You need to create a virtual prototype for your next project. What AR tools should you use?

If you are working on a new engineering or design project, you might want to create a virtual prototype that can help you visualize, test, and refine your ideas. Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that allows you to overlay digital content on top of the real world, creating immersive and interactive experiences. AR can be a powerful tool for prototyping, as it can save you time, money, and resources, while also enhancing your creativity and collaboration. But what AR tools should you use to create a virtual prototype for your next project? In this article, we will explore some of the options and factors that you should consider.

1 AR platforms

When creating and running an AR prototype, one of the first decisions you need to make is which platform to use. Unity is a cross-platform game engine that supports various AR frameworks, such as ARKit, ARCore, Vuforia, and MRTK. It offers a lot of flexibility and functionality, but requires coding skills and a steep learning curve. Unreal Engine is another cross-platform game engine that supports AR frameworks such as ARKit, ARCore, and Magic Leap. It is known for its high-quality graphics and performance, but also has a complex interface and workflow. Spark AR is a platform developed by Facebook that allows you to create AR effects and filters for Instagram and Facebook. It is easy to use and has a large community, but it is limited to social media applications and does not support 3D models. Finally, WebXR is a web-based platform that enables AR experiences on browsers without needing to install any apps. It is accessible and compatible with any device, yet has fewer features and stability than native apps.

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Kavin K.

Co-Founder & CTO Oraar Studio | Creating Sharable Moments for Brands with AR & Gen AI | Meta Spark Partner | Snap AR Partner | Tiktok AR Partners | Web AR | AR Mirrors
When creating prototypes, I tend to perfect social AR platforms such as Meta Spark or Lens Studio. These Social AR platforms allow us to share across devices using just a link to anyone in the world to test and share feedback without publishing. On top of this, these platforms are made in such a way that they have top-of-the-class technology for people to try out for free. Taking Lens Studio as an example, anyone can create a body tracking effect that can have cloth simulation + raytracing in real-time in a few clicks. This allows the prototyping phase to be more concerted on the concept rather than the complex sdk or compatibility.
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Philippe Font

CEO | REALILLUSIONS Réalité augmentée unifiée multicanal
Pour vos projet je vous conseille la solution REALILLUSIONS qui est la plus performante actuellement quelques soit votre cible métier.

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2 AR devices

When deciding which device to use to view and interact with your AR prototype, you should consider the pros and cons of both smartphones and headsets. Smartphones are convenient and widely available, but they have small screens, low battery life, and limited interaction modes. On the other hand, headsets such as Microsoft HoloLens, Magic Leap One, and Oculus Quest can provide more immersive and hands-free AR experiences with larger fields of view, higher resolution, and more natural interaction. However, they are expensive, bulky, and not as widely available.

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3 AR tools

When choosing a tool to design and develop your AR prototype, there are many factors to consider. Your skill level, project scope, and project goal will all influence what type of tool you choose. For instance, if you’re a beginner, you may prefer a tool that is easy to use and learn. Or, if your project requires complex features and functions, you might need a more advanced tool. If your goal is to produce high-quality results, you may want a tool that can achieve this. On the other hand, if you need to prototype quickly and iteratively, you may opt for a different tool. Some examples of tools that you can use are Adobe Aero, ARKit Studio, Reality Composer, and Blender. Adobe Aero allows you to create AR scenes without coding and integrates with other Adobe products. ARKit Studio enables the creation of AR apps for iOS devices using Swift and Xcode. Reality Composer is based on ARKit and allows for the creation of AR scenes without coding. Finally, Blender is an open-source software used to create 3D models and animations for AR.

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Philippe Font

CEO | REALILLUSIONS Réalité augmentée unifiée multicanal
Grâce à la technologie unifiée multicanal de REALILLUSIONS vous pouvez vous concentrer sur la créations de vos expériences sans vous occuper de l’application . REALILLUSIONS est compatible avec tous les fichier digitaux classiques ou industriels

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4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Atit Kharel

CEO @ Kerkar Creations | SnapAR Developer | AR, VR, WebXR
For creating virtual prototypes, I would recommend exploring Social AR experiences with tools like Lens Studio, for a quick and straightforward development process. If you are comfortable working with more advanced tools, I suggest looking into Babylon.js or other open-source frameworks like A-frame. These tools offer robust capabilities for 3D content creation and AR development, allowing you to build immersive experiences tailored to your project requirements.
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You need to create a virtual prototype for your next project. What AR tools should you use?

1

2

3

4

1 AR platforms

2 AR devices

3 AR tools

4 Here’s what else to consider

Augmented Reality

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You need to create a virtual prototype for your next project. What AR tools should you use?

1

2

3

4

1 AR platforms

2 AR devices

3 AR tools

4 Here’s what else to consider

Augmented Reality

Rate this article

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