movement: smooth animated moves (move duration, observable intermediate positions) + proactive cruise (glide while the LLM thinks, collision-safe, reported back); verified mission with gpt-5.6-luna

testbed/README.md

@@ -64,6 +64,20 @@ taken); stop the old one with `fuser -k 8765/tcp` or Ctrl-C in its terminal.
 The demo prints a full transcript of tool calls/results to stdout and saves the
 capsule's final first-person frame to `demo_final_frame.png`.
 
+### Smooth & proactive movement
+
+The capsule no longer teleports or stops-and-thinks:
+
+- **Smooth**: `move(forward, duration)` animates the displacement over
+  `duration` seconds on the bridge, so the live viewer shows genuine gliding.
+  The scripted agent and auto-cruise use it by default; the LLM can too.
+- **Proactive** (`--cruise N`, meters per think): while the model is
+  generating a response, the capsule keeps gliding forward (low-level
+  controller pattern, like a real robot). Collisions stop the drift safely
+  and are reported to the model, which re-plans. Verified: gpt-5.6-luna
+  completed the beacon mission with cruise on, bumping into and avoiding
+  crates while "thinking".
+
 ## Providers
 
 Provider presets resolve endpoint + API key + default model:

testbed/bridge.py

@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ class MoveOutput(BaseModel):
     collision_normal: Vec3 | None
     position: Vec3
     tick: int
+    duration: float = 0.0
 
 
 class TurnOutput(BaseModel):
@@ -165,6 +166,31 @@ class RoomBridge(Bridge):
     def _tick(self) -> int:
         return self.world.advance_tick()
 
+    async def _animate_move(
+        self, forward: float, duration: float
+    ) -> tuple[float, Any | None]:
+        """Smoothly displace the capsule over ``duration`` seconds.
+
+        The position advances in small timed steps, so concurrent clients
+        (e.g. the live viewer) observe genuine gliding motion instead of a
+        teleport. Collision resolution is unchanged.
+        """
+        world = self.world
+        n = max(1, min(int(duration / 0.1), 200))
+        step = forward / n
+        dt = duration / n
+        total = 0.0
+        hit: Any | None = None
+        for i in range(n):
+            moved, h = world.move_forward(step)
+            total += moved
+            if h is not None or moved < step * 0.01:
+                hit = h
+                break
+            if i < n - 1:
+                await asyncio.sleep(dt)
+        return total, hit
+
     def _vec3(self, x: float, y: float, z: float) -> Vec3:
         return Vec3(x=round(x, 3), y=round(y, 3), z=round(z, 3))
 
@@ -263,13 +289,21 @@ class RoomBridge(Bridge):
 
         @self.tool(
             cls=ToolClass.ACTUATOR,
-            description="Move the capsule forward along its heading by the given distance in meters.",
+            description=(
+                "Move the capsule forward along its heading by the given distance in meters. "
+                "duration (seconds) animates the motion smoothly instead of teleporting."
+            ),
         )
-        async def move(forward: float = 1.0) -> MoveOutput:
+        async def move(forward: float = 1.0, duration: float = 0.0) -> MoveOutput:
             tick = self._tick()
             if forward < 0.0 or forward > 5.0:
                 raise ValueError(f"forward must be in [0, 5] m, got {forward}")
-            moved, hit = world.move_forward(forward)
+            if duration < 0.0 or duration > 10.0:
+                raise ValueError(f"duration must be in [0, 10] s, got {duration}")
+            if duration > 0.0:
+                moved, hit = await self._animate_move(forward, duration)
+            else:
+                moved, hit = world.move_forward(forward)
             c = world.capsule
             normal = None
             if hit is not None:
@@ -294,6 +328,7 @@ class RoomBridge(Bridge):
                 collision_normal=normal,
                 position=self._vec3(c.x, 0.0, c.z),
                 tick=tick,
+                duration=round(duration, 3),
             ).model_dump()
 
         @self.tool(

testbed/chat.py

@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ async def chat_loop(client: AICCClient, manifest, args: argparse.Namespace) -> i
                         log=mission_log,
                         nudge_limit=args.mission_nudges,
                         look_every=args.look_every,
+                        cruise=args.cruise,
                     )
                 except RuntimeError as exc:
                     print(f"  [mission] LLM error: {exc}")
@@ -463,6 +464,12 @@ def main() -> int:
         default=3,
         help="attach a fresh camera frame every N turns (0 disables; default 3)",
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--cruise",
+        type=float,
+        default=1.0,
+        help="proactive motion in missions: glide forward (meters) while the LLM thinks (0 disables)",
+    )
     args = parser.parse_args()
     try:
         args.base_url, args.api_key, args.model = resolve_provider(

testbed/demo.py

@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ async def run_llm_agent(
     vision: bool | None = None,
     digest: bool | None = None,
     look_every: int = 0,
+    cruise: float = 0.0,
 ) -> dict[str, Any]:
     """Autonomous LLM run: controller + nudge/correct loop (see llm_agent)."""
     from testbed.llm_agent import LLMController, run_llm_agent_loop
@@ -233,9 +234,9 @@ async def run_scripted_agent(
 
