Augmented reality system with an active portable anchor

An augmented reality system that comprises:

• an augmented reality device configured to receive a current physical anchor position of an active portable anchor relative to an object from the active portable anchor, such that the object comprises a tangible feature;
• determine, using the current physical anchor position of the active portable anchor relative to the object, a current model anchor position of the active portable anchor in a model of the object in a computer system;
• and
• display augmented reality information from the model for a portion of the object displayed on a live view of the object in the augmented reality device based upon the current model anchor position of the active portable anchor and the model of the object, such that an accuracy in a position of the augmented reality information from the model for the portion of the object displayed on the live view of the portion of the object increases based upon an update of the current model anchor position of the active portable anchor in the model of the object that reflects a change in the current physical anchor position of the active portable anchor relative to the object based upon a movement of the active portable anchor.

A method for displaying augmented reality information about a portion of an object on a live view of the portion of the object on an augmented reality device, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the augmented reality device, a current physical anchor position of an active portable anchor relative to the portion of the object in the live view from the active portable anchor in a field of view of the augmented reality device, such that the object comprises a tangible feature;
• determining, by the augmented reality device, a current model anchor position of the active portable anchor in a model of the object in a computer system via scanning a volume that encompasses the object and the active portable anchor and using the current physical anchor position of the active portable anchor relative to the object;
• and
• displaying, by the augmented reality device, the augmented reality information on the live view of the object in the augmented reality device using the current model anchor position of the active portable anchor and the model of the object, wherein accuracy in positioning the augmented reality information on the live view of the object is increased with dynamically updating the current model anchor position of the active portable anchor in the model of the object to reflect the current physical anchor position of the active portable anchor relative to a physical object position of the object.

A method for orienting an augmented reality device relative to an object that comprises a tangible feature, the method comprising:

• identifying, using a tracking system comprising a number of positioning locators located off of and away from the object and an active portable anchor associated with the augmented reality device, a current physical anchor position of the active portable anchor;
• the augmented reality device using a position of the active portable anchor in a field of view of the augmented reality device for determining and displaying augmented reality information from a model of the object in a computer system on a live view of the object that shows a location of the augmented reality information in the model of the object;
• and
• outputting the current physical anchor position of the active portable anchor relative to the object and updating a current model anchor position relative to the model of the object in an augmented reality system.