What makes augmented reality smart?
For many augmented reality companies providing a smart experience has been difficult. Without the ability to understand the user’s unique space, how can a developer plan for each scenario? To fix this issue Unity has introduced MARS (Mixed and Augmented Reality Studio). MARS adds features that allow us to create intelligent AR experiences, MARS allows us to set up rules that guide the placement of 3D models in the users own environment. Unity engine also includes environment scenarios for testing inside the editor. We can now test our rules before building to a device. This feature saves tons of time. These mock locations range from living rooms to factory floors. In the video below you can see this in action inside our new AR mobile app.
Under the hood of MARS
The chair will only appear in the scene once the user has scanned an area large enough to fit it. The chair also uses a semantic tag that recognizes the floor. This tag allows the chair to only show up on the floor and not on other horizontal planes like tables or chair seats. The box around the chair is a placeholder that tells MARS how much space the chair should occupy and to not place it in a position it won’t fit. The floor lamp utilizes an alignment condition to place it according to the chair placement in the room. The lamp has forces added to it which push the lamp around the floor until it’s in proper relation to the chair.
Next, the TV will only appear on a vertical plane or wall that has enough open space to fit it. This condition is a great advancement to AR technology and keeps models from showing up over other things. The other conditions decide if the open space is high enough off the floor to place the TV in a reasonable location not stuck near the ceiling or ground.
Lastly, the pendant light has a rule only allowing it to appear on horizontal surfaces that point downward. This rule keeps the pendant from appearing on walls, floors, or furniture. Once the light is placed, it uses forces to position itself in the center of the scanned surface, rather than randomly in your space. This makes for a much more believable placement.
Augmented reality can drive customer confidence
With this new set of features augmented reality companies can now have experiences that work the same inside a studio apartment, a three floor home, or an open office building. Previous augmented reality app solutions would place objects in strange places, or require user intervention. Companies and customers benefit from having a smart experience, as the less frustration you cause user’s the more they can focus on your product animation or information design. Seeing AR in a user’s environment adds excitement and consumer confidence.
Contact us at info@photonicstudio.com to learn more about smart AR or discuss a project.
More on the Unity MARS features and info right from Unity https://blogs.unity3d.com/2020/06/08/introducing-unity-mars-a-first-of-its-kind-solution-for-intelligent-ar/
