Anybody using Livingworld?

[Bjoern]

Livingworld is a small tool that runs alongside FSX and can inject moving air, sea and land traffic that follows waypoints. Planes may also use flight plans.
Applications can range from injecting AI tankers running along tracks, adding ships and ship formations and moving ground targets for bombing ranges.


I've played around with it a bit and tried to make some F-18s do the Sidewinder run from China Lake (at a fixed altitude, mind you). While they did take off correctly, they never really followed the waypoints in the flight plan, just did a lap around the airfield and returned for landing.
Any users with LW experience who can offer some help?


Livingworld.cfg:

[SimObjects]
SimObject0=F/A-18C - Navy Prototype 1 Training

[SimObj0]
Number=1
TailNum=F-18 - 1
Season=4
FltPln=Sidewinder NAWS China Lake NV
FltNum=123
FPRestartKey=x

Flight plan:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<SimBase.Document Type="AceXML" version="1,0">
    <Descr>AceXML Document</Descr>
    <FlightPlan.FlightPlan>
        <Title>KNID to KNID</Title>
        <FPType>IFR</FPType>
        <RouteType>VOR</RouteType>
        <CruisingAlt>25000</CruisingAlt>
        <DepartureID>KNID</DepartureID>
        <DepartureLLA>N35° 41' 8.00",W117° 41' 48.00",+002280.00</DepartureLLA>
        <DestinationID>KNID</DestinationID>
        <DestinationLLA>N35° 41' 7.00",W117° 41' 31.00",+002280.00</DestinationLLA>
        <Descr>KNID, KNID</Descr>
        <DeparturePosition>03</DeparturePosition>
        <DepartureName>China Lake Naws</DepartureName>
        <DestinationName>China Lake Naws</DestinationName>
        <AppVersion>
            <AppVersionMajor>10</AppVersionMajor>
            <AppVersionBuild>61472</AppVersionBuild>
        </AppVersion>
        <ATCWaypoint id="KNID">
            <ATCWaypointType>Airport</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N35° 41' 8.00",W117° 41' 48.00",+002280.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO>
                <ICAOIdent>KNID</ICAOIdent>
            </ICAO>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="ASDWNDR">
            <ATCWaypointType>Intersection</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N35° 38' 44.00",W118° 28' 56.00",+000000.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO>
                <ICAORegion>KK</ICAORegion>
                <ICAOIdent>ASDWNDR</ICAOIdent>
            </ICAO>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="BSDWNDR">
            <ATCWaypointType>Intersection</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N36° 6' 36.00",W118° 29' 7.00",+000000.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO>
                <ICAORegion>KK</ICAORegion>
                <ICAOIdent>BSDWNDR</ICAOIdent>
            </ICAO>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="CSDWNDR">
            <ATCWaypointType>Intersection</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N36° 24' 44.00",W118° 0' 34.00",+000000.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO>
                <ICAORegion>KK</ICAORegion>
                <ICAOIdent>CSDWNDR</ICAOIdent>
            </ICAO>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="DSDWNDR">
            <ATCWaypointType>Intersection</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N36° 35' 36.00",W117° 58' 31.00",+000000.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO>
                <ICAORegion>KK</ICAORegion>
                <ICAOIdent>DSDWNDR</ICAOIdent>
            </ICAO>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="ESDWNDR">
            <ATCWaypointType>Intersection</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N37° 2' 52.00",W118° 12' 47.00",+000000.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO>
                <ICAORegion>KK</ICAORegion>
                <ICAOIdent>ESDWNDR</ICAOIdent>
            </ICAO>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="FSDWNDR">
            <ATCWaypointType>Intersection</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N37° 9' 10.00",W117° 46' 11.00",+000000.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO>
                <ICAORegion>KK</ICAORegion>
                <ICAOIdent>FSDWNDR</ICAOIdent>
            </ICAO>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="GSDWNDR">
            <ATCWaypointType>Intersection</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N37° 2' 10.00",W117° 37' 5.00",+000000.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO>
                <ICAORegion>KK</ICAORegion>
                <ICAOIdent>GSDWNDR</ICAOIdent>
            </ICAO>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="HSDWNDR">
            <ATCWaypointType>Intersection</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N36° 47' 57.00",W117° 45' 41.00",+000000.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO>
                <ICAORegion>KK</ICAORegion>
                <ICAOIdent>HSDWNDR</ICAOIdent>
            </ICAO>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="ISDWNDR">
            <ATCWaypointType>Intersection</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N36° 30' 50.00",W117° 34' 2.00",+000000.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO>
                <ICAORegion>KK</ICAORegion>
                <ICAOIdent>ISDWNDR</ICAOIdent>
            </ICAO>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="JSDWNDR">
            <ATCWaypointType>Intersection</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N36° 20' 41.00",W117° 21' 4.00",+000000.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO>
                <ICAORegion>KK</ICAORegion>
                <ICAOIdent>JSDWNDR</ICAOIdent>
            </ICAO>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="KSDWNDR">
            <ATCWaypointType>Intersection</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N35° 39' 20.00",W117° 21' 37.00",+000000.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO>
                <ICAORegion>KK</ICAORegion>
                <ICAOIdent>KSDWNDR</ICAOIdent>
            </ICAO>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="LSDWNDR">
            <ATCWaypointType>Intersection</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N35° 36' 36.00",W117° 31' 33.00",+000000.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO>
                <ICAORegion>KK</ICAORegion>
                <ICAOIdent>LSDWNDR</ICAOIdent>
            </ICAO>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="MSDWNDR">
            <ATCWaypointType>Intersection</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N35° 25' 23.00",W117° 40' 19.00",+000000.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO>
                <ICAORegion>KK</ICAORegion>
                <ICAOIdent>MSDWNDR</ICAOIdent>
            </ICAO>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="KNID">
            <ATCWaypointType>Airport</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N35° 41' 7.00",W117° 41' 31.00",+002280.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO>
                <ICAOIdent>KNID</ICAOIdent>
            </ICAO>
        </ATCWaypoint>
    </FlightPlan.FlightPlan>
</SimBase.Document>

