Smart glasses in the chicken barn: Enhancing animal welfare through mixed reality

Abstract

Livestock production requires a thorough understanding of animal welfare to increase productivity and ensure appropriate housing conditions. The expanding availability of consumer-grade virtual and augmented reality devices opens new possibilities for precision livestock farming (PLF), where sensor technology traditionally monitors real-time animal data. In poultry farming, monitoring each bird individually is often not economically feasible due to the large flock sizes. To address this issue, we propose a novel method to evaluate housing conditions by focusing on the visual and temperature preferences of domestic chickens, considering these factors within a broader environmental context. Chickens perceive light at a wider range of wavelengths than humans, which significantly influences their behavior. Additionally, temperature variations, such as heat leaks and accumulations, can contribute to stress and negative behaviors in the flock. We developed a device comprising smart glasses equipped with specialized cameras to capture thermal infrared, ultraviolet, and visible RGB (red, green, blue) light, alongside real-time user position tracking. Points of interest (POIs) can be added to the logged tracking data along with captured content. The data collected by the glasses can be used to create virtual tours embedded in a 3D model of the barn, providing a comprehensive view of on-site conditions. We also introduce a streamlined pipