Google’s ARCore Depth API With Single Camera

ARcoreARCoreARCore is a software development kit developed by Google that allows for augmented reality applications to be built., Google’s developer platform for building AR experiences, has introduced a new ARCore Depth APIAPIAn application program interface (API) is a set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software applications. Basically, an API specifies how software components should interact. Additionally, APIs are used when programming graphical user interface (GUI) components., for making AR more natural, vast, and helpful using a single camera. Following up on the update of Environmental HDRHigh Dynamic Range (HDR)High dynamic range (HDR) is a dynamic range higher than what is considered to be a standard dynamic range. The term is often used in discussing display devices, photography, 3D rendering, and sound recording including digital imaging and digital audio production. The term may apply to an analog or digitized signal, or to the means of recording, processing, and reproducing such signals., to bring Real-world lighting to AR objects and scenes using realistic reflections, shadows, and lighting, Google ARCore Depth API makes it easy for blending realities in AR.

Source: developers.googleblog.com

ARCore Depth API uses Google’s depth-from-motion algorithms for creating a depth map from a single RGB camera. The depth map is a combination of multiple images from different angles and comparing them to better estimate the distance to every pixel.

Source: developers.googleblog.com

Occlusion is being described as an important application of the depth sensor. Digital objects can appear behind or in front of real-world objects. It gives the feeling as if the objects are already in your frame by blending them with the scene. Google has made occlusion available in Scene Viewer, the developer tool that powers AR in Search, to more than 200 million ARCore-enabled Android devices.

ARCore Depth API is also being integrated with “View in My Room 3D” in a home renovation and design company, Houzz’s app experience. In addition to exploring depth for a better 3D understanding of the world, other options such as path planning, surface interaction, and applications in reality physics are also being tested.

Recommended Read: Google Updates its ARCore Developer Platform

Some of the exciting highlights by combining different API features include accurately bouncing and splashing across surfaces & textures, and interactive games where gamers need to duck and hide behind real-world objects. Mobile devices with depth sensors or Time of Flight (ToF) sensors will have the dynamic occlusion feature, which is the ability to blend objects into a moving frame of reference.

As hardware improves, the features of Google ARCore Depth API are expected to get better, making AR more dynamic and realistic. At TechAffinity, we have in-house experts who have a deep understanding of AR trends and developments. Please line up your queries and email us at media@techaffinity.com and get in touch by scheduling a meeting.