Convexhull shape in 3D (solved)

[schlista]

Can someone explain how convexhull works in 3D space. So let’s say I have a 4 sided die and an 8 sided die. How can I create a convexhull to be that shape?

I need a collsionobject to match my die, and I can’t find an easy to understand explanation of how this will work in 3D. I understand the 2D version, but I can’t wrap my head around how to do it in 3D space.

[astrochili]

It’s very simple. It is a set of vertices in space that create a convex shape. Literally. There are no triangles or lines here. The order is not important. Duplicates or randomly internal vertices do not affect anything, except for the extra volume of data.

To get a cube it is enough to have a set of XYZ vertices in any order:

0 0 0
0 0 1
0 1 0
0 1 1
1 0 0
1 0 1
1 1 0
1 1 1

To build 4-sided dice (pyramid?) or 8-sided dice, you should, for example, find a 3D model in OBJ and look at the coordinates of the vertices, because I can’t imagine in my head what coordinates are there.

[iotaHum]

@astrochili

o get a cube it is enough to have a set of XYZ vertices in any order

What about connectivity information, defining faces and the body, does Defold work this out, or are they not used and it is just a point cloud?

[selimanac]

I’m not sure if this one still works but there is a py script for Blender.
see defold_mesh.py in this example: Mesh Component

Here is the discussion:

Custom 3D collision shape

This is great! For 2D .convexshapes PhysicsEditor works well. Is there a similar tool that can be used to generate 3D .convexshapes?

Also this:

Blender to Unity mesh collider help

And this:

Using a DAE mesh for collision

Here’s a quick guide to converting your DAE mesh into collision objects using Blender and dae2collision. Note This has only been tested with a simple model from Blender 2.93 using (probably) default settings. Other setups will hopefully work, but no guarantees. Preparing The Model Since Defold doesn’t support concave collision shapes, we’ll need to split our model into convex pieces. This, unfortunately, must be done manually, as I haven’t found a working way to automate it. To split a mesh …

[Dragosha]

@iotaHum

or are they not used and it is just a point cloud?

this.
The physics engine will build the planes itself and check for intersection with other entities. But this has a side effect: convexhull shape is not visible in the editor and debug drawing in runtime does not work correctly.

[schlista]

@Dragosha

The physics engine will build the planes itself and check for intersection with other entities. But this has a side effect: convexhull shape is not visible in the editor and debug drawing in runtime does not work correctly.

Well that explains why I can’t see any debug lines on the object. So I have no idea if I have the right shape or how I need to fix it.

[Wolfe2x7]

The debug drawing in runtime just appears as a line strip from the first vertex to the last.

[astrochili]

@iotaHum

or are they not used and it is just a point cloud?

Absolutely right. Yes, the debug rendering of Defold draws 3D physics it’s like a set of lines in order, probably since that’s how the debug rendering of 2D physics works.

[schlista]

Well I’m stuck. I can’t see any debug lines at all. ANd clearly these dice aren’t working correctly. Where as my 6 sided dice are perfect. But I used a box collsionobject so it was easier. Can anyone give me a clue?

I have no idea how to debug this issue.

And this is my convexhull.shape file

shape_type: TYPE_HULL
 data: 0.0
 data: 1.0
 data: 0.0
 data: 1.0
 data: 0.0
 data: 0.0
 data: -1.0
 data: 0.0
 data: 1.0
 data: 0.0
 data: -1.0
 data: 0.0

[Wolfe2x7]

I don’t think that shape file describes a regular tetrahedron with its center of gravity at 0,0,0.

Try this one, based on a cube, with this geometric proof from wikipedia:

shape_type: TYPE_HULL
data: -1
data: -1
data: -1
data: 1
data: -1
data: 1
data: -1
data: 1
data: 1
data: 1
data: 1
data: -1

[schlista]

Thank for helping but this didn’t change much (see video). Also I’m not sure how would a box shape work for a tetrahedron when I need the dice to be able to lay flat on one of the sides. That is an honest question…I really don’t undestand these convexhulls in 3D especially when I can’t even see the outline of it in defold.

[schlista]

How the heck does one debug convexhull shapes when the debugger doesn’t show anything?

[britzl]

Let me ask @jhonny.goransson about this in our morning meeting.

[jhonny.goransson]

Could you share the project? Either here or private

[selimanac]

@schlista

hank for helping but this didn’t change much (see video). Also I’m not sure how would a box shape work for a tetrahedron when I need the dice to be able to lay flat on one of the sides. That is an honest question…I really don’t undestand these convexhulls in 3D especially when I can’t even see the outline of it in defold.

Are you sure the convex hull is correct? I just had a quick test and doesn’t have a issue( is this something you are looking for?))

[britzl]

It would probably make sense to include a set of convex hulls in builtins, for instance a tetrahedron, cone and so on. And the collada files should have gltf counterparts as well. Anyone wanna make a contribution?

[selimanac]

@britzl

Anyone wanna make a contribution?

I think I’m going to write a small tutorial for exporting convex hull data from Blender using very simple py script(which I use above)

[schlista]

Yes but I’m traveling right now. It may be a week before I can.

I really appreciate your help.

[schlista]

Sent.

[schlista]

@britzl I fixed it! I can’t believe what the issue is. It was my gravity scale. Very odd that it behaves fine with the builtin collisionshapes but the convexhull would make it go wild. Anyway, resetting this value to the default appears to have fixed the issue.

Having said that it would be very nice to get more debug info out of convexhull shapes, so we can see what is going on.

Thanks defold team.