Alan Harvey, of Oamaru, tests his skills in a virtual reality off-road driving simulator during the grand final of the FMG Young Farmer of the Year this month. PHOTO: NEW ZEALAND YOUNG FARMERSContestants in this year's FMG Young Farmer of the Year grand final had an opportunity to drive around a South Otago farm while counting sheep - all without leaving Hawke's Bay. That was thanks to a virtual-reality driving simulator developed by Otago-based CoDrivr which was founded by rally driver and farmer Rhys Gardner. An off-road training module - featuring the Gardner family's farm in South Otago - was developed for WorkSafe, New Zealand's primary workplace health and safety regulator. WorkSafe used the simulator, which was on a motion platform allowing it to move on different angles, on its site at the National Fieldays at Mystery Creek in June.

Source: Otago Daily Times July 22, 2019 16:30 UTC