Exploring Object Tracking with ARKit in VisionOS 2.0: A Comprehensive Guide to Building Immersive AR Experiences

The evolution of augmented reality (AR) has consistently pushed the boundaries of how we interact with the world around us. One of the most transformative developments in this space is object tracking, a feature in Apple's ARKit that allows devices to recognize and track real-world objects, mapping them into augmented environments with high accuracy. With the introduction of VisionOS, Apple's groundbreaking operating system for spatial computing on the Apple Vision Pro, developers now have an even more powerful platform to create immersive AR experiences that merge the digital and physical worlds seamlessly.

At the core of VisionOS’s augmented reality capabilities is ARKit, which provides developers with a suite of tools for building rich, interactive applications that respond dynamically to the user’s environment. Object tracking, one of the most exciting features of ARKit, enables applications to detect physical objects and attach virtual content to them, allowing users to interact with both real-world and digital elements in innovative ways.

In this extensive guide, we will delve deep into object tracking with ARKit in VisionOS. We’ll explore how it works, why it's important, and how developers can leverage this powerful technology to create AR experiences that are engaging, functional, and groundbreaking. By the end of this article, you will have a comprehensive understanding of how to implement object tracking in your own applications, along with real-world examples of how this technology can be applied across industries.

For those eager to start building, you can access the complete sample project here: Object Tracking in VisionOS with ARKit. This GitHub repository contains the full code for an object-tracking app, which will serve as a practical foundation for developing your own AR solutions.

Understanding Object Tracking in Augmented Reality

Object tracking is a core feature of augmented reality (AR) that allows an AR-enabled device to identify and track physical objects in the real world. By associating digital information or visuals with these objects, ARKit makes it possible for virtual content to "stick" to physical objects as they move or change position in space. This technology has broad applications, ranging from interactive product displays in retail to educational tools and industrial training systems that provide real-time data overlays.

For developers, object tracking in VisionOS provides a powerful way to create immersive, interactive applications that respond dynamically to the physical world. Using a reference object—a 3D model of the real-world object you want to track—ARKit can detect when this object appears in the environment and track its movements in real time. Once the object is recognized, digital content such as 3D models, text overlays, or interactive UI elements can be anchored to it, creating a rich and engaging AR experience.

The Power of VisionOS and ARKit: A Revolution in AR Development

VisionOS represents Apple’s bold step into the future of spatial computing. Designed for use with the Apple Vision Pro, VisionOS brings augmented reality to a new level by enabling experiences that are not just immersive but deeply integrated with the physical world. The operating system, combined with the power of ARKit, offers a rich development environment where spatial computing meets real-world interaction, providing unprecedented opportunities for AR app development.

With ARKit’s object tracking capabilities in VisionOS, developers can create applications where digital content interacts with and responds to real-world objects. Whether you’re developing a retail application that recognizes products on a store shelf or building an industrial tool that identifies machine parts and displays real-time diagnostics, VisionOS makes it possible to integrate the physical and digital worlds in ways that were previously unimaginable.

In particular, object tracking allows developers to create experiences that feel intuitive and natural to the user. By recognizing real-world objects and attaching digital information to them, ARKit makes it easy to design applications that respond in real-time to the user’s environment. This is particularly important in fields like education, retail, and industrial design, where users benefit from AR experiences that are closely tied to the physical world.

Key Concepts in Object Tracking with ARKit

Before diving into the development process, it’s important to understand the key concepts behind object tracking in ARKit. By grasping these concepts, developers can better understand how to structure their AR applications and how to take full advantage of the capabilities offered by ARKit and VisionOS.

1. Reference Objects

At the heart of ARKit’s object tracking capabilities are reference objects. A reference object is a 3D model or a scanned representation of a real-world object that ARKit uses to identify and track that object in the real world. These reference objects act as the bridge between the physical and digital worlds, allowing ARKit to recognize specific physical objects and attach digital content to them.

To create a reference object, developers can use Create ML, Apple's machine learning framework. Create ML allows you to scan real-world objects using an iPhone or iPad, capturing detailed 3D representations that ARKit can then recognize. Once the object is scanned, it can be imported into your VisionOS app as a reference object.

2. ARKit Sessions and Providers

Once you have a reference object, ARKit requires an ARKit session to begin tracking that object in the real world. A session is responsible for managing the AR experience, including handling the device's camera feed, detecting surfaces, and tracking objects. In the context of object tracking, ARKit uses an ObjectTrackingProvider, which manages the detection and tracking of reference objects in the environment.

