Choosing Your Object Target: A Beginner's Guide

Choosing Your Object Target: A Beginner's Guide

Introduction

Welcome! This quick guide will show you how to pick the right object target for using frontline.io in augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR).

Whether you’re just starting out or refining your approach, you’ll find essential tips to help you get going smoothly.

Understanding Object Target

The object target is your starting point when using augmented reality (AR) or mixed reality (MR) devices. It anchors your digital content to a corresponding real-life part, effectively bringing your real-life machine to life.
This functionality is crucial whether you're initiating a flow in the editor or simply aiming to view your digital machine overlaid on the real one.

Selecting the Object Target

  1. Open the digital twin editor and navigate to the object target tab.
  2. Here, you'll create a target by choosing a part from your digital twin. This part will serve as your object target.
Distance Considerations: Ensure the object target is neither too far nor too close. Too far, and you may need to assist the hologram in reaching the correct position; too close, and the camera may struggle to capture the entire part, complicating the targeting process.

Notes
Note: Details on using the object target feature are covered in a separate article: Digital Twin - Object Target


What Makes a Good Object Target

Visibility: Choose a part that is easily visible and accessible in your real-world environment.
  1. Example for Visibility 1: Ensure the part you choose as your object target is externally visible. Avoid using internal components as your first object target, as they won't be readily visible and accessible for initiating the flow.
  2. Example for Visibility 2: Choose parts that are not just flat surfaces but have more dimensional features. Parts with more physical detail tend to be easier to target and provide a more reliable base for your digital overlays.

Stability: While it's beneficial for the object target to be stable, it's not mandatory. You may choose a part that can be moved within the flow, although this is generally less ideal.
  1. Example of Stability: Consider targeting the cover of a machine. While this part is usually stable, if the cover needs to be removed during your workflow and you have to re-anchor the digital twin, this object target becomes irrelevant once it is removed from the machine. Therefore, choosing a part that remains fixed during the entire process would be more effective.


Launching Your Flow

  1. Once the object target is selected and your flow is initiated, the system in AR or MR mode will actively attempt to locate the corresponding real-world part. Upon successful identification, it will overlay your digital content directly onto your real-world machine
  2. This allows you to interact with your digital twin as if it were a part of the real environment.

Tips for Success

  1. Test different parts to see which works best in your specific environment.
  2. Make sure the lighting and space around your object target are suitable for AR use.

Conclusion

Selecting the right object target is key to a great AR or MR experience with Frontline. Keep in mind the tips about visibility, stability, and proper distance. We hope you found this guide useful for setting up your interactive flows effortlessly. Happy exploring!


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