Simulating Collision Avoidance by a Reactive Agent Using VRML

Prototype nodes using the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) 2.0 standard have been developed for reactive, agentbased route navigation within a three-dimensional synthetic environment. The agent has limited intelligence with the basic constraint of noncollision by enforcing some minimal distance of approach to objects: this includes both static and moving obstacles. Navigation is nontrivial since the location of the goal may be changing and the agent reacts accordingly. An existing VRML model of a building was imported, and the subsequent exposedField interface for repulsion was defined. Simulation of an agent within this context was then verified. An open source development using VRML encourages a think small, scale large philosophy for a network of objects.