How can I get this object to rotate around the player and not rotate itself?

Unity Engine
1

Here is what I have made:

It’s supposed to be a bird that rotates around the player. However it’s rotating the image itself. Is there a way to keep it from rotating itself? I want the animation to stay upright, instead of spinning as it rotates around the player.

Here is current script:

using System.Collections;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using UnityEngine;

public class EnemySeagull : MonoBehaviour
{
    public float moveSpeed;
    public float orbitDistance;
    public float rangeToAnnoyPlayer;
    private Transform target;
    private bool isInRange;
    private Vector3 zAxis = new Vector3(0,0,1);

    // Start is called before the first frame update
    void Start()
    {
        isInRange = false;
        target = PlayerController.instance.transform;
    }

    // Update is called once per frame
    void Update()
    {
        if (!isInRange)
        {
            if (Vector2.Distance(transform.position, PlayerController.instance.transform.position) < rangeToAnnoyPlayer)
            {
                isInRange = true;
            }
        }


        if (isInRange)
        {
            transform.position = target.position + (transform.position - target.position).normalized * orbitDistance;

            transform.RotateAround(PlayerController.instance.transform.position, zAxis, 120 * Time.deltaTime);

            this.transform.Translate(0, -1 * Time.deltaTime, 0, Space.World);


        }
        else
        {

            transform.position = Vector3.MoveTowards(transform.position, target.position, 3 * Time.deltaTime);
        }



        Debug.Log("isInRange = " + isInRange);

    }


}
2

Fastest way: parent it to another object, offset the child, rotate the parent.

More-involved way: do the offset, rotate, de-offset process yourself in code.

3

Hm… you might have to explain a little more. I’m not familiar with these terms.

Would love to be able to keep it all script contained, but maybe that’s too hard?

4

That will still cause the sprite to rotate itself, it’s closer to effect jleven described but not quite. Unless you apply opposite rotation to the sprite.

If I understood what’s asked correctly the request was actually about movement in circle instead of rotation so simplest solution would be not rotating at all, but instead doing the usual position = vec2(cos(angle), sin(angle))

5

Circling back on this - I might need some more direction on this. Not a great coder unfortunately - can you link me to some more info on how to use the vector with angles?

6

While circular motion might be more what you need, you could also go with rotation (for example also using Unity - Scripting API: Transform.RotateAround) and then manually setting the rotation of your object to always point upwards if thats desired.

7

Kurt-Dekker’s “easy” approach is this:

2200×1404 513 KB

Make an Empty. Put it “inside” the Tree in the hierarchy. Set its LOCAL position to 0,0,0.
Make a Train. Put it “inside” the Empty in the hierarchy. Set its LOCAL postion to 0,0,0.
Then drag the train a little offside.
Then rotate the Empty by script or manually to see the effect.

8

YES!! Thanks Halley… and as for this VERY valid concern raised by Karliss:

… if you want to ensure the bird sprite does not “go flat” and orbit like a chit of paper around your head, you can always set its rotation back to Quaternion.identity in LateUpdate()

void LateUpdate()
{
  TheBirdSprite.rotation = Quaternion.identity;
}

BAM!

1 Like