Problem with raycast detection?

Questions & Answers
1

Ok, so I made a script for grid like movement, and it worked before I started working on adding the obstruction via raycasting. As soon as I added raycasting for obstruction detection, I wasn’t getting any errors, but my player is not able to move anymore. I have tried to fix it based on examples, and I have tried this for about a few hours with no luck. Anyone proficient enough in C# to help a new coder like me find the problem? (My code might be a bit of a mess, i just started coding about 2 weeks ago.)

using UnityEngine;
using System.Collections;

public class MoveScript : MonoBehaviour {

	public bool forwardObstruction = false; // Next few bools are to register if there is an obstruction-
	public bool backwardObstruction = false; // -in the given direction.
	public bool leftObstruction = true;
	public bool rightObstruction = true;
	public float inputDelay = 0.05f; //Stating how many seconds before we can move again.
	public Vector3 forwardDirection; //These next few vectors are direction values.
	public Vector3 backwardDirection;
	public Vector3 leftDirection;
	public Vector3 rightDirection;
	public int smoothFactor = 2; // Not used yet
	public int lineLength = 2; // Not used yet


	private float timestamp;	

		// Update is called once per frame
		void Update () {

		// Creates a raycast line forward based on lineLength, checks to see if path is obstructed.
		Vector3 fwd = transform.TransformDirection(Vector3.forward);
		if (Physics.Raycast(transform.position, fwd, lineLength)){
			forwardObstruction = true;
		}
			else
			forwardObstruction = false;
	
		
		Vector3 bwd = transform.TransformDirection(Vector3.back);
		if (Physics.Raycast (transform.position, bwd, lineLength)) {
			backwardObstruction = true;
		}
			else
			backwardObstruction = false;

		Vector3 left = transform.TransformDirection(Vector3.left);
		if (Physics.Raycast (transform.position, left, lineLength)) {
			leftObstruction = true;
		}
		else
			leftObstruction = false;

		Vector3 right = transform.TransformDirection(Vector3.right);
		if (Physics.Raycast (transform.position, right, lineLength)) {
			rightObstruction = true;
		}
		else
			rightObstruction = false;


			//See if the "Forward" key is pressed
		if (forwardObstruction == true && Time.time >= timestamp && Input.GetButton ("Forward")) {
						transform.Translate (forwardDirection);
						timestamp = Time.time + inputDelay;
						forwardObstruction = forwardObstruction;
				}
			//See if the "Backward" key is pressed
		if (backwardObstruction == true && Time.time >= timestamp && Input.GetButton("Backward"))  {
						transform.Translate (backwardDirection);
						timestamp = Time.time + inputDelay;
				}
			//See if the "Left" key is pressed
		if (Time.time >= timestamp && Input.GetButton ("Left")) {
						transform.Translate (leftDirection);
						timestamp = Time.time + inputDelay;
				}
			//See if the "Right" key is pressed
		if (Time.time >= timestamp && Input.GetButton ("Right")) {
						transform.Translate (rightDirection);
						timestamp = Time.time + inputDelay;
				}
		}
}

Any help is appreciated, thank you for at least looking!

2

The problem is that your condition is backwards. Take a look at like 56. You only allow forward movement if ‘forwardObstruction’ is true. What you really want is:

   if (!forwardObstruction && Time.time >= timestamp && Input.GetButton ("Forward")) {
                    transform.Translate (forwardDirection);
                    timestamp = Time.time + inputDelay;
                    forwardObstruction = forwardObstruction;
    }

Note the way you have things structured, you are doing four Raycast() every frame even when no button is pressed. Consider restructuring things:

   if (!forwardObstruction && Time.time >= timestamp && Input.GetButton ("Forward")) {
        if (Physics.Raycast(transform.position, transform.forward, lineLength)){
               transform.Translate (forwardDirection);
               timestamp = Time.time + inputDelay;
               forwardObstruction = forwardObstruction;
        }
    }

It will greatly simplify your code, and you will only be doing a Raycast() when needed.

Note:

  • transform.TransformDirection(Vector3.forward) same as transform.forward
  • transform.TransformDirection(Vector3.back) same as -transform.forward
  • transform.TransformDirection(Vector3.right) same as transform.right
  • transform.TransformDirection(Vector3.left) same as -transform.right