea further though, as I can think of two problem spots in the Open World where vehicles can struggle a bit.


This patch is highly volatile we know there are issues with the driving AI/Pathfinding and Physics. This is simply an experimental to open up testing for those that would like to test them out and provide feedback. Do not play "serious" sessions.


Introduced a new 'pushback' mechanic: while the Humvee may need to reconsider pushing through a mass of infected, the Cerberus can handle smaller groups with confidence.

https://youtu.be/5MW0lDnH92E

[expand type=details]

• Added logic to account for CalculateBrakingTimeToTargetSpeed's 'brake dampening' in CalculateBrakingDistanceToTargetSpeed. Result: Braking to turn and to stop seems to be generally improved!
  
• Set up logic for calculating 'distance to front of vehicle' for improved obstacle detection
  
• Fixed up Ajax's physics overlap box not reaching low enough to the ground
  
• Fixed up some more landscape objects
  
• Some prep work for the release of the Abrams/Bradley Set up 'FrontBumper' sockets on each wheeled vehicle mesh (and Bradley+Abrams) towards this end, to precalculate these values in the pathfollowing component for optimizations sake

Please note: Restart your game/Steam to ensure the update is applied.
[/expand]


[expand type=details]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zz49hElQa8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZA_1INK--I

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/games/979640/announcements/detail/3718325557390407190

We now have a new system for our community to follow along on development. This website will break down all the major systems that are coming each patch. It will not include hotfixes/bug fixes. Sections inside TBD can be included randomly if we are ahead of schedule.
View the Roadmap[www.notion.so]
[/expand]


[expand type=details]
Your support helps us grow the team and create a better game for everyone!

Join our Patreon community to gain exclusive access to behind-the-scenes content, early builds, and other perks.

Show your love for Cepheus Protocol with our official merchandise! Every purchase directly supports the development of the game.

Immerse yourself in the gripping narrative of the Pangu Virus outbreak through multiple perspectives. Follow the dedicated heroes of the Center for Epidemic Research and Control as they battle to contain a devastating alien virus that transforms innocents into terrifying creatures of unimaginable power.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1707120/Cepheus_Protocol_Anthology_Season_1/

Get a sneak peek at the intense and dramatic opening of Season 1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eWbDibGMrU
[/expand]

If you're experiencing crashes/instability, please try a Steam Verify/Display Drivers update before contacting us.

This patch represents a significant step forward in vehicle performance. While we've made great strides, there are still a few remaining adjustments:

Brake tuning - In some cases, vehicles can over-accelerate or decelerate too late, causing them to "bump" into objects randomly. These collisions are no longer fatal, as vehicles recover quickly, but it's still an issue we're addressing.

Reverse logic fine-tuning - We're improving the vehicles' ability to recognize when reversing is the most efficient option in complex situations.

Turning behavior tweaks - Closely connected to brake tuning, turning behavior still needs refinement to work more cohesively with the braking system. This is a lot of physics and math that we’re investigating, and we’re working on determining the best way forward to make turning 100% reliable.

Our vehicles now consistently reach their targets, though they occasionally struggle with navigating the complexities of the world, particularly when it comes to the complicated math and physics involved in turns and braking calculations. Think of it as training AI to "drive" in real-time—it’s an ongoing process, but we aim to finalize these improvements by the end of the month, including updates for the Abrams and other vehicles. However, if we don’t meet this goal, the Abrams and co may bleed into the first part of next month. The moment we’re happy, and you folks are happy with the driving, we’ll convert the Evac buses and immediately move to the Abrams and co. Stay tuned!


This patch is highly volatile we know there are issues with the driving AI/Pathfinding and Physics. This is simply an experimental to open up testing for those that would like to test them out and provide feedback. Do not play "serious" sessions.


Introduced a new 'pushback' mechanic: while the Humvee may need to reconsider pushing through a mass of infected, the Cerberus can handle smaller groups with confidence.

https://youtu.be/5MW0lDnH92E

[expand type=details]

• Basic framework for 'ramming slowdown' added
  
• Set up to respect vehicular mass so more massive vehicles can push through more obstacles
  
• Fixed a UnitInterface issue where OrderFireMode in several places didn't have the right syntax (likely resulted in unintended behavior in some situations) from the new interface system
  
• Fixed collision settings for 'performant capsule' collision presets (such as those used by characters at higher LODs), to prevent vehicles from getting 'bounced around' by low-detail infected running into them
  
• Rotate-in-place logic for Chaos Vehicle Units. Units get zero'd out linear+angular velocities while rotating, preventing them from 'rotating out of control'. Used this to boost rotation speed (Cerberus and Springbok Tweaked so far, need to do the others)
  
• Added an 'overlapped actors' tracker for ram collisions for Chaos Vehicle Units, so overlapped enemies don't continue accumulating 'ram mass' by staying close to vehicle(s)
  
• Adjusted arcade torque control for 'rotate in place' logic for non-treaded vehicles
  
• Improved 'near to target' turning, speed, and reversing for Chaos Vehicle Units (should help with Ajax and Radio Truck 'turning around move target but never reaching it' issue)
  
