Building Your First Augmented Reality App

 

AR has transformed how we engage with the digital environment by mixing virtual and real world items. AR has many uses, from Pokemon Go to realistic shopping experiences. The availability of AR tools and SDKs has made AR experience creation simpler for developers. To create your first AR app using Unity and AR Foundation, read this blogpost. It will help newbie and professional developers build an AR app.

 

What is Augmented Reality?

Augmented Reality adds virtual stuff to the actual world in real time. Unlike VR, which immerses you in a virtual world, AR adds interactive aspects to the actual world. Snapchat filters change your face in real time, while Pokémon Go places imaginary monsters in real life. AR applications detect the surroundings and place virtual items using the device's camera, sensors, and software. Education, retail, and entertainment use this technology.

Tools and Technologies for AR Development

ARCore for Android and ARKit for iOS are prominent AR development platforms. These SDKs provide tracking, motion detection, and 3D rendering. Unity is adaptable and supports ARCore and ARKit via the AR Foundation package, so developers utilize it to create AR experiences. Unity lets developers construct dynamic 3D models, sceneries, and animations, while AR Foundation handles platform-specific aspects.

Vuforia, a cross-platform AR SDK, is also beneficial. Image recognition, object tracking, and 3D rendering are available. A basic Unity Vuforia sample follows:

using UnityEngine;
using Vuforia;

public class ARController : MonoBehaviour, ITrackableEventHandler
{
    public void OnTrackableStateChanged(TrackableBehaviour.Status previousStatus, TrackableBehaviour.Status newStatus)
    {
        if (newStatus == TrackableBehaviour.Status.DETECTED)
        {
           Debug.Log("AR Object Detected");
        }
    }
}

When this script detects an AR object, it writes a message to the log.

Setting Up Your Development Environment

You can build an AR app by installing Unity from the official website. Create a project and choose the 3D template after installing Unity. Import the AR Foundation package using Unity Package Manager to enable AR. ARCore and ARKit are required for Android and iOS targeting.

Download the Vuforia SDK from their website and import it into Unity. To set up your project for AR, enable XR in your target platform's player settings. You may start designing your AR app after setting everything up.

Here's how to enable ARKit or ARCore in Unity:

1. Go to Edit > Project Settings > Player.
2. Under XR Settings, check the box for ARKit or ARCore.

Now, your Unity project is AR-ready!

Creating Your First AR Experience

We will develop a basic AR application that puts a 3D object in real life when the user touches the screen. Start with a 3D cube or sphere to put in the scene. In Unity, add this object. 

You will require an AR Camera and AR Raycast Manager to detect touch and deploy the object. Script below shows how:

using UnityEngine;
using UnityEngine.XR.ARFoundation;

public class PlaceObject : MonoBehaviour
{
    public GameObject objectToPlace;
    private ARRaycastManager raycastManager;
    private Vector2 touchPosition;

    void Start()
    {
        raycastManager = FindObjectOfType<ARRaycastManager>();
    }

    void Update()
    {
        if (Input.touchCount > 0)
        {
           touchPosition = Input.GetTouch(0).position;
           List<ARRaycastHit> hits = new List<ARRaycastHit>();
           raycastManager.Raycast(touchPosition, hits, TrackableType.PlaneWithinPolygon);
            if (hits.Count > 0)
            {
                Pose hitPose = hits[0].pose;
               Instantiate(objectToPlace, hitPose.position, hitPose.rotation);
            }
        }
    }
}

When the user touches the screen, this code installs the object using the ARRaycastManager.

Testing Your AR App

Testing your AR app is crucial to development. For Android testing, you need an ARCore-enabled smartphone, and for iOS, ARKit. After building and deploying the app, test object positioning, scaling, and tracking accuracy in real life. Make sure 3D models perform as intended and interact realistically with the surroundings. Debug Unity camera and AR SDK settings if you have troubles.

Publishing Your AR App

Publish your AR app when completed. Submit your software to Google Play Console for Android and software Store Connect for iOS. App descriptions, images, and AR rules are required for both platforms. Test carefully before submitting.

Conclusion

Making an AR app is fun and satisfying and anybody can do it with the correct tools. Try gesture controls or sophisticated object tracking. AR is continually changing, so there is always more to learn and develop!