TankOnAHeightmap.htm 18 KB

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  1. <html xmlns:MSHelp="http://msdn.microsoft.com/mshelp" xmlns:msxsl="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:xslt" xmlns:xanx="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/xanx/2005"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="save" content="history" /><title>TankOnAHeightmap Sample</title>
  2. <style><!--
  3. /***********************************************************
  4. * SCRIPT-SUPPORTING STYLES
  5. ***********************************************************/
  6. /* Defines the userData cache persistence mechanism. */
  7. .userDataStyle
  8. {
  9. behavior: url(#default#userData);
  10. }
  11. /* Used to save the scroll bar position when navigating away from a page. */
  12. div.saveHistory
  13. {
  14. behavior: url(#default#saveHistory);
  15. }
  16. /* Formats the expand/collapse images for all collapsible regions. */
  17. img.toggle
  18. {
  19. border: 0;
  20. margin-right: 5;
  21. }
  22. /* Formats the Language filter drop-down image. */
  23. img#languageFilterImage
  24. {
  25. border: 0;
  26. margin-left: 0;
  27. vertical-align: middle;
  28. }
  29. /* Formats the Members Options filter drop-down image. */
  30. img#membersOptionsFilterImage
  31. {
  32. border: 0;
  33. margin-left: 0;
  34. vertical-align: middle;
  35. }
  36. /* Formats the Collapse All/Expand All images. */
  37. img#toggleAllImage
  38. {
  39. margin-left: 0;
  40. vertical-align: middle;
  41. }
  42. /* Supports XLinks */
  43. MSHelp\:link
  44. {
  45. text-decoration: underline;
  46. color: #0000ff;
  47. hoverColor: #3366ff;
  48. filterString: ;
  49. }
  50. body
  51. {
  52. background: #FFFFFF;
  53. color: #000000;
  54. font-family: Verdana;
  55. font-size: medium;
  56. font-style: normal;
  57. font-weight: normal;
  58. margin-top: 0;
  59. margin-bottom: 0;
  60. margin-left: 0;
  61. margin-right: 0;
  62. width: 100%;
  63. /*font-size: 110%;*/
  64. }
  65. div.section
  66. {
  67. margin-left: 15px;
  68. }
  69. div.hxnx5
  70. {
  71. margin-left: 1.5em;
  72. }
  73. /* Font for all headings */
  74. h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6
  75. {
  76. font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
  77. margin-top: 18;
  78. margin-bottom: 8;
  79. font-weight: bold;
  80. }
  81. h1
  82. {
  83. font-size: 130%;
  84. color: #003399;
  85. }
  86. div#scrollyes h1 /* Changes font size for full-scrolling topic */
  87. {
  88. font-size: 150%;
  89. }
  90. h2
  91. {
  92. font-size: 122%;
  93. }
  94. h3
  95. {
  96. font-size: 115%;
  97. margin-top: 9;
  98. margin-bottom: 4;
  99. }
  100. h4
  101. {
  102. font-size: 115%;
  103. margin-top: 9;
  104. margin-bottom: 4;
  105. }
  106. h5
  107. {
  108. font-size: 100%;
  109. margin-top: 9;
  110. margin-bottom: 4;
  111. }
  112. h6
  113. {
  114. font-size: 100%;
  115. margin-top: 9;
  116. margin-bottom: 4;
  117. }
  118. ul p, ol p, dl p
  119. {
  120. margin-left: 0em;
  121. }
  122. p
  123. {
  124. margin-top: .6em;
  125. margin-bottom: .6em;
  126. }
  127. td p
  128. {
  129. margin-top: 0.0em;
  130. margin-bottom: 0.6em;
  131. }
  132. dd p
  133. {
  134. margin-top: 0.0em;
  135. margin-bottom: 0.6em;
  136. }
  137. .image
  138. {
  139. text-align: center;
  140. }
  141. dl
  142. {
  143. margin-top: 0em;
  144. margin-bottom: 1.3em;
  145. }
  146. dd
  147. {
  148. margin-bottom: 0em;
  149. margin-left: 1.5em;
  150. }
  151. dl.glossary dd
  152. {
  153. margin-bottom: 0em;
  154. margin-left: 1.5em;
  155. }
  156. dt
  157. {
  158. margin-top: .6em;
  159. margin-bottom: 1;
  160. }
  161. ul, ol
  162. {
  163. margin-top: 0.6em;
