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c++algorithmpath-findingmaze

Beginner struggling with Lee Algorithm on a 2D grid


I am trying to implement the Lee algorithm on a 2D grid. The flood loop is however stopping too early, claiming to have not found any more "empty" cells. I am completely stumped as to why.

#define WIDTH 6
#define HEIGHT 6
int gridArray[WIDTH][HEIGHT];

void InitialiseGrid() {
    srand(time(NULL)); // initialise the randomiser

    for (int y = 0; y < HEIGHT; y++) {
        for (int x = 0; x < WIDTH; x++) {

            if (rand() % 4 == 0)
                gridArray[x][y] = -2;
            else
                gridArray[x][y] = -1;
        }
    }
}

bool foundEmpty = true;
bool foundEnd = false;

int it = 0;

while (foundEmpty && !foundEnd) {
    DrawGrid();
    cout << endl << endl;
    for (int y = 0; y < HEIGHT; y++) {
        for (int x = 0; x < WIDTH; x++) {
            if (gridArray[x][y] == it) {
                // initially assume neighbouring cells are not empty
                foundEmpty = false;

                // check east cell
                if (x < WIDTH) {
                    int *e = &gridArray[x + 1][y];
                    if (*e == -1) {
                        *e = it + 1;
                        foundEmpty = true;
                    }
                    else if (*e == -3) {
                        foundEnd = true;
                    }
                }

                // check west cell
                if (x > 0) {
                    int *w = &gridArray[x - 1][y];
                    if (*w == -1) {
                        *w = it + 1;
                        foundEmpty = true;
                    }
                    else if (*w == -3) {
                        foundEnd = true;
                    }
                }

                // check south cell
                if (y < HEIGHT) {
                    int *s = &gridArray[x][y + 1];
                    if (*s == -1) {
                        *s = it + 1;
                        foundEmpty = true;
                    }
                    else if (*s == -3) {
                        foundEnd = true;
                    }
                }

                // check north cell
                if (y > 0) {
                    int *n = &gridArray[x][y - 1];
                    if (*n == -1) {
                        *n = it + 1;
                        foundEmpty = true;
                    }
                    else if (*n == -3) {
                        foundEnd = true;
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }
    it++;
}


void DrawGrid() {
std::string message = "";

for (int y = 0; y < HEIGHT; y++) {
    cout << endl;
    for (int x = 0; x < WIDTH; x++) {
        if (gridArray[x][y] == 0)
            message = "start";
        else if (gridArray[x][y] == -3)
            message = "end";
        else if (gridArray[x][y] == -2)
            message = "X";
        else
            message = std::to_string(gridArray[x][y]);

        cout << "|" << "\t" << message << "\t" << "|";
    }
    cout << endl;
}
}

The end on the path is specified by assigning a cell to -3. Cells that are blocked are -2. Cells that are empty are -1. The starting cell is 0.


Solution

  • Not sure what your problem is, but your algorithm seems to be solid. I have cleaned it a little and it seems to be working fine:

    #include <iostream>
    #include <string>
    #include <iomanip>
    
    #define WIDTH 7
    #define HEIGHT 7 
    
    int gridArray[WIDTH][HEIGHT] = 
    {
        { -1,-1,-1,0,-2,-1,-2 },
        { -2,-1,-1,-1,-1,-2,-2 },
        { -2,-1,-1,-1,-1,-2,-2 },
        { -2,-2,-1,-1,-1,-2,-1 },
        { -1,-2,-2,-2,-1,-1,-2 },
        { -1,-2,-1,-1,-1,-2,-2 },
        { -2,-2,-3,-1,-1,-2,-2 }
    };
    
    void DrawGrid() 
    {
        for (int x = 0; x < WIDTH; x++)  
        {
            for (int y = 0; y < HEIGHT; y++)
            {
                std::string message;
    
                if (gridArray[x][y] == 0)
                    message = "S";
                else if (gridArray[x][y] == -3)
                    message = "E";
                else if (gridArray[x][y] == -2)
                    message = "#";
                else if (gridArray[x][y] == -1)
                    message = ".";
                else
                    message = std::to_string(gridArray[x][y]);
    
                std::cout << std::setw(3) << message << "  ";
            }
            std::cout << std::endl << std::endl;
        }
        std::cout << std::endl << std::endl;
    }
    
    void SolveMaze()
    {
        bool foundEnd = false;
        int it = 0;
    
        while (!foundEnd) 
        {
            bool foundEmpty = false;
            for (int x = 0; x < WIDTH && !foundEnd; ++x)
            {
                for (int y = 0; y < HEIGHT; ++y)
                {
                    if (gridArray[x][y] == it) 
                    {
                        // check east cell
                        if (x < WIDTH - 1)
                        {
                            int &east = gridArray[x + 1][y];
                            if (east == -3)
                            {
                                foundEnd = true;
                                break;
                            }
                            else if (east == -1)
                            {
                                east = it + 1;
                                foundEmpty = true;
                            }
                        }
    
                        // check west cell
                        if (x > 0)
                        {
                            int &west = gridArray[x - 1][y];
                            if (west == -3)
                            {
                                foundEnd = true;
                                break;
                            }
                            else if (west == -1)
                            {
                                west = it + 1;
                                foundEmpty = true;
                            }
                        }
    
                        // check south cell
                        if (y < HEIGHT - 1)
                        {
                            int &south = gridArray[x][y + 1];
                            if (south == -3)
                            {
                                foundEnd = true;
                                break;
                            }
                            else if (south == -1)
                            {
                                south = it + 1;
                                foundEmpty = true;
                            }
                        }
    
                        // check north cell
                        if (y > 0)
                        {
                            int &north = gridArray[x][y - 1];
                            if (north == -3)
                            {
                                foundEnd = true;
                                break;
                            }
                            else if (north == -1)
                            {
                                north = it + 1;
                                foundEmpty = true;
                            }
                        }   
                    }
                }
            }
    
            if (!foundEnd && !foundEmpty)
            {
                std::cout << "This maze has no solution!" << std::endl << std::endl;
                break;
            }
    
            it++;
        }
    }
    
    int main()
    {
        DrawGrid();
        SolveMaze();
        DrawGrid();
        system("pause");
        return 0;
    }
    

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