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Support Center

Get help with ARVOS. Find answers, troubleshoot issues, and connect with our community.

Getting Started

1. Download and Install

  1. Download ARVOS from the App Store on your iPhone.
  2. Open the app and grant necessary permissions when prompted (Camera, Location, Motion, Bluetooth).
  3. Ensure your iPhone is running iOS 16.0 or later (iOS 18+ required for gRPC protocol).
  4. For LiDAR features, you'll need an iPhone 12 Pro or newer.

2. Set Up Your Computer

Choose one of these options:

Option A: Web Viewer (Recommended for Beginners)

  1. Clone the ARVOS SDK: git clone https://github.com/jaskirat1616/arvos-sdk
  2. Navigate to web-viewer: cd arvos-sdk/web-viewer
  3. Run the start script: ./start-viewer.sh
  4. Open your browser to the displayed URL (usually http://localhost:3000)

Option B: Python SDK

  1. Install Python 3.8 or later
  2. Install ARVOS SDK: pip install arvos-sdk
  3. Run example: python examples/01_quickstart.py

Option C: Web Studio (Online)

  1. Visit arvos.io/studio in your browser
  2. Click "Connect" and enter your iPhone's IP address
  3. Start streaming!

3. Connect and Stream

  1. Ensure your iPhone and computer are on the same Wi-Fi network (or use iPhone's Personal Hotspot).
  2. Open ARVOS on your iPhone and tap "Start Streaming".
  3. A QR code will appear with connection information. Note your iPhone's IP address.
  4. On your computer, enter the IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.100) or scan the QR code.
  5. Select your streaming mode (Full Sensor, RGBD, Visual-Inertial, etc.).
  6. Tap "Start" and watch data flow in real-time!

💡 Quick Tips

  • For best performance, use 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks when available
  • Keep your iPhone plugged in during long streaming sessions
  • Close background apps to free up resources
  • Use lower FPS modes if experiencing lag on slower networks

Troubleshooting

Connection Issues

Problem: Can't connect iPhone to computer

  • Check network: Ensure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Check iPhone Settings → Wi-Fi and compare network names.
  • Try Personal Hotspot: Enable Personal Hotspot on iPhone and connect computer to it. This is often more reliable than shared Wi-Fi.
  • Verify IP address: Confirm you're using the correct IP address from the QR code. IP addresses can change when reconnecting to Wi-Fi.
  • Check firewall: Temporarily disable firewall on your computer to test if it's blocking connections.
  • Use WebSocket protocol: Ensure you're using ws:// (not wss://) for local connections.

Problem: Connection drops frequently

  • Network stability: Move closer to Wi-Fi router or switch to a 5 GHz network if available.
  • iPhone sleep: Prevent iPhone from sleeping: Settings → Display & Brightness → Auto-Lock → Never (during streaming)
  • Reduce load: Try a lower-bandwidth mode like "IMU Only" or disable GPS if not needed.
  • Background apps: Close other apps using network or camera resources.
  • Router settings: Some routers have AP isolation that prevents device-to-device communication. Disable this if enabled.

Performance Issues

Problem: Low FPS or laggy streaming

  • Reduce mode: Switch from "Full Sensor" to a lighter mode like "Visual-Inertial" or "RGBD Camera".
  • Network bandwidth: Check your network speed. ARVOS can use significant bandwidth (up to 50+ Mbps for full sensor streaming).
  • Disable GPS: GPS is rarely needed for indoor streaming and uses battery. Disable it in custom mode.
  • Close other apps: Free up CPU and network resources on both iPhone and computer.
  • Update iOS: Ensure you're running the latest iOS version for best performance.
  • Try different protocol: gRPC (iOS 18+) often has better performance than WebSocket for high-bandwidth streaming.

Problem: High battery drain

  • Keep iPhone plugged in: Streaming uses significant power. Use a power adapter during long sessions.
  • Disable unused sensors: Turn off GPS, Apple Watch, or LiDAR if not needed for your use case.
  • Lower FPS: Some modes allow FPS adjustment. Lower FPS reduces CPU usage and battery drain.
  • Reduce screen brightness: Lower iPhone screen brightness to save battery.

Sensor Issues

Problem: Camera not working

  • Check permissions: Go to Settings → ARVOS → Camera and ensure permission is granted.
  • Restart app: Close and reopen ARVOS to reinitialize camera.
  • Close other camera apps: Only one app can access the camera at a time.
  • Check iOS version: Ensure you're running iOS 16.0 or later.

