Smoothly change float when adding another float

I want to change the distance from the player car when the car speeds up and slows down. I got it working but the transition between positions goes kinda fast. This is the current code for changing the distance:

Code (CSharp):

1.     void Update()
2.     {
3.         if (CarSpeed.zoomOut == true)
4.         {
5.             height = startheight + addheight;
6.         }
7.         else
8.         {
9.             height = startheight;
10.         }
11.     }

How to I smoothly change those numbers? So height is startheight + addheight but the change needs to be gradual.

 

For that you should use Lerp function.
See
Mathf.Lerp doc
https://docs.unity3d.com/ScriptReference/Mathf.Lerp.html
Is relatively nice explained.

So in you r case for floats

Code (CSharp):

1. changeSpeed = 0.5f ; // play with this value. Typically 0 to 1.0f But you can check beyond ( 0 to 10.0f ).
2. height = Mathf.Lerp ( height, startheight + addheight, Time.deltaTime * changeSpeed ) ;

Just to note, you probably wan to keep it outside CarSpeed.zoomOut == true loop. But you will need test it, specific for your case.

 

Shouldn't MoveTowards be best suited for this ?

 

To be honest, don't know. Never used it.
Someone else is probably better, to answer this question.

 

I'm gonna try this solution in a minute. Thanks for answering though! I already looked at Mathf.Lerp but found it a bit too confusing. Any reason why I should keep it outside CarSpeed.zoomOut?

Yeah, that could be used too but the camera position is relative to the car so it doesn't have it's own defined position. I use a distance and height parameter to define where the camera needs to be positioned relative to the car.

 

The reason I mentioned that, As I don't know, if is one of shot, or you keep true value, for multiple iterations.
If second, then shouldn't be an issue. But pretty same result I think you can achieve if you keep outside of that, if loop.
This is only problem specific. So either situation may work. Try both.

Regarding lerp (example for transform.position as Vector3), is simply

Code (CSharp):

1. currentPosition = Lerp ( currentPosition, desiredPosition, howFastGetToDesiredPosition ) ;

Code (CSharp):

1. this.transfrom.position = Lerp ( this.transfrom.position, targetPosition, howFastGetToDesiredPosition ) ;

Or as I posted earlier (for float), regarding your height application. Hope that makes sense

 

I've changed the script a bit. It now changes the FOV and the lookat offset to the vehicle. Works like a charm with the code you provided. Also, thanks for the explanation on how Lerp works

Happy holidays!

 

Thx, all best.