         if detour_steps > 0:
             # Escape the obstacle before re-aiming: keep the detour heading.
-            mv = (await client.call_tool("move", {"forward": 0.8})).output
+            mv = (await client.call_tool("move", {"forward": 0.8, "duration": 0.6})).output
             summary["tool_calls"] += 1
-            log("tool", 'move({"forward": 0.8}) [detour]')
+            log("tool", 'move({"forward": 0.8, "duration": 0.6}) [detour]')
             log("bridge", f"ok {json.dumps(mv)}")
             if mv.get("moved", 0.0) < 0.2 and detour_turns < 6:
                 detour_turns += 1
@@ -267,9 +268,9 @@ async def run_scripted_agent(
             log("tool", f'turn({{"yaw_deg": {delta * 0.8:.1f}}})')
             log("bridge", f"ok {json.dumps(turn)}")
         else:
-            mv = (await client.call_tool("move", {"forward": 0.8})).output
+            mv = (await client.call_tool("move", {"forward": 0.8, "duration": 0.6})).output
             summary["tool_calls"] += 1
-            log("tool", 'move({"forward": 0.8})')
+            log("tool", 'move({"forward": 0.8, "duration": 0.6})')
             log("bridge", f"ok {json.dumps(mv)}")
             if mv.get("collision"):
                 consecutive_collisions += 1
@@ -315,6 +316,7 @@ async def run_demo(args: argparse.Namespace) -> dict[str, Any]:
                 vision=args.vision,
                 digest=args.digest,
                 look_every=args.look_every,
+                cruise=args.cruise,
             )
         elif args.agent == "scripted":
             summary = await run_scripted_agent(
@@ -338,6 +340,7 @@ async def run_demo(args: argparse.Namespace) -> dict[str, Any]:
                     vision=args.vision,
                     digest=args.digest,
                     look_every=args.look_every,
+                    cruise=args.cruise,
                 )
                 if summary.get("interacted"):
                     return summary
@@ -431,6 +434,12 @@ def main() -> int:
         default=3,
         help="attach a fresh camera frame every N agent steps (0 disables; default 3)",
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--cruise",
+        type=float,
+        default=1.0,
+        help="proactive motion: glide forward (meters) while the LLM thinks (0 disables)",
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--frame",
         default="demo_final_frame.png",

testbed/llm_agent.py

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ tool calls/results fed back as `tool` messages.
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import asyncio
 import base64
 import io
 import json
@@ -463,10 +464,12 @@ class LLMController:
     async def send_user(self, text: str) -> None:
         self.messages.append({"role": "user", "content": text})
 
-    async def invoke(self) -> TurnResult:
+    async def request(self) -> Any:
-        """One model round-trip: get the response and execute its tool calls."""
+        """Send the current conversation to the model and return the raw
+        response WITHOUT executing any tool calls. Lets a caller overlap the
+        model's thinking time with other work (e.g. proactive cruising)."""
         try:
-            resp = await self.ac.chat.completions.create(
+            return await self.ac.chat.completions.create(
                 model=self.model,
                 messages=self.messages,
                 tools=self.tools,
@@ -476,6 +479,12 @@ class LLMController:
             self.log("agent", f"LLM error: {exc}")
             raise RuntimeError(f"LLM error: {exc}") from exc
 
+    async def invoke(self) -> TurnResult:
+        """One model round-trip: get the response and execute its tool calls."""
+        return await self.execute(await self.request())
+
+    async def execute(self, resp: Any) -> TurnResult:
+        """Execute the tool calls of a previously requested response."""
         choice = resp.choices[0]
         text = choice.message.content or ""
         result = TurnResult(text=text)
@@ -596,11 +605,15 @@ async def run_llm_agent_loop(
     recorder: Any | None = None,
     nudge_limit: int = 1,
     look_every: int = 0,
+    cruise: float = 0.0,
 ) -> dict[str, Any]:
     """Drive the controller until the mission is done or steps run out.
 
     ``look_every``: attach a fresh camera frame every N steps so the model
     always sees recent visual context without asking (0 disables).
+    ``cruise``: proactive motion — while the model is thinking, the capsule
+    keeps gliding forward (meters per think, 0 disables). Collisions stop the
+    drift and are reported to the model.
     """
     summary: dict[str, Any] = {
         "steps": 0,
@@ -613,6 +626,45 @@ async def run_llm_agent_loop(
     last_correct_step = -99
     last_collision_step = -99
 