For everybody who's generally interested in the tool, LW is available here:
https://onedrive.live.com/?id=E4F6D6...F6D645B084F26E

Almost all relevant discussions happen in the VRS forums. Here's the general thread about LW that also includes installation instructions:
https://forums.vrsimulations.com/for...p?f=49&t=14975

Personal observations:

• Let it install to the default path. All the relevant files will be located in "C:\ProgramData\InHouseIT\LivingWorld2".
• "LW_FSX" and "LW_P3D2" can be run directly from their respective folder, but will require a valid "livingworld.cfg" to work.
• If you need LW on a more persistent basis, add an entry for the .exe to FSX' exe.xml.
• Note that changing anything environment related from the menu, such as weather, time or even display settings will reset the AI objects.
• The AI aircraft speed is determined by the "cruise_speed=" line in its Aircraft.cfg
• Do not use overly complex aircraft as AI. The FSXBA F-18, for example, will have issues with its custom FBW module and wobble around in flight.

Other threads dealing with LW and showcasing its capabilities:
https://forums.vrsimulations.com/for...p?f=49&t=13420
https://forums.vrsimulations.com/for...p?f=49&t=12085
https://forums.vrsimulations.com/for...p?f=49&t=14526
https://forums.vrsimulations.com/for...p?f=49&t=13413
https://forums.vrsimulations.com/for...p?f=49&t=13827

[Penz]

I don't know the application, but could the 0 altitude in your intersection waypoints be an issue? Just wondering ...

[Bjoern]

Good catch, JP! That could explain why, during one of the tests with multiple aircraft, some tried to fly into the ground. This would also mean that AI may indeed be able to do nap-of-earth flights. Will have to retest once an opportunity presents itself.

[edakridge]

I have used it in the past with some success. I look at your lw.cfg and see that you are trying to use the flight plan. I have never tried this method. I always plotted it manually. Take a look at one of mine below.

[SimObjects]
SimObject0=AI-MiG29v-2
SimObject1=AI-MiG-25 V3 Test
SimObject1=SBAI-Su-27 Test




[SimObj0]
Number=4
TailNum=MIG1
Season=4
Speed=300
Altitude=25000
Grouping=3000
Heading=200
Orient=0


[Route0]
Lat=40 09.31,39 19.31,38 37.10,39 25.44
Long=-118 03.58,-119 10.38,-118 05.61,-116 31.10


[SimObj1]
Number=5
TailNum=MIG2
Season=4
Speed=300
Altitude=15000
Grouping=2000
Heading=200
Orient=0


[Route1]
Lat=40 22.99,38 51.49
Long=-116 33.67,-118 24.51


[SimObj2]
Number=4
TailNum=MIG3
Season=4
Speed=300
Altitude=20000
Grouping=2500
Heading=200
Orient=0


[Route2]
Lat=39 19.08,40 21.34,39 32.52,39 08.46
Long=-116 33.96,-116 34.94,-119 07.27,-117 02.68

This is a very simple one with no altitude changes. You can also add altitude changes for each waypoint.

[Bjoern]

As far as I've read, the advantage of having a flight plan is that the aircraft will be subject to ATC.

[Bjoern]

Tried the exercise ahgain on a different airfield with a different aircraft and different flight plan. Made sure that the waypoints have actual altitudes assigned, but to no avail. A lap around the field and that's it.
I think that the having the same origin and destination is throwing FSX' AI engine off. But I'm too lazy at the moment to try a different destination.

Besides, Livingworld is way too touchy for my taste. Enter slew mode - AI and objects reset. Change weather - AI and objects reset. Open the FSX map - well, take a wild guess...