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Collision Detection
Last Updated: May 2, 2013
Definition - What does Collision Detection mean?
Collision detection algorithmically calculates impact time by identifying two or more object intersection points. Collision detection is also a virtual interface that determines user and object distance for collision prevention.
Collision detection is a key 3-D component associated with robotics, video games and physical simulation.
Techopedia explains Collision Detection
Collision detection concepts are based on computational geometry and linear algebra and include the following methods:
Vector usage: Measures object distance and calculates length via the square root of each vector component’s square sum. Divides each vector component by vector magnitude, which equal a sum of 1.
Plane detection: Easily identifies 3-D sphere collisions, as individual comparison of complex model polygons is not required.
Physical simulators: Detects collision events before collision event (priori) and after collision event (posteriori).
Collision detection events are detected by network nodes and recovered via protocols like Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detection (CSMA/CD).
