Holographic spatial mapping sample

Shows how to acquire spatial mapping data from Windows Perception in real-time, and provides a simple example for consuming the spatial mapping data.

Note: This sample is part of a large collection of UWP feature samples. You can download this sample as a standalone ZIP file from docs.microsoft.com, or you can download the entire collection as a single ZIP file, but be sure to unzip everything to access shared dependencies. For more info on working with the ZIP file, the samples collection, and GitHub, see Get the UWP samples from GitHub. For more samples, see the Samples portal on the Windows Dev Center.

Specifically, this sample requests spatial mapping updates for a space with rectangular extents 20x20x5 meters from the device, and renders the data as a mesh in holographic space. You can choose one of the following two scenarios:

  • Render mesh data in wireframe, visualizing the spatial map in direct comparison to the real world
  • Render mesh data as a surface, visualizing the spatial map as an overlay on top of surfaces

This sample uses the spatialPerception app capability, which allows the app to use spatial mapping data. To do this, the app registers the capability in the app manifest (which uses a schema extension), and then performs an in-app permissions request, which is automatically granted as a core feature on the Microsoft HoloLens.

Render mesh data in wireframe

This is the default operational mode for the sample. Build the sample and deploy it to the Microsoft HoloLens emulator, or to a Microsoft HoloLens with developer mode enabled. Look around the room to map your space using the Windows.Perception.Spatial namespace.

Render mesh data as a surface

This is an optional operational mode for the sample. Starting from wireframe mode, perform an air tap gesture. The visualization mode will change to render the spatial map as a set of 3D surfaces, using a simplified lighting algorithm.

Additional remarks

Note The Windows universal samples for Windows 10 Holographic require Visual Studio to build, and a Windows Holographic device to execute. Windows Holographic devices include the Microsoft HoloLens and the Microsoft HoloLens Emulator.

To obtain information about Windows 10 development, go to the Windows Dev Center.

To obtain information about the tools used for Windows Holographic development, including Visual Studio and the Microsoft HoloLens Emulator, go to Install the tools.

Reference

The following are used to demonstrate spatial mapping in this code sample:

System requirements

Client: Windows 10 Holographic

Phone: Not supported

Build the sample

  1. If you download the samples ZIP, be sure to unzip the entire archive, not just the folder with the sample you want to build.
  2. Start Microsoft Visual Studio and select File > Open > Project/Solution.
  3. Starting in the folder where you unzipped the samples, go to the Samples subfolder, then the subfolder for this specific sample, then the subfolder for your preferred language (C++, C#, or JavaScript). Double-click the Visual Studio Solution (.sln) file.
  4. Press Ctrl+Shift+B, or select Build > Build Solution.

Run the sample

The next steps depend on whether you just want to deploy the sample or you want to both deploy and run it.

Deploying the sample to the Microsoft HoloLens emulator

  • Click the debug target drop-down, and select Microsoft HoloLens Emulator.
  • Select Build > Deploy Solution.

Deploying the sample to a Microsoft HoloLens

  • Developer unlock your Microsoft HoloLens. For instructions, go to Enable your device for development.
  • Find the IP address of your Microsoft HoloLens. The IP address can be found in Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Advanced options. Or, you can ask Cortana for this information by saying: "Hey Cortana, what's my IP address?"
  • Right-click on your project in Visual Studio, and then select Properties.
  • In the Debugging pane, click the drop-down and select Remote Machine.
  • Enter the IP address of your Microsoft HoloLens into the field labelled Machine Name.
  • Click OK.
  • Select Build > Deploy Solution.

Pairing your developer-unlocked Microsoft HoloLens with Visual Studio

The first time you deploy from your development PC to your developer-unlocked Microsoft HoloLens, you will need to use a PIN to pair your PC with the Microsoft HoloLens.

  • When you select Build > Deploy Solution, a dialog box will appear for Visual Studio to accept the PIN.
  • On your Microsoft HoloLens, go to Settings > Update > For developers, and click on Pair.
  • Type the PIN displayed by your Microsoft HoloLens into the Visual Studio dialog box and click OK.
  • On your Microsoft HoloLens, select Done to accept the pairing.
  • The solution will then start to deploy.

Deploying and running the sample

  • To debug the sample and then run it, follow the steps listed above to connect your developer-unlocked Microsoft HoloLens, then press F5 or select Debug > Start Debugging. To run the sample without debugging, press Ctrl+F5 or select Debug > Start Without Debugging.