Vuforia platform configuration settings
This section provides information about the important XRAn umbrella term encompassing Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) applications. Devices supporting these forms of interactive applications can be referred to as XR devices. More info
See in Glossary platform settings affecting development of Vuforia Augmented/Mixed Reality applications with Unity.
Here is a list of important XR Settings used in Vuforia’s Unity integration. To access these, open the Player settings (Edit > Project SettingsA broad collection of settings which allow you to configure how Physics, Audio, Networking, Graphics, Input and many other areas of your Project behave. More info
See in Glossary, then select the Player category), then select the tab for the device you are building to):
Vuforia Augmented Reality support: Enables Vuforia Augmented Reality support in your application
Virtual Reality SDKs: Allows Vuforia features to be integrated into VR applications. This menu is displayed when you select the Virtual RealityA system that immerses users in an artificial 3D world of realistic images and sounds, using a headset and motion tracking. More info
See in Glossary Supported checkbox.
Vuforia supports the following XR SDKs:
The Vuforia VR SDK (in the Virtual Reality SDKs list) is a stand-alone VR configuration with no external dependencies. It provides stereo renderingThe process of drawing graphics to the screen (or to a render texture). By default, the main camera in Unity renders its view to the screen. More info
See in Glossary and distortion correction, along with head and hand tracking (with positional tracking available for Tango), and viewer profile support to define parameters of various VR headwear.
Stereo rendering method
The stereo rendering method is only relevant when using the Vuforia Virtual Reality SDK. Android, iOS, and Windows Mixed RealityA mixed reality platform developed by Microsoft, built around the API of Windows 10. More info
See in Glossary devices support Multi-Pass instancing, Single-Pass Instancing and non-instancing.
When using Vuforia Augmented Reality with another Virtual Reality SDK, stereo rendering support is determined by the Virtual Reality SDK being used.
Supported graphics APIs
Recommendation: In Unity’s Player settings (menu: Edit > Project Settings, then select the Player category), select the tab for the device you are building to open the Other Settings panel and enable Use Auto Graphics API.
| Android | iOSApple’s mobile operating system. More info See in Glossary |
Windows |
|---|---|---|
| OpenGL ES 2.0 OpenGL ES 3.x |
OpenGL ES 2.0 OpenGL ES 3.x Metal (iOS 8+) |
DirectX 11 on Windows 10 |
Supported features
Vuforia provides a number of features to allow development of ARAugmented Reality (AR) uses computer graphics or video composited on top of a live video feed to augment the view and create interaction with real and virtual objects.
See in Glossary/MR applications.
The table below lists these features along with the OS and device types supporting them.
| Feature | Description | OS | Handhelds | Eyewear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image Targets | Tracks planar images | Android, iOS, UPW | Yes | Yes |
| Multi Targets | Tracks geometric arrangements of images | Android, iOS, UPW | Yes | Yes |
| Cylinder Targets | Tracks images wrapped on cylinders and cones | Android, iOS, UPW | Yes | Yes |
| User Defined Targets | Tracks images captured by users at runtime | Android, iOS, UPW | Yes | Not recommended |
| Cloud Recognition | Cloud-based Image Targets | Android, iOS, UPW | Yes | Yes |
| Device Tracking | 3 DoF & 6 DoF positional tracking* | Android, iOS, UPW | Yes ( Limited to 6 DoF ) | Yes ( Limited to 6 DoF ) |
| VuMark | Customizable encodable AR markers | Android, iOS, UPW | Yes | Yes |
| Object Reco | Tracks 3D objectsA 3D GameObject such as a cube, terrain or ragdoll. More info See in Glossary from scans |
Android, iOS, UPW | Yes | Yes |
| Model Targets** | Track 3D objects from 3D models | Android, iOS, UPW | Yes | Yes |
| Smart TerrainThe landscape in your scene. A Terrain GameObject adds a large flat plane to your scene and you can use the Terrain’s Inspector window to create a detailed landscape. More info See in Glossary |
Track surfaces and geometry in the user’s environment | Android, iOS, UPW | Yes | Limited |
| AR + VR | AR feature support for VR apps | Android, iOS, UPW | Yes | Yes |
* 6 degrees of freedom tracking is available for Tango and HoloLensAn XR headset for using apps made for the Windows Mixed Reality platform. More info
See in Glossary devices
** Model Targets are available through the Vuforia Early Access Program and public in Unity 2017.3