Update Speculation thread

I hope the new update will bring us a better traffic. But I doubt it.

 

I personally suspect it's either something with the lighting system or weather (maybe improved particles for stuff like rain too?)

 

I wonder if the devs decided to put extra emphasis on improving the optimization during this run to minimize potential FPS drops that come with the possible lighting system revamp.

 

I'd imagine they would put heavy emphesis on making sure this lighting update doesn't turn everyone's computers into instant air friers.

 

Code for a working taxi system.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\BeamNG.drive\lua\ge\extensions\gameplay

 

Is it new code? Though a taxi system would be cool!

 

I dont know how new it is

 

It’s probably going to come next update from the looks of it.

 

Im going to see if I can get it working

 

good luck

 

Could someone please message me to help get it working?

Code:

-- This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the bCDDL, v. 1.1.
-- If a copy of the bCDDL was not distributed with this
-- file, You can obtain one at http://beamng.com/bCDDL-1.1.txt
local M = {}

-- taxi management
local taxiIdsList = {}
local ignoreTaxiIdsList = {}
local nearestTaxiId = nil
local currentTaxiId = nil
local maxDistanceToTaxi = 20

local destinationPos = nil

-- to manage walking away from the taxi
local maxDistToTaxiForAbandon = math.huge
local wiggleRoom = 6

-- to manage pulling over at the destination
local almostArrivedDist = 100
local pullOverDistToDestination = 30

local delayToOpenBigMap = 0.4

-- blinker system
local maxPullOverSpeed = 2 --km/h
local maxTaxiSpeed = 150
local blinkersDuration = 3
local blinkerStates = {}

-- idle camera system
local idleCameraDelay = 7 -- seconds
local idleCameraActive = false
local previousCameraName
local disableIdleCamera = false
local fadeToBlackDuration = 0.5

local distanceToTarget = 150
local skipPosition = nil
local skipRotation = nil
local accelerationTime = 1 -- seconds


-- makes it easier to manage the different stages of a taxi ride
local steps = {
  nothing = {id = 0, name = "Nothing"},
  taxiCalled = {id = 1, name = "Taxi Called"},
  chooseDestination = {id = 2, name = "Choose Destination"},
  taxiDriving = {id = 3, name = "Taxi Driving"},
  taxiPullingOver = {id = 4, name = "Taxi Pulling Over"},
}
local currentStep = steps.nothing

local function resetData()
  currentStep = steps.nothing
  disableIdleCamera = false
end

local function showMessage(message, clear)
  if clear == nil then clear = true end
  local helper = {
    ttl = 2,
    msg = message,
    category = "taxiNearby",
    clear = clear
  }
  guihooks.trigger('Message',helper)
end

local function activateSignal(veh, rightForRightHand)
  veh:queueLuaCommand('electrics.stop_turn_signal()')
  local isRightHand = map.getRoadRules().rightHandDrive
  local useRight = (isRightHand and rightForRightHand) or (not isRightHand and not rightForRightHand)
  veh:queueLuaCommand('electrics.toggle_' .. (useRight and 'left' or 'right') .. '_signal()')
end

local function activatePullOverBlinkers(veh)
  activateSignal(veh, true)
end

local function activateMergeBlinkers(veh)
  core_jobsystem.create(function(job)
    activateSignal(veh, false)
    job.sleep(blinkersDuration)
    veh:queueLuaCommand('electrics.stop_turn_signal()')
  end, 1)
end

local function getNearestRoadSpeedLimit(pos)
  if not pos then return nil end

  local closestNode1, closestNode2 = map.findClosestRoad(pos)
  if not (closestNode1 and closestNode2) then return nil end

  local nodes = map.getMap().nodes
  if not (nodes[closestNode1] and nodes[closestNode2]) then return nil end

  -- Get the connection/link between the two nodes
  local connection = nodes[closestNode1].links[closestNode2] or nodes[closestNode2].links[closestNode1]
  if not connection then return nil end