  164. margin-bottom: 0.6em;
  165. }
  166. ol
  167. {
  168. margin-left: 2.5em;
  169. }
  170. ul
  171. {
  172. list-style-type: disc;
  173. margin-left: 1.9em;
  174. }
  175. li
  176. {
  177. margin-bottom: 0.4em;
  178. }
  179. ul ol, ol ol
  180. {
  181. list-style-type: lower-alpha;
  182. }
  183. pre
  184. {
  185. margin-top: .6em;
  186. margin-bottom: .6em;
  187. font: 105% Lucida, mono;
  188. color: #000066;
  189. }
  190. code
  191. {
  192. font-family: Monospace, Courier New, Courier;
  193. font-size: 105%;
  194. color: #000066;
  195. }
  196. table.userdata td
  197. {
  198. background: #ffffff;
  199. background-color: #F5F5F5;
  200. border-color: #ffffff;
  201. border: none;
  202. }
  203. table.clsWarning
  204. {
  205. background: #ffffff;
  206. padding: 0px;
  207. margin: 0px;
  208. border: none;
  209. }
  210. table.clsWarning td
  211. {
  212. padding: 0px;
  213. margin: 0px;
  214. background: #ffffff;
  215. vertical-align: middle;
  216. font-size: 70%;
  217. }
  218. div#mainSection table
  219. {
  220. width: 95%;
  221. background: #ffffff;
  222. margin-top: 5px;
  223. margin-bottom: 5px;
  224. }
  225. div#mainSection table th
  226. {
  227. padding: 5px 6px;
  228. background: #EFEFF7;
  229. text-align: left;
  230. font-size: 70%;
  231. vertical-align: bottom;
  232. border-bottom: 1px solid #C8CDDE;
  233. }
  234. div#mainSection table td
  235. {
  236. padding: 5px 5px;
  237. background: #F7F7FF;
  238. vertical-align: top;
  239. font-size: 70%;
  240. border-bottom: 1px solid #D5D5D3;
  241. }
  242. div#syntaxCodeBlocks table th
  243. {
  244. padding: 1px 6px;
  245. color: #000066;
  246. }
  247. div#syntaxCodeBlocks table td
  248. {
  249. padding: 1px 5px;
  250. }
  251. /* Applies to the running header text in the first row of the upper table in the
  252. non-scrolling header region. */
  253. span#runningHeaderText
  254. {
  255. color: #003399;
  256. font-size: 90%;
  257. padding-left: 13;
  258. }
  259. /* Applies to the topic title in the second row of the upper table in the
  260. non-scrolling header region. */
  261. span#nsrTitle
  262. {
  263. color: #003399;
  264. font-size: 120%;
  265. font-weight: 600;
  266. padding-left: 13;
  267. }
  268. /* Applies to everything below the non-scrolling header region. */
  269. div#mainSection
  270. {
  271. font-size: 70%;
  272. width: 100%;
  273. }
  274. /* Applies to everything below the non-scrolling header region, minus the footer. */
  275. div#mainBody
  276. {
  277. font-size: 90%;
  278. margin-left: 15;
  279. margin-top: 10;
  280. padding-bottom: 20;
  281. }
  282. /* Adds right padding for all blocks in mainBody */
  283. div#mainBody p, div#mainBody ol, div#mainBody ul, div#mainBody dl
  284. {
  285. padding-right: 5;
  286. }
  287. div#mainBody div.alert, div#mainBody div.code, div#mainBody div.tableSection
  288. {
  289. width:98.9%;
  290. }
  291. div.alert p, div.code p
  292. {
  293. margin-top:5;
  294. margin-bottom:8;
  295. }
  296. /*- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Begin Note Styles - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -*/
  297. div#mainSection div.alert table
  298. {
  299. border: 0;
  300. }
  301. div#mainSection div.alert table th
  302. {
  303. padding-top: 0;
  304. padding-bottom: 0;
  305. padding-left: 5;
  306. padding-right: 5;
  307. }
  308. div#mainSection div.alert table td
  309. {
  310. padding-left: 5;
  311. padding-right: 5;
  312. }
  313. img.note
  314. {
  315. border: 0;
  316. margin-left: 0;
  317. margin-right: 3;
  318. }
  319. /*- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - End Note Styles - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -*/
