Control Rig for Unreal Engine 5

Initial Character Blueprint setup

Initial Animation Blueprint setup

Creating the ControlRig class

Make ControlRig DO something

Create an array of FootNames

WorldSpace vs RigSpace explanation

Save the default foot transforms to a new array

Visualize the foot transforms with DrawTransform

FullBodyIK node explanation

Add one leg into the solver

Add the rest of the legs into the solver

SAVE FIRST! Collapse to a function

Convert World transform to Rigspace transforms into the solver

Explanation of how we will calculate the velocity

Create the CalculateVelocity function

Calculate how far the character has moved in the world

Calculate how far the character moves per second and draw it

Smooth the calculated velocity

Add comments to the calculate velocity function

Cycle explanation

Creating the CalculateCycle function

Test our cycle with a print node

Creating the MoveFeetTransforms function

Creating a FootLocked array of booleans

Is the foot locked or unlocked logic

Create the Swing Percent and unlock condition

Unlocked logic and lock condition

Include and test the MoveFeetTransforms function

Making the unlocked foot snap back to the default pose position

Creating the foot timing offset array

Creating the PerFootCycle array

Using the PerFootCycle instead of Master Cycle

A basic interpolation for the swing phase

Creating the foot prediction function

Projecting the landing spot forward in the direction of velocity

Scale the prediction time based on how long until the foot lands

Change cycle speed based on the characters movement speed

Creating the stride length variable, and calculating the cycle time in seconds

Save the foot lift-off spot to a WorldLockedFootTransforms array

Accurate interpolation between the lift-off to the landing spot, based on cycle

Make the legs lift in an arc using a custom curve

Make the lift height based on the movement speed

Overview of the plan for foot traces

A basic trace for every landing spot

Random body motions and general improvements

More advanced traces explanation and testing on a landscape

Implementing more advanced traces

Porting the procedural animation system to another character

Changing variables for the new character

Using controls to move the character

FullBodyIK settings, and interpolating control targets

Value Over Time to delay movements

BasicIK node instead of FullBodyIK, when, where, how

Finding the Primary and Secondary axis

Automatically compute the pole vector

Make a bone point in a specific direction

Aim more bones at a target with various weighting and interpolation settings

Randomize the target point

Simulate character breathing with chest scale

Combine with an idle animation and create a character class

Make the character target a position in the actual game level

Creating functions that can be used in any other ControlRig

Create the RotateAroundPoint function, to rotate in RigSpace

Incorporate the translation change when rotating around a point

Create a function to rotate a single bone in place, in RigSpace

The challenge, the goal, and the starting point

Saving the accumulated rotation

Negate any rotation of the character to keep the same world rotation

Make the spine always look in the correct direction

Adding the solver and starting a rotation timer

Compensate for pieces of the total rotation offset

Applying the calculations to see the result on the character

Offset the rotation timing of each foot

Searching for issues and the next steps to improve

Problem solving

Weight shift towards the grounded leg

Make the movement more natural and bouncy

Bug fixing, finalizing, and looking to the future