Real world catapult prototype using Box2D – Cleaner code

April 14, 2010 • Actionscript 3, Box2D, Flash by Emanuele Feronato • 6 Comments

We got it.

After the first catapult prototype and the “slippery wheels” sequel, this is a version with realistic movement and a lot cleaner code.

To add realistic movement I defined friction and restitution, making useless the CreateFixture2 function and widely using the more appropriate CreateFixture one.

This way I have full control on fixtures, while in the old way I could only define their masses.

This is the result:

Left and right to move, spacebar to fire

And this is the code:

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package {
	import flash.display.Sprite;
	import flash.events.Event;
	import flash.events.KeyboardEvent;
	import Box2D.Dynamics.*;
	import Box2D.Collision.*;
	import Box2D.Collision.Shapes.*;
	import Box2D.Common.Math.*;
	import Box2D.Dynamics.Joints.*;
	public class main extends Sprite {
		public var world:b2World=new b2World(new b2Vec2(0,10.0),true);
		public var world_scale:int=30;
		var catapult_chassis_body:b2Body;
		var catapult_arm_body:b2Body;
		var rear_wheel_body:b2Body;
		var front_wheel_body:b2Body;
		var arm_revolute_joint:b2RevoluteJoint;
		var front_wheel_revolute_joint:b2RevoluteJoint;
		var rear_wheel_revolute_joint:b2RevoluteJoint;
		var left_key_pressed:Boolean=false;
		var right_key_pressed:Boolean=false;
		public function main():void {
			debug_draw();
			the_ground();
			the_catapult_body();
			the_catapult_arm();
			the_catapult_motor();
			the_wheels();
			the_wheel_motors();
			the_cannonball();
			addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, update);
			stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN, key_down);
			stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_UP, key_up);
		}
		public function the_cannonball():void {
			var cannonball:b2BodyDef= new b2BodyDef();
			cannonball.position.Set(90/world_scale, 90/world_scale);
			cannonball.type=b2Body.b2_dynamicBody;
			var ball:b2CircleShape=new b2CircleShape(10/world_scale);
			var cannonball_fixture:b2FixtureDef = new b2FixtureDef();
			cannonball_fixture.shape=ball;
			cannonball_fixture.friction=0.9;
			cannonball_fixture.density=20;
			cannonball_fixture.restitution=0.5;
			var the_cannonball_itself:b2Body=world.CreateBody(cannonball);
			the_cannonball_itself.CreateFixture(cannonball_fixture);
		}
		public function the_wheel_motors():void {
			var front_wheel_joint:b2RevoluteJointDef = new b2RevoluteJointDef();
			front_wheel_joint.enableMotor=true;
			front_wheel_joint.Initialize(catapult_chassis_body, front_wheel_body,new b2Vec2(0,0));
			front_wheel_joint.localAnchorA=new b2Vec2(80/world_scale,0);
			front_wheel_joint.localAnchorB=new b2Vec2(0,0);
			front_wheel_revolute_joint=world.CreateJoint(front_wheel_joint) as b2RevoluteJoint;
			front_wheel_revolute_joint.SetMaxMotorTorque(1000000);
			//
			var rear_wheel_joint:b2RevoluteJointDef = new b2RevoluteJointDef();
			rear_wheel_joint.enableMotor=true;
			rear_wheel_joint.Initialize(catapult_chassis_body, rear_wheel_body,new b2Vec2(0,0));
			rear_wheel_joint.localAnchorA=new b2Vec2(-80/world_scale,0);
			rear_wheel_joint.localAnchorB=new b2Vec2(0,0);
			rear_wheel_revolute_joint=world.CreateJoint(rear_wheel_joint) as b2RevoluteJoint;
			rear_wheel_revolute_joint.SetMaxMotorTorque(1000000);
		}
		public function the_wheels():void {
			var rear_wheel:b2BodyDef= new b2BodyDef();
			rear_wheel.position.Set(250/world_scale, 200/world_scale);
			rear_wheel.type=b2Body.b2_dynamicBody;
