The Accurate Method for Computing the Minimum Distance between a Point and an Elliptical Torus

Abstract

We present an accurate method to compute the minimum distance between a point and an elliptical torus, which is called the orthogonal projection problem. The basic idea is to transform a geometric problem into finding the unique real solution of a quartic equation, which is fit for orthogonal projection of a point onto the elliptical torus. Firstly, we discuss the corresponding orthogonal projection of a point onto the elliptical torus for test points at six different spatial positions. Secondly, we discuss the same problem for test points on three special positions, e.g., points on the z-axis, the long axis and the minor axis, respectively.

Keywords

• point projection
• elliptical torus
• major planar circle
• minor planar ellipse
• the long axis
• the minor axis
• intersection