The Eurecat technology centre has devised a virtual reality training tool to enable “the inclusion of skilled staff in vineyard operations which will help to make the wine industry more competitive,” says Toni Torrente, head of the Interactive Visualisation Line in the Audiovisual Technologies Unit at Eurecat.
A sensor-equipped pruning shears prototype has been designed to simulate in a virtual environment an experience close to the real world and the parameters of an actual vineyard.
The project has also set up a user-friendly and customisable artificial intelligence-based training platform which hosts an introductory course on pruning using the sensor-equipped pruning shears prototype.
“The students’ activities are combined and recorded using progress metrics which make it possible to step up the complexity of the exercises that are measured in real time,” adds Torrente. “This means skills are continuously evaluated in a learning by doing training environment.”
Work is also being carried out with data on the evolution of real vineyards to build a smart model which can be used to estimate the effects of different types of pruning throughout the year. This involves teaming up with the participating wineries to compile visual material on a regular basis over the course of a year to craft a virtual vine generator which gives an idea of the vines’ growth patterns based on the students’ actions in immersive virtual environments.
The VIPO project is coordinated by the Catalan wine cluster Innovi and in addition to Eurecat is also partnered by Vitartis, Adecco, Vitivin, Arvipo and Bodega Cuatro Rayas.
