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A real-time ballistic solver for moving targets under drag (C++)

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Hi HN,I’m sharing a small open-source project I’ve been working on: a native C++ ballistic solver that computes launch angles to intercept moving targets in real time, under gravity and air drag.Instead of relying on vacuum assumptions, closed-form equations, or lookup tables, the solver formulates the intercept as a nonlinear problem and solves it numerically using time integration and iterative methods.The motivation came from game and simulation scenarios where simpler approaches tend to break down: - moving targets - strongly curved trajectories due to drag - real-time constraintsThe solver simulates projectile motion (RK-style integration), tracks the closest approach to the target, and iteratively adjusts the launch direction until an intercept is achieved.It’s written in C++ and exposed through a stable C ABI, so it can be used from environments like Python or game engines (e.g. Unity) without rewriting the core logic.Project page: https://github.com/ujinf74/ballistic-solverI’d be very interested in feedback, criticism, or discussion around the numerical approach, performance trade-offs, or edge cases I might have missed.

HN · launched Jan 10, 2026 · 5 upvotes (top 90%) · 0 views

Niche: physics and engineering simulation software · 104 launches, 8 in the last 7 days ▲ +14% · Explore this niche →

Category and tags

  • Horizontal
  • Dev tools
  • Developer
  • Not AI
  • Hobby / open-source project

Source listing ↗

Could you build this?

No Developing a real-time ballistic solver with air drag against moving targets requires advanced applied mathematics and numerical methods for differential equations.

What it would actually take: This requires solving a system of non-linear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) incorporating aerodynamic drag models (such as G1/G7 drag functions) coupled with root-finding algorithms (e.g., Runge-Kutta numerical integration combined with Newton-Raphson or Brent's method) to solve two-point boundary intercept problems in real-time. Specialized expertise in numerical analysis, physics simulation, and high-performance C++ optimization is required.

Discussion

2 comments analyzed.

Competitors

Other products that read as similar to this one : 112 launches clear the similarity bar, closest 8 shown.

Attention rank: #98 of 113 (itself plus its competitors, highest first, normalized so YC and Product Hunt are compared fairly).

Launched 63 days after the earliest competitor.

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