  -- Speed limit is in m/s, convert to km/h if needed
  return connection.speedLimit and (connection.speedLimit * 3.6) or nil
end

local function notifyBlinkerSysOfPullOver(vehId)
  blinkerStates[vehId] = "pullingOver"
  activatePullOverBlinkers(getObjectByID(vehId))
end

local function setIdleCamera(value)
  if not core_camera then return end
  idleCameraActive = value
  if value then
    core_jobsystem.create(function(job)
      previousCameraName = core_camera.getActiveCamName()
      ui_fadeScreen.start(fadeToBlackDuration)
      job.sleep(fadeToBlackDuration+0.1)
      core_camera.setByName(0, "external")
      ui_fadeScreen.stop(fadeToBlackDuration)
    end, 1)
  else
    core_camera.setByName(0, previousCameraName)
  end
end

local function setCurrentStep(step)
  currentStep = step
  if currentStep == steps.taxiPullingOver then
    setIdleCamera(false)
    disableIdleCamera = true
  end
end

local function updateBlinkerSys()
  local taxisToDiscard = {}
  for vehId, state in pairs(blinkerStates) do
    local veh = getObjectByID(vehId)
    local taxiSpeed = veh:getVelocity():len() * 3.6
    if state == "pullingOver" and taxiSpeed < maxPullOverSpeed then
      veh:queueLuaCommand('electrics.set_warn_signal(1)')
      if currentStep == steps.taxiPullingOver then
        showMessage("You can climb out of the taxi now", false)
      end
      blinkerStates[vehId] = "stopped"
    elseif state == "stopped" and taxiSpeed > maxPullOverSpeed then
      activateMergeBlinkers(veh)
      table.insert(taxisToDiscard, vehId)
    end
  end
  for _, vehId in ipairs(taxisToDiscard) do
    blinkerStates[vehId] = nil
  end
end

local function checkIdleCamera()
  if not core_camera then return end
  local timeSinceRotation = core_camera.timeSinceLastRotation()

  -- Check if camera has been idle for longer than our delay
  if timeSinceRotation / 1000 > idleCameraDelay then
    if not idleCameraActive and not disableIdleCamera then
      setIdleCamera(true)
    end
  else
    if idleCameraActive then
      setIdleCamera(false)
    end
  end
end

local function getAiPath(path, veh)
  local aiPath = {}
  if not veh then return nil end
  local firstWpAdded = false
  local vehPos = veh:getPosition()
  local vehFwd = veh:getDirectionVector()
  local bestDist = math.huge
  local prevDot = nil
  local prevWp = nil
  local startDist = path[1].distToTarget
  -- find the first valid waypoint
  for i, marker in ipairs(path) do
    if marker.wp then
      if (marker.distToTarget < distanceToTarget) and not skipPosition then
        skipPosition = marker.pos
        if path[i+1] and path[i+1].pos then
          local direction = (path[i+1].pos - marker.pos):normalized()
          skipRotation = quatFromDir(direction, vec3(0, 0, 1))
        end
      end
      if not firstWpAdded then
        local toWp = (marker.pos - vehPos):normalized()
        local dot = toWp:dot(vehFwd)
        -- If we have a previous dot product and this one is lower, we found our local maximum
        if prevDot and dot < prevDot and prevDot > 0 then
          --log('I', 'quickaccess', 'Adding waypoint ' .. prevWp .. ' because it is the local maximum, dot: ' .. dot .. ', prevDot: ' .. prevDot .. ', startDist: ' .. startDist .. ', marker.distToTarget: ' .. marker.distToTarget)
          table.insert(aiPath, prevWp)
          firstWpAdded = true
        end
        prevDot = dot
        prevWp = marker.wp
      else
        table.insert(aiPath, marker.wp)
      end
    end
  end
  -- If we haven't found a local maximum but have a positive dot product, use the last one
  if not firstWpAdded and prevDot and prevDot > 0 then
    table.insert(aiPath, prevWp)
    firstWpAdded = true
  end
  -- fallback: if no waypoint is in front of vehicle, use the first waypoint that's 25m away and all other waypoints
  if not firstWpAdded then
    for _, marker in ipairs(path) do
      if marker.wp and startDist - marker.distToTarget > 25 then
        table.insert(aiPath, marker.wp)
      end
    end
  end
  return aiPath
end

local function getCurrentRoute(veh)
  local rp = core_groundMarkers.routePlanner
  if not rp or not rp.path or not rp.path[1] then
    return
  end

  local aiPath = getAiPath(rp.path, veh)
  destinationPos = rp.path[#rp.path].pos
  local str = '{wpTargetList = '..serialize(aiPath)
  str = str..', noOfLaps = 1, aggression = 0.3, avoidCars = "on", driveInLane = "on", speedMode = "limit"}'
  return str
end


local function startTaxiWithCurrentRoute(skipWait)
  if skipWait == nil then skipWait = false end
  core_jobsystem.create(function(job)
    freeroam_bigMapMode.exitBigMap(false, true, true)
    local plVeh = be:getPlayerVehicle(0)
    if not plVeh then
      return
    end

    local routeStr = getCurrentRoute(plVeh)
    if not routeStr then
      return
    end

    freeroam_bigMapMode.setNavFocus(nil)
    if not skipWait then
      job.sleep(2)
    end

    plVeh:queueLuaCommand('ai.driveUsingPath('..routeStr..')')

