Dynamics Collider for Disc

[SharpShooter]

Hi All,
I am new to Shiva3D and I must say that I am really impressed with the engine.
I am trying to create something like Air Hockey. I could get the basic physics to work, but if I use the box collider for the discs, the collisions are really bad. I would like to know whats the best way to set a collider to a disc or a cylinder.

Thanks.

[broozar]

compound physics object composed of 5 boxes. maybe this video helps: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81r-1E-hwEY&feature=channel_video_title

[rusty]

I have no evidence for this, but when i've imported complex models (concave, etc) the collisions have seemed to work fine even though there are no settings for triangle meshes and convex hulls.


Taking a quick look at the ODE docs, it does handle both...
http://opende.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Manual_%28All%29#Convex_Class

If you go up a little, it also handles capsules and cylinders too. I don't know how ShiVa works internally but it should have the capability even though the GUI doesn't reflect it.

[Fraser]

This could be done with your own AI physics:
pseudocode for puck with puck collision:

Code: Select all

x1,y1,z1 = gettranslation(puck1)
x2,y2,z2 = gettranslation(puck2)

d1 = x2-x1
d2 = z2-z1

d = sqrt(d1*d1 + d2*d2)

r2 = radius_of_pucks * 2
if(d < r2)
then
   COLLIDED:
   collision point on puck edges is obtained with math.ATAN2(d1,d2)
end


An alternative and easier method (although maybe more CPU) would be to use shiva physics with spherical dynamic bounding bodies for the pucks, centred about the pucks centre, same radius as the pucks. Then lock the angular rotation for X and Z using

dynamics.setAngularDampingEx ( hPuck, 1000000, 0, 1000000 )

if the above does not lock hard enough or it "creeps" then instead use this in each enterframe:

object.setRotation( hPuck, 0, 0, 0, object.kGlobalSpace)

Of course this spherical bounding body would cause the visible pucks to levitate over the table, so you would need to place the visible table (without collider) above an invisible collider object underneath.