Detailed use

The entire system is used through the ADS AI System Component, an Actor Component to add to the AI Actor. Usually added to a Character or Pawn controlled by an AI Controller, it configures perception, can start a Behavior Tree, and communicates with a Blackboard.

Adding the component

In the AI actor's Blueprint, add the ADS AI System Component, then configure its settings from the Details panel.

Component settings

Setting	Description
`Use AI Perception`	Enables or disables the component's AI Perception configuration. When enabled, the component automatically finds or creates and configures the required AI Perception Component.
`Only Sense Player`	Pawn-oriented events (`OnADSSeePawn` and `OnADSHearNoise`) are triggered only for player-controlled Pawns. `OnADSTargetPerceptionUpdated` remains bound to raw updates.
`Sensing Interval`	Value retained for compatibility with the former Pawn Sensing logic. AI Perception has no direct equivalent of an interval per listener.
`Show Debug`	Displays debug visualization in the editor when the component or its actor is selected.
`Sensing Origin Mode`	Defines the visualization origin: Actor Location, Actor Eyes Viewpoint, or Mesh Bone / Socket.
`Sensing Origin Mesh Component Name`	With Mesh Bone / Socket, targets a Skeletal Mesh Component by name or tag. `None` uses the first mesh found.
`Sensing Origin Bone Or Socket Name`	Bone or socket used as the origin; the default value is `head`.
`Use Bone Or Socket Rotation`	Uses the bone or socket rotation; otherwise, the actor direction is used.
`Sensing Origin Location/Rotation Offset`	Offsets applied to the selected origin.
`See Pawn`	Enables the Sight sense and `OnADSSeePawn` events.
`Sight Radius`	Initial detection distance.
`Lose Sight Radius`	Target retention distance; it should generally be greater than or equal to `Sight Radius`.
`Peripheral Vision Angle`	Peripheral vision half-angle, in degrees.
`Sight Max Age`	How long a sight stimulus is retained. `0` means it does not expire automatically.
`Hear Noises`	Enables the Hearing sense and `OnADSHearNoise` events.
`Hearing Threshold`	Distance at which noises can be heard.
`Use LOS Hearing`	Compatibility value related to the former Pawn Sensing logic.
`LOS Hearing Threshold`	Compatibility value; in UE 5.6, the system uses the greater range of this value and `Hearing Threshold`.
`Hearing Max Sound Age`	How long a sound stimulus is retained. `0` means it does not expire automatically.
`Behavior Tree`	Behavior Tree automatically started at BeginPlay; its associated Blackboard is then retrieved.
`Update See Pawn Blackboard Key`	Updates a Blackboard Bool key when an accepted Pawn is seen or lost.
`See Pawn Blackboard Key Name`	Name of the Bool key; by default `bSeePawn`. It must exist in the Blackboard.
`See Pawn Blackboard Reset Delay`	Delay before resetting to `false` after successful detection. At `0`, no timer is started; the key is reset to `false` on loss of sight or by your Blueprint logic.

Event Dispatchers and Blueprint functions

Item	Description
`OnADSSeePawn`	Triggered when a Pawn accepted by the filters is seen. Passes `Seen Pawn`.
`OnADSHearNoise`	Triggered when a noise is heard and its instigator is an accepted Pawn. Passes the instigator, location, and volume.
`OnADSTargetPerceptionUpdated`	Triggered for each raw AI Perception update, before filtering specialized events. Passes the actor and stimulus.
`ConfigureAIPerception`	Finds or creates AI Perception, configures Sight and Hearing, binds events, and requests a stimulus update.
`ConfigurePawnSensing`	Compatibility function calling `ConfigureAIPerception`.
`SetAIPerceptionEnabled`	Enables or disables AI Perception and reapplies sense states at Runtime.
`ChangeBehaviorTree`	Starts the supplied Behavior Tree and refreshes the cached Blackboard.
`GetAIPerceptionComponent`	Returns the AI Perception Component used when available.
`GetBlackboardComponent`	Returns the Blackboard Component used when available.
`GetSensingViewpoint`	Returns the position and rotation used by debug visualization.
`SetSensingInterval`	Modifies `Sensing Interval` at Runtime.
`SetOnlySensePlayer`	Modifies `Only Sense Player` at Runtime.
`SetSeePawn`	Modifies `See Pawn` at Runtime.
`SetSightRadius`	Modifies `Sight Radius` at Runtime.
`SetPeripheralVisionAngle`	Modifies `Peripheral Vision Angle` at Runtime.
`SetHearNoises`	Modifies `Hear Noises` at Runtime.
`SetHearingThreshold`	Modifies `Hearing Threshold` at Runtime.
`SetLOS_HearingThreshold`	Modifies `LOS Hearing Threshold` at Runtime.
`SetHearingMaxSoundAge`	Modifies `Hearing Max Sound Age` at Runtime.

Blackboard functions let you read and write keys of type Bool, Float, Vector, Object, Name, String, Rotator, Enum, and Class. Read functions also return a Boolean indicating whether a valid Blackboard was found. The key name and type must exactly match those defined in the Blackboard.

Important points

The system does not create complete AI behavior; it configures perception, optionally starts a Behavior Tree, and provides Blackboard helpers.
The component does not replace an AI Controller and does not create a Blackboard itself.
Only Sense Player filters specialized events, but the raw event can still receive other actors.
Sensing origin settings are for debug visualization and do not automatically modify AI Perception's Runtime viewpoint.
The project must emit sound stimuli compatible with AI Perception for hearing to work.
Add a Nav Mesh Bounds Volume to the scene, covering the area where the AI needs to move.