			var rear_wheel_shape:b2CircleShape=new b2CircleShape(40/world_scale);
			var rear_wheel_fixture:b2FixtureDef = new b2FixtureDef();
			rear_wheel_fixture.shape=rear_wheel_shape;
			rear_wheel_fixture.friction=0.9;
			rear_wheel_fixture.density=30;
			rear_wheel_fixture.restitution=0.1;
			rear_wheel_body=world.CreateBody(rear_wheel);
			rear_wheel_body.CreateFixture(rear_wheel_fixture);
			//
			var front_wheel:b2BodyDef= new b2BodyDef();
			front_wheel.position.Set(450/world_scale, 200/world_scale);
			front_wheel.type=b2Body.b2_dynamicBody;
			var front_wheel_shape:b2CircleShape=new b2CircleShape(40/world_scale);
			var front_wheel_fixture:b2FixtureDef = new b2FixtureDef();
			front_wheel_fixture.shape=front_wheel_shape;
			front_wheel_fixture.friction=0.9;
			front_wheel_fixture.density=30;
			front_wheel_fixture.restitution=0.1;
			front_wheel_body=world.CreateBody(front_wheel);
			front_wheel_body.CreateFixture(front_wheel_fixture);
		}
		public function the_catapult_motor():void {
			var arm_joint:b2RevoluteJointDef = new b2RevoluteJointDef();
			arm_joint.enableMotor=true;
			arm_joint.enableLimit=true;
			arm_joint.Initialize(catapult_chassis_body, catapult_arm_body,new b2Vec2(0,0));
			arm_joint.localAnchorA=new b2Vec2(-80/world_scale,-90/world_scale);
			arm_joint.localAnchorB=new b2Vec2(60/world_scale,0);
			arm_revolute_joint=world.CreateJoint(arm_joint) as b2RevoluteJoint;
			arm_revolute_joint.SetMotorSpeed(1000);
			arm_revolute_joint.SetLimits(-Math.PI,Math.PI/3);
			arm_revolute_joint.SetMaxMotorTorque(1);
		}
		public function the_catapult_arm():void {
			var catapult_arm:b2BodyDef = new b2BodyDef();
			catapult_arm.allowSleep=false;
			catapult_arm.position.Set(210/world_scale,110/world_scale);
			catapult_arm.type=b2Body.b2_dynamicBody;
			var arm_part:b2PolygonShape = new b2PolygonShape();
			arm_part.SetAsOrientedBox(150/world_scale, 10/world_scale, new b2Vec2(0,0),0);
			var arm_part_fixture:b2FixtureDef = new b2FixtureDef();
			arm_part_fixture.shape=arm_part;
			arm_part_fixture.friction=0.9;
			arm_part_fixture.density=5;
			arm_part_fixture.restitution=0.1;
			var stopper:b2PolygonShape = new b2PolygonShape();
			stopper.SetAsOrientedBox(10/world_scale, 20/world_scale, new b2Vec2(-140/world_scale,-30/world_scale),0);
			var stopper_fixture:b2FixtureDef = new b2FixtureDef();
			stopper_fixture.shape=stopper;
			stopper_fixture.friction=0.9;
			stopper_fixture.density=10;
			stopper_fixture.restitution=0.1;
			catapult_arm_body=world.CreateBody(catapult_arm);
			catapult_arm_body.CreateFixture(arm_part_fixture);
			catapult_arm_body.CreateFixture(stopper_fixture);
		}
		public function the_catapult_body():void {
			var catapult_body:b2BodyDef = new b2BodyDef();
			catapult_body.position.Set(350/world_scale,200/world_scale);
			catapult_body.type=b2Body.b2_dynamicBody;
			var main_part:b2PolygonShape = new b2PolygonShape();
			main_part.SetAsOrientedBox(125/world_scale, 20/world_scale, new b2Vec2(0,0),0);
			var chassis_fixture:b2FixtureDef = new b2FixtureDef();
			chassis_fixture.shape=main_part;
			chassis_fixture.friction=0.9;
			chassis_fixture.density=50;
			chassis_fixture.restitution=0.1;
			var fixed_arm:b2PolygonShape = new b2PolygonShape();
			fixed_arm.SetAsOrientedBox(20/world_scale, 60/world_scale, new b2Vec2(-80/world_scale,-40/world_scale),0);
			var fixed_arm_fixture:b2FixtureDef = new b2FixtureDef();
			fixed_arm_fixture.shape=fixed_arm;
			fixed_arm_fixture.friction=0.9;
			fixed_arm_fixture.density=1;
			fixed_arm_fixture.restitution=0.1;
			catapult_chassis_body=world.CreateBody(catapult_body);
