pursuitlike

Pursuitlike is an adjective used to describe motion, behavior, or control strategies that resemble pursuit of a moving target, but without requiring a precise mathematical definition of pursuit. The term is used in robotics, computer animation, biology, and game design to capture a qualitative resemblance to chasing dynamics.

In kinematics and control theory, pursuitlike trajectories are curved paths produced when a pursuer adjusts its heading toward the target’s instantaneous position but under practical constraints. They may not satisfy the exact conditions of classical pursuit problems, such as pure-pursuit or lead-pursuit laws, because of factors like sensor latency, limited field of view, nonholonomic constraints, or target maneuvers. As a result, the path often appears smooth or irregular rather than the idealized pursuit curve.

Applications include robotics and autonomous systems, where pursuitlike control helps in intercepting or following a moving object under uncertainty; in animation and video games, where characters display believable chase sequences without requiring strict mathematical pursuit; and in biology, where the term can describe observed chase-like movement patterns in predators or prey that approximate pursuit behavior.

Related concepts include pursuit curves, pure pursuit, lead pursuit, predictive tracking, and pursuit-evasion games.