How to send values like "steering angle" on objects with NetworkTransforms?

Unity Engine
1

I have vehicles with rigidbodies that send a NetworkTransform update at a rate of 9 updates/second to the other client’s which just updates the remote vehicle’s position/velocity.

What I would like to implement now is ability to send steering/throttle/brake values. I am pretty new to networking but think that I could do it using [clientRPC] at a fixed interval. I was wondering however if I could send the controls data at the same interval (and even in the same packet) as the NetworkTransform data?

Is it possible to attach additional information to a NetworkTransform so it gets updated at exactly the same interval?

-or- Would it be wise to write a custom NetworkTransform?

And are there possibly any other more efficient ways to send NetworkTransforms + steering/throttle/brake values?

2

Either write a custom NetworkManager, and call a method 9 times a second. Where you send a Command to the server and include Velocity and position like the NetworkManager and you also provide your custom values. Then from that command you Rpc it to all clients.

Option 2:
Edit the sourcecode of NetworkTransform and edit it.
https://bitbucket.org/Unity-Technologies/networking

1 Like
3

I ended up using clientRPC and a fixed interval and this works well:

CycleController VehicleControls; //the vehicle controls

void Start () {
    VehicleControls = GetComponent<VehicleController> ();
    InvokeRepeating("UpdateControls", 5.0f, 0.1f);//controls information (steering, throttle, brakes) to be periodically updated
}

...
//code for setting authority and other network behaviors
...

//If client has authority of the vehicle then send the controls information (steering, throttle, brakes) from this client to the server which in turn will update all clients
void UpdateControls() {
    if (hasAuthority) {
        CmdUpdateControls (
            VehicleControls.Vehicle_SteeringAngle, 
            VehicleControls.Vehicle_Throttle,
            VehicleControls.Vehicle_Brakes
        );
    }
}

[Command]
public void CmdUpdateControls(float steering, float throttle, float brakes)
{
    if (NetworkServer.active) {
        RpcUpdateControls (steering, throttle, brakes);
    }
}

[ClientRpc]
public void RpcUpdateControls(float steering, float throttle, float brakes)
{
    if (VehicleControls) {//only works after Start() has been called on clients
        VehicleControls.Vehicle_SteeringAngle = steering;
        VehicleControls.Vehicle_Throttle = throttle;
        VehicleControls.Vehicle_Brakes = brakes;
    }
}

I downloaded that sourcecode and gave it a look, I can see where it would be useful in future projects. Thanks!