Design and validation of a virtual reality-based training program for student learning on tractor-plough setup
Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: This study focuses on developing and testing a virtual reality (VR) software system created in the Unity 3D environment, specifically designed to train students of agricultural specialities in the complex process of setting up a plough with a tractor. The project aimed to create an immersive and interactive simulator that enables students to practice essential skills related to the adjustment of agricultural machinery, simulating real field conditions. As part of the research, an in-depth analysis of the structural features of the tractor and plough was carried out, which made it possible to develop highly detailed 3D models and realistically simulate their interaction. An interactive control system was implemented, allowing the user to perform all necessary plough adjustment operations, such as changing the tillage depth and configuring the tractor’s hitch system in longitudinal and transverse directions, using standard VR controllers. A key element of the program is the inclusion of various training scenarios. A comprehensive feedback and assessment system was developed to track the accuracy and sequence of student actions, task completion time, number of mistakes made, and the quality of the final result. This enables students to assess their progress and identify areas that require improvement objectively. The developed VR program was piloted at Poltava State Agrarian University with the participation of students majoring in H7 “Agroengineering”. A comparative analysis between the experimental group (trained using the VR simulator) and the control group (trained using traditional methods) revealed a significant increase in learning efficiency. Students who used the VR simulator demonstrated higher levels of theoretical knowledge, reduced the time required to acquire practical skills, and significantly decreased the number of errors during actual adjustment procedures. In addition to improving training quality, using VR technologies contributes to substantial savings in material resources and enhances the safety of the educational process. The study results confirm the high potential of virtual reality as an innovative tool for developing practical skills in agricultural production and support its integration into the curricula of higher agricultural education institutions.
Institution: Poltava State Agrarian University
Language: English
Subfield: Control and Systems Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7166324829