No industry has a greater effect on our survival and prosperity than agriculture. Without making use of the latest technology, agricultural output may stagnant against a rising population. The effects of this can be catastrophic. Fortunately, the innovation in the agricultural sector is constantly in a state of flux and virtual reality experiences are creating some very intriguing opportunities in the field, especially in training and educational applications.

Immersive technologies for Agriculture include:

• 360 Video for Agriculture
• Mobile Augmented Reality for Agriculture
• Hololens Augmented Reality for Agriculture
• HTC Vive Virtual Reality for Agriculture
• Oculus Rift Virtual Reality for Agriculture
• Oculus Go Virtual Reality for Agriculture

Virtual reality technology has the potential to revolutionise the agricultural sector. From training the next generation of farmers through to the use of highly sophisticated simulations for state of the art machinery. Also using a combination of machine learning and augmented reality to monitor and scan crops for data on growth, potential damage caused by poor weather conditions or disease. Both AR and VR technology offers a wealth of information and training to our society’s most important yet highly vulnerable industries.

Example applications of this technology include:

• Educating farmers with the latest in modern technology such as new machines and functional equipment
• Virtual veterinary diagnostics. With many farms being located in isolated areas, taking a trip to a local veterinarian can be challenging in an emergency. VR is able to remove the distance and allow the vet to remotely diagnose an animal.
• By placing a 360 degree camera on a drone and feeding it through a VR headset, farmers are able to scan their fields and analyse their crops in real time.
• Farmers can visualise emerging crop patterns based on 3d data and determine how future weather events may affect their yield, potentially giving them the opportunity to be better prepared.
• Specific farm tasks (such as hazards or simulated emergencies) may be captured through a simulated environment, giving rise to the next generation in agricultural education. This allows viewers to gain practical, on the job skills that they may otherwise not have been able to experience.
• Ability to project livestock in physical reality through the use of AR. This allows users to take care of and interact with virtual livestock as they would appear on a real farm.
• Emergency situation training, particularly in areas prone to bushfire, flooding and droughts.

As the technology advances, AR and VR will find a permanent place in agriculture and farming. Through the use of these technologies, farmers are able to gain a greater competitive edge in their industry and be better equipped to navigate the challenges that arise in the industry. If you are involved in the agricultural industry and have a concept for an experience which has the potential to make a mark on farming practices, get in touch with us today to discover how we can do this together.