Tier 3 Series 204

204B: The Blend Tree

Pilot Record
Student Profile
"A pilot does not switch from "Idle" to "Sprint" instantly. They accelerate. If you use code to swap clips, the movement looks jerky. A Pilot uses Blend Trees to mathematically mix animations based on velocity."

The Concept: Parametric Blending

Instead of playing a clip, you feed numbers into the Animator.

* **1D Blend:** Walk -> Run (Speed).
* **2D Blend:** Strafe Left -> Sprint Forward (Velocity X/Z).
* **Result:** Infinite variations of movement from just 3 clips.
Red Flag Detected

The AI Trap: "The Hard Swap"

You ask the AI: "Handle walking and running."

// AI-Generated Code: Robotic Movement
if (speed > 5) animator.Play("Run");
else if (speed > 0.1) animator.Play("Walk");
else animator.Play("Idle");

This is "Snap Animation." The character looks like a glitching robot because there is no momentum or transition.

Elite Telemetry

Research shows "Elite" teams achieve 15% faster lead times by keeping AI on a "very tight leash."

  • Small Batches Solving one problem at a time prevents logic drift.
  • Modular Design Localizing the "blast radius" of AI changes.
  • Tight Loops Rapid iteration with constant code review.

The Pilot's Correction

Corrective Protocol
// Corrected: Fluid Motion
// No If-Statements. Just physics driving art.
animator.SetFloat(speedID, rb.velocity.magnitude);
Your Pilot Command
> A skilled Pilot directs the AI to use a Blend Tree. You command: "Map the velocity magnitude to a 'Speed' float parameter and drive a 1D Blend Tree."
Next Mission
The Override Layer