Agent Build

Introduction

The agent is very useful if it can build things for you. One thing you will learn in this tutorial is how to use to enable the place on move Agent assist setting. This tells your agent to place a block every time it moves. You will make a program to tell the Agent to place blocks, move forward, and turn left. With these actions you can make your agent build a shape, like the square built in this tutorial.

Teleport your Agent

Bring your Agent near you so it can start building. Teleport the Agent to your position but move it forward by 3.

Run the program and look to see that your Agent comes close to your position.

agent.teleport_to_player()
agent.move(FORWARD, 3)

Place a block while moving

To let the Agent build while moving, set the place on move Agent assist setting to true.

agent.teleport_to_player()
agent.move(FORWARD, 3)
# @highlight
agent.set_assist(PLACE_ON_MOVE, True)

Add to inventory

The agent needs some blocks in the inventory to place while moving. Put some sandstone blocks into slot 1 of the inventory.

agent.teleport_to_player()
agent.move(FORWARD, 3)
agent.set_assist(PLACE_ON_MOVE, True)
# @highlight
agent.set_item(SANDSTONE, 16, 1)
# @highlight
agent.set_slot(1)

Build a square

Now, have the Agent build a square with a combination of moves and turns. By moving forward and turning 4 times, the Agent can make a square out of blocks.

Run the program and watch your Agent build!

agent.teleport_to_player()
agent.move(FORWARD, 3)
agent.set_assist(PLACE_ON_MOVE, True)
agent.set_item(SANDSTONE, 16, 1)
agent.set_slot(1)
# @highlight
agent.move(FORWARD, 3)
# @highlight
agent.turn(TurnDirection.LEFT)
agent.move(FORWARD, 3)
agent.turn(TurnDirection.LEFT)
agent.move(FORWARD, 3)
agent.turn(TurnDirection.LEFT)
agent.move(FORWARD, 3)
agent.turn(TurnDirection.LEFT)

Use a loop instead

That’s an awful lot of moves and turns! Instead, use a for loop to repeat a single move and turn combination instead.

Use a for loop to have move and turn repeat 4 times. Move over to a new location in Minecraft and run the program again.

agent.teleport_to_player()
agent.move(FORWARD, 3)
agent.set_assist(PLACE_ON_MOVE, True)
agent.set_item(SANDSTONE, 16, 1)
agent.set_slot(1)
# @highlight
for i in range(4):
    agent.move(FORWARD, 3)
    agent.turn(TurnDirection.LEFT)

Detect obstacles

Ouch, the Agent keeps hitting the last block! It would be better if the Agent can turn away before hitting a block. Use detect and if else logic to turn and move out if a block is in the way.

If a block is detected ahead, the Agent turns right and moves forward by 1 to exit the square. If there is no block in the way, the Agent turns left and builds the next side of the square.

agent.teleport_to_player()
agent.move(FORWARD, 3)
agent.set_assist(PLACE_ON_MOVE, True)
agent.set_item(SANDSTONE, 16, 1)
agent.set_slot(1)
for i in range(4):
    agent.move(FORWARD, 3)
    # @highlight
    if agent.detect(AgentDetection.BLOCK, FORWARD):
        agent.turn(TurnDirection.RIGHT)
        agent.move(FORWARD, 1)
    else:
        agent.turn(TurnDirection.LEFT)