  320. /*- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Begin Non-scrolling Header Region Styles - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -*/
  321. /* Applies to the entire non-scrolling header region. */
  322. div#header
  323. {
  324. background-color: #D4DFFF;
  325. padding-top: 0;
  326. padding-bottom: 0;
  327. padding-left: 0;
  328. padding-right: 0;
  329. width: 100%;
  330. }
  331. /* Applies to both tables in the non-scrolling header region. */
  332. div#header table
  333. {
  334. margin-top: 0;
  335. margin-bottom: 0;
  336. border-bottom-color: #C8CDDE;
  337. border-bottom-style: solid;
  338. border-bottom-width: 1;
  339. background: #D4DFFF;
  340. width: 100%;
  341. }
  342. /* Applies to cells in both tables in the non-scrolling header region. */
  343. div#header table td
  344. {
  345. color: #0000FF;
  346. font-size: 70%;
  347. padding-right: 20;
  348. padding-top: 1;
  349. padding-bottom: 1;
  350. border: none;
  351. background: #D4DFFF;
  352. }
  353. /* Applies to the last row in the upper table of the non-scrolling header region. Text
  354. in this row includes See Also, Constructors, Methods, and Properties. */
  355. div#header table tr#headerTableRow3 td
  356. {
  357. padding-bottom: 2;
  358. padding-top: 5;
  359. padding-left: 15;
  360. }
  361. /* Applies to the lower table in the non-scrolling header region. Text in this table
  362. includes Collapse All/Expand All, Language Filter, and Members Options. */
  363. div#header table#bottomTable
  364. {
  365. border-top-color: #FFFFFF;
  366. border-top-style: solid;
  367. border-top-width: 1;
  368. text-align: left;
  369. padding-left: 15;
  370. }
  371. blockquote
  372. {
  373. margin-left: 3.8em;
  374. margin-right: 3.8em;
  375. margin-top: .6em;
  376. margin-bottom: .6em;
  377. }
  378. sup
  379. {
  380. text-decoration: none;
  381. font-size: smaller;
  382. }
  383. a:link
  384. {
  385. color: #0000FF;
  386. /* font-weight: bold */
  387. }
  388. a:visited
  389. {
  390. color: #0000AA;
  391. /* font-weight: bold */
  392. }
  393. a:hover
  394. {
  395. color: #3366FF;
  396. /* font-weight: bold */
  397. }
  398. .label
  399. {
  400. font-weight: bold;
  401. margin-top: 1em;
  402. margin-left: -26px;
  403. }
  404. .tl
  405. {
  406. margin-bottom: .75em;
  407. }
  408. .atl
  409. {
  410. padding-left: 1.5em;
  411. padding-bottom: .75em;
  412. }
  413. .cfe
  414. {
  415. font-weight: bold;
  416. }
  417. .mini
  418. {
  419. font-size: smaller;
  420. }
  421. .dt
  422. {
  423. margin-bottom: -.6em;
  424. }
  425. .indent
  426. {
  427. margin-left: 1.9em;
  428. margin-right: 1.9em;
  429. }
  430. .product
  431. {
  432. text-align: right;
  433. color: #333333;
  434. font-size: smaller;
  435. font-style: italic;
  436. }
  437. .buttonbarshade
  438. {
  439. position: relative;
  440. margin: 0;
  441. left: 0px;
  442. top: 2;
  443. width: 50%;
  444. height: 40px;
  445. }
  446. .buttonbartable
  447. {
  448. position: absolute;
  449. margin: 0;
  450. padding:0;
  451. border:0;
  452. left:0px;
  453. top: 2;
  454. width: 100%;
  455. height: 40px;
  456. }
  457. /* background color, font for header */
  458. table.buttonbartable td, table.buttonbarshade td
  459. {
  460. background: #ffffff; /*#5177B8; #80C615;*/
  461. border-left: 0px solid #80C615;
  462. margin: 0;
  463. padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
  464. font-family: Impact, sans-serif;
  465. font-size: 14pt;
  466. }
  467. table.buttonbartable td.button1
  468. {
  469. background: #5177B8; /*#80C615;*/;
  470. padding: 0;
  471. font-weight: bold;
  472. text-align: center;
  473. cursor: hand;
