OpenAR 2.2

Turn your OpenAR headset into a wireless gaming device!

OpenAR 2.2 introduces wireless Bluetooth connectivity, allowing the OpenAR headset to communicate with Android devices in real time. This expansion transforms OpenAR from a standalone device into a platform for interactive augmented reality experiences, games, and mobile applications.

Flying Photon demo game

OpenAR 2.2 includes Flying Photon, a demonstration game inspired by the classic Flappy Bird. The game runs on the OpenAR headset while an Android phone acts as a wireless controller. Simply tap the phone screen to guide the photon through the incoming obstacles.

The game demonstrates real-time Bluetooth communication between the Android application and the OpenAR headset, but the connection can be used for much more than gaming. Because the entire project is fully open source, you can adapt the software to your own interactive AR applications.

Meet Flying Photon, a spherical particle equipped with one wing for reasons that remain scientifically unexplained.

How it works

OpenAR 2.2 uses nearly identical 3D-printed components as OpenAR 2.0. As a result, any existing OpenAR 2.0 headset can be upgraded to OpenAR 2.2 simply by adding a Bluetooth module and updating the software. This aligns with one of the key design principles of OpenAR: extending functionality without having to redesign the entire headset.

The optical system remains unchanged from OpenAR 2.0. The image is generated by a small display and directed toward the eyes using a lens, a mirror, and two partially reflective glass plates—one for each eye.

Top-down view of the optical path from the display to the user’s eyes. Light emitted from a single pixel propagates as a diverging cone. The lens collimates this light into parallel rays, passing through the lens twice via reflection from the mirror. The resulting parallel beams are then redirected toward the user’s eyes by the glass plates.

Components

To build the OpenAR 2.2 headset, we used the components listed below. Note—they are only examples; many of them can easily be replaced. The following links will take you to retailers where you can purchase the parts or look for similar products. Prices vary depending on the supplier. However, OpenAR 2.2 can typically be built for approximately 60 €.

Downloads

All 3D models, STEP and f3d files, as well as the Android app for OpenAR 2.2 can be downloaded below. The full archive contains all files, including the documentation and the app. The OpenAR 2.2 documentation contains what is new in OpenAR 2.2 while OpenAR 2.0 documentation remains the go-to for full assembly instructions.

The original CAD models and print files, and the demonstration firmware are also freely available.

Click the following links to download the files.

Licenses

3D models: OpenAR © 2025 by University of Eastern Finland is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Demo program: Copyright 2025 University of Eastern Finland. Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.1 (the “License”); you may not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.1. Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software distributed under the License is distributed on an “AS IS” BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the License.