ProgABots/src/EscapeBot.java

public class EscapeBot extends Bot {

    int unitsMoved;

    int unitsToMove;

    int timesTurned;

    protected EscapeBot(String[] args) {
        super(args);
        unitsMoved = 0;
        unitsToMove = 5;
        timesTurned = 0;
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Bot bot = new EscapeBot(args);
        bot.run();
    }

    @Override
    protected char nextMove(View view) throws Exception {
        //boolean found = false;

        if (unitsMoved % 5 == 0) {
            char c = checkView(view);
            switch (c) {
                case '0': break;
                case '1': throw new Exception("found!");
                default: return c;
            }
        }

        if (unitsMoved < unitsToMove) {
            unitsMoved++;
            return '^';
        } else if (unitsMoved == unitsToMove) {
            unitsMoved = 0;
            timesTurned++;

            if (timesTurned % 2 == 0) {
                unitsToMove += 5;
            }
            return '>';
        }

        throw new Exception();
    }

    private char checkView(View view) {
        if (view.data.contains("o")) {
            int spaceship = view.data.indexOf("o") + 1;
            if (spaceship == 13) {
                return '1';
            } else if (spaceship <= 10) {
                return '^';
            } else if (spaceship >= 15) {
                return 'v';
            } else if (spaceship%5 < 3) {
                return '<';
            } else if (spaceship%5 > 3) {
                return '>';
            }
        }
        return '0';
    }
}