Is there an algorithm to make ships take semi-circular patterns? I need something like the below image:
Big Blue- Command Ship Small blues - fighters Red lines - path of movement
I want the fighters to zip around the command ship while avoiding obsticles such as space debris and eachother. I need at most a dozen fighters zipping around each ship and there would be up to a dozen command ships zipping around at a slower pace. All the fighters should return to the ship every once in a while for repair and rearming.
I chiefly need the circular path and I need to keep the path centered constantly on the command ship despite any movements. Are there any circular path finding algorithms? (and a better question; is there an official term for this kind of algorithm/path?)? Also note that I am developing this as an RTS for mobile, so the least expensive the operation the better.