+    async def drift(amount: float, step: int) -> None:
+        """Low-level controller: keep moving forward while the brain thinks."""
+        nonlocal last_collision_step
+        remaining = amount
+        total = 0.0
+        while remaining > 0.02:
+            mv = await controller.client.call_tool(
+                "move", {"forward": min(0.4, remaining), "duration": 0.5}
+            )
+            out = mv.output
+            controller.observe(out)
+            moved = out.get("moved", 0.0)
+            total += moved
+            remaining -= moved
+            if out.get("collision"):
+                last_collision_step = step
+                controller.messages.append(
+                    {
+                        "role": "user",
+                        "content": (
+                            "While you were thinking, the capsule drifted forward and bumped "
+                            f"into {out.get('collision_normal')}. It stopped. Navigate around it."
+                        ),
+                    }
+                )
+                log("agent", "(cruise: bumped while thinking — stopped)")
+                return
+        if total > 0.05:
+            controller.messages.append(
+                {
+                    "role": "user",
+                    "content": (
+                        f"While you were thinking, the capsule kept moving (auto-cruise, "
+                        f"{total:.2f} m forward). {controller.state_hint()}"
+                    ),
+                }
+            )
+            log("agent", f"(cruise: drifted {total:.2f} m while thinking)")
+
     def maybe_correct(step: int) -> None:
         nonlocal corrections, last_correct_step
         if controller.pos is None or controller.beacon_pos is None:
@@ -652,6 +704,7 @@ async def run_llm_agent_loop(
             log("agent", "(correction: re-aim at the beacon)")
             dist_history.clear()
 
+    pending_resp: Any | None = None  # LLM response requested while we cruised
     for step in range(max_steps):
         summary["steps"] = step + 1
         if recorder is not None and controller.pos is not None:
@@ -660,7 +713,12 @@ async def run_llm_agent_loop(
         # sees what is happening without having to ask.
         if look_every and step % look_every == 0:
             await controller.auto_frame()
-        turn = await controller.invoke()
+        if pending_resp is not None:
+            resp = await pending_resp
+            pending_resp = None
+            turn = await controller.execute(resp)
+        else:
+            turn = await controller.invoke()
         if turn.text:
             log("agent", turn.text[:400])
         summary["tool_calls"] += len(turn.calls)
@@ -706,5 +764,11 @@ async def run_llm_agent_loop(
                 return summary
             controller.messages.append({"role": "user", "content": NUDGE})
             log("agent", "(nudge: no tool call; continue the mission)")
+            continue
+        # Proactive motion: request the next response and, while the model
+        # thinks, keep the capsule gliding forward (collision-safe).
+        if cruise > 0.0 and step < max_steps - 1:
+            pending_resp = asyncio.create_task(controller.request())
+            await drift(cruise, step)
     summary["result"] = f"exceeded {max_steps} steps"
     return summary

testbed/tests/test_bridge.py

@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 """Tests for the testbed bridge: tool behavior over the in-process transport."""
 
+import asyncio
 import base64
 import io
+import math
 
 import pytest
 from aicc.client import AICCClient
@@ -186,3 +188,62 @@ async def test_single_source_of_truth():
             world = dumped["world"]
             assert set(world.keys()) == {"name", "kind"}
             assert "beacon" not in dumped
+
+
+async def test_animated_move_is_smooth_and_observable(bridge):
+    """A move with duration glides: a concurrent client sees intermediate
+    positions, and the final displacement is exact."""
+    # A transport is a single session: one per client.
+    t1 = InProcessTransport.start(bridge)
+    t2 = InProcessTransport.start(bridge)
+    async with t1, t2:
+        mover = AICCClient(t1)
+        viewer = AICCClient(t2)
+        async with mover, viewer:
+            await mover.handshake()
+            await viewer.handshake()
+            start = (await mover.call_tool("proprioception", {})).output["position"]
+            assert start["x"] == 1.5 and start["z"] == 1.5
+
+            move_task = asyncio.create_task(
+                mover.call_tool("move", {"forward": 2.0, "duration": 0.8})
+            )
+            await asyncio.sleep(0.25)
+            mid = (await viewer.call_tool("proprioception", {})).output["position"]
+            # Moving along the 45-degree diagonal: strictly between start and end.
+            assert 1.5 < mid["x"] < 3.5 and 1.5 < mid["z"] < 3.5
+
+            res = (await move_task).output
+            assert res["moved"] == pytest.approx(2.0, abs=1e-3)
+            assert res["position"]["x"] == pytest.approx(
+                1.5 + 2.0 * math.sin(math.radians(45)), abs=1e-3
+            )
+            assert res["duration"] == 0.8
+
+
+async def test_animated_move_stops_on_collision(bridge):
+    t = InProcessTransport.start(bridge)
+    async with t:
+        client = AICCClient(t)
+        async with client:
+            await client.handshake()
+            bridge.world.capsule.yaw_deg = 180.0  # straight at the north wall
+            res = (
+                await client.call_tool("move", {"forward": 5.0, "duration": 0.6})
+            ).output
+            assert res["collision"] is True
+            assert res["moved"] < 5.0
+            assert res["position"]["z"] == pytest.approx(
+                bridge.world.capsule.radius, abs=1e-3
+            )
+
+
+async def test_move_accepts_duration_zero_default(bridge):
+    t = InProcessTransport.start(bridge)
+    async with t:
+        client = AICCClient(t)
+        async with client:
+            await client.handshake()
+            res = (await client.call_tool("move", {"forward": 1.0})).output
+            assert res["moved"] == pytest.approx(1.0)
+            assert res["duration"] == 0.0