Glossary Sections
Quaternion
Overview
A quaternion is a four-dimensional vector that can be used to represent a rotation in 3D space. Quaternions are often used in computer graphics for representing the orientation of objects, such as characters and vehicles.
Quaternions are a more efficient representation of rotations than Euler angles. Euler angles are three angles that are used to represent the orientation of an object in 3D space. However, Euler angles can suffer from gimbal lock, which is a condition where the object appears to rotate in the wrong direction. Quaternions do not suffer from gimbal lock, making them a more reliable representation of rotations.
Here are some of the benefits of using quaternions in computer graphics:
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Efficient representation of rotations: Quaternions can represent a rotation in 3D space with only four numbers. This makes them more efficient than other representations of rotations, such as Euler angles.
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No gimbal lock: Quaternions do not suffer from gimbal lock, which is a condition where the object appears to rotate in the wrong direction.
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Flexible rotation representation: Quaternions can represent rotations in a variety of ways, making them well-suited for a wide range of applications.
Here are some of the drawbacks of using quaternions in computer graphics:
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Slower to compute than Euler angles: Quaternions are slower to compute than Euler angles. This can make them less suitable for real-time applications.
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More complex to understand and implement: Quaternions are more complex to understand and implement than Euler angles. This can make them less suitable for beginners.
Overall, quaternions are a powerful and efficient representation of rotations that can be used in a variety of computer graphics applications.
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