Reinventing Hands-On Learning with Depth and Projection

AR-Sandbox.eu builds advanced augmented reality sandboxes that merge real sand with dynamic projection to teach geography, geology, hydrology, and spatial reasoning. By integrating Orbbec’s Femto Bolt depth camera, the team created a compact, future-proof platform that powers crisp 4K visuals and interactive curriculum modules. Today, their systems are used across Europe and beyond, engaging learners in classrooms, museums, and science centers.

The Challenge: Reliable Depth for Long-Term Education Deployments

For years, AR-Sandbox.eu shipped Kinect v2-based sandboxes. But when production of Kinect v2 ended in 2017, the supply shifted to refurbished devices with uncertain availability and limited lifespan.

A transition to Azure Kinect offered short-term relief but surfaced major hurdles: SDK instability, software maintenance gaps, and unreliable long-term support for education environments where robust, low-touch systems are essential.

The team needed a sensor with:

• Stable, evolving SDK – actively maintained for smooth integration and ongoing curriculum development.
• Strong near-surface fidelity – to capture fine details in sand topography for accurate contour lines and hydrology simulation.
• Compact, embeddable form factor – suitable for plug-and-play 4K setups used in classrooms and public exhibits.

Why Orbbec Femto Bolt

The Femto Bolt delivered the combination of depth quality, stability, and commercial readiness AR-Sandbox.eu required:

• Proven ToF depth sensing – 1-megapixel resolution with wide field of view up to 120°, ideal for capturing complex sand surfaces and large sandbox areas.
• 4K HDR RGB – enabling vivid color overlays and high-fidelity visuals for museums and science centers.
• Robust SDK & APIs – actively developed and supported, ensuring reliability for long-term deployments in educational environments.
  

Seamless Integration: From Kinect Legacy to 4K AR Sandbox

AR-Sandbox.eu engineers rebuilt their sensing and rendering pipeline around the Femto Bolt:

• Depth modes refactored – to support real-time surface mapping and hydrologic simulations.
• High-resolution rendering – the Femto Bolt enabled what the team calls “the world’s first 4K AR sandbox,” showcased at public demos with exceptional projection fidelity.
• Curriculum expansion – with stable sensing as a foundation, the company introduced a new geology module covering stratigraphy, folds, and faults, directly linking physical manipulation with advanced scientific concepts.

Results & Educational Impact

After adopting the Femto Bolt, AR-Sandbox.eu reported measurable improvements in learning outcomes and customer satisfaction:

• Enhanced learning outcomes – students grasp spatial and geologic concepts faster by shaping sand and seeing instant feedback in contour lines, watersheds, and geologic structures.
  
• Immersive engagement – crisp 4K visuals and real-time interactivity keep learners active and collaborative, improving retention compared to static models or textbooks.
• Cross-disciplinary reach – the sandbox now supports lessons in geography, hydrology, geology, and urban planning, broadening its value for schools and science centers.
  
• Sustainable deployments – reliable SDK support and compact hardware reduce downtime and maintenance, making the system educator-ready out of the box.

“Femto Bolt brought the stability and precision our education partners expect—an actively developed SDK, compact hardware, and crisp 4K visuals—without compromising interaction speed or coverage. It’s the sensing backbone for our next generation of AR sandboxes.”
—Bartłomiej Kusz, Founder of AR-Sandbox.eu