IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v13y2023i8p1603-d1216460.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Co-Simulation Virtual Reality Machinery Simulator for Advanced Precision Agriculture Applications

Author

Listed:
  • Maurizio Cutini

    (CREA Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Via Milano 43, 24047 Treviglio, Italy)

  • Carlo Bisaglia

    (CREA Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Via Milano 43, 24047 Treviglio, Italy)

  • Massimo Brambilla

    (CREA Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Via Milano 43, 24047 Treviglio, Italy)

  • Andrea Bragaglio

    (CREA Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Via Milano 43, 24047 Treviglio, Italy)

  • Federico Pallottino

    (CREA Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Via della Pascolare 16, Monterotondo, 00015 Rome, Italy)

  • Alberto Assirelli

    (CREA Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Via della Pascolare 16, Monterotondo, 00015 Rome, Italy)

  • Elio Romano

    (CREA Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Via Milano 43, 24047 Treviglio, Italy)

  • Alessandro Montaghi

    (CREA Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Via G. Venezian 26, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Elisabetta Leo

    (Soluzioni Ingegneria, Via Lorenzo Balicco 113, 23900 Lecco, Italy)

  • Marco Pezzola

    (Soluzioni Ingegneria, Via Lorenzo Balicco 113, 23900 Lecco, Italy)

  • Claudio Maroni

    (Soluzioni Ingegneria, Via Lorenzo Balicco 113, 23900 Lecco, Italy)

  • Paolo Menesatti

    (CREA Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Via della Pascolare 16, Monterotondo, 00015 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

Simulation systems have become essential tools for both researchers and virtual laboratory experiments. In the Agri-food-chain, SimAgri, a driving simulator for tractors and operating machines, has been developed for precision agriculture (PA) research and to train professional farm drivers. Using the virtual environment of the simulator, the influence and fine-tuning of PA operations logic may be evaluated by simulating existing systems, or designing new ones, in specially compared scenarios and setups. Current configurations include an agricultural tractor carrying or towing farm equipment such as sprayers, seeders and fertilizer, embedded sensors, human–machine interfaces that may be configured like a joystick, console and touchscreen, and four virtual environment monitors. The study describes the design choices that have made it possible to create a simulator aimed at precision agriculture, keeping auto guidance, geolocation, and operations with ISOBUS implements as pillars. This research aims to use a unique purpose-designed simulation platform, installed on a driver-in-the-loop simulator to provide data to objectify the benefits of PA criteria. Numerical and experimental data have been compared to ensure results reliability.

