RobotTribes Docs
Fall 2026
API

# RobotBrain

o1.robots.RobotBrain
trait RobotBrain(`initialName`: String, val `body`: RobotBody)

The trait `RobotBrain` represents the “brains” (or artificial “intelligence”) of virtual robots that inhabit two-dimensional grid worlds. A robot brain is equipped with an algorithm for determining what a robot should do during its turn in a robot simulation. In other words, a robot brain is capable of controlling the actions of a robot body.

Concrete classes that extend this trait need to provide implementations for the abstract `moveBody` method; each such concrete class can represent a new kind of robot behavior. Overriding the `mayMove` method may also be necessary.

## Parameters

body

  the body the robot brain will control

initialName

  the name of the robot

## Attributes

Graph
Supertypes
  class Object
  trait Matchable
  class Any
Known subtypes
  class TribalBot
  class Lovebot
  class Nosebot
  class Slaybot
  class Spinbot
  class Staggerbot
  Show all

## Members list

### Value members

#### Abstract methods

def moveBody(): Unit

Moves the robot: causes it to change its location, turn around, or whatever else the robot does during its turn. What this means in practice depends on the type (subtype) of the robot brain.

Moves the robot: causes it to change its location, turn around, or whatever else the robot does during its turn. What this means in practice depends on the type (subtype) of the robot brain.

`moveBody` is called by the brain’s controlTurn method every time the robot brain gets a turn, unless the robot is stuck (as defined by isStuck).

This method assumes that it is never called if the robot is broken or stuck.

## Attributes

#### Concrete methods

def advanceCarefully(): Boolean

Moves the robot one square forwards, if there is nothing there. If that square isn’t empty, the robot does not move, so this method never causes a collision.

Moves the robot one square forwards, if there is nothing there. If that square isn’t empty, the robot does not move, so this method never causes a collision.

(Note: This method only moves the robot if the square in front of it is completely empty. This method does not call mayMove and is not affected by that other method’s implementation in any way.)

## Attributes

Returns

  `true` if the move was successful and the robot is now in the next square, `false` if it was blocked

def controlTurn(): Unit

Controls the robot body’s actions for a single turn. If the brain considers the robot to be stuck (see isStuck), this method does nothing. If not stuck, the brain calls its own moveBody method, which carries out the actual robot actions.

Controls the robot body’s actions for a single turn. If the brain considers the robot to be stuck (see isStuck), this method does nothing. If not stuck, the brain calls its own moveBody method, which carries out the actual robot actions.

## Attributes

def facing: `CompassDir`

Returns the direction this robot is facing in.

Returns the direction this robot is facing in.

## Attributes

def isStuck: Boolean

Determines whether the robot brain considers the robot to be stuck. A brain considers the robot stuck if and only if all the squares surrounding the robot contain obstacles, as defined by the mayMove method. Only four squares are considered: the nearest square in each of the four main compass directions.

Determines whether the robot brain considers the robot to be stuck. A brain considers the robot stuck if and only if all the squares surrounding the robot contain obstacles, as defined by the mayMove method. Only four squares are considered: the nearest square in each of the four main compass directions.

## Attributes

def location: `GridPos`

Returns the coordinates of this robot within its robot world.

Returns the coordinates of this robot within its robot world.

## Attributes

def locationInFront: `GridPos`

Returns the coordinates that point at the square that is immediately in front of this robot.

Returns the coordinates that point at the square that is immediately in front of this robot.

## Attributes

def mayMove(`direction`: `CompassDir`): Boolean

Checks the square that neighbors this robot in the given direction to see if it contains something that the robot brain considers an obstacle. This method is abstract; different kinds of robot brains will have different definitions of what counts as an obstacle.

Checks the square that neighbors this robot in the given direction to see if it contains something that the robot brain considers an obstacle. This method is abstract; different kinds of robot brains will have different definitions of what counts as an obstacle.

This default implementation (which may be overriden by subtypes) does not consider anything to be an obstacle. Robots that rely on this default implementation are willing to move in any direction and never consider themselves to be stuck (see isStuck).

## Attributes

def name: String

Returns the robot’s name. If the name has been set to the empty string or contains only whitespace, returns `"Incognito"` instead.

Returns the robot’s name. If the name has been set to the empty string or contains only whitespace, returns `"Incognito"` instead.

## Attributes

def name_=(`newName`: String): Unit

Changes the robot’s name to the given one.

Changes the robot’s name to the given one.

Note to students: In Scala, a method whose name ends in an underscore and an equals sign — like this one’s — can be called using a special syntax. For instance, this method can be called either with the statement `bot.name_=("Suzy")` or simply with an assignment statement: `bot.name = "Suzy"`. You won’t find many uses for this in O1, but it’s nice to know nonetheless.

## Attributes

def robotInFront: Option[RobotBrain]

Returns the brain of the robot immediately in front of this robot. The brain is returned in an `Option` wrapper; `None` is returned if there is no robot in that square or if the robot that is there has no brain.

Returns the brain of the robot immediately in front of this robot. The brain is returned in an `Option` wrapper; `None` is returned if there is no robot in that square or if the robot that is there has no brain.

## Attributes

def squareInFront: Square

Returns the square that is immediately in front of this robot.

Returns the square that is immediately in front of this robot.

## Attributes

override def toString: String

Returns a textual representation of the robot (which is the robot’s name).

Returns a textual representation of the robot (which is the robot’s name).

## Attributes

Definition Classes
  Any

def world: RobotWorld

Returns the world that this robot is located in.

Returns the world that this robot is located in.

## Attributes

#### Concrete fields

val body: RobotBody