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Understanding the D* lite whitepaper

Started by sectrix Jun 13, 2012 at 10:14 PM 6 replies 5.8k views

Original Post

Jun 13, 2012 at 10:14 PM

I'm writing a tool for a game I play, and I've found I need a good pathfinding algorithm.

I've already written an A* and a Dijkstra routine, but I've found them to be far too slow. It takes them about 20 and 13 seconds respectively to find the shortest path along the longer routes.

I've come across D* lite as a possible better solution, but there's very little information on the web. Some of what I did find came from here several years ago, so, here's to hoping those members are still around.

I found and read Koenig's 2002 paper about it, (this one), and I understand all of the LPA* pseudo code except for two lines:

- Calculate keys()
In the calculateKeys function, it reads: Return[ min( g(s), rhs(s) ) + h(s, s[sub]goal[/sub]) ; min ( g(s), rhs(s)) ]. What I don't understand is the ; in the middle. Does the function return two values? Does it perform some sort of operation on the results of the two min statements?

- Update vertex and rhs calculation
The other line I had trouble with was this one: min [sub]s' (is element of) pred(s)[/sub] (g(s'), c(s', s)). I don't get that one at all. The s' in pred() with the smallest g or c?

I feel like I'm going to get a lot of blank stares, but, any ideas anyone?

TheUnbeliever

Jun 13, 2012 at 11:37 PM

Does the function return two values?

It returns a pair or 2D vector; the authors have opted for [a;b] over (a,b) to improve legibility.

The other line I had trouble with was this one: min [sub]s' (is element of) pred(s)[/sub] (g(s'), c(s', s)). I don't get that one at all. The s' in pred() with the smallest g or c?[/quote]

I don't see this line. I do see min [sub]s' (is element of) pred(s)[/sub] (g(s') + c(s', s)) - i.e. the minimum of the expression on the right over all predecessors of s.

EDIT: slightly clearer wording.

sectrix

Jun 14, 2012 at 12:16 AM

I see. So the second line is basically: the minimum s' in predecessors of u, as calculated by ( g(s') + c (s', u) ).

Excellent, thank you so much for that.

One follow up question then.

When comparing: U.TopKey < calculateKeys, ie: (X1, Y1) < (X2, Y2), is this (X1 < X2) AND (Y1 < Y2), or (X1 < X2) OR (Y1 < Y2), or something else entirely?

TheUnbeliever

Jun 14, 2012 at 1:57 AM

the minimum s' in predecessors of u, as calculated by ( g(s') + c (s', u) ).

Not quite. That would be written 'argmin', whereas we just have 'min'. This is the minimum value of g(s') + c(s',u) for any predecessor s', not the predecessor itself.

When comparing: U.TopKey < calculateKeys, ie: (X1, Y1) < (X2, Y2), is this (X1 < X2) AND (Y1 < Y2), or (X1 < X2) OR (Y1 < Y2), or something else entirely?[/quote]

Explained from around the middle of the first paragraph on page 478, starting at 'keys are compared according to a lexicographic ordering.'

sectrix

Jun 14, 2012 at 9:22 AM

OK, I had it backwards then. It's the minimum of ( g(s') + c(s', u) ) as calculated with all s' in predecessors of u.

And the key comparison is: (X1, Y1) <= (X2, Y2) iff (X1 < X2) OR [X1 = X2 AND Y1 <= Y2].
Have I got it right?

And it seems that everywhere in the pseudo code where there is a < with a dot above it represents this lexicographic comparison, correct?

TheUnbeliever

Jun 14, 2012 at 10:58 AM

Three affirmatives. :-) (I hadn't even noticed the dot first time!)

sectrix

Jun 14, 2012 at 9:21 PM

Fantastic. I really appreciate the help.

I owe you a pint.

xiongyouyi

Jul 15, 2012 at 11:04 AM

Is D* better than HPA*?

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