Suggested Citation

  • Maurizio Cutini & Carlo Bisaglia & Massimo Brambilla & Andrea Bragaglio & Federico Pallottino & Alberto Assirelli & Elio Romano & Alessandro Montaghi & Elisabetta Leo & Marco Pezzola & Claudio Maroni , 2023. "A Co-Simulation Virtual Reality Machinery Simulator for Advanced Precision Agriculture Applications," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-21, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:13:y:2023:i:8:p:1603-:d:1216460
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/8/1603/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/8/1603/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Athanasios Balafoutis & Bert Beck & Spyros Fountas & Jurgen Vangeyte & Tamme Van der Wal & Iria Soto & Manuel Gómez-Barbero & Andrew Barnes & Vera Eory, 2017. "Precision Agriculture Technologies Positively Contributing to GHG Emissions Mitigation, Farm Productivity and Economics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-28, July.
    2. Mahmoud Ibrahim & Anton Rassõlkin & Toomas Vaimann & Ants Kallaste, 2022. "Overview on Digital Twin for Autonomous Electrical Vehicles Propulsion Drive System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-16, January.
    3. Wolfert, Sjaak, 2014. "Future Internet for Safe and Healthy Food from Farm to Fork," International Journal on Food System Dynamics, International Center for Management, Communication, and Research, vol. 4(4), pages 1-2, March.
    4. Olson, Kent D., 1998. "Precision Agriculture: Current Economic And Environmental Issues," Conference Papers 14487, University of Minnesota, Center for International Food and Agricultural Policy.
    5. Verdouw, Cor & Tekinerdogan, Bedir & Beulens, Adrie & Wolfert, Sjaak, 2021. "Digital twins in smart farming," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Gackstetter, David & von Bloh, Malte & Hannus, Veronika & Meyer, Sebastian T. & Weisser, Wolfgang & Luksch, Claudia & Asseng, Senthold, 2023. "Autonomous field management – An enabler of sustainable future in agriculture," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    2. Görkem Giray & Cagatay Catal, 2021. "Design of a Data Management Reference Architecture for Sustainable Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-17, June.
    3. Katarina Marić & Kristina Gvozdanović & Ivona Djurkin Kušec & Goran Kušec & Vladimir Margeta, 2025. "Smart Pig Farms: Integration and Application of Digital Technologies in Pig Production," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-18, April.
    4. da Silveira, Franco & da Silva, Sabrina Letícia Couto & Machado, Filipe Molinar & Barbedo, Jayme Garcia Arnal & Amaral, Fernando Gonçalves, 2023. "Farmers' perception of the barriers that hinder the implementation of agriculture 4.0," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    5. Tsega Y. Melesse & Chiara Franciosi & Valentina Di Pasquale & Stefano Riemma, 2023. "Analyzing the Implementation of Digital Twins in the Agri-Food Supply Chain," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-17, June.
    6. Marco Ammoniaci & Simon-Paolo Kartsiotis & Rita Perria & Paolo Storchi, 2021. "State of the Art of Monitoring Technologies and Data Processing for Precision Viticulture," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-20, February.
    7. Pietro Stabile & Federico Ballo & Giorgio Previati & Giampiero Mastinu & Massimiliano Gobbi, 2023. "Eco-Driving Strategy Implementation for Ultra-Efficient Lightweight Electric Vehicles in Realistic Driving Scenarios," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-19, January.
    8. Thomas M. Koutsos & Georgios C. Menexes & Andreas P. Mamolos, 2021. "The Use of Crop Yield Autocorrelation Data as a Sustainable Approach to Adjust Agronomic Inputs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, February.
    9. Xiuli Zhang & Yikun Pei & Yong Chen & Qianglong Song & Peilin Zhou & Yueqing Xia & Xiaochan Liu, 2022. "The Design and Experiment of Vertical Variable Cavity Base Fertilizer Fertilizing Apparatus," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-15, October.
    10. Uztürk, Deniz & Büyüközkan, Gülçin, "undated". "Smart Agriculture Technology Evaluation: A Linguistic-based MCDM Methodology," Agri-Tech Economics Papers 337128, Harper Adams University, Land, Farm & Agribusiness Management Department.
    11. Uztürk, Deniz & Büyüközkan, Gülçin, "undated". "Smart Agriculture Technology Evaluation: A Linguistic-based MCDM Methodology," Land, Farm & Agribusiness Management Department 337128, Harper Adams University, Land, Farm & Agribusiness Management Department.
    12. Vecchio, Yari & De Rosa, Marcello & Adinolfi, Felice & Bartoli, Luca & Masi, Margherita, 2020. "Adoption of precision farming tools: A context-related analysis," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    13. Roemi Fernández & Eduardo Navas & Daniel Rodríguez-Nieto & Alain Antonio Rodríguez-González & Luis Emmi, 2025. "DigiHortiRobot: An AI-Driven Digital Twin Architecture for Hydroponic Greenhouse Horticulture with Dual-Arm Robotic Automation," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-15, July.
    14. Tao Sun & Ran Li & Zichao Zhao & Bing Guo & Meng Ma & Li Yao & Xinhao Gao, 2025. "Spatio-Temporal Dynamics, Driving Mechanisms, and Decoupling Evaluation of Farmland Carbon Emissions: A Case Study of Shandong Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-17, July.
    15. L. Toma & A. P. Barnes & L.-A. Sutherland & S. Thomson & F. Burnett & K. Mathews, 2018. "Impact of information transfer on farmers’ uptake of innovative crop technologies: a structural equation model applied to survey data," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 43(4), pages 864-881, August.
    16. Editors: & Jones, J. & O’Hara, J. K., 2023. "Marginal Abatement Cost Curves for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation on U.S. Farms and Ranches (Updated)," USDA Miscellaneous 349144, United States Department of Agriculture.
    17. Pomi Shahbaz & Shamsheer ul Haq & Azhar Abbas & Zahira Batool & Bader Alhafi Alotaibi & Roshan K. Nayak, 2022. "Adoption of Climate Smart Agricultural Practices through Women Involvement in Decision Making Process: Exploring the Role of Empowerment and Innovativeness," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-16, August.
    18. Walid Emar & Ahmad Aljanaideh & Ala Jaber & Mohammad Musleh & Ali Emar & Mohammed Al-Nairat, 2025. "Delta Modulation Technique and Harmonic Analysis for the Modified Quadruple-Diode Boost Regulator Without and With a Voltage Multiplier Unit (VMU)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-40, May.
    19. Huseyin Tayyar Guldal & Hasan Sanli & Metin Turker, 2025. "The path to smart farming: Profiling farmers' adoption of technologies in Türkiye," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 71(5), pages 229-241.
    20. Metta, Matteo & Ciliberti, Stefano & Obi, Chinedu & Bartolini, Fabio & Klerkx, Laurens & Brunori, Gianluca, 2022. "An integrated socio-cyber-physical system framework to assess responsible digitalisation in agriculture: A first application with Living Labs in Europe," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:13:y:2023:i:8:p:1603-:d:1216460. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.