Real-Time Collision Detection

Chapter 1

Introduction

This book is concerned with the subject of collision detection, a broad topic dealing with a seemingly simple problem: detecting if two (or more) objects are intersecting. More specifically, collision detection concerns the problems of determining if, when, and where two objects come into contact. “If” involves establishing a Boolean result, answering the question whether or not the objects intersect. “When” must additionally determine at what time during a movement collision occurred. “Where” establishes how the objects are coming into contact. Roughly, these three types of queries become increasingly more complex to answer in the order given.

Gathering information about when and where (in addition to the Boolean ...