Stupid AI

[jadebullet]

Hi im having a problem with some of the portals of my route. Mainly the branch lines. The train comes out of the portal but as soon as the AI takes control the driver cuts throttle and throws the brakes. It happens on my two branch lines and with my Amtrak that i have randomly spawn. (yes i have assigned a route to them). The Amtrack is really wierd because it spawns, stops, gets rearended(at a slow enough speed that it couples i guess) and then continues on its way with a frieght stuck to its back end.

Please help. I thought i solved it by taking away a switch that was too close but it didnt help. im also running 04 btw

 

[Euphod]

Often times you need to place a long enough track from the portal to before the first switch, and have proper signaling as well. Also check the portal properties to be sure you have checked the box to allow the driver to operate after leaving the portal (follow his schedule). Otherwise, he will stop after he exits the portal.

 

[jadebullet]

oh... theres a box that i have to check to have them run on a schedule... Someone hit me please.

Thanks btw.

Ok i dont think that i found the box you were talking about. I added run schedule before the command to run to the other portal but it still shuts down right after the first bridge. I made it a single track and everything.

Also when i was playing around with the AI i noticed that sometimes the train will stop responding. Example: i told the driver to couple up to a run of box cars then proceed to the portal. He coupled to the boxcars and then stopped. the control method flashed between nothing, dcc, and cab controls before stopping on cab controls. I noticed that when the train comes out of the portal it too will go to dcc then once it stops it will go to cab. Please help.

 

[Captain_Collins]

If a driver stops the train for whatever reason, and if you are in cab mode, he/she will switch back and forth between cab mode and DCC. DCC when they are "testing" the route ahead, and cab mode when they are stopped.

I have never seen a box to check either.

When the trains stop responding are there any messages in the little message window at the top of the screen? The one accessible by a microphone button in the bottom-right corner.

 

[Euphod]

When you set up the portal, you have to define it's properties. It may not be a box to tick, but it's in there somewhere!

 

[JCitron]

The AI are not always as dumb as they seem. In this case there may actually be a problem.

Check that you don't have any broken track, or mispointed direction markers. This will make the AI sit there and wait. To check for broken track, either drive the stopped train manually, or go into Surveyor, and walk the line slowly while looking at the connections.

Direction makers can be tricky because you may have it incorrect, but in your mind you may see it as the opposite. You need two markers one for one track, and one for the other if you have a two-track route. Also Direction Markers show the direction you want the trains to go in. If you have one that's backwards on the route for your train, this will cause them to stop.

My gut feeling though it's your signalling that's causing the problems so make sure you're line is properly signaled otherwise the AI will sit there until the track ahead is clear. Refer to the different threads on signalling.

In general when I add in portals, I setup two - one for spawning trains and the other for accepting them back in. I also have at least a baseboard of track between the portals and the line that they will traverse. This gives the AI plenty of time to throttle down before they reach the main so they don't go blasting through everything blindly until they gather their limited brains.

If my portals lead down to single track, which in many cases they will, I setup the junction just like any other with the proper speed markers and signaling. By the time the AI have reached this point, they are at the proper speed anyway, and are ready to join the rest of the population on the route.

John

 

[jadebullet]

ok i will try these things. It may be my signaling. not sure though. I have no directional markers. I highly doubt that it is broken track because i just threw a few track marks down and made the AI go to each track mark which he did with no problem. The track was laid in the oposite direction of the direction of travel(its a single track branching off of my double track main). could this be the problem. i will continue to mess with it.

 

[jadebullet]

ok i might have jsut solved it. i looked at the messages and it said that i was missing a lever. i found it. :crosses fingers: lets hope that this works.