  474. }
  475. table.buttonbartable td.button2
  476. {
  477. background: #5177B8; /*#80C615;*/;
  478. font-weight: bold;
  479. text-align: center;
  480. }
  481. table.buttonbartable td.button3
  482. {
  483. background: #5177B8; /*#80C615;*/;
  484. font-weight: bold;
  485. text-align: center;
  486. }
  487. table.buttonbartable td.runninghead
  488. {
  489. padding-left: 0px;
  490. font-style: italic;
  491. text-align: left;
  492. }
  493. .version
  494. {
  495. text-align: left;
  496. color: #000000;
  497. margin-top: 3em;
  498. margin-left: -26px;
  499. font-size: smaller;
  500. font-style: italic;
  501. }
  502. .lang, .ilang
  503. {
  504. color: #0000ff;
  505. font: normal 7pt Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
  506. }
  507. div.langMenu
  508. {
  509. position: absolute;
  510. z-index: 1;
  511. width: 96pt;
  512. padding: 8pt;
  513. visibility: hidden;
  514. border: 1px solid #000000;
  515. background: #ffffd0;
  516. }
  517. div.langMenu ul
  518. {
  519. padding-left: 2em;
  520. margin-left: 0;
  521. }
  522. div.filtered
  523. {
  524. margin: 4pt 0 8pt -26px;
  525. padding: 4px 4px 8px 26px;
  526. width: 100%;
  527. border: 2px solid #aaaacc;
  528. background: #ffffff;
  529. }
  530. div.filtered2
  531. {
  532. margin: 4pt 0 8pt -26px;
  533. padding: 4px 4px 8px 26px;
  534. width: 100%;
  535. border: none;
  536. background: #ffffff;
  537. }
  538. div.filtered h1, div.filtered h2, div.filtered h3, div.filtered h4
  539. {
  540. margin-left: -22px;
  541. }
  542. div.filtered span.lang
  543. {
  544. position: relative;
  545. left: -22px;
  546. }
  547. div.reftip
  548. {
  549. position: absolute;
  550. z-index: 1;
  551. padding: 8pt;
  552. visibility: hidden;
  553. border: 1px solid #000000;
  554. background: #ffffd0;
  555. }
  556. a.synParam
  557. {
  558. color: #0000FF;
  559. /*color: #3F7800;*/
  560. /*color: #8DC54F;*/
  561. text-decoration: none;
  562. font-weight: normal;
  563. }
  564. a.synParam:hover
  565. {
  566. text-decoration: underline;
  567. font-weight: normal;
  568. }
  569. div.sapop
  570. {
  571. position: absolute;
  572. z-index: 1;
  573. left: 26px;
  574. width: 100%;
  575. padding: 10px 10px 10px 36px;
  576. visibility: hidden;
  577. border: 1px solid #000000;
  578. background: #ffffd0;
  579. }
  580. div.footer
  581. {
  582. width: 100%;
  583. border: none;
  584. background: #ffffff;
  585. margin-top: 18pt;
  586. padding-bottom: 12pt;
  587. color: #0000FF;
  588. /*color: #228B22; */
  589. text-align: center;
  590. font-size: 76%;
  591. }
  592. div.preliminary
  593. {
  594. margin-top: 8pt;
  595. padding-bottom: 12pt;
  596. color: #A0A0A0;
  597. }
  598. /* A procedure section. eg. 'To create a file', 'To add a value' */
  599. div.proc
  600. {
  601. margin-left: 0.5em;
  602. }
  603. /* The title of a 'procedure' section. */
  604. div.proc h3
  605. {
  606. font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
  607. font-weight: bold;
  608. font-size: 115%;
  609. margin-top: 1em;
  610. margin-bottom: 0.4em;
  611. margin-left: -0.5em;
  612. color: #003399;
  613. }
  614. div.proc ul
  615. {
  616. margin-left: 1.5em;
  617. }
  618. div.proc ol
  619. {
  620. margin-left: 2.0em;
  621. }
  622. .note
  623. {
  624. margin-left: 14pt;
  625. margin-right: 12pt;
  626. }
  627. .indent1
  628. {
  629. margin-left: 12pt;
  630. }
  631. .indent2
  632. {
  633. margin-left: 24pt;
  634. }
  635. .indent3
  636. {
  637. margin-left: 36pt;
  638. }
  639. p.proch
  640. {
  641. padding-left: 16px;
  642. }
  643. p.proch img
  644. {
  645. position: relative;
  646. vertical-align: top;
  647. left: -18px;
  648. margin-right: -14px;
