Objective Comparison of Virtual Sailboat Controllers

Objective Comparison of Virtual Sailboat Controllers

Sail Challenge 1.2 is now available for download. See if you have what
it takes to create a virtual sailboat controller!

The Sail Challenge package consists of software in C that includes a
physics model for a virtual sailboat, and a virtual yachtsman, or
controller.  The object of the controller is to circumnavigate a
circular island.  The purpose of this is to allow anyone to substitute
their controller for ours, and see how it performs.

The main new feature in this version is the ability to repeat the
virtual sailing run many times. Each run is different because of the
variable winds, but the multiple runs allow computing an average time
for sailing around the island.  This average time may be used to
clearly decide if one controller is superior to another.  Crashes are
considered in the calculation; if the boat crashes into the island a
lower computed value will result.

Although any technology may be used to create the sailboat controller,
some readers may wish to use EvSail 2.3 (also available for download
through our website).  This software can evolve an ANN that does a
good job of controlling the virtual sailboat.  The "extract" program,
included with EvSail 2.3, lets you isolate one ANN descriptor and save
it in a file.  This ANN may then be used as the data file for
SailChallenge.  Try evolving one that is better than the three
provided with the package. When you are done, and think you have
created something as good or better than our controllers, then let's
compare yours to ours.  By doing so you can help in our experiment of
creating a virtual yachtsman.

We have included an example controller and the sailboat physics model
from our EvSail program to get you started. The example controller is
an artificial neural network, but yours may be hand coded, or use any
technology that appeals to you.

There is a circular island, which the sailboat is supposed to circle
in the contra-clockwise direction, and not crash on the beach. The
program will start the sailing run from a random starting position.
The wind will vary in a semi-realistic manner, gradually changing in
strength and direction. Your task is to create, by any method you
wish, a replacement for the controller function.  A successful
controller() function will efficiently circle the island, always
moving contra-clockwise in spite of varying winds.

Annevolve team members have created controllers that sail around the
island better than 90% of the time. We know this figure can be
improved upon, so show us your stuff and start creating your own
virtual yachtsman.

More information about this challenge can be found in the ReadMe file
included with the program at:
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=78946

The Annevolve team is experimenting with the Evolution of Artificial
Neural Networks (ANNs). They are combining the two fields of
Artificial Neural Networks and Evolutionary Computation.  Find out
more about EvSail and other ANN programs at the Annevolve project at:
http://annevolve.sourceforge.net