Altai Students to Master Agricultural Machinery Using VR Technology
Altai State Agrarian University is installing a dynamic simulator of the Belarusian MTZ 3522 tractor and a VR station to train students in tractor maintenance procedures, marking a new phase in the digital transformation of agricultural education in Russia.
Learning Efficiently and Safely
The first steps in mastering any piece of heavy equipment are always the most challenging and risky. Operators can be injured, and machinery can be damaged. A VR training system addresses these risks by combining hardware and software to create a virtual environment where students can develop practical skills for working with complex machinery without endangering themselves or the equipment.
In the virtual environment, students rehearse operational sequences while the physics of movement is realistically simulated. Step-by-step instructions help them internalize complex procedures, and a dedicated monitoring program tracks each action, alerting instructors to errors. Importantly, hazardous scenarios – including emergency and non-standard situations that may arise when operating parameters are violated or machinery is used in extreme conditions – can be practiced safely, without real-world consequences.
Future Russian agricultural specialists are beginning to master advanced machinery through VR simulators. On February 13, Altai State Agrarian University completed installation of a training cabin simulator for the Belarusian MTZ 3522 tractor and a VR station for practicing maintenance procedures in a specialized MTZ classroom. The installation was carried out by specialists from the Minsk-based IT company Igry Razuma Soft.
Virtual Practice and Skills Development
The decision to establish a specialized MTZ classroom at the university was made in March 2023 during a working visit to Altai by a delegation from the Republic of Belarus led by Deputy Prime Minister Leonid Zayats. The renovation of the facilities was conducted under the federal Professionalitet program.
The MTZ classroom is a comprehensive training complex located in the university’s main building. It includes three separate spaces: a lecture room, a demonstration room equipped with tractor assemblies and a full MTZ tractor, and a workshop fitted with modern machinery for agricultural equipment repair. The Department of Structural Materials Technology and Machine Repair oversees the facility’s operation.
The unique MTZ 3522 tractor cabin simulator and VR maintenance station were installed by specialists from the Minsk-based IT company Igry Razuma Soft, who are also conducting equipment testing and calibration.
The simulator offers distinctive training capabilities. “The cabin, powered by dedicated servo drives – each with its own motor – can move in three planes, accurately replicating a tractor’s motion across terrain. Five screens mounted around the glazing create a fully immersive visual effect. The simulator is designed for the initial training of future machine operators and has already proven highly effective,” said Vladimir Kuzin, Head of Production at Igry Razuma Soft, highlighting the capabilities of the digital training system.
An important feature is the VR station for maintenance training, which allows students to practice essential procedures using specialized headsets and gloves, reinforcing muscle memory and procedural accuracy in a controlled environment.
“The authenticity of the VR station is extremely high. Students experience full immersion in the technological process, which is critically important for effective learning,” emphasized Alexei Ishkov, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor and Head of the Department of Structural Materials Technology and Machine Repair at Altai State Agrarian University.
The simulator is also equipped with an instructor terminal that allows educators to simultaneously monitor the student’s actions, observe the simulated field view through the windshield, and maintain direct communication. Instructors can pause the session at any time to explain mistakes and reinforce correct procedures.
Collaboration and Technological Advancement
The official opening of the specialized MTZ classroom at Altai State Agrarian University is scheduled for May 2026. The dynamic simulator and VR station are expected to significantly strengthen the practical competencies of future machine operators and engineers working in Russia’s agricultural sector, supporting workforce development in one of the country’s fastest-growing industries.
Over time, VR-based training may become embedded in formal curricula and evolve into a standard component of equipment at agricultural universities and colleges. Such integration would stimulate further development of educational VR and AR solutions and accelerate modernization of educational infrastructure. Agricultural education in Russia is gradually transforming, with digital technologies becoming an integral part of professional training.
In the longer term, similar hardware-software training systems could become export products for countries seeking to develop their own agricultural sectors and modernize agricultural education frameworks.
