Needs & Goals

In order to experience the new Nissan ARIYA first hand before the first model went to market, I helped Nissan design and develop this augmented reality iPad application.

The user can understand and appreciate the main features that this second fully Nissan electric vehicle would bring, including a new type of traction control, highly automated driving assistance, and completely overhauled platform design.

For many users, this was the first time see the vehicle in table-top or full size in front of them.

Design & Challenges

Expanding on the already developed video materials of the ARIYA Virtual Display, this app allows the user to observe the car in a 3D animation in AR space.

AR Marker

While many other apps rely on surface recognition, this app was intended mainly for exhibit and show room use, which allows us to focus on a AR marker to spawn the car in the AR space.

Designing the AR marker as a parking lot space made specifically for the ARIYA, we could create a contextually sound world, while at the same time easily understandable application.

AR, Static VR or Free Roaming VR

The 3D animations of the car relied on the road and other vehicles only existing in the virtual space, and furthermore had to visualize lane changes. These reference points placed in an AR environment would cause conflicts with real world items.

As a result, we switched from AR to VR before each feature scene would play out, to allow the user to orient himself in the AR space first and understand the AR marker as a reference point.

Public or Limited

The app was initially planned to be publicly available on the iOS App Store, but concerns about Nissan’s internal security screenings and further delays in the app store approval, lead to a limited release for exhibits and show rooms via TestFlight.