3-D asteroids using parallel graphics on NCUBE: A testbed for evaluating controller algorithms

Conference · Tue Apr 18 00:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:5886384

Ho, A.; Fox, G.; Snyder, S.; Chu, D.; Mylner, T.

We have implemented on NCUBE a 3-D Asteroids video game system. The system functions as a testbed for evaluating intelligent controller algorithms within a simulated space battle framework. The Asteroids features battle of spacecrafts in a 3-D toroidal space with inert meteorites of various sizes. It supports multi-players and mixed communication protocols. The game can be played either in interactive or batch mode. In interactive mode a player can maneuver a spacecraft by keyboard or graphics tablet control like a regular pc-based video game. 3-D visual display of the game uses the NCUBE Real-Time Parallel Graphics Board which has 16 NCUBE processors and a Hitachi HD63484 drawing/video chip. In batch mode spacecrafts can be controlled by user-supplied software controllers. The modular structure of the game allows easy replacement of game objectives, game rules, and spacecraft controllers. The flexibility of module substitution allows fast prototyping of different controller strategies and algorithms which are constrained by various game rules. The system also allows algorithms that run on distinct subcubes of a hypercube to compete with one another. 6 refs., 1 fig.

• Research Organization: California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena, CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: FG03-85ER25009
• OSTI ID: 5886384
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/25009-681b; CONF-890372-15; ON: DE89016382
• Resource Relation: Conference: 4. hypercube, concurrent computers and applications, Monterey, CA, USA, 6-8 Mar 1989; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE
EVALUATION
ALGORITHMS
COMPUTER GRAPHICS
HYPERCUBE COMPUTERS
INTERACTIVE DISPLAY DEVICES
TESTING
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
COMPUTERS
DISPLAY DEVICES
MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
990210* - Supercomputers- (1987-1989)