iOS Augmented Reality Engine

I'm glad to share this engine that I've been developing from time to time with all of you. It's based on the iPhone ARKit.

##Core Features:

• Fully compatible with all versions of iOS from 5.0 onwards.
• Supports all orientations.
• Scales and rotates displayed objects based on distance and orientation.
• Allows user interaction with displayed objects.
• Displayed objects positions are updated live (According to the user’s position).
• Supports and distinguishes front looking as well as floor looking .
• Allows any custom overlay views.
• Builtin support for radar view.
• Fully customisable.

##Usage:

First you need to copy and paste the folder ARKit and all its contents into your project. Then implement the ARViewDelegate in any of your classes.

#import "ARKit.h"

#pragma mark - ARViewDelegate protocol Methods

- (ARObjectView *)viewForCoordinate:(ARGeoCoordinate *)coordinate floorLooking:(BOOL)floorLooking {
  ARObjectView *view = nil;

  if (floorLooking) {
    // Build the floor looking view
  } else {
    // Build the front looking view
  }
  return view;

}

- (void) itemTouchedWithIndex:(NSInteger)index {
   // An item has been touched. React accordingly (if necessary)
}

- (void) didChangeLooking:(BOOL)floorLooking {
  if (floorLooking) {
    // The user has began looking at the floor    
  } else {
    // The user has began looking front
  }
}

This class is now ready to provide the information that the engine requires and also to respond to user's interaction. Now, to instantiate the engine and show the augmented reality view:

// Create the location
CLLocation *location = [[CLLocation alloc] initWithLatitude:51.500622 longitude:-0.126662];
ARGeoCoordinate *london = [ARGeoCoordinate coordinateWithLocation:location];
london.dataObject = @"London";

// Given that self is the ARViewDelegate
ARKitConfig *config = [ARKitConfig defaultConfigFor:self];

// Instantiate the engine
ARKitEngine *engine = [[ARKitEngine alloc] initWithConfig:config];
// Provide coordinates to show
[engine addCoordinates:@[london]];
// And fire it up!
[engine startListening];

At this moment you should be enjoying a fully featured augmented reality view showing the view you provided in your viewForCoordinate implementation when you head your device to London city! And when the sad moment of shutting down the augmented reality view comes, then simply...

[engine hide];

And that's all!! For more information on how to add custom overlay views, configure the radar position, start the engine in different orientations or better understanding of the front/floor looking feature, please run the provided example project.

For iOS 8 Support

Add these keys in Info.plist of your app

• NSLocationWhenInUseUsageDescription (String - iOS) describes the reason why the app accesses the user’s location normally while running in the foreground. Include this key when your app uses location services to track the user’s current location directly. This key does not support using location services to monitor regions or monitor the user’s location using the significant location change service. The system includes the value of this key in the alert panel displayed to the user when requesting permission to use location services.This key is required when you use the requestWhenInUseAuthorization method of the CLLocationManager class to request authorization for location services. If the key is not present when you call the requestWhenInUseAuthorization method without including this key, the system ignores your request.This key is supported in iOS 8.0 and later. If your Info.plist file includes both this key and the NSLocationUsageDescription key, the system uses this key and ignores the NSLocationUsageDescription key.

• NSLocationAlwaysUsageDescription (String - iOS) describes the reason why the app accesses the user’s location information. Include this key when your app uses location services in a potentially nonobvious way while running in the foreground or the background. For example, a social app might include this key when it uses location information to track the user’s location and display other users that are nearby. In this case, the fact that the app is tracking the user’s location might not be readily apparent. The system includes the value of this key in the alert panel displayed to the user when requesting permission to use location services. This key is required when you use the requestAlwaysAuthorization method of the CLLocationManager class to request authorization for location services. If this key is not present and you call the requestAlwaysAuthorization method, the system ignores your request and prevents your app from using location services.This key is supported in iOS 8.0 and later. If your Info.plist file includes both this key and the NSLocationUsageDescription key, the system uses this key and ignores the NSLocationUsageDescription key.

[Reference Source: Apple Documentation] (https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/General/Reference/InfoPlistKeyReference/Articles/CocoaKeys.html)

Acknowledgements

• Zac White. For his awesome iPhone ARKit that I used as the starting point for this engine.