A Virtual Reality System for Fruit Processing Line Personnel Training: A Usability Study

Labour in most agro-industrial plants accounts for a significant part of the cost structure. Even though fully automated processing facilities can be built, a lower initial cost solution involves training the personnel to increase their efficiency in the plant. Advances in VR technologies enables the creation of immersive virtual environments that simulates different contexts. A VR experience is proposed in order to simulate the work environment for fruit processing line personnel. In this manner, the workers can be trained without using the physical resources of the processing plant. A usability test was performed, showing that participants felt a high degree of immersion and realism. They were able to complete the assigned tasks, indicating that the software meets the objective of instructing the participants in the selection process of IQF berries.