Tutorial: Setup Unity ARKit Remote

Overview

Unity ARKit Remote is a convenient tool for faster iteration on Unity ARKit Plugin, which allows developers debug their code without going through full deploying process.

Currently it supports:

• Video feed from device camera
• Camera translation and rotation based on device movement
• ARPlaneAnchor addition, removal and update events
• Point cloud data

However, it doesn’t support AR hit test yet. Developers still need to find other workaround to test in Unity editor, such as Physics.Raycast().

Version

• Unity 2017.1.1p3 (64-bit)
• Unity ARKit Plugin 1.0

Step by Step

1. Build UnityARKitRemote Scene onto iOS Device

• Download latest Unity ARKit Plugin from Asset Store

• Build the scene called UnityARKitRemote onto your compatible iOS device

  • Make sure to check “Development Build” in build settings
  • It’s recommended to change product name and bundle identifier to make it distinguishable

2. Setup Developing Scene

• From the ARKitRemote folder, add ARKitRemoteConnection prefab to the root your developing scene

3. Connect Unity Editor with iOS Device

• Open UnityARKitRemote app on your iOS device. It should display a black screen with “Waiting for editor connection..”

• Run your developing scene in Unity Editor. There should have a green screen with “Please connect to player in the console menu” near the bottom.

• In console window, there is a menu called “Connected player”. Select corresponding iOS device from the dropdown
  • If it fails, try closing the UnityARKitRemote app completely on your iOS device first
• In game window, there would be a button labeled with “Start Remote ARKit Session” if they are successfully connected. Press the button and happy debugging!

Result

Official Demo Video

Reference

• Introducing the Unity ARKit Remote - Unity Blog
• ARKit support for iOS via Unity-ARKit-Plugin (post#605)