Generic hard/soft 3D spatial collision detection method

A system for resolving collisions for placement of objects in a two dimensional model or a three dimensional model, the system comprising:

• a processor performing the following steps:
• attributing a first state to each object having a hard geometry and a second state to each object having a soft geometry;
• predefining a first set of rules based on regulatory requirements to determine whether multiple objects may occupy the same spatial volume based on the combination of the object states, the first set of rules covering all permutations of the first state and the second state and including the following rules:
• two hard geometries cannot occupy the same space;
• a hard geometry and a soft geometry cannot occupy the same space;
• and
• two soft geometries can occupy the same space;
• placing a first object in the two dimensional or three dimensional model;
• placing a second object in the two dimensional or three dimensional model;
• checking for collision of the first object with the second object in the two dimensional or three dimensional model;
• and
• resolving the collision based on the first predefined set of rules;
• a memory storing the first set of rules for determination of the collision between the first and second objects;
• and
• a display showing the resolving of the collision between the first and second objects based on the first predefined set of rules.

A system for resolving collisions for placement of objects in a three dimensional model, the system comprising:

• a means for attributing a first state to each object having a hard geometry and a second state to each object having a soft geometry;
• a means for predefining a first set of rules based on regulatory requirements to determine whether multiple objects may occupy the same spatial volume based on the combination of the object states, the first set of rules covering all permutations of the first state and the second state and including the following rules:
• two hard geometries cannot occupy the same space;
• hard geometry and soft geometry cannot occupy the same space;
• and
• two soft geometries can occupy the same space;
• a means for placing a first object in the three dimensional model;
• a means for placing a second object in the three dimensional model;
• a means for checking for collision of the first object with the second object in the three dimensional model;
• and
• a means for resolving the collision based on said first predefined set of rules.

A method for resolving collisions for placement of objects in a three dimensional model, the method comprising:

• attributing a first state to each object having a hard geometry and a second state to each object having a soft geometry;
• predefining a first set of rules based on at least one of regulatory requirements, manufacturer requirements, and customer requirements to determine whether multiple objects may occupy the same spatial volume based on the combination of the object states, the first set of rules covering all permutations of the first state and the second state and including at least one of the following rules:
• two hard geometries cannot occupy the same space;
• a hard geometry and a soft geometry cannot occupy the same space;
• and
• two soft geometries can occupy the same space;
• placing a first object in the three dimensional model;
• placing a second object in the three dimensional model;
• checking for collision of the first object with the second object in the three dimensional model;
• and
• resolving the collision based on the first predefined set of rules.