			catapult_chassis_body.CreateFixture(chassis_fixture);
			catapult_chassis_body.CreateFixture(fixed_arm_fixture);
		}
		public function the_ground():void {
			var ground:b2BodyDef= new b2BodyDef();
			ground.position.Set(250/world_scale, 400/world_scale);
			var my_box:b2PolygonShape = new b2PolygonShape();
			my_box.SetAsBox(1000/world_scale, 15/world_scale);
			var ground_fixture:b2FixtureDef = new b2FixtureDef();
			ground_fixture.shape=my_box;
			ground_fixture.friction=0.9;
			ground_fixture.restitution=0.1;
			var the_ground_itself:b2Body=world.CreateBody(ground);
			the_ground_itself.CreateFixture(ground_fixture);
		}
		public function key_up(event:KeyboardEvent):void {
			switch (event.keyCode) {
				case 39 :
					right_key_pressed=false;
					break;
				case 37 :
					left_key_pressed=false;
					break;
			}
		}
		public function key_down(event:KeyboardEvent):void {
			switch (event.keyCode) {
				case 39 :
					right_key_pressed=true;
					left_key_pressed=false;
					break;
				case 37 :
					left_key_pressed=true;
					right_key_pressed=false;
					break;
				case 32 :
					arm_revolute_joint.SetMaxMotorTorque(10000);
					break;
			}
		}
		public function debug_draw():void {
			var debug_draw:b2DebugDraw = new b2DebugDraw();
			var debug_sprite:Sprite = new Sprite();
			addChild(debug_sprite);
			debug_draw.SetSprite(debug_sprite);
			debug_draw.SetDrawScale(world_scale);
			debug_draw.SetFlags(b2DebugDraw.e_shapeBit|b2DebugDraw.e_jointBit);
			debug_draw.SetFillAlpha(0.5);
			world.SetDebugDraw(debug_draw);
		}
		public function set_motor_speed():void {
			var current_speed:Number;
			if (right_key_pressed) {
				current_speed=1;
			}
			if (left_key_pressed) {
				current_speed=-1;
			}
			if (! right_key_pressed&&! left_key_pressed) {
				current_speed=rear_wheel_revolute_joint.GetMotorSpeed()*0.9;
				if (Math.abs(current_speed)<0.1) {
					current_speed=0;
				}
			}
			rear_wheel_revolute_joint.SetMotorSpeed(current_speed);
			front_wheel_revolute_joint.SetMotorSpeed(current_speed);
		}
		public function update(e:Event):void {
			set_motor_speed();
			world.Step(1/30,10,10);
			world.ClearForces();
			world.DrawDebugData();
		}
	}
}

No need to download, just cut and paste on the first catapult prototype.

Next time, full comments and some other interesting features…

Rate this post: 1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (9 votes, average: 4.11 out of 5)
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This post has 6 comments

  1. César Jr.

    on April 14, 2010 at 8:01 pm

    muito legal…
    já tomo esse site como base..
    parabéns..
    pelo seu otimo trabalho…

  2. Zero Xue

    on April 14, 2010 at 8:53 pm

    Thanks a lot,this is really helpful!

  3. Devon

    on April 15, 2010 at 5:41 am

    SOO much better! Thanks for making this update Emanuele!

  4. dario111cro

    on April 15, 2010 at 1:04 pm

    Nice and clean. Really helped me :)

    Now, you should add/edit:
    Smaller size of catapult.
    Boxes in what will hit catapult
    Ball should go more away and lower from ground.

    (sry for bad English)

  5. Porter

    on April 18, 2010 at 5:07 am

    Woot for clean code, I’ll never be able to adjust to underscores in function names though, especially with the lower casing of the second word in a function. Good stuff though, very organized.

  6. diego

    on March 17, 2011 at 6:51 pm

    Perfect! that’s an Excellent example!!
    i try do a slingshot…
    can you help me? how can i do it this?

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