Design of an Environment for Virtual Training Based on Digital Reconstruction: From Real Vegetation to Its Tactile Simulation

The exploitation of immersive simulation platforms to improve traditional training techniques in the agricultural industry sector would enable year-round accessibility, flexibility, safety, and consistent high-quality training for agricultural operators. An innovative workflow in virtual simulations...

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Main Authors: Alessandro Martinelli, Davide Fabiocchi, Francesca Picchio, Hermes Giberti, Marco Carnevale
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Designs
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2411-9660/9/2/32
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author Alessandro Martinelli
Davide Fabiocchi
Francesca Picchio
Hermes Giberti
Marco Carnevale
author_facet Alessandro Martinelli
Davide Fabiocchi
Francesca Picchio
Hermes Giberti
Marco Carnevale
author_sort Alessandro Martinelli
collection DOAJ
description The exploitation of immersive simulation platforms to improve traditional training techniques in the agricultural industry sector would enable year-round accessibility, flexibility, safety, and consistent high-quality training for agricultural operators. An innovative workflow in virtual simulations for training and educational purposes includes an immersive environment in which the operator can interact with plants through haptic interfaces, following instructions imparted by a non-playing character (NPC) instructor. This study allows simulating the pruning of a complex case study, a hazelnut tree, reproduced in very high detail to offer agricultural operators a more realistic and immersive training environment than those currently existing. The process of creating a multisensorial environment starts with the integrated survey of the plant with a laser scanner and photogrammetry and then generates a controllable parametric model from roots to leaves with the exact positioning of the original branches. The model is finally inserted into a simulation, where haptic gloves with tactile resistance responsive to model collisions are tested. The results of the experimentation demonstrate the correct execution of this innovative design simulation, in which branches and leaves can be cut using a shear, with immediate sensory feedback. The project therefore aims to finalize this product as a realistic training platform for pruning, but not limited to it, paving the way for high-fidelity simulation for many other types of operations and specializations.
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issn 2411-9660
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spelling doaj-art-d6e1aa5f54df4f089587ea606cf99bbd2025-08-20T02:17:19ZengMDPI AGDesigns2411-96602025-03-01923210.3390/designs9020032Design of an Environment for Virtual Training Based on Digital Reconstruction: From Real Vegetation to Its Tactile SimulationAlessandro Martinelli0Davide Fabiocchi1Francesca Picchio2Hermes Giberti3Marco Carnevale4Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Architettura, Università di Pavia and DICAr, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale e dell’Informazione, Università di Pavia, DIII, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Architettura, Università di Pavia and DICAr, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale e dell’Informazione, Università di Pavia, DIII, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale e dell’Informazione, Università di Pavia, DIII, 27100 Pavia, ItalyThe exploitation of immersive simulation platforms to improve traditional training techniques in the agricultural industry sector would enable year-round accessibility, flexibility, safety, and consistent high-quality training for agricultural operators. An innovative workflow in virtual simulations for training and educational purposes includes an immersive environment in which the operator can interact with plants through haptic interfaces, following instructions imparted by a non-playing character (NPC) instructor. This study allows simulating the pruning of a complex case study, a hazelnut tree, reproduced in very high detail to offer agricultural operators a more realistic and immersive training environment than those currently existing. The process of creating a multisensorial environment starts with the integrated survey of the plant with a laser scanner and photogrammetry and then generates a controllable parametric model from roots to leaves with the exact positioning of the original branches. The model is finally inserted into a simulation, where haptic gloves with tactile resistance responsive to model collisions are tested. The results of the experimentation demonstrate the correct execution of this innovative design simulation, in which branches and leaves can be cut using a shear, with immediate sensory feedback. The project therefore aims to finalize this product as a realistic training platform for pruning, but not limited to it, paving the way for high-fidelity simulation for many other types of operations and specializations.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-9660/9/2/32virtual trainingimmersive scenariosvirtual realityvegetation modelingphotogrammetryhaptics
spellingShingle Alessandro Martinelli
Davide Fabiocchi
Francesca Picchio
Hermes Giberti
Marco Carnevale
Design of an Environment for Virtual Training Based on Digital Reconstruction: From Real Vegetation to Its Tactile Simulation
Designs
virtual training
immersive scenarios
virtual reality
vegetation modeling
photogrammetry
haptics
title Design of an Environment for Virtual Training Based on Digital Reconstruction: From Real Vegetation to Its Tactile Simulation
title_full Design of an Environment for Virtual Training Based on Digital Reconstruction: From Real Vegetation to Its Tactile Simulation
title_fullStr Design of an Environment for Virtual Training Based on Digital Reconstruction: From Real Vegetation to Its Tactile Simulation
title_full_unstemmed Design of an Environment for Virtual Training Based on Digital Reconstruction: From Real Vegetation to Its Tactile Simulation
title_short Design of an Environment for Virtual Training Based on Digital Reconstruction: From Real Vegetation to Its Tactile Simulation
title_sort design of an environment for virtual training based on digital reconstruction from real vegetation to its tactile simulation
topic virtual training
immersive scenarios
virtual reality
vegetation modeling
photogrammetry
haptics
url https://www.mdpi.com/2411-9660/9/2/32
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AT francescapicchio designofanenvironmentforvirtualtrainingbasedondigitalreconstructionfromrealvegetationtoitstactilesimulation
AT hermesgiberti designofanenvironmentforvirtualtrainingbasedondigitalreconstructionfromrealvegetationtoitstactilesimulation
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