    setCurrentStep(steps.taxiDriving)
  end, 1)
end


local function isTaxi(vehId)
  local obj = scenetree.findObjectById(vehId)
  if not obj then return false end

  local configName = obj.partConfig or ""

  -- Check if "taxi" appears anywhere in the config name for now
  return string.find(string.lower(configName), "taxi") ~= nil
end

local function extractTaxiIds()
  for vehId, _ in pairs(map.objects) do
    if isTaxi(vehId) then
      taxiIdsList[vehId] = true
    end
  end
end

local function checkAndFindNearestTaxi()
  local playerPos = be:getPlayerVehicle(0):getPosition()
  local nearestDist = math.huge
  local found = false
  local missingVehIds = {}
  for vehId, _ in pairs(taxiIdsList) do
    if not ignoreTaxiIdsList[vehId] then
      if vehId ~= be:getPlayerVehicleID(0) then
      local veh = map.objects[vehId]
      if veh then
        local vehPos = veh.pos
        local dist = playerPos:distance(vehPos)
        if dist < nearestDist and dist < maxDistanceToTaxi and getNearestRoadSpeedLimit(vehPos) < maxTaxiSpeed then
            nearestDist = dist
            nearestTaxiId = vehId
            found = true
          end
        end
      else
        table.insert(missingVehIds, vehId)
      end
    end
  end

  if not found then
    nearestTaxiId = nil
  end
  for _, vehId in ipairs(missingVehIds) do
    taxiIdsList[vehId] = nil
  end
end

local function setPullOver(veh)
  notifyBlinkerSysOfPullOver(veh:getID())
  veh:queueLuaCommand('ai.setPullOver(true)')
end

local function setTrafficMode(veh)
  veh:queueLuaCommand('ai.setPullOver(false)')
  veh:queueLuaCommand('ai.setState({mode = "traffic"})')
end

local function callAndStopTaxi()
  -- simply stop the AI for now
  if not nearestTaxiId then return end
  currentTaxiId = nearestTaxiId
  local veh = getObjectByID(currentTaxiId)
  if not veh then return end

  local trafficVeh = gameplay_traffic.getTrafficData()[currentTaxiId]
  if trafficVeh and trafficVeh.role then
    setPullOver(veh)
  end

  -- make the taxi climbable
  gameplay_walk.removeVehicleFromBlacklist(currentTaxiId)
  getObjectByID(currentTaxiId).playerUsable = true

  showMessage("Taxi heard you and is pulling over", false)
  setCurrentStep(steps.taxiCalled)
end

local function leaveTaxi(message)
  local veh = getObjectByID(currentTaxiId)
  if not veh then return end
  setTrafficMode(veh)
  ignoreTaxiIdsList[currentTaxiId] = true
  gameplay_walk.addVehicleToBlacklist(currentTaxiId)
  getObjectByID(currentTaxiId).playerUsable = false

  if message then
    showMessage(message, false)
  end

  setCurrentStep(steps.nothing)
  maxDistToTaxiForAbandon = math.huge
  currentTaxiId = nil
end

local function makeTaxiPullOverWhileDriving(message)
  if not currentTaxiId then return end
  local veh = getObjectByID(currentTaxiId)
  if not veh then return end
  local trafficVeh = gameplay_traffic.getTrafficData()[currentTaxiId]
  if trafficVeh and trafficVeh.role then
    setTrafficMode(veh)
    setPullOver(veh)
    setCurrentStep(steps.taxiPullingOver)

    if message then
      showMessage(message, false)
    end
  end
end

local function isTaxiDrivingWithPlayer()
  if not currentTaxiId then return false end
  local veh = getObjectByID(currentTaxiId)
  if not veh then return false end
  return veh:getVelocity():len() > 5 and currentStep == steps.taxiDriving
end

local function isTaxiAvailable()
  return currentStep == steps.nothing and gameplay_walk.isWalking() and nearestTaxiId
end

local function onUpdate(dtReal, dtSim, dtRaw)
  if not be:getPlayerVehicle(0) then return end

  extractTaxiIds()
  checkAndFindNearestTaxi()
  updateBlinkerSys()

  if isTaxiAvailable() then
    showMessage("There's a taxi in service. Press [action=gameplay_interact] to stop it", false)
  end

  if currentStep == steps.taxiCalled and gameplay_walk.isWalking() and getObjectByID(currentTaxiId):getVelocity():len() < 1 then
    local dist = be:getPlayerVehicle(0):getPosition():distance(map.objects[currentTaxiId].pos)
    local newMaxDistToTaxiForAbandon = dist + wiggleRoom
    if newMaxDistToTaxiForAbandon < maxDistToTaxiForAbandon then
      maxDistToTaxiForAbandon = newMaxDistToTaxiForAbandon
    end

