How do you program collision detection and response for VR physics simulations?

1 Broad-phase detection

The first step in collision detection is to identify which objects are potentially colliding with each other. This is called broad-phase detection, and it helps to reduce the number of calculations needed for the next step. There are different ways to implement broad-phase detection, such as using bounding volumes, spatial partitioning, or sweep and prune. The choice depends on the shape, size, and number of objects in your simulation.

2 Narrow-phase detection

The second step in collision detection is to determine if and where two objects are actually colliding. This is called narrow-phase detection, and it requires more precise and complex calculations than broad-phase detection. There are different ways to implement narrow-phase detection, such as using geometric primitives, distance fields, or GJK algorithm. The choice depends on the accuracy, performance, and complexity of your simulation.

3 Collision response

The third step in collision detection is to calculate how the objects react to the collision. This is called collision response, and it involves applying physics laws and equations to the objects' properties, such as mass, velocity, and elasticity. There are different ways to implement collision response, such as using impulse-based, penalty-based, or constraint-based methods. The choice depends on the realism, stability, and flexibility of your simulation.

6 Examples and tutorials

If you're looking to learn more about how to program collision detection and response for VR physics simulations, you can find several helpful examples and tutorials online. For example, a tutorial on how to create a VR bowling game in Unity is available, which covers the use of Unity's physics components and systems to create a realistic bowling experience with collisions and interactions. Additionally, a tutorial on how to create a VR breakout game in Unreal Engine can be found, which explains how to use Unreal Engine's physics components and systems to create a VR game with dynamic collisions and destruction. Finally, tutorials on how to use Bullet Physics in VR and ODE Physics in VR are also available, showing how to use the respective physics engines with OpenVR to create scenes with objects and interactions.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?