Russia Launches 3D Simulator to Train Combine Harvester Operators

A new virtual training tool for Russian-made farm machinery replicates the full in-field experience of operating a modern combine harvester.

Russian developers have unveiled a new 3D simulator designed to train operators of the RSM 161 combine harvester, manufactured in Rostov. The virtual cockpit replicates the size and layout of the real machine, complete with authentic control levers, dashboard instruments, and cabin dimensions. The simulator mimics the sensation of field operations with impressive realism, accounting for terrain, weather, and other environmental factors.

Developers say the simulator is not just for agricultural colleges. It can also serve as a training tool for experienced employees of farming enterprises, helping them adapt to the high-tech systems found in today’s advanced harvesters. With real machines being both expensive and digitally complex, this tool provides critical hands-on familiarity before operators ever touch a physical unit.

The RSM 161 module is part of a broader trend: more virtual simulators are being created for other widely used models of Russian agricultural equipment.