3. Handling Object Updates

After ARKit begins tracking a reference object, it provides real-time updates whenever the object moves, changes orientation, or is removed from the scene. Developers can listen for these updates and respond by adjusting the virtual content attached to the object. For example, if the object moves to a new position, the digital content (such as a 3D model or an information overlay) will move with it, maintaining the illusion that the digital content is "attached" to the real-world object.

4. Visualizing and Interacting with Objects

Once a reference object is detected, developers can attach digital content to it. This content can be static (such as a label or 3D model) or interactive (such as a UI element that responds to user input). ARKit provides a flexible system for rendering this content, allowing developers to create rich, interactive AR experiences that respond in real-time to changes in the physical world.

In VisionOS, this process is even more powerful thanks to the system's support for spatial computing. Users can interact with digital objects using hand gestures, eye-tracking, and other natural input methods, making the AR experience feel more intuitive and immersive.

Building an AR App with Object Tracking: Step-by-Step

Now that we’ve covered the key concepts of object tracking in ARKit, let’s walk through the process of building a simple object-tracking app using VisionOS and ARKit. This step-by-step guide will cover everything from creating a reference object to running an ARKit session and handling object updates in real time.

Step 1: Creating or Importing a Reference Object

The first step in building an object-tracking app is to create or import a reference object. A reference object is a 3D model or a scan of the physical object you want to track. This object will serve as the foundation for ARKit’s object tracking capabilities, allowing the system to recognize and follow the object in real-time.

To create a reference object, you can use Apple’s Create ML tool. Create ML allows you to scan real-world objects using an iPhone or iPad, capturing detailed 3D representations of the object. Once the scan is complete, you can export the 3D model as a .referenceobject file, which can then be imported into your VisionOS project.

Here’s how you can load reference objects from your app’s bundle:

func loadBuiltInReferenceObjects() async {
    guard !didStartLoading else { return }
    didStartLoading.toggle()

    var referenceObjectFiles: [String] = []
    if let resourcesPath = Bundle.main.resourcePath {
        referenceObjectFiles = FileManager.default.contentsOfDirectory(atPath: resourcesPath)
            .filter { $0.hasSuffix(".referenceobject") }
    }

    await withTaskGroup(of: Void.self) { group in
        for file in referenceObjectFiles {
            let objectURL = Bundle.main.bundleURL.appending(path: file)
            group.addTask {
                await self.loadReferenceObject(objectURL)
            }
        }
    }
}        

Alternatively, you can allow users to import reference objects dynamically through a file picker dialog. This is useful for applications where users might need to load custom objects during runtime:

.fileImporter(isPresented: $fileImporterIsOpen, allowedContentTypes: [referenceObjectUTType], allowsMultipleSelection: true) { results in
    Task {
        for fileURL in results {
            guard fileURL.startAccessingSecurityScopedResource() else { return }
            await appState.referenceObjectLoader.addReferenceObject(fileURL)
            fileURL.stopAccessingSecurityScopedResource()
        }
    }
}        

Step 2: Running an ARKit Object-Tracking Session

Once the reference object is loaded into your app, the next step is to initialize an ARKit session that will track the object in real time. This is done by creating an ObjectTrackingProvider and passing the reference object to it. The ObjectTrackingProvider manages the detection and tracking of the object in the environment.

Here’s an example of how to start an object-tracking session:

func startTracking() async -> ObjectTrackingProvider? {
    let referenceObjects = referenceObjectLoader.enabledReferenceObjects
    guard !referenceObjects.isEmpty else { return nil }
    
    let object

Tracking = ObjectTrackingProvider(referenceObjects: referenceObjects)
    try await arkitSession.run([objectTracking])
    return objectTracking
}        

In this code snippet, we initialize the ObjectTrackingProvider with the list of reference objects and run the ARKit session using this provider. Once the session starts, ARKit begins tracking the objects in real-time.

Step 3: Handling Object Tracking Updates

Once ARKit starts tracking an object, it sends real-time updates whenever the object moves, changes orientation, or is removed from the scene. To create a dynamic AR experience, you need to listen for these updates and adjust the digital content accordingly.

For example, here’s how you can handle updates for an object that’s being tracked:

for await anchorUpdate in objectTracking.anchorUpdates {
    switch anchorUpdate.event {
    case .added:
        let visualization = ObjectAnchorVisualization(for: anchor, withModel: model)
        objectVisualizations[anchor.id] = visualization
        root.addChild(visualization.entity)
    case .updated:
        objectVisualizations[anchor.id]?.update(with: anchor)
    case .removed:
        objectVisualizations[anchor.id]?.entity.removeFromParent()
        objectVisualizations.removeValue(forKey: anchor.id)
    }
}        

In this example, we respond to three types of events: added, updated, and removed. When ARKit detects that an object has been added to the scene, we create a new visualization for it and attach it to the AR scene. If the object is updated or removed, we update or remove the visualization accordingly.

