Occlusion in Augmented Reality

Occlusion in Augmented and Mixed reality refers to the fact that any real physical object will hide the virtual object, if the virtual object is placed farther than that real object and physically to be behind it.

The image below shows unoccluded AR experience.

On screen the virtual model of the statue should be behind the person and farther however it appears as an overlay. This breaks the natural perception and breaks the experience.

With occlusion, the virtual objects (3d/2d) follow physical laws of light and depth. See the image below.

The 3d model of the cat is virtually placed in physical space. In left side it’s unoccluded and on right it’s occluded by the real object. The image below is another example showing difference between unoccluded and occluded AR experience.

Occlusion plays very important role in making AR experience natural.