VPS Drifting Issue

Include the following details (edit as applicable):

  • Issue category: VPS
  • Device type & OS version: Xiaomi 13T on Android 14 API 34
  • Host machine & OS version: Windows
  • Issue Environment : On Device
  • ARDK version: 3.5
  • Unity version: 2022.3.11f1

Description of the issue:
Hi, I am working on my master thesis for visualization of land parcels (with real world coordinates) with AR technology, and I decided to use Lightship ARDK because I can submit VPS privately (this cannot be done with Google Geospatial Creator). The scope of this thesis is 2 villages (± 1.53 sq km), the idea of this thesis is simple. I created private VPS on several locations in these two villages, spread evenly. The private VPS is used for VPS activation & placing 3D objects regarding land parcels & spatial plans in both villages. Currently, I am still in the trial-and-error stage.

Currently, I scanned the private VPS with an iPad Pro M2 and built the application on Android API 34. I encountered an obstacle that was very disturbing & made me hopeless regarding my thesis project. The drifting I experience is very unreasonable, especially if I move just a little, the object will move very far and even disappear. Has anyone experienced or know the solution?

Drifting Video: video tanya - Google Drive

Hi Adrian,

Thank you for your email and welcome to Lightship!

Are you using persistent anchors to keep your objects in place? If not, please take a look at this article in our documentation: https://lightship.dev/docs/ardk/how-to/vps/real_world_location_ar/.

Kind regards,
Maverick L.

Hi Maverick, thanks for the welcome, and thanks also for your response

I have read the documentation you shared earlier and have enabled persistent anchors in the Lightship settings. The video I shared above has persistent anchors enabled, but yes, the object is still drifting badly.

You’re welcome! Can you show some screenshots of your setup? In the meantime, something you can try is our experimental drift mitigation: https://lightship.dev/docs/ardk/experimental/location_manager/.

Hi Adrian. I haven’t tried Lightship VPS yet but, in my experience, there are some Android devices where the SLAM system doesn’t behave correctly in either AR Foundation or Lightship. Unfortunately, I don’t know why. I don’t think Google does either, or at least they don’t want to share it. For example, I submitted this question about a very similar problem with Geospatial Creator a few months ago and I’m still waiting for their answer (I don’t think they will).

In my question you can find some devices where SLAM works correctly. My recommendation would be to get access to one of them, or just try different devices from friends and family. I think you should be able to find one that works better.