Step 4: Visualizing and Interacting with Objects

Once ARKit recognizes an object in the scene, you can visualize it by attaching digital content to it. This could be anything from a simple wireframe or bounding box to a more complex 3D model or interactive UI element.

For example, in the sample project, we display a USDZ file (a 3D file format supported by Apple) on top of the physical object as a wireframe:

let model = appState.referenceObjectLoader.usdzsPerReferenceObjectID[anchor.referenceObject.id]
let visualization = ObjectAnchorVisualization(for: anchor, withModel: model)        

This code attaches a 3D model to the reference object, allowing the user to interact with both the physical object and the virtual content attached to it.

Practical Applications of Object Tracking in AR

Object tracking with ARKit in VisionOS has a wide range of practical applications across industries. By integrating digital content with real-world objects, developers can create AR experiences that are both functional and engaging. Let’s explore some of the most promising use cases:

1. Manufacturing and Industrial Maintenance

In manufacturing and industrial settings, object tracking can be used to assist technicians in identifying and repairing machine parts. For example, an AR app could recognize specific machine components and overlay step-by-step instructions directly on the object, reducing the need for manuals or training.

This kind of application has the potential to significantly reduce downtime in industrial environments, as technicians can quickly diagnose and repair issues with the help of augmented reality.

2. Retail and E-Commerce

Retailers can leverage object tracking to create more interactive and personalized shopping experiences. For instance, an AR app could recognize products on a shelf and display real-time information such as prices, reviews, or promotional offers. This not only enhances the customer experience but also encourages engagement with the brand.

Additionally, retailers can use object tracking to create interactive displays that respond to customer input, allowing users to virtually try on products or explore different product configurations.

3. Education and Training

In education, object tracking can be used to create immersive learning experiences. Students can interact with real-world objects—such as historical artifacts, scientific instruments, or anatomical models—and receive real-time information or interactive lessons through augmented reality.

This kind of interactive learning experience can help students better understand complex concepts by providing visual aids and real-time feedback.

4. Entertainment and Gaming

In the entertainment industry, object tracking opens up new possibilities for AR games and experiences. Developers can create games where physical objects—such as toys, figurines, or sports equipment—are integrated into the gameplay. For example, an AR game could recognize a player’s tennis racket and provide real-time analytics on their performance during a match.

By blending the physical and digital worlds, object tracking creates more immersive and engaging gaming experiences that go beyond traditional video games.

5. Healthcare and Medical Training

In healthcare, AR applications that utilize object tracking can assist in medical training and diagnostics. For example, an AR app could recognize medical equipment or anatomical models and provide real-time guidance during a procedure or simulation. Surgeons in training could use AR to visualize different layers of anatomy while interacting with physical models, enhancing their understanding of complex procedures.

The Future of Object Tracking in AR

As augmented reality technology continues to evolve, object tracking will play an increasingly important role in creating more dynamic, interactive, and personalized experiences. By enabling AR applications to recognize and respond to real-world objects, ARKit in VisionOS opens up a new realm of possibilities for developers across industries.

In the future, we can expect object tracking to become even more accurate and sophisticated, with the ability to track objects in more challenging environments and under more diverse conditions. As AR devices become more powerful and widespread, the demand for applications that leverage object tracking will continue to grow.

Whether you’re developing AR applications for retail, education, healthcare, or entertainment, mastering object tracking with ARKit will allow you to create experiences that are both functional and engaging.

Conclusion

In conclusion, object tracking with ARKit in VisionOS is a powerful tool for creating immersive augmented reality experiences that interact with the physical world. By enabling apps to recognize and track real-world objects, ARKit allows developers to create dynamic AR applications that blend digital content with physical objects in real-time.

From manufacturing and industrial maintenance to education and entertainment, object tracking has the potential to transform how we interact with the world around us. As developers, mastering object tracking in VisionOS will allow you to push the boundaries of what’s possible in augmented reality and create experiences that are both innovative and impactful.

If you’re ready to start building your own object-tracking AR apps, visit the GitHub repository here to explore the full sample project. This project provides a practical foundation for developing AR applications with object tracking, giving you the tools you need to get started.

As AR technology continues to advance, the opportunities for innovation in this space are endless. With ARKit and VisionOS, the future of augmented reality is brighter—and more interactive—than ever.

Happy coding!