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AI Traffic in Multiplayer

StickBender

StickBender

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Having the the ability to delete AI at a point of choice would be wonderful. Even better would be have it take place after tow completion. But I realize it may not be possible to send a signal to all connected clients to do the same.

Hot key it?

Shift-Alt-Del = Delete all AI
Shift-Alt-Y = Delete My Tow Plane

Could the latter send a signal to all other clients to do the same?

Can the server send a signal to a client to cause a failure?

I think I am low on fuel. :eek:
 
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Pete Dowson

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bmatt59 said:
Just registered a copy Pete, and the utility works flawlessly. I will upload it to the server and see how it works under a different OS. I will be very interested to see if it zaps the AI prior to being distributed to all the players within the session.
Click to expand...

Yes. Let me know, please. Also, in case it doesn't, would this suggestion I made above be an answer?

I could probably add a new FSUIPC control which could toggle the AutoDeleteAI action on and off -- presumably off by default?

But when it is switched on it will only delete the existing planes as and when SimConnect notifies FSUIPC or a change -- if they simply freeze in mid air and do nothing then SimConnect may never again tell me about them. If they do continue flying it'd be okay, they'd be reported upon and deleted as they did.
Click to expand...

It is easy enough to add such an assignable control, but I won't bother if it wouldn't have any real use.

Regards

Pete
 
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Pete Dowson

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StickBender said:
Shift-Alt-Del = Delete all AI
Shift-Alt-Y = Delete My Tow Plane
Click to expand...

There are already several and user configurable facilities in FSUIPC to Zap AI planes. I think they are sufficient. I'm not planning any more.

As I said, I could add an assignable control to toggle the AutoDeleteAI list on and off. I am waiting to hear if there is any point. What do tow planes do when released? Carry on flying as AI, or just become scenery objects?

All controls in FSUIPC, like those in FS itself, are assignable to buttons or switches or controllable by program. I don't pre-allocate any particular short-cuts.

Could the latter send a signal to all other clients to do the same?
Can the server send a signal to a client to cause a failure?[\quote]
Someone who knows about multiplayer would need to answer such questions. Certainly FSUIPC cannot.

Regards

Pete
Click to expand...
 
Geoff_D

Geoff_D

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Results of running the AI deleting FSUIP on a FSX MP HOST

If a client joins the session, in a Glider, and calls up a tow plane, then that Tow plane is seen by the server and sent out to all the other players, BEFORE FSUIPC deletes it from the server. ( FSUIPC/Simconnect is not fast enough to delete) -- ( whoever thought Simconnect was fast !! )

So all players CURRENTLY in the session are stuck with a STATIONARY Tow Plane, on the runway. (Not ideal)


New Clients joining the session will NOT see the Tow plane, as it was deleted from the HOST before they joined.

----------------------
This is probably as good as it can get-- at least as new clients join the server, they are not loaded up with all the Tow Planes that have ever joined the session since the host started the session.

Those Clients that want to remove the Tow Plane can either BUY FSUIPC, or use Traffic Tools to remove any Ghost Tow Planes on runways.

------------------------

I know of no mechanism in FSX MP, that would allow the HOST to remove an AI play from a Client ( apart from a real MP client's User Plane ). To do so would need the server to make a simconnect connection to the client etc etc etc -- not going to happen.

So it would be up to each client to deal with any Ghost Tow planes that got generated AFTER they joined the session.

----------------------------

A theoretical alternative, would be for the Host to FILTER out packets that it sends to clients about the Tow Plane, or possibly inject a "Tow Plane with ID N, has left the session" type packet.
However, without any MP SDK, and that sort of packet info, that is probably not the direction that anyone wants to spend time pursuing.

------------------------------

As someone who runs a 24/7 Multiplayer session, that often runs for many days before resetting, I can see a useful benefit from putting the DELETE AI FSUIPC on my FSX Server.

As a FSX pilot, I would find a FSUIP that could be told to delete AI Tow Planes, when I wanted them deleted, to be convenient, but I would not want FSUIPC to stop me Tow Launching a Glider, IF I wanted to do so. So some way, to turn ON/OFF the delete function, while in the session would be ideal.
Otherwise, if the Tow Planes really bothered me, I would use TrafficTools, or just re-join the session.

Geoff_D
 
StickBender

StickBender

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bmatt59 said:
Why allow any AI into the server at all? Even if they are within a 1/2 mile of the users aircraft, does everybody in the session need to see them?

Why not just zap them all, the second they are created?
Bud
Click to expand...

Well Bud, there are some reasons to have AI in multi player. We have done this at times so zapping anything that moves automatically might be a bit harsh. Although it should be an option, deleting manually should be as well. We use AI in some of our live events. For example I plan on doing this in a search for Claus (Paul) next month. I need a target of the search to move around some. AI Piper. Hard to explain and I do not want to give it away in case the guys are reading this. <grin>

Another example - At times I create a flight of DC-3 (6 of them) and have them all land at our base. The radio is alive with chatter about "Heads up guys, Supply train arriving. Stay off the runway, these guys do not speak Alaskan". Gets a chuckle every time as the ships all land one right after another for 15 minutes. This is for entertainment reasons. Our sessions are full of humor and laughs. And the AI is a prop for that at times.

So having a system that zaps them right out might not be as good has having the option. I would vote to have an auto setting, as well as the ability to remove them manually from a list. I am looking into all of this.

Thanks all.. Have a great day!
 
