Unity Advanced: Augmented Reality

Name: Unity Advanced: Augmented Reality
Author: Ken Geary

Add the Vuforia plugin to create a Unity AR application

Preview the first lesson free — get full access to all 3 lessons.

Course: On-Demand

Hello, welcome to this lesson in Unity. In these lessons, we'll learn about Augmented Reality, or AR, for Unity. Augmented Reality has emerged as a groundbreaking technology that seamlessly integrates 3D content into the real world. Unity is one of the game engines that has brought AR experiences to life. Unity has become a go-to choice for developers to create immersive AR applications across various industries. Unity provides a comprehensive suite of features specifically designed for AR development. The AR Foundation package acts as a bridge between different AR platforms, enabling developers to create applications that are compatible with wide-range devices. One of the primary applications of AR in Unity is the field of gaming. AR games have gained popularity due to their ability to blend virtual objects and characters with the real world. Unity's AR capabilities allow game developers to create captivating experiences where players can interact with virtual elements in their physical surroundings. For example, players can battle virtual creatures in their own living rooms or solve puzzles by manipulating virtual objects overlaid on real surfaces. AR in Unity is not just for games. Other industries such as education, healthcare, architecture, and retail are adopting AR. Students can visualize complex concepts in three dimensions, explore historical sites virtually, or even conduct virtual chemistry experiments. In the healthcare sector, surgeons can use AR overlays to view patient information, visualize internal structures, and plan surgeries with greater precision. Architects and designers also benefit from Unity's AR capabilities by creating virtual prototypes and overlay them onto real spaces, allowing clients to visualize and experience architectural designs before construction begins. AR in the retail industry allows customers to try on virtual clothes, visualize furniture in their homes, or preview products in augmented reality before making a purchase. Unity's AR capabilities are continuously evolving, with new features and improvements being introduced regularly. In addition to the built-in AR core tools, there is a popular AR plugin called Vuporia that has been used by developers for many years and is now available in the Unity Asset Store. The Vuporia plugin uses image targets for the AR camera, be it a webcam, handheld mobile device, or mixed reality headset. That locks on these image targets and overlays 3D objects and animations, viewable from virtually any angle as if the objects are really there. As AR technology continues to advance, you can expect even more exciting experiences to emerge. Are you shaping the way we live, work, and play. In the next lesson, we're going to learn how to set up Vuporia AR for Unity. Thanks for watching.

Advanced Provider : Ken Geary 3 Lessons · 18m in English

Course Description

In these lessons, you will learn how to create an augmented reality (AR) application. We will explore how to use the built-in XR components or the Vuforia target-driven AR plugin. By the end of these lessons, you will be able to create your own AR application.

You’ll learn how to add an augmented reality camera that can detect the target image in a scene and lock an animated 3D object onto a similar image displayed in the real world either via screen, mobile device, or printout. We’ll show you how Unity’s Vuforia plugin can import the database created on the website to match your image target to a real-world target. A 3D model with animation clips and an animator setup to transition between clips will be activated using a virtual button that, when covered by a finger in front of a webcam, will trigger a transition to another animation clip. The 3D model will remain tracked to the target image seen in the webcam even when the target is moved or rotated.

What You'll Learn

Build an augmented reality (AR) application in Unity from start to finish
Use Unity's built-in XR components or the Vuforia target-driven AR plugin
Add an AR camera that detects a target image and locks an animated 3D object onto a matching real-world image via screen, mobile device, or printout
Import a Vuforia website database to match an image target to a real-world target
Set up a 3D model with animation clips and an animator that transitions between clips
Create a virtual button that triggers an animation transition when covered by a finger in front of a webcam

Key Takeaways

The course teaches how to create an AR application using either Unity's built-in XR components or the Vuforia AR plugin.
Vuforia can import a database created on its website to match an image target to a real-world target.
A 3D model with animation clips and an animator setup is activated through a virtual button that triggers a transition to another animation clip when covered by a finger in front of a webcam.
The 3D model remains tracked to the target image seen in the webcam even when the target is moved or rotated.
An AR camera can detect a target image and lock an animated 3D object onto a similar image displayed in the real world via screen, mobile device, or printout.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will I be able to do after completing this course?

By the end of the lessons you will be able to create your own augmented reality (AR) application that detects a target image and locks an animated 3D object onto a matching real-world image.

Which AR technologies does this course cover?

It explores Unity's built-in XR components and the Vuforia target-driven AR plugin, including importing a Vuforia website database to match an image target to a real-world target.

What topics are included in the lessons?

The course includes three lessons: What is Augmented Reality?, Setting up Vuforia AR, and Creating an AR Project.

What skills will I gain from this course?

You will develop skills in Augmented Reality, AR System Administration, and Code Structure.

How does the virtual button feature work in this course?

You will learn to create a virtual button that, when covered by a finger in front of a webcam, triggers a transition to another animation clip, while the 3D model stays tracked to the target image even when it is moved or rotated.