Problem: LiDAR not available

  • Device requirement: LiDAR requires iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro, or newer Pro models.
  • Check in app: Use "Sensor Test" to verify LiDAR detection.
  • Update iOS: Ensure latest iOS version for best LiDAR support.

Problem: GPS location inaccurate or unavailable

  • Outdoor usage: GPS requires line-of-sight to sky. Use outdoors or near windows.
  • Check permissions: Settings → ARVOS → Location → Select "While Using the App".
  • Wait for lock: First GPS fix can take 30-60 seconds. Wait for accuracy to improve.
  • Not required: GPS is optional. Disable it if not needed for your application.

Problem: Apple Watch not connecting

  • Check pairing: Ensure Watch is paired with iPhone in Watch app.
  • Watch app installed: Install ARVOS Watch companion app from App Store.
  • Watch version: Requires Apple Watch Series 6 or newer with watchOS 9.0+.
  • Bluetooth enabled: Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on both devices.
  • Restart both apps: Close and reopen ARVOS on both iPhone and Watch.

Protocol-Specific Issues

gRPC Protocol

  • iOS version: Requires iOS 18.0 or later.
  • Default port: 50051 (ensure firewall allows this port).
  • Check server: Ensure gRPC server is running on your computer before connecting.

MQTT Protocol

  • Broker required: You need a local MQTT broker (e.g., Mosquitto) running on your network.
  • Default port: 1883 (or your broker's configured port).
  • Test connection: Use MQTT client tools to verify broker is accessible.

Bluetooth LE Protocol

  • Range limitation: BLE has limited range (~10 meters). Keep devices close.
  • Bandwidth: BLE has lower bandwidth. Only telemetry data (IMU, GPS) is supported, not video.
  • Pairing: Ensure Bluetooth is enabled and devices are discoverable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What devices are supported?

ARVOS requires iPhone 12 Pro or newer (for LiDAR) running iOS 16.0+. For gRPC protocol, iOS 18.0+ is required. Apple Watch Series 6 or newer with watchOS 9.0+ is optional for wearable sensor data.

Can I record data locally?

Yes! ARVOS supports local recording in MCAP format with H.264 video encoding. You can export recorded data to KITTI, TUM, EuRoC, PLY, or CSV formats using the built-in export tools or CLI utilities.

Does ARVOS work with ROS 2?

Yes! ARVOS includes a ROS 2 bridge that publishes standard ROS messages to topics like /arvos/imu, /arvos/camera/image_raw, /arvos/depth/points, and /arvos/tf. You can visualize everything in RViz2.

Is my data sent to cloud servers?

No! ARVOS uses a local-first architecture. All sensor data streams directly to your computer over your local Wi-Fi network or Bluetooth. No data is sent to cloud servers or external services. See our Privacy Policy for more details.

Can I use ARVOS without an internet connection?

Yes! ARVOS works completely offline. Use Bluetooth LE protocol or set up a local Wi-Fi network without internet access. The app doesn't require internet connectivity for core functionality.

How accurate is the sensor data?

ARVOS provides research-grade data with nanosecond timestamps. Camera: 30 FPS @ 1920x1080. LiDAR: 5 FPS with confidence maps. IMU: 100-200 Hz. ARKit pose: 30-60 Hz with quality flags. All sensors are synchronized for precise data fusion.

What protocols are supported?

ARVOS supports 7 protocols: WebSocket (default), gRPC (iOS 18+), MQTT, HTTP/REST, Bluetooth LE, MCAP Stream, and QUIC/HTTP3 (coming soon). Each protocol has different strengths for different use cases. See our documentation for protocol selection guides.

Can I export data to other formats?

Yes! ARVOS supports export to KITTI (autonomous driving), TUM (SLAM), EuRoC (MAV), PLY (point clouds), CSV (sensor data), and ROS bags. Use the built-in export tools or CLI utilities for batch conversion.

Additional Resources

Contact Support

Still need help? Our support team is here to assist you. Choose the best way to reach us:

Email Support

For general questions and support:

hello@arvos.dev

Privacy Inquiries

For privacy-related questions or data requests:

privacy@arvos.dev

GitHub Issues

For bug reports and feature requests:

github.com/jaskirat1616/arvos/issues

When contacting support, please include:

  • Your iPhone model and iOS version
  • The streaming mode and protocol you're using
  • A clear description of the issue
  • Steps to reproduce the problem (if applicable)
  • Screenshots or error messages (if applicable)