Real-time collision detection and response in virtual global terrain environments

Abstract

In many virtual reality applications it is necessary to simulate the interaction among objects. One of the basic requirements is to ensure a non-penetration of bodies. We show a novel algorithm for detecting collisions between camera and terrain. After collisions are detected we propose a fancy collision response. Our collision detection algorithm doesn't need precomputation and reduces memory requirement comparing to the collision detection algorithm using sphere trees. In a virtual global terrain environment application, our collision detection and response algorithm easily runs at real-time rate. Our collision detection algorithm runs faster about dozens of times than the collision detection algorithm using sphere trees.