Add sphere intersection function

src/object.c

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 
 
 #include <assert.h>
+#include <math.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include "basics.h"
 #include "object.h"
@@ -16,12 +17,17 @@ struct _Object {
     ObjectType type;
     Vector3 location;
     void *shape;
+
+    int (*does_intersect)(Object *obj, Ray ray, float **t);
 };
 
+
 typedef struct _Sphere {
     float radius;
 } Sphere;
 
+static int sphere_does_intersect(Object *obj, Ray ray, float **t);
+
 
 /*
  * object_init ---
@@ -37,9 +43,16 @@ object_init(ObjectType type)
     }
 
     switch (type) {
-        case ObjectTypeSphere:
-            obj->shape = malloc(sizeof(Sphere));
+        case ObjectTypeSphere: {
+            Sphere *s = malloc(sizeof(Sphere));
+            if (s == NULL) {
+                // TODO: DANGER! WILL ROBINSON!
+            }
+            obj->shape = s;
+            s->radius = 0.0;
+            obj->does_intersect = sphere_does_intersect;
             break;
+        }
         default:
             assert(0);
     }
@@ -84,6 +97,19 @@ object_set_location(Object *obj, Vector3 location)
     obj->location = location;
 }
 
+
+/*
+ * object_does_intersect --
+ *
+ * Determine if a ray intersects with the object.
+ */
+int
+object_does_intersect(Object *obj, Ray ray, float **t)
+{
+    assert(obj != NULL && obj->does_intersect != NULL);
+    return obj->does_intersect(obj, ray, t);
+}
+
 /*
  * Sphere functions
  */
@@ -107,3 +133,83 @@ object_sphere_set_radius(Object *obj, float r)
     assert(obj != NULL && obj->type == ObjectTypeSphere);
     ((Sphere *)obj->shape)->radius = r;
 }
+
+
+/*
+ * sphere_does_intersect --
+ *
+ * Compute the intersection of a ray with the given object. The object must be a Sphere. All intersection t values are
+ * returned in the **t argument. The number of values returned therein is indicated by the return value. Memory is
+ * allocated at *t. It is the caller's responsibility to free it when it is no longer needed. If 0 is returned, no
+ * memory needs to be freed.
+ */
+int
+sphere_does_intersect(Object *obj, Ray ray, float **t)
+{
+    // Distance from vector point to center of sphere.
+    Vector3 dist = vector_sub_vector(ray.location, object_get_location(obj));
+    float r = object_sphere_get_radius(obj);
+
+    // Coefficients for quadratic equation.
+    float a = vector_dot(ray.direction, ray.direction);
+    float b = vector_dot(vector_mult_scalar(dist, 2), ray.direction);
+    float c = vector_dot(dist, dist) - (r * r);
+
+    // Discriminant for quadratic equation.
+    float discrim = b * b - 4.0 * a * c;
+
+    // If the discriminant is less than zero, there are no real (as in not imaginary) solutions to this intersection.
+    if (discrim < 0) {
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    /*
+     * Compute most of the quadratic equation as q. Doing this first helps avoid precision errors when
+     * b =~ * sqrt(b^2 - 4ac).
+     *
+     * See: http://wiki.cgsociety.org/index.php/Ray_Sphere_Intersection
+     */
+    float q;
+    float sqrt_discrim = sqrtf(discrim);
+    if (b < 0) {
+        q = (-b - sqrt_discrim) / 2.0;
+    }
+    else {
+        q = (-b + sqrt_discrim) / 2.0;
+    }
+
+    // Compute the intersections. Spheres have at most two intersections.
+    float t0 = q / a;
+    float t1 = c / q;
+
+    // If t[1] is less than t[0], swap them (t[0] will always be the first intersection).
+    if (t1 < t0) {
+        float tmp = t0;
+        t0 = t1;
+        t1 = tmp;
+    }
+
+    /*
+     * If the farther intersection of the two is in the negative direction, the sphere is in the ray's negative
+     * direction.
+     */
+    if (t1 < 0) {
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    /*
+     * Allocate the memory and store the values. It's possible the two values are equal. Only allocate enough memory to
+     * store the required number of values.
+     */
+    int nints = (t0 != t1) ? 2 : 1;
+    *t = malloc(sizeof(float) * nints);
+    if (*t == NULL) {
+        return 0;
+    }
+    (*t)[0] = t0;
+    if (nints > 1) {
+        (*t)[1] = t1;
+    }
+
+    return nints;
+}

src/object.h

@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ void object_destroy(Object *obj);
 Vector3 object_get_location(Object *obj);
 void object_set_location(Object *obj, Vector3 location);
 
+int object_does_intersect(Object *obj, Ray ray, float **t);
+
 // Sphere methods
 float object_sphere_get_radius(Object *obj);
 void object_sphere_set_radius(Object *obj, float r);