python3dgeometrycomputational-geometryconvex-hull

How to find the intersection of 2 convex hulls?


I have two convex hulls. Let's assume they are given as scipy.spatial.ConvexHulls

import numpy as np


points1 = np.random.rand((10, 3))
points2 = np.random.rand((10, 3))
hull1 = ConvexHull(points1)
hull2 = ConvexHull(points2)

I would like the convex hull that is the intersection of these two convex hulls, but could not find a built in method to do this.

I assume this can be done manually somehow by using scipy.spatial.HalfspaceIntersection by using half spaces defined by hull1 to cut off hull2, but still having trouble doing it, and can't believe this is not already implemented somewhere.


Note that I don't mind if scipy is not used.


Solution

  • I would try pycddlib, which implements the double description of polyhedra. The double description of a polyhedron is:

    You probably have the vertices of your two convex polyhedra. Convert to the H-descriptions, then combine the two systems of linear inequalities, and then convert to the V-representation.


    Here is an example.

    import numpy as np
    import pyvista as pv
    import cdd as pcdd
    from scipy.spatial import ConvexHull
    
    # take one cube
    cube1 = pv.Cube()
    # take the same cube but translate it 
    cube2 = pv.Cube() 
    cube2.translate((0.5, 0.5, 0.5))
    
    # plot 
    pltr = pv.Plotter(window_size=[512,512])
    pltr.add_mesh(cube1)
    pltr.add_mesh(cube2)
    pltr.show()
    

    enter image description here

    # I don't know why, but there are duplicates in the PyVista cubes;
    # here are the vertices of each cube, without duplicates
    pts1 = cube1.points[0:8, :]
    pts2 = cube2.points[0:8, :]
    
    # make the V-representation of the first cube; you have to prepend
    # with a column of ones
    v1 = np.column_stack((np.ones(8), pts1))
    mat = pcdd.Matrix(v1, number_type='fraction') # use fractions if possible
    mat.rep_type = pcdd.RepType.GENERATOR
    poly1 = pcdd.Polyhedron(mat)
    
    # make the V-representation of the second cube; you have to prepend
    # with a column of ones
    v2 = np.column_stack((np.ones(8), pts2))
    mat = pcdd.Matrix(v2, number_type='fraction')
    mat.rep_type = pcdd.RepType.GENERATOR
    poly2 = pcdd.Polyhedron(mat)
    
    # H-representation of the first cube
    h1 = poly1.get_inequalities()
    
    # H-representation of the second cube
    h2 = poly2.get_inequalities()
    
    # join the two sets of linear inequalities; this will give the intersection
    hintersection = np.vstack((h1, h2))
    
    # make the V-representation of the intersection
    mat = pcdd.Matrix(hintersection, number_type='fraction')
    mat.rep_type = pcdd.RepType.INEQUALITY
    polyintersection = pcdd.Polyhedron(mat)
    
    # get the vertices; they are given in a matrix prepended by a column of ones
    vintersection = polyintersection.get_generators()
    
    # get rid of the column of ones
    ptsintersection = np.array([
        vintersection[i][1:4] for i in range(8)    
    ])
    
    # these are the vertices of the intersection; it remains to take
    # the convex hull
    ConvexHull(ptsintersection)