Why several decision trees?

This question implies two different questions:

1. Why these trees?

The three trees deal respectively provides ‘basic maneuvers’ about ‘acceleration’, ‘ turnRate’ and ’pursuit’. According to the F16 handbook, these parameters are more or less the basis of the maneuvers performed by two turning aircraft. Moreover, they are the characteristics that are the most documented in the handbook.

2. Why several trees?

A basic maneuver is chosen according to the data provided by the ‘event’ input of the AI module. Nevertheless, you do not take into account the enemy state the same way to compute your own future speed or your future turn rate.

For instance to compute the speed you should fly you need to know:

• If you have to get closer so you need the closure rate.
  The condition (range > minimumRange) should be satisfied.
• If you increase your speed you do not risk overtaking:
  (mySpeed > enemySpeed) AND (range > minimumRange)

To compute your turn rate you should turn you need to know:

• If it is worth turning better than the enemy. The condition (myTurnRate < EnemyTurnRate) AND (myTurnRate < BleedingEnergyMaxTurnRate) should be satisfied.
• If given your current speed your aircraft could turn tighter. The condition (myTurnRate < maxTurnRate) should be sastified.

Finally, from the same set of data included in the event input, the interpretation is different if you deal with acceleration or turnRate for instance. It is the reason why there are different trees to be run to choose different kinds of basic maneuvers.