AI - Obeys Lights or Blocks?

[Dermmy]

Are you sure you have the markers the right way around? Think of them as 'No Entry' signs rather than as 'direction markers' and place them directly after junctions on the route you don't want the trains to take...

AI trains coming through the junction from the bottom of the picture will not take the right hand route through that junction. If you try and there is no alternative you will get a 'No Path' message. Direction markers are to all intents and purposes bombproof if used correctly.

 

[F2Andy]

Yes, they are definitely set the right way around, and I have definitely seen the AI reverse a train back over a crossover with a direction marker pointing the wrong way, then go forward, down the wrong line again past a direction marker pointing the wrong way.

 

[sniper297]

I'm still trying to figure it out, my current theory (which is subject to frequent random incoherent changes) is that Crazey Jones will avoid wrong way direction markers if the right way is clear and green for the next few miles. Someone in another thread was talking about AI failing to hit track speed, I've seen a lot of caution which is actually common sense - got several switches with dwarf signals close together, he "sees" two greens, one yellow and one red over yellow within the next 100 yards and slows down to sort it out. My current beta;

http://forums.auran.com/trainz/showthread.php?t=74640

I have the Lake Street L slowing to 40 at Clinton, then 15mph signs at the curves in the Loop, with 30 (or 40, forget which) on the straightaways. The Chicago Loop is about 2 blocks (1/4 mile) by 4 blocks (1/2 mile) so the straight sections aren't very long - and the AI won't go over 16 mph in a 30 zone because he sees the 15 mph coming up shortly. The logic makes sense too, he slows to hit the reduced speed before he hits the sign, doesn't increase for a higher speed sign until the last car in the train passes the sign.

 

[Dermmy]

I'm still trying to figure it out... got several switches with dwarf signals close together, he "sees" two greens, one yellow and one red over yellow within the next 100 yards and slows down to sort it out.

Unless something drastic has changed my understanding is that the AI looks two junctions ahead. The number of signals is irrelevant. Where does 'my understanding' come from? The good ol' days when the folks that programmed the thing got involved in discussions like this so that we all knew what was going on. These days there is doubtlessly a hard to find blank wiki page where it all isn't explained...

Andy

 

[sniper297]

Another one I just saw - navigate via track mark AF31, navigate via track mark AF32. AF32 is about a mile away on the other end of the yard, and as AI train 1 is approaching AF31, two more AI trains spawn from portals and run past the switch that AI 1 enters the yard from. AI 2 and AI3 go onto different tracks and sort out who takes the mainline first, AI 1 hits AF31 and stops. 200 yards to the next signal, which is green, 3 more signals, green yellow and red, and half a mile between him and the red signal behind AI3, he stops at AF31 and won't move until he has a completely clear path to AF32.

Only solution is moving or adding more trackmarks, and additional spacer signals between switches on long stretches of track.

 

[Dermmy]

Portal trains while in the act of spawning do not (and never did) obey anything. They simply run through or over any junctions / signals / whatever that are in the way.

It is good practice to keep portals at least two or three train-lengths away from any possibility of conflicting traffic and/or signals and/or junctions...