ARKit Place a SCNNode facing the camera

Question

I'm using ARKit to display 3D objects. I managed to place the nodes in the real world in front of the user (aka the camera). But I don't manage to make them to face the camera when I drop them.

let tap_point=CGPoint(x: x, y: y)
let results=arscn_view.hitTest(tap_point, types: .estimatedHorizontalPlane)
guard results.count>0 else{
    return
}
guard let r=results.first else{
    return
}

let hit_tf=SCNMatrix4(r.worldTransform)
let new_pos=SCNVector3Make(hit_tf.m41, hit_tf.m42+Float(0.2), hit_tf.m43)

guard let scene=SCNScene(named: file_name) else{
    return
}
guard let node=scene.rootNode.childNode(withName: "Mesh", recursively: true) else{
    return
}
node.position=new_pos
arscn_view.scene.rootNode.addChildNode(node)

The nodes are well positioned on the plane, in front of the camera. But they are all looking in the same direction. I guess I should rotate the SCNNode but I didn't manage to do this.

Answer 1

First, get the rotation matrix of the camera:

let rotate = simd_float4x4(SCNMatrix4MakeRotation(sceneView.session.currentFrame!.camera.eulerAngles.y, 0, 1, 0))

Then, combine the matrices:

let rotateTransform = simd_mul(r.worldTransform, rotate)

Lastly, apply a transform to your node, casting as SCNMatrix4:

node.transform = SCNMatrix4(rotateTransform)

Hope that helps

EDIT

here how you can create SCNMatrix4 from simd_float4x4

   let rotateTransform = simd_mul(r.worldTransform, rotate)

  node.transform =  SCNMatrix4(m11: rotateTransform.columns.0.x, m12: rotateTransform.columns.0.y, m13: rotateTransform.columns.0.z, m14: rotateTransform.columns.0.w, m21: rotateTransform.columns.1.x, m22: rotateTransform.columns.1.y, m23: rotateTransform.columns.1.z, m24: rotateTransform.columns.1.w, m31: rotateTransform.columns.2.x, m32: rotateTransform.columns.2.y, m33: rotateTransform.columns.2.z, m34: rotateTransform.columns.2.w, m41: rotateTransform.columns.3.x, m42: rotateTransform.columns.3.y, m43: rotateTransform.columns.3.z, m44: rotateTransform.columns.3.w)

Answer 2

guard let frame = self.sceneView.session.currentFrame else {
    return
}
node.eulerAngles.y = frame.camera.eulerAngles.y

Answer 3

here's my code for the SCNNode facing the camera..hope help for someone

    let location = touches.first!.location(in: sceneView)

    var hitTestOptions = [SCNHitTestOption: Any]()
    hitTestOptions[SCNHitTestOption.boundingBoxOnly] = true

    let hitResultsFeaturePoints: [ARHitTestResult]  = sceneView.hitTest(location, types: .featurePoint)

    let hitTestResults = sceneView.hitTest(location)
    guard let node = hitTestResults.first?.node else {
        if let hit = hitResultsFeaturePoints.first {
            let rotate = simd_float4x4(SCNMatrix4MakeRotation(sceneView.session.currentFrame!.camera.eulerAngles.y, 0, 1, 0))
            let finalTransform = simd_mul(hit.worldTransform, rotate)
            sceneView.session.add(anchor: ARAnchor(transform: finalTransform))
        }
        return
    }