• Fixed Cerberus not having a garrison
  
• Fixed vehicle units being able to drive without a pilot
  
• Updated 'movement disablement' for Chaos Vehicles
  
• Responds to delegates related to Out Of Gas, DeployMode, and Not Fully Piloted
  
• More performant than previous commit (delegate-based rather than checking every path update, which happens every tick)
  
• Fixed Ajax's camo not functioning properly
  
• Fixed the Transport Atlas's garrison not functioning properly
  
• Added some Chaos Vehicle debug tools for move endpoints
  
• Fixed group move orders for Chaos Units often displaying 'move endpoints' incorrectly
  
• Improved obstacle detection. Skips dodging moving obstacles if 'time to impact' is high
  
• Additional obstacle avoidance checks now ignore allied units
  
• Fixed minor collision issue in Presidio
  
• Crash fix for InstantEnterGarrison using old syntax
  
• Added load game fixes to stop 'component must be set to movable' warnings for buildings/pods
  
• Fixed SMAW rockets sending vehicles flying (updated collision profile of Rockets to ignore vehicles)
  
• Speculative crash fix from here: https://discord.com/channels/469412014427602944/1285238221718032496/1285238221718032496
  
• Updated Mortar Autofire to respect Fire Mode (usable on regular non-Cerberus mortars, too)
  
• Fixed Automatic Gates not reacting to Chaos Vehicle Units
  
• Fixed Heavies and Snipers failing to exit DeployGun mode (syntax issue with EndDeployGun after UnitInterface update)
  
• Cleaned up Obstacle Detection logic in Chaos Vehicle Pathfollowing Component for easier maintenance and updates
  
• Chaos Vehicle obstacle detection improvements
  
• Added distance check when determining the best direction to go if an obstacle is detected, trying to get to the 'closest point on the desired travel line'
  
• Physics-destroyed landscape actors now ignored by obstacle detection
  
• Added angle-check when checking velocity of moving actors, making units more 'tolerant' of allies moving in mostly the same direction ahead of them
  
• Fixed issue with OnSeePawn failing to properly detect enemy structures in certain scenarios
  
• Fixed Chaos Vehicle Unit's OnSeePawn failing to properly detect enemy structures in some cases
  
• Created new Collision Presets for Infected Structure Box Collision and Infected Structure Meshes, allowing infected walls and pods to react to vehicular obstacle traces
  
• Improved reverse logic (including 'reverse to end movepoint' if behind the vehicle)
  
• Updated several reverse-related systems to use improved logic
  
• Obstacle avoidance now uses a 'temp ignore list' for moving objects, ensuring actual obstacles aren't 'missed' by traces being absorbed by moving vehicles
  
• Slightly reduced Chaos Cerberus 'sharp turn' speed for better handling
  
• Increased path recheck frequency for more optimized and reliable pathfinding, especially for long distances
  
• Fixed an issue where units 'forgot' their move target on loading if performing a long move when saved
  
• Added 'correct steer output based on current velocity' logic, so Chaos Vehicles correct their turn based on actual forward/reverse velocity instead of desired velocity (fixes vehicles turning wheels too quickly when reversing and lining up for turns)
  
• Improved targeting logic in Base_Character, ChaosVehicleUnit, AIController_Base, and Projectile classes, ensuring Chaos Vehicle Units are properly targeted
  
• Fixed Interaction Widget (overhead health bar for player units) failing to play 'damaged animation' when a unit takes damage
  
• Added 'PhysicalProjectile' object type and updated collision profiles accordingly. Chaos Vehicle wheel traces now ignore this type, preventing projectiles from 'bouncing' vehicles upward on wheel contact
  
• Updated additional landscape objects to be physics-interactable
  
• Fixed small physics-interactable objects (e.g., benches) to ensure they can interact with landscape (or were landscapeable if not already)
  
• In Treasure Island South, updated overturned fences to no longer block navigation
  
• Adjusted physics overlap boxes for landscape physics interaction with Chaos Vehicle units (MUTT + MULE especially required adjustments)

Please note: Restart your game/Steam to ensure the update is applied.
[/expand]


[expand type=details]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zz49hElQa8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZA_1INK--I

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/games/979640/announcements/detail/3718325557390407190

We now have a new system for our community to follow along on development. This website will break down all the major systems that are coming each patch. It will not include hotfixes/bug fixes. Sections inside TBD can be included randomly if we are ahead of schedule.
View the Roadmap[www.notion.so]
[/expand]


[expand type=details]
Your support helps us grow the team and create a better game for everyone!

Join our Patreon community to gain exclusive access to behind-the-scenes content, early builds, and other perks.

Show your love for Cepheus Protocol with our official merchandise! Every purchase directly supports the development of the game.

Immerse yourself in the gripping narrative of the Pangu Virus outbreak through multiple perspectives. Follow the dedicated heroes of the Center for Epidemic Research and Control as they battle to contain a devastating alien virus that transforms innocents into terrifying creatures of unimaginable power.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1707120/Cepheus_Protocol_Anthology_Season_1/

Get a sneak peek at the intense and dramatic opening of Season 1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eWbDibGMrU
[/expand]

If you're experiencing crashes/instability, please try a Steam Verify/Display Drivers update before contacting us.