GodotRobot

Simple early proof of concept C++ robot simulation using Godot 4.3's GDExtension interface.

How to Host a Server

To host the demo from a Linux server, run (at minimum) the following command:

./Demo_GodotRobot.x86_64 --headless --host --address=YourLocalIPAddress

Here are the flags available for use:

• --headless disables the use of any windows, enabling console-only servers.
• --host specifies that you are trying to host a server from the console.
• --address=YourLocalIPAddress sets the server's IP (127.0.0.1 by default) (can use wildcard * to use all available interfaces).
• --game-version prints out the sim's version number and exits the program.
• --port=YourPort sets a custom port value (31415 by default).
• --max-players=PlayerNumberHere sets the maximum number of players.
• --disable-chat disables the chat for all connected users.

Build Process

To build this, start by downloading the Godot 4.3 engine for your machine.

You also need Blender 3, at least version 3.0 (Blender 4+ does not seem to work). Attach the Blender install path to Godot in Godot Engine -> Editor -> Settings -> FileSystem -> Import -> Blender 3 Path. I set mine to "/usr/bin", the default on Ubuntu.

You'll also need build tools:

sudo apt-get install scons build-essential g++

Check out MiningRobot first:

git clone https://github.com/AuroraRoboticsLab/MiningRobot
cd MiningRobot

Inside the MiningRobot/ folder, check out this repo:

git clone https://github.com/AuroraRoboticsLab/GodotRobot
cd GodotRobot

Now prep the correct version of the godot-cpp GDExtension interface library inside GodotRobot:

git clone -b 4.3 https://github.com/godotengine/godot-cpp
cd godot-cpp
git checkout 4.3
cd ..

Build godot-cpp (the GDExtension interface) and this extension by issuing this from inside GodotRobot/:

scons

(Or you can specify a "platform=linux" or "platform=windows" string.)

Building will take a few minutes the first time, as it builds the whole godot-cpp interface, but it will be very fast after that.

Finally, you can try out the example project by running

Godot-v4.3-stable.exe demo/project.godot

The standard edit loop is:

• Save in Godot Engine.
• Edit the .cpp file in your favorite editor.
• Switch to GodotRobot/ terminal and scons build.
• Switch to Godot Engine and Project -> Reload Current Project.

Terrain Nodes

The terrain nodes let you represent static or dynamic terrains. They can be nested in other Node3Ds or offset around, but should not be scaled.

TerrainStatic256 stores a 256x256 heightmap, normally loaded from an EXR float height image scaled to -10000 meters (black) to +10000 meters (white).

• fill_from_image(dem:Image, pixel_spacing:float) takes an image and pixel spacing in meters to create the height map.
• add_mesh(shader:Shader,casts_shadows:bool) creates a mesh for rendering, using the specified shader.
• add_static_collider() creates a StaticBody3D with a CollisionShape3D of our heightmap, so physics interacts with the terrain.

TerrainSim stores a dynamic mineable 256x256 heightmap. It inherits from TerrainStatic256.

• excavate_point(world:Vector3, dirtball_offset:Vector3, spawn_vel:Vector3) to excavate terrain into dirtballs. Any locations needing dirtablls will emit the signal spawn_dirtball with a spawn position and velocity as Vector3.
• try_merge(dirtball:Node3D) to merge dirtballs back down onto the terrain.

Debug Clues

When you start the Godot engine, you'll get errors like this if your version of godot-cpp doesn't match your engine version:

ERROR: Attempt to get non-existent interface function: object_has_script_method.

This is caused by godot-cpp being 4.3, but engine being 4.2. Check out the right version and rebuild godot-cpp.

ERROR: Cannot load a GDExtension built for Godot 4.3.0 using an older version of Godot (4.2.2).

This is caused by compiling for 4.3, but engine being 4.2. Upgrade your engine.