Building an Augmented Reality Experience with Vuforia and Unity

Why Vuforia?

Vuforia is a popular AR software development kit (SDK) that offers a wide range of features, including image tracking, object tracking, ground plane tracking, and more. One of the key advantages of Vuforia is its ease of use and quick setup process. Additionally, Vuforia supports a broad range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and augmented reality headsets.

Prerequisites

• Registered as a Vuforia Engine Developer
• Unity 2021.3 (LTS version) installed
• A device that supports augmented reality

Project Setup

Create a new Unity 3D project and name it “Hello Vuforia.” Make sure to select “3D” from the templates and update the project name.

using UnityEngine;
using Vuforia;

public class HelloWorld : MonoBehaviour
{
    // Initialize Vuforia
    void Start()
    {
        VuforiaARController.Instance.RegisterVuforiaStartedCallback(OnVuforiaStarted);
    }

    // Called when Vuforia is started
    void OnVuforiaStarted()
    {
        Debug.Log("Vuforia started");
    }
}

Setting up Vuforia with Unity

Download the Vuforia package and import it into your Unity project. Verify that Vuforia has been imported successfully by checking for “Vuforia Engine” in the dropdown list in the Hierarchy panel.

Creating Image Targets

1. Create a database in the Vuforia Developer Portal and add an image target.
2. Upload an image to use as the target and set up the database properties.

Rendering 3D Content

1. Add an image target to your scene and set up the properties.
2. Add a cube as a child of the image target and scale it down.
3. Move the cube to the positive y-axis to make it appear as if it is floating above the image.

using UnityEngine;
using Vuforia;

public class ImageTargetController : MonoBehaviour
{
    // Reference to the image target
    public ImageTargetBehaviour imageTarget;

    // Reference to the cube
    public GameObject cube;

    // Called when the image target is detected
    void Update()
    {
        if (imageTarget.CurrentStatus == TrackableBehaviour.Status.DETECTED ||
            imageTarget.CurrentStatus == TrackableBehaviour.Status.TRACKED)
        {
            // Show the cube
            cube.SetActive(true);
        }
        else
        {
            // Hide the cube
            cube.SetActive(false);
        }
    }
}

Running the App

Click the play button to run the scene using your webcam. Point your webcam at the image target and the cube should appear on top of the image.

Tips and Variations

• Try replacing the cube with a different 3D model.
• Experiment with different image targets and databases.
• Use Vuforia’s other features, such as object tracking and ground plane tracking, to create more complex AR experiences.