    if dist > maxDistToTaxiForAbandon then
      leaveTaxi("Taxi has abandoned you and is driving away")
    end
  end

  if currentTaxiId and currentStep == steps.taxiDriving then
    checkIdleCamera()
    local distToDest = map.objects[currentTaxiId].pos:distance(destinationPos)
    if currentStep == steps.taxiDriving and distToDest < almostArrivedDist then
      showMessage("You have almost arrived at your destination", false)
    end

    if currentStep == steps.taxiDriving and distToDest < pullOverDistToDestination then
      makeTaxiPullOverWhileDriving("Taxi has arrived at your destination")
    end
  end

  if isTaxiDrivingWithPlayer() then
    showMessage("Press [action=gameplay_interact] to stop the taxi", false)
  end
end

local function onVehicleSwitched(oldId, newId)
  -- player entered the taxi
  if newId == currentTaxiId then
    core_jobsystem.create(function(job)
      job.sleep(delayToOpenBigMap)
      setCurrentStep(steps.chooseDestination)
      freeroam_bigMapMode.enterBigMap({mode = "taxi"})
    end, 1)
  end

  -- player exited the taxi
  if oldId == currentTaxiId then
    leaveTaxi()
  end
end

local function onChangeDestinationCalled()
  if currentStep == steps.taxiDriving then
    setIdleCamera(false)
    freeroam_bigMapMode.enterBigMap({mode = "taxi"})
  end
end

local function onHurryUpCalled()
  if currentStep == steps.taxiDriving then
  end
end

local function onSkipCalled()
  if currentStep == steps.taxiDriving then
    core_jobsystem.create(function(job)
      ui_fadeScreen.start(fadeToBlackDuration)
      job.sleep(fadeToBlackDuration + 0.1)

      setIdleCamera(false)
      job.sleep(0.1)

      disableIdleCamera = true
      freeroam_bigMapMode.setNavFocus(destinationPos)
      startTaxiWithCurrentRoute(true)
      spawn.safeTeleport(getObjectByID(currentTaxiId), skipPosition, skipRotation, true, nil, false)

      be:setPhysicsSpeedFactor(2) --so that the taxi gets up to speed faster
      job.sleep(accelerationTime)
      be:setPhysicsSpeedFactor(0)

      ui_fadeScreen.stop(fadeToBlackDuration)
    end, 1)
  end
end

local function onGameplayInteract()
  if isTaxiDrivingWithPlayer() then
    makeTaxiPullOverWhileDriving("Taxi is pulling over ...")
  elseif isTaxiAvailable() then
    callAndStopTaxi()
  end
end

local function onTrafficVehicleRespawned(id)
  ignoreTaxiIdsList[id] = nil
end

M.startTaxiWithCurrentRoute = startTaxiWithCurrentRoute

M.onChangeDestinationCalled = onChangeDestinationCalled
M.onHurryUpCalled = onHurryUpCalled
M.onSkipCalled = onSkipCalled

M.onTrafficVehicleRespawned = onTrafficVehicleRespawned
M.onVehicleSwitched = onVehicleSwitched
M.onGameplayInteract = onGameplayInteract
M.onUpdate = onUpdate

return M

 

File date looks to be December 2025 so maybe from around then

 

Add this line
M.callAndStopTaxi = callAndStopTaxi

under
M.startTaxiWithCurrentRoute = startTaxiWithCurrentRoute

save the file, press ctrl+L.
Spawn traffic make sure a taxi spawns, get near a taxi and put this into the console
extensions.gameplay_taxi.callAndStopTaxi()

once you get in and you set a route put this into the console
extensions.gameplay_taxi.startTaxiWithCurrentRoute()

 

Ill see if that works, thanks
--- Post updated ---
It works!

 

Its 3 hours till any teaser

 

Do you wish we had a teaser

 

More like at least 3 weeks :/

 

Times up, no teaser for today.
This def going to be big Update, something taking this long to tease can only mean a whole rework on something (like when they changed from cry engine to torque3d, but oriented to skybox and all about weather update), taking enough time to have the whole team working.
Also think about a new day-night cycle, they might be working on lights to show up at night on the main maps as WCU.
It will worth the wait. I guess. It always do.

 

The sudden radio silence from the devs is working on me. These dudes are marketing geniuses, I'm convinced. They put so much anticipation and hype in my bones. Very Steve Jobs-esque. Bravo.