Extend Google Maps marker to animate smoothly on update?

Question

Using the Google Maps API v3 I've been able to update multiple positions of markers via an AJAX call. However, it lacks any transition. Code below:

if ( !latlong.equals( point.latlong ) ) {
    point.latlong = latlong;
    point.marker.setPosition(latlong);
}

The drawback is that setPosition has no native animation method. Does anyone know any methods for extending setPosition so the marker can fluently "move" from it's old to new position? Or any methods available? I have not been able to find any documentation. Thanks!

Answer 1

I did not find any native way to create this animation. You can create your own animation by stepping the position from the current point to the final point using the setPosition. Here is a code snippet to give you an idea:

var map = undefined;
var marker = undefined;
var position = [43, -89];

function initialize() {

    var latlng = new google.maps.LatLng(position[0], position[1]);
    var myOptions = {
        zoom: 8,
        center: latlng,
        mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP
    };
    map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("map_canvas"), myOptions);

    marker = new google.maps.Marker({
        position: latlng,
        map: map,
        title: "Your current location!"
    });

    google.maps.event.addListener(map, 'click', function(me) {
        var result = [me.latLng.lat(), me.latLng.lng()];
        transition(result);
    });
}

var numDeltas = 100;
var delay = 10; //milliseconds
var i = 0;
var deltaLat;
var deltaLng;
function transition(result){
    i = 0;
    deltaLat = (result[0] - position[0])/numDeltas;
    deltaLng = (result[1] - position[1])/numDeltas;
    moveMarker();
}

function moveMarker(){
    position[0] += deltaLat;
    position[1] += deltaLng;
    var latlng = new google.maps.LatLng(position[0], position[1]);
    marker.setPosition(latlng);
    if(i!=numDeltas){
        i++;
        setTimeout(moveMarker, delay);
    }
}

This can probably be cleaned up a bit, but will give you a good start. I am using JavaScript's setTimeout method to create the animation. The initial call to 'transition' gets the animation started. The parameter to 'transition' is a two element array [lat, lng]. The 'transition' function calculates the step sizes for lat and lng based upon a couple of animation parametes (numDeltas, delay). It then calls 'moveMarker'. The function 'moveMarker' keeps a simple counter to indicate when the marker has reached the final destination. If not there, it calls itself again.

Here is a jsFiddle of the code working: https://jsfiddle.net/rcravens/RFHKd/2363/

Hope this helps.

Bob

Answer 2

In case you want smooth animations (with easing), these libraries should help:

https://github.com/terikon/marker-animate-unobtrusive

http://terikon.github.io/marker-animate-unobtrusive/demo/unobtrusive/markermove-sliding.html

Answer 3

I know its late but it might help the future SO wanderers.
Problem Statement: write a function(and not a library due to specific use-case) to animate a google maps marker to a new location.
Solution is based on this awesome library marker-animate-unobtrusive

function animateMarkerTo(marker, newPosition) {
    var options = {
        duration: 1000,
        easing: function (x, t, b, c, d) { // jquery animation: swing (easeOutQuad)
            return -c *(t/=d)*(t-2) + b;
        }
    };

    window.requestAnimationFrame = window.requestAnimationFrame || window.mozRequestAnimationFrame || window.webkitRequestAnimationFrame || window.msRequestAnimationFrame;
    window.cancelAnimationFrame = window.cancelAnimationFrame || window.mozCancelAnimationFrame;

    // save current position. prefixed to avoid name collisions. separate for lat/lng to avoid calling lat()/lng() in every frame
    marker.AT_startPosition_lat = marker.getPosition().lat();
    marker.AT_startPosition_lng = marker.getPosition().lng();
    var newPosition_lat = newPosition.lat();
    var newPosition_lng = newPosition.lng();

    // crossing the 180° meridian and going the long way around the earth?
    if (Math.abs(newPosition_lng - marker.AT_startPosition_lng) > 180) {
        if (newPosition_lng > marker.AT_startPosition_lng) {
            newPosition_lng -= 360;
        } else {
            newPosition_lng += 360;
        }
    }

    var animateStep = function(marker, startTime) {
        var ellapsedTime = (new Date()).getTime() - startTime;
        var durationRatio = ellapsedTime / options.duration; // 0 - 1
        var easingDurationRatio = options.easing(durationRatio, ellapsedTime, 0, 1, options.duration);

        if (durationRatio < 1) {
            marker.setPosition({
                lat: (
                    marker.AT_startPosition_lat +
                    (newPosition_lat - marker.AT_startPosition_lat)*easingDurationRatio
                ),
                lng: (
                    marker.AT_startPosition_lng +
                    (newPosition_lng - marker.AT_startPosition_lng)*easingDurationRatio
                )
            });

            // use requestAnimationFrame if it exists on this browser. If not, use setTimeout with ~60 fps
            if (window.requestAnimationFrame) {
                marker.AT_animationHandler = window.requestAnimationFrame(function() {animateStep(marker, startTime)});
            } else {
                marker.AT_animationHandler = setTimeout(function() {animateStep(marker, startTime)}, 17);
            }

        } else {
            marker.setPosition(newPosition);
        }
    }

    // stop possibly running animation
    if (window.cancelAnimationFrame) {
        window.cancelAnimationFrame(marker.AT_animationHandler);
    } else {
        clearTimeout(marker.AT_animationHandler);
    }

    animateStep(marker, (new Date()).getTime());
}