Exploring cutting-edge techniques in animal emotion research, recent studies have combined thermal imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) to uncover new insights. Thermal cameras gather a wealth of multidimensional data, while AI swiftly processes it to identify significant patterns. This innovative approach is crucial for linking emotional states with measurable physiological changes, such as variations in body temperature.

In a new application, researchers created an automated pipeline to analyse thermographic images of pigs, honing in on the base of the ear, a key area in emotion studies. This pipeline ensures the visibility of this region, segments it, and extracts the highest temperature, recording the data for further analysis. Tested on 373 pigs during a frustration challenge, this method delivered valuable data on emotional responses. Such automation not only boosts the efficiency of data processing but also opens doors to more detailed studies on animal welfare and emotional well-being.

Scientific output

Bekhit, R., I. Reimert. 2024. "A complete pipeline to extract temperature from thermal images of pigs" (in progress)