Every X seconds, move in a random direcition.

[Scott Mcgee]

This will help you get started

segDur = 1;

minVal = [0.1*thisComp.width, 0.1*thisComp.height];

maxVal = [0.9*thisComp.width, 0.9*thisComp.height];

seed = Math.floor(time/segDur);

segStart = seed*segDur;

seedRandom(seed,true);

startVal = random(minVal,maxVal);

seedRandom(seed+1,true);

endVal = random(minVal,maxVal);

ease(time,segStart,segStart + segDur, startVal, endVal);

This was by Dan Ebberts from his website here https://motionscript.com/mastering-expressions/random-1.html

As for the pause in the middle. I don’t have time to write some up, but you should be able to add a delay between each movement.

Hope this steers you in the right direction.

[Dan Thompson]

Thanks! I’ve already found this guy’s expression for random movement, but like you said it doesn’t have the pauses.

I’ve tried for hours to add pauses but I’m failing to even get a clue on the very basics.

If anyone can still help that’ll be great 🙂

[Dan Ebberts]

Something like this maybe:

moveDur = .5;
holdDur = 2;
segDur = moveDur+holdDur;
minVal = [0.1*thisComp.width, 0.1*thisComp.height];
maxVal = [0.9*thisComp.width, 0.9*thisComp.height];
seed = Math.floor(time/segDur);
segStart = seed*segDur;
seedRandom(seed,true);
startVal = random(minVal,maxVal);
seedRandom(seed+1,true);
endVal = random(minVal,maxVal);
ease(time,segStart,segStart + moveDur, startVal, endVal);

[Dan Thompson]

That’s great! Thank you so much!

The only question I have now is which parameter can I edit in order to increase the minimum travel distance?

EDIT: Adding a multiplier to startVal and endVal seems to help, but it sometimes creates a “jump” right before the layer starts moving.

**Another note, I don’t need any “protection” that prevents the layer from flying out of the canvas, if that matters!

Thanks again!

[Dan Thompson]

Alright I got what I wanted and fixed the problem by adding a multiplier to the minVal and maxVal instead!

Thanks again 😀