ISSN:
1434-9957
Keywords:
Collision detection
;
Presence
;
Virtual environments
;
Voxel
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Computer Science
Notes:
Abstract Collision detection is fundamental in achievingnatural dynamics in virtual environments, but current algorithms are too slow, causing a major bottleneck in processing and hindering the building of interactive simulation environments. This paper provides an overview of the collision detection problem and current attempted solutions. A voxel-based approach to rigid-body collision detection is presented, with its potential high performance explained. Voxel collision detection takes place on a pair-wise basis, involving two additional representations of a polygonal object, a Voxmap and a Point Shell. These are constructed in a pre-processing step and allow fast collision detection through a simple look-up reference of points into voxels. Collision performance depends upon the number of points in the shell, and can trade accuracy for speed. A range ofpruning techniques, needed to cut down the number of objects undergoing collision testing, are reviewed and implemented. These allow most effective use of the voxel collision detection algorithm in multi-body simulations, such as virtual environments. Performance evaluations demonstrate the voxel collision detection algorithm's ability to achieve interactive rates (above 20 Hz) for both high precision pair-wise collision tests, and for large numbers of objects in multi-body environments. The voxel collision detection algorithm is suitable for parallel, hardware implementation. This provides the potential for great enhancements to already extremely high performance, rendering the voxel-based approach to collision detection all the more promising.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01418972
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