MATLAB Program for Generating Random Polygons

This article discusses how to generate a polygon and output its vertices in clockwise order. The implementation begins by determining the number and positions of polygon vertices, which can be achieved through computational geometry methods. In MATLAB, this typically involves generating random points using functions like rand or randn, then applying geometric algorithms to form valid polygons. A crucial aspect involves establishing the correct vertex sequence for proper output. While a simple approach might start from the leftmost vertex and traverse sequentially, this method fails with concave polygons where vertices may appear in incorrect order. To address this, robust algorithms like convex hull generation (implemented via MATLAB's convhull function) can be employed to establish proper vertex ordering. The Graham scan algorithm provides another implementation option, sorting points by polar angle around a pivot point. Regardless of the chosen method, the implementation must ensure vertices are output in correct clockwise sequence for subsequent geometric processing, with proper handling of edge cases like collinear points through algorithms like the monotone chain approach.