Dev status update

Development_Status.md

@@ -179,4 +179,68 @@ Performance Culling & Caching: For performance-intensive scenarios like asteroid
 #### 2. Component "API" & Wiring System
 Component Contracts: To facilitate the upcoming visual wiring system, we will formalize the "API" for ControlPanel and Databank resources. This will be done by creating new scripts that extend the base classes and override the get_input_sockets() and get_output_signals() functions to explicitly define what signals and functions each component provides.
 
-Static vs. Resource-Based API: We've concluded that using extended Resource scripts to define these APIs is superior to using static functions on the node scripts. This decouples the data contract from the implementation and allows a single scene to be used with multiple different data configurations, which is critical for a flexible wiring system.
+Static vs. Resource-Based API: We've concluded that using extended Resource scripts to define these APIs is superior to using static functions on the node scripts. This decouples the data contract from the implementation and allows a single scene to be used with multiple different data configurations, which is critical for a flexible wiring system.
+
+## Project Development Status Update: 31/10/25
+
+### 3D Character Controller & Movement Tech Demo (Cycle 3)
+
+Work has proceeded on a tech demo for the 3D character controller, establishing a robust, physics-based system for zero-G movement. The architecture has been refactored to prioritize a clean separation of concerns, with a central "pawn" acting as a physics integrator and modular "controllers" acting as the "brains" for different movement types.
+
+### ✅ Implemented Features
+
+#### Pawn/Controller Architecture: The character is split into several key classes:
+
+CharacterPawn3D: The core CharacterBody3D. It acts as a "dumb" physics integrator, holding velocity and angular_velocity, integrating rotation, and calling move_and_slide(). It no longer contains movement-specific state logic.
+
+PlayerController3D: Gathers all hardware input (keyboard, mouse) and packages it into KeyInput dictionaries (pressed, held, released) to send to the pawn via RPC.
+
+EVAMovementComponent: Refactored into a "dumb tool". It exposes functions like apply_thrusters() and apply_orientation() which are called by other controllers.
+
+ZeroGMovementComponent: This is now the "brain" for all zero-G movement. It receives all inputs from the pawn and contains its own internal state machine (IDLE, REACHING, GRIPPING, CLIMBING, CHARGING_LAUNCH).
+
+#### Contextual Movement Logic:
+
+The ZeroGMovementComponent decides when to use the EVA suit. In its IDLE state, it checks for fresh movement input (movement_input_was_neutral) before calling the EVAMovementComponent's apply_thrusters function.
+
+This successfully implements "coast on release," where releasing a grip (_release_current_grip) flags the movement input as "stale," preventing the EVA suit from engaging even if the key is still held.
+
+#### EVA/Jetpack Controls:
+
+The EVAMovementComponent provides force-based linear movement (WASD, Shift/Ctrl) and torque-based angular roll (Q/E).
+
+A body-orientation function (_orient_pawn) allows the pawn to auto-align with the camera's forward direction.
+
+#### Physics-Based Grip System:
+
+GripArea3D: A composition-based Area3D node provides the interface for all grabbable objects. It requires its parent to implement functions like get_grip_transform and get_push_off_normal.
+
+Grip Detection: The CharacterPawn3D uses a GripDetector Area3D to find GripArea3D nodes in range and passes this nearby_grips list to the ZeroGMovementComponent.
+
+GRIPPING State: This state is now fully physics-based. Instead of setting the pawn's global_transform, the _apply_grip_physics function uses a PD controller to apply linear forces (to move to the offset position) and angular torques (to align with the grip's orientation).
+
+Grip Orientation: The gripping logic correctly calculates the closest of two opposing orientations (e.g., "up" or "down" on a bar) by comparing the pawn's current up vector to the grip's potential up vectors.
+
+Grip Rolling: While in the GRIPPING state, the player can use Q/E to override the auto-orientation and apply roll torque around the grip's axis.
+
+#### Physics-Based Climbing:
+
+CLIMBING State: This state applies lerp'd velocity to move the pawn, allowing it to interact with physics.
+
+Climb Targeting: The _find_best_grip function successfully identifies the next valid grip within a configurable climb_angle_threshold_deg cone.
+
+Handover: Logic in _process_climbing correctly identifies when the pawn is close enough to the next_grip_target to _perform_grip_handover.
+
+Climb Release: The pawn will correctly release its grip and enter the IDLE state (coasting) if it moves past the current_grip by release_past_grip_threshold without a new target being found.
+
+### ❌ Not Yet Implemented / Pending Tasks
+
+REACHING State: The REACHING state exists but its logic (_process_reaching) is a stub that instantly calls _try_initiate_reach. The full implementation (e.g., procedural animation/IK moving the hand to the target) is pending.
+
+CHARGING_LAUNCH State: The state exists and the execution logic is present (_handle_launch_charge, _execute_launch), but the state transition logic in _update_state does not currently allow entering this state from GRIPPING (it's overshadowed by the _start_climb check).
+
+Ladder (3D) & Walking (3D) States: The CharacterPawn3D has high-level states for GRIPPING_LADDER and WALKING, but the movement functions (_apply_ladder_movement, _apply_walking_movement) are stubs.
+
+Generic Surface Grab: The TODO to allow the ZeroGMovementComponent to grab any physics surface (not just a GripArea3D) is not implemented.
+
+EVA Stabilization: The _apply_stabilization_torques function in EVAMovementComponent is still a placeholder.