AR navigation aid for user guidance

1 . A method for generating a guidance vector for user movement in an augmented reality (AR) environment, comprising:

using at least one processor, calculating an angle between a current viewing direction of a user and a target location within the AR environment, the target location corresponding to a virtual object or feature that is part of an interactive AR application;

using the at least one processor, determining that the angle transgresses a threshold angle that defines a visibility range of an AR display device;

based on the determining that the angle transgresses the threshold angle, computing the guidance vector that accounts for movement of the user; and

generating a visual navigation aid within the AR environment that corresponds to the guidance vector to facilitate user movement towards the target location.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the guidance vector is computed by applying a correction factor that modifies at least one component of the guidance vector to prioritize lateral head movements over vertical head movements.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the correction factor is determined using an iterative approach that adjusts the correction factor based on predefined angular ranges relative to the current viewing direction of the user.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the correction factor is determined using a continuous mathematical function that scales the correction factor in proportion to an angular deviation.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the computing of the guidance vector further includes casting the target location onto a virtual representation of a display plane to determine an initial direction vector before applying the correction factor.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the initial direction vector is normalized prior to the application of the correction factor to ensure the visual navigation aid is proportionally scaled within a user interface of the AR display device.

7 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the correction factor is dynamically adjusted based on an orientation and movement of the user within the AR environment.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the visual navigation aid is at least one of an arrow or pointer that appears within a heads-up display (HUD) of the AR display device.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the visual navigation aid includes additional visual elements that indicate a degree of rotation to align the viewing direction of the user with the target location.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the additional visual elements comprise a series of incremental indicators that visually represent a progression of movement of the user towards the target.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold angle is based on an aspect ratio and dimensions of the AR display device.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the visual navigation aid is displayed in a predetermined horizontal direction when the target location is behind the user.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the AR display device is a pair of AR glasses, and the visual navigation aid is overlaid on a real-world view of the user.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the visual navigation aid dynamically updates in real-time as the viewing direction of the user changes within the AR environment.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the visual navigation aid is configured to fade in intensity or change color based on a proximity of a current viewing direction of the user to the target location.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the visual navigation aid is further configured to provide haptic feedback through the AR display device when the viewing direction of the user aligns with the target location.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the visual navigation aid is adapted to account for obstacles detected in an environment of the user that may impede direct movement towards the target location.

18 . A system for generating a guidance vector for user movement in an augmented reality (AR) environment, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system perform operations comprising:

calculating an angle between a current viewing direction of a user and a target location within the AR environment, the target location corresponding to a virtual object or feature that is part of an interactive AR application;

determining that the angle transgresses a threshold angle that defines a visibility range of an AR display device;

based on the determining that the angle transgresses the threshold angle, computing the guidance vector that accounts for movement of the user; and

generating a visual navigation aid within the AR environment that corresponds to the guidance vector to facilitate user movement towards the target location.

19 . A machine-storage medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method for generating a guidance vector for user movement in an augmented reality (AR) environment, the method comprising:

calculating an angle between a current viewing direction of a user and a target location within the AR environment, the target location corresponding to a virtual object or feature that is part of an interactive AR application;

determining that the angle transgresses a threshold angle that defines a visibility range of an AR display device;

computing the guidance vector that accounts for movement of the user based on the determination that the angle transgresses the threshold angle; and

generating a visual navigation aid within the AR environment that corresponds to the guidance vector to facilitate user movement towards the target location.