Description: an auto-racing simulation testbed for AI -- and a game
about the design and execution of the Robot Auto Racing Simulation
software, which has been ported to various platforms, mostly IBM-PC
environments, but also Amiga and UNIX.
The FTP site magdanoz.mcafee.com supports the RARS project,
holding the various source and executables, as well as a longer version
of this announcement:
The Robot Auto Racing Simulation (RARS) is a simulation of auto
racing in which the cars are driven by robots. Its purpose is
two-fold: to serve as a vehicle for Artificial Intelligence
development and as a recreational competition among software
authors. The host software, including source, is available at no
charge. It currently runs under MSDOS and UNIX, including Linux.
This announcement introduces the fifth release of the software, which
we call version 0.45.
...
There is a listserver so that interested parties may discuss
RARS by e-mail. To subscribe to the list service send e-mail to
subscribe rars-list
(To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe rars-list" to the same address.)
We have a page for the www at [link lost in import: /~bsr/rars.html]
Ben Rometsch in England is taking care of the www part of the project.
RARS consists of a simulation of the physics of cars racing on a
track, with a simple bird's-eye view of the race. The unique feature
is that each car is controlled by a separate and independent control
program. Each car is "driven" by its own control program, which
receives information from the simulation telling it about the car's
local situation. The "driver" (control program) adjusts the steering
and throttle, and then the physics simulation moves the car a little.
This happens many times per second, of course. Every car has exactly
the same physical characteristics, only the "drivers" are different.
Hence, the result is a competition between the control programs.
Furthermore, the competition is visible as an auto race, with
acceleration, passing, cornering, braking, etc.
It is intended that many users will write their own robot "drivers".
Thir*** similar, but not identical, examples are supplied. These
are meant to serve as examples for programmers wishing to develop
their own. The control programs may be written in other languages if
they are linker-compatible on the the intended platform. To date
the robot "driver" programs have used C++ or ANSI C.
--
Mike Inman
--
Mail questions and comments about this review to the reviewer, or
post them to the reviewed group. Ask about other groups in
news.groups.questions. Mail submissions, questions and comments about
In addition to the rars-list, starting next week I will be sending out
a weekly RARS digest of the juiciest bits of the rars-list to
rec.autos.simulators, comp.ai.games, and anyone who requests to be on
the list. I'm doing this because many people have unsubscribed from
the rars-list because of sporadic bursts of high traffic.
There is also now an alternative RARS Home Page on the Web, at least
until Ben Romtech's page is being maintained again. Try:
http://www.mal.com/~dgymer/rars/
Chisa!
-- Gizmo
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