  649. margin-bottom: -18px;
  650. }
  651. div.clsPlatSpec
  652. {
  653. background-color:#FFF8DC;
  654. border-style:solid;
  655. border-width:1pt 0pt 0pt 1pt;
  656. border-color:#ffE4C4;
  657. margin-top:0.6em;
  658. width:100%;
  659. }
  660. /* Applies to the language labels in the Language Filter drop-down list. */
  661. .languageFilter
  662. {
  663. color: #0000FF;
  664. cursor:hand;
  665. text-decoration:underline;
  666. padding-bottom:4;
  667. }
  668. /* Dropdown areas */
  669. #languageSpan {
  670. position: absolute;
  671. visibility: hidden;
  672. border-style: solid;
  673. border-width: 1px;
  674. border-color: #C8CDDE;
  675. background: #d4dfff;
  676. padding: 4px;
  677. font-size: 70%;
  678. }
  679. #membersOptionsSpan {
  680. position: absolute;
  681. visibility: hidden;
  682. border-style: solid;
  683. border-width: 1px;
  684. border-color: #C8CDDE;
  685. background: #d4dfff;
  686. padding: 4px;
  687. font-size: 70%;
  688. }
  689. --></style>
  690. <xml>
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  702. <h1>TankOnAHeightmap Sample</h1>
  703. This sample demonstrates how to use information about a heightmap's vertex
  704. normals to follow the contour of the terrain.
  705. <a id="ID2EK" name="ID2EK"> </a><h1 class="heading">Sample Overview</h1><div id="ID2EK" class="hxnx1">
  706. <p>The Heightmap Collision sample demonstrates how to make a sphere roll around on a heightmap. One way to improve this is by orienting the object to follow the contour of the terrain. This sample provides a more believable effect for objects such as vehicles, which will not always be pointing the same way up as they move around.</p>
  707. <p>This sample demonstrates how to do this by moving a tank around on a heightmap. The code involved is similar to the Heightmap Collision Sample, which you should be familiar with. In addition, you will use the technique described in the Simple Animation Sample to animate the tank.</p>
  708. <a id="ID2ES" name="ID2ES"> </a><h2 class="subHeading">Sample Controls</h2><div id="ID2ES" class="hxnx2">
  709. <p>This sample uses the following keyboard and gamepad controls.</p>
  710. <table>
  711. <tr>
  712. <th>Action</th>
  713. <th>Keyboard control</th>
  714. <th>Gamepad control</th>
  715. </tr>
  716. <tr>
  717. <td>Move the tank</td>
  718. <td>W, A, S, D, and UP ARROW, DOWN ARROW, LEFT ARROW, and RIGHT ARROW</td>
  719. <td>Left thumb stick</td>
  720. </tr>
  721. <tr>
  722. <td>Exit</td>
  723. <td>ESC or ALT+F4</td>
  724. <td>
  725. <b>BACK</b>
  726. </td>
  727. </tr>
  728. </table>
  729. </div>
  730. </div>
  731. <a id="ID2E2B" name="ID2E2B"> </a><h1 class="heading">How the Sample Works</h1><div id="ID2E2B" class="hxnx1">
  732. <p>The sample builds on the Heightmap Collision Sample. To support the new
  733. functionality, the code has been changed primarily in two areas. First, the <code>HeightMapInfoContent</code> class had to be changed to get not only heights, but also normals when building. This code is relatively straightforward. <code>HeightMapInfoContent</code>'s constructor now takes in a <b>MeshContent</b> object. It creates two 2D arrays, one of heights and one of normals. It loops through every vertex in the mesh, and examines its position and normal. From the position's X and Z values, it can tell where in the arrays to place the vertex's normal and height.</p>
  734. <p>The second major code change is in Tank.cs, and is the code that orients the tank to the terrain. To calculate a final orientation matrix from the terrain's normal, the code employs a series of cross products. Cross products are useful in 3D math, and this sample assumes that you are familiar with how they work. If not, Wikipedia is a good resource. In short, a cross product is a function that takes two vectors and returns a vector that is perpendicular to both.</p>