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StickBender

StickBender

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Hello again everyone,

I have a question. I am very new to all of this and learning. Forgive me for my lack of understanding. I thought perhaps someone may know the answer.

If everyone flying in the session is running a client, can those clients receive a signal from a server that would do an action? I realize the client would need to be an app written to accommodate such functions. I am interested in be able to issue failures and such. Perhaps send text message to the screen, etc. Additionally, is there a way to remotely change the server time/day/weather without having to restart it? Perhaps a new thread, Server Tool Development is in order?

I am deeply studying all of this including your package Pete and will soon be upgrading it as I have been using it in the client mode for some functions.

Take care all. And thank you!
 
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Pete Dowson

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Geoff_D said:
As a FSX pilot, I would find a FSUIP that could be told to delete AI Tow Planes, when I wanted them deleted, to be convenient, but I would not want FSUIPC to stop me Tow Launching a Glider, IF I wanted to do so. So some way, to turn ON/OFF the delete function, while in the session would be ideal.
Click to expand...

Okay. Download 4.405:

[EDIT: Superseded by 4.406, see later message]

This initially defaults with the AutoDeleteAI option switched off. There's an assignable FSUIPC control added:

AutodeleteAI toggle

which toggles it on when off and off when on.

You can instead have it defaulting ON (for a Server, perhaps) by making the first callsign in the AutoDeleteAI= .... list simply ON. So, for example, for the tow plane:

AutoDeleteAI=ON,EC-527

Note that there's no corresponding "OFF" option here. Off is the default setting. For the user the previous line used is fine:

AutoDeleteAI=EC-527

Regards
Pete
 
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Geoff_D

Geoff_D

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Pete Dowson said:
Okay. Download 4.405:

http://fsuipc.simflight.com/beta/FSUIPC4405.zip

Regards
Pete
Click to expand...

Pete

Works Great :)

Now, the only remaining problem is the typical "TOGGLE" status problem. Is it currently toggled ON or OFF ?

Rather than a Toggle, could I suggest seperate "AIdelete ON", and "AIdelete OFF".

Then a user could define those to either seperate keys, and know what state they were in,

or

even define them to the same Key .. PRESS = AIdelete ON, RELEASE= AIdelete OFF. Then to delete AI, they just Press & release that defined Key.

"Then it will be perfect :) "

Geoff_D
 
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Pete Dowson

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Geoff_D said:
Rather than a Toggle, could I suggest seperate "AIdelete ON", and "AIdelete OFF".
Click to expand...

Okay. Download 4.406:

http://fsuipc.simflight.com/beta/FSUIPC4406.zip

[4.405 is withdrawn]

As before, this initially defaults with the AutoDeleteAI option switched off. There are now three assignable FSUIPC controls:

AutodeleteAI off
AutodeleteAI on
AutodeleteAI toggle

So you can do what you like with assignments to buttons or keys.

As said before, you can have it defaulting ON (for a Server, perhaps) by making the first callsign in the AutoDeleteAI= .... list simply ON. So, for example, for the tow plane:

AutoDeleteAI=ON,EC-527

Note that there's no corresponding "OFF" option here. Off is the default setting. For the user PC the previous line used is fine:

AutoDeleteAI=EC-527

Regards
Pete
 
Geoff_D

Geoff_D

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Pete Dowson said:
Okay. Download 4.406:

http://fsuipc.simflight.com/beta/FSUIPC4406.zip

[4.405 is withdrawn]

As before, this initially defaults with the AutoDeleteAI option switched off. There are now three assignable FSUIPC controls:

AutodeleteAI off
AutodeleteAI on
AutodeleteAI toggle

So you can do what you like with assignments to buttons or keys.

As said before, you can have it defaulting ON (for a Server, perhaps) by making the first callsign in the AutoDeleteAI= .... list simply ON. So, for example, for the tow plane:

AutoDeleteAI=ON,EC-527

Note that there's no corresponding "OFF" option here. Off is the default setting. For the user PC the previous line used is fine:

AutoDeleteAI=EC-527

Regards
Pete
Click to expand...

MAGIC !! Works great.....

When you define a Key to both turn ON the autodelete, and then turn it off when you release the key, you have to hold down that defined key for a good 2 seconds ( not a quick Jab), but then it does the business, and ZAP .. deletes all the tow planes.

VERY NICE .. looks like a keeper :)

Thanks Pete
 
StickBender

StickBender

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Update: AI Traffic in Multiplayer

I know this thread is old but I found some interesting information on AI/Ghost aircraft in multi player and think it could be of use.

While playing around with a camera mod (cameras attached to aircraft other than ones own) I discovered something. It seems, some abandoned (player gets dropped/lagged whatever) aircraft park themselves at Lon 0, Lat 0, Alt 0. Seems some ghost tow planes wind up in a pile here as well. And I mean a pile.

After running a session for 18 days, I checked this location to verify this. Sure enough, there were 31 aircraft all piled up at that location, with only 3 players logged on the server. Traffic toolkit showed 34 aircraft in the total, but did not list any. I used Traffic explorer on a client machine so perhaps having it on the server would show these and allow their manual deletion. While I was at it, I tried the control tower list and radar. As we know it has a 200nm limit and therefore did not show these aircraft. But they are there, verified visually.

Pete, would be hard to add a little check that will remove any ships within .01 of that location? Doing this on the server would really be helpful. It is causing serious lag issues as you can imagine. Would be a grand addition for many of the folks who run session/servers.

Take care all, hope this helps.
 
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