Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that bridges the gap between the screen and the actual world. It brings our fairytale or science-fiction fantasies to life. The global market for Augmented Reality is estimated to reach $18 billion.
Numerous SDKs and Frameworks are available for AR development; nevertheless, selecting the best and most useful one is the challenge.
What is AR SDK?
An Augmented Reality SDK is a piece of essential technological software that gives developers the tools they need to create Augmented Reality apps and games. They are responsible for merging real-world information with digital content.
The benefits, features, and capabilities of the Augmented reality SDK / Framework utilized will influence the features and functions your app/game can use. As a result, selecting the correct AR SDK / Framework is critical for the performance of your app/game.
Although augmented reality technology is new, we have just scratched the surface of what it is capable of. We have only used AR to its bare minimum so far, and its use in apps/games is limited. Let’s have a peek at how existing apps use AR.
Types of Augmented Reality Apps that exist:
Marker Based Applications: The camera in Marker Based Applications will employ a visual marker to recognize the items at which you aim the camera. It will display the object’s details in 3D or can be used to measure the object’s size or distance.
Location-Based Applications: These AR apps work without markers, and the user’s position is recognized by an accelerometer that is GPS or a digital compass. Superimposing real objects is a natural physical setting. Pokemon Go is, without a doubt, the most popular location-based augmented reality app. In this app, a notice is issued to the user based on their current position to inform them of fresh real AR content in their immediate vicinity.
12 Best AR SDKs & Tools in 2022
Vuforia
Vuforia has a large selection of the most recent features and is used by most AR users. It is extremely handy for programmes that must seamlessly blend real and virtual visuals. Vuforia Engine, Studio, and Chalk are just a few of the products available to help you create unrivalled AR experiences. It is compatible with iOS, Android, and the Universal Windows Platform.
Vuforia Features:
- Approved by both Cloud and local.
- Comes with the Unity plugin.
- Smart terrain features’ sharp features will help you create 3D geometric maps.
- Recognize up to 100,000 words or a custom vocab.
- Also, recognize various objects.
ARToolKit
ARToolKit is a popular open-source tool with many useful features such as dual-camera support, the ability to create real-time AR apps, Unity 3D compatibility, and GPS support. It is a simple yet powerful platform for developing real-time AR apps. This utility is compatible with Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS.
ARToolKit Features:
- Able to integrate with smart glasses.
- Support Unity 3D and OpenSceneGraph.
- Support a single and dual camera.
- Can be able to create AR apps in real-time.
- Support various languages.
- Automatic camera features
Wikitude
Wikitude is a freshly released SDK7 that supports a variety of locales and maps. Its tool is compatible with various devices, including Android, iOS, and Smart Glasses. However, after a few years, the Wikitude SDK was released, which included features such as geolocation, tracking, picture recognition, and so on. Wikitude is a premium app with monthly and yearly options available to users.
Wikitude Features:
- Recognition of 3D pictures.
- Comes with advanced tracking features.
- Can recognize Cloud that allows targeting more than a thousand images that are hosted in the Cloud.
- Integrate with smart glasses, plugins, and Unity.
Max
MAXST SDKs for image tracking and environment recognition — 2D SDK and 3D SDK, respectively. Max includes cross-platform development compatibility with Android, iOS, Mac OS, and Windows and a slew of essential features. It has a free version and a subscriber version, which is a paid version.
MAXST Features:
- Capable of automatically adjusting the camera based on the object Auto-save function available.
- Scan QR codes and barcodes with ease.
- Unity plugin support.
- Can track an object inside the limits of the camera.
- 3D object recognition.
RealityKit 2
Apple debuted their own AR kit with iOS11 during the Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2017. This app is compatible with a variety of Apple devices and iOS versions. It is compatible with any device with an Apple Bionic A9 chip or higher. A one-of-a-kind SDK enables developers and designers to create unrivalled AR experiences for iOS devices.
RealityKit 2 Features:
- The great function of motion tracking will assist the user in identifying the moveable components of the environment.
- Recognize the horizontal surface as well. This function allows you to track the motion of objects lying on a flat surface.
- It has illumination adjusting features that allow you to light the surroundings more naturally.
Google ARCore
Google created the AR Core SDK. It benefits from many APIs that enable it to recognize, evaluate, and interact with its surroundings. Google AR Core can even identify movement, size, and position. It can also detect and assess the location’s lighting conditions. It enables developers to create rich and immersive AR experiences for both Android and iOS smartphones.
Google ARCore Features:
- Motion tracking allows a better AR experience.
- Light sensing provides a better user experience.
- Environment understanding to detect and correctly integrate the real things with AR objects.
- Offers multi-platform support.
EasyAR
Easy AR is an AR SDK that can be used to create AR apps and games for various platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, and others. It is also suitable with Smartglasses. It is available in two pricing tiers, including upgraded APIs and better compatibility. Easy AR Sense is a stand-alone SDK that provides a data flow-oriented component-based API without the need for other tools or frameworks.
EasyAR Features:
- Offers SLAM (including Monocular real-time 6 DOF camera pose tracking and full mobile compatibility).
- Allows screen recording and comes with 3D object tracking.
- Also, offers planar image tracking.
- Packed with useful information to develop AR apps and games.
Kudan
Kudan provides a free SDK for indie developers in collaboration with loft. On the other hand, small and medium-sized firms must obtain a license. The SDK is useful for creating marker and markerless AR apps and games.
Kudan Features:
- Supports Objective-C and Java seamlessly.
- It includes artificial perception.
- It can also be combined with AI to create an entirely new experience.
- Kudan AR SDK can be used in a variety of development scenarios.
Onirix
Oniric is an AR SDK that makes it simple to create AR games and apps. The SDK provides a quick and easy development experience and is filled with capabilities to help you create a high-quality Augmented Reality product. It also allows for cross-platform app creation. Onirix SDK includes some utilities and libraries that assist developers in creating apps quickly and easily for iOS, Android, and Unity.
Onirix Features:
- Onix uses a cloud-based technology, which results in a better user experience.
- AR also allows you to add specific points of interest based on your location or itinerary.
- The SDK includes some utilities and libraries that are useful to developers.
- The Onirix team continuously updates the SDK and provides continuous support.
Pickard AR SDK
Pickard AR SDK allows developers to create lightweight AR games and apps with detection and tracking capabilities. The basic version of the Pikkart AR SDK is free to use, but developers can upgrade to the commercial versions to access more advanced capabilities. This SDK provides a real-time development process that is up and running. The SDK is an excellent alternative for creating highly immersive and innovative augmented reality experiences.
Pickard AR SDK Features:
- Gives you an easy, fast, and robust AR app and game creation experience.
- The library enables developers to construct incredible AR experiences quickly.
- Plugins for the iOS and Android operating systems.
- Add geo-located Augmented markers as an option.