  735. <p>How do you calculate the tank's orientation for a point on the heightmap? In order to make an orientation matrix, you need three unit vectors, one in each XYZ direction. You want your orientation's <code>Up</code> vector to be the terrain's normal, so that covers one axis. The other two can be calculated using cross products. The illustration below shows the direction the user wants to be facing (<code>Forward</code>) and the terrain's normal (<code>Normal</code>). Since the cross product produces a vector that is perpendicular to both vectors, you can calculate the <code>Right</code> vector.</p>
  736. <img src="calculatingRight.png" />
  737. <p>The final step is to find the <code>Forward</code> direction of your orientation matrix. It is tempting to just take the user's desired forward vector, but this will not work. If you look at the illustration, it is easy to see why: that vector is always in the XZ plane. If you used that value as the <code>Forward</code> for your matrix, you would not have a valid orientation matrix. The basis vectors of orientation matrices must be orthonormal, which is a fancy way of saying they have to be at right angles to one another, and one unit long.</p>
  738. <p>How can you calculate the <code>Forward</code> vector? It is simpler than it sounds. To find forward, calculate the cross product of <code>Up</code> and <code>Right</code>. By normalizing the vectors as you calculate them, you ensure that our finished orientation matrix is orthonormal, and can be used to correctly draw the tank on the terrain.</p>
  739. </div>
  740. <a id="ID2EJD" name="ID2EJD"> </a><h1 class="heading">Extending the Sample</h1><div id="ID2EJD" class="hxnx1">
  741. <p>It is important to realize that this method for orienting an object on the terrain is not perfect. Our approach pretends that the tank makes contact with the ground at only one point in its center. Obviously, this is not true, and this simplification can become visible on steep patches of terrain. In these cases, the wheels' height will not match that of the terrain, and may float above or clip below the terrain. You could better simulate the tank by giving it four contact points—one at the center of each wheel. Calculating the orientation of the tank using this data, however, is a much more complicated problem. Our approach is simpler, both in terms of code and calculations performed, and the illusion is broken in only a few cases.</p>
  742. <p>With a few other additions, these problems can be masked and the illusion can be made more convincing. One thing that would help a lot would be shadows. Shadows add depth to a scene, and are very good at "planting" an object on the ground. This can reduce the feeling that the tank is floating along the top of the ground.</p>
  743. <p>The second thing that would help would be particles. Remember that our algorithm that calculates heights and normals is not triangle perfect, and in some cases the tank can dip under the terrain. We have masked this by keeping the heightmap as tesselated as possible. As the triangles grow larger and larger, the problems become more apparent. Adding dust particles around the wheels would mask the problem even more. This, like the shadows, would also help plant the tank on the ground.</p>
  744. </div>
  745. </div><div class="footer" id="footer"><p>© 2010 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.<br />Send feedback to <a href="mailto:[email protected]?subject=Documentation Feedback: TankOnAHeightmap Sample">[email protected]</a>.</p></div></div></body></html>