Aeonix Navigation

A voxel-based 3D pathfinding plugin for Unreal Engine 5.5, 5.6, and 5.7.

Build validation via TeamCity CI/CD using the Aeonix Demo project.

What is it?

Aeonix Navigation provides 3d navigation generation and pathfinding for Unreal Engine 5.6+

Main Features:

• Sparse Voxel Octree for excelent memory efficient in sparse environment
• A* pathfinding with various heuristics for optimising queries
• A number of post-processing functions for smooth paths
• EXPERIMENTAL Dynamic modifier regions that provide runtime updates of selected regions with no re-allocation of navigation data
• Editor tools for visualization and debugging

Installation

1. Place the plugin in your project's Plugins/AeonixNavigation directory
2. Regenerate project files and build
3. Enable the plugin in the Plugins menu

Getting Started

1. Create Navigation Volume

• Place an AeonixBoundingVolume in your level (Place Actors → Aeonix Bounding Volume)
• Scale it to encompass your desired navigable space
• Select it and configure in the Details panel:
  • Octree Depth: Controls octree subdivision depth. Higher values create finer detail. Use 5-6 for human-sized characters
  • CollisionChannel: Which geometry blocks navigation (usually ECC_WorldStatic)
  • GenerationStrategy: "Use Baked" (pre-generate) or "Generate OnBeginPlay" (runtime)
  • (Optional) Check 'Debug Leaf Voxels' to render blocked voxels (may need to increase the debug render distance)
• Click Generate button to create navigation data

2. Add Component to AI

• Open your AI Controller or Character Blueprint
• Add AeonixNavAgentComponent
• Configure pathfinder settings

3. Use in Behavior Tree

• Add BTTask_AeonixMoveTo task to your Behavior Tree
• Set the BlackboardKey to your target location (Vector or Actor)
• Configure AcceptableRadius (how close AI needs to get, typically 100-200cm)

4. Testing

Use AAeonixPathDebugActor (editor-only) to test pathfinding:

• Place two AeonixPathDebugActors in your level
• Set one to START, one to END
• Move them around to visualize paths in real-time

Editor Tools

Aeonix Navigation Panel: Window → Aeonix Navigation

• View and manage all navigation volumes in the level
• Access volume settings and regeneration controls

Bounding Volume Details: Custom details panel when selecting a volume

• Quick access to generation parameters
• Generate button for creating/updating navigation
• Visualization toggles for debugging

Module Structure

• AeonixNavigation: Core runtime module (pathfinding, octree, subsystem)
• AeonixEditor: Editor integration (tools, visualization, debug actors)
• AeonixNavigationTests: Unit and integration tests

Key Classes

• AAeonixBoundingVolume: Defines navigable 3D space
• UAeonixNavAgentComponent: Enables AI to use navigation
• UAeonixSubsystem: World subsystem managing navigation and pathfinding
• AeonixPathFinder: A* pathfinding implementation
• UBTTask_AeonixMoveTo: Behavior Tree movement task
• AAeonixPathDebugActor: Editor debug actor for testing

Documentation

More indepth documentation to come. Please feel free to raise issues on github.

Testing

Unit tests are in Source/AeonixNavigationTests. Example levels are in AeonixDemo project.

Credits

Based on UESVON by midgen (me).

License

See LICENSE file.