SODA: A Scalability-Oriented Distributed & Anticipative Model for Collision Detection in Physically-based Simulations

Steve Dodier-Lazaro, Quentin Avril, Valérie Gouranton

2013

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a distributed and anticipative model for collision detection and propose a lead for distributed collision handling, two key components of physically-based simulations of virtual environments. This model is designed to improve the scalability of interactive deterministic simulations on distributed systems such as PC clusters. Our main contribution consists of loosening synchronism constraints in the collision detection and response pipeline to allow the simulation to run in a decentralized, distributed fashion. To do so, we setup a spatial subdivision grid, and assign a subset of the simulation space to each processor, made of contiguous cells from this grid. These processors synchronize only with their direct neighbors in the grid, and only when an object moves from one’s area to another. We rely on the rarity of such synchronizations to allow anticipative computing that will also work towards improving scalability. When synchronizations occur, we propose an arrangement of collision checks and rollback algorithms that help reduce the processing cost of synchronized areas’ bodies. We show potential for distributed load balancing strategies based on the exchange of grid cells, and explain how anticipative computing may, in cases of short computational peaks, improve user experience by avoiding frame-rate drop-downs.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Dodier-Lazaro S., Avril Q. and Gouranton V. (2013). SODA: A Scalability-Oriented Distributed & Anticipative Model for Collision Detection in Physically-based Simulations . In Proceedings of the International Conference on Computer Graphics Theory and Applications and International Conference on Information Visualization Theory and Applications - Volume 1: GRAPP, (VISIGRAPP 2013) ISBN 978-989-8565-46-4, pages 337-346. DOI: 10.5220/0004293803370346

in Bibtex Style

@conference{grapp13,
author={Steve Dodier-Lazaro and Quentin Avril and Valérie Gouranton},
title={SODA: A Scalability-Oriented Distributed & Anticipative Model for Collision Detection in Physically-based Simulations},
booktitle={Proceedings of the International Conference on Computer Graphics Theory and Applications and International Conference on Information Visualization Theory and Applications - Volume 1: GRAPP, (VISIGRAPP 2013)},
year={2013},
pages={337-346},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0004293803370346},
isbn={978-989-8565-46-4},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF
JO - Proceedings of the International Conference on Computer Graphics Theory and Applications and International Conference on Information Visualization Theory and Applications - Volume 1: GRAPP, (VISIGRAPP 2013)
TI - SODA: A Scalability-Oriented Distributed & Anticipative Model for Collision Detection in Physically-based Simulations
SN - 978-989-8565-46-4
AU - Dodier-Lazaro S.
AU - Avril Q.
AU - Gouranton V.
PY - 2013
SP - 337
EP - 346
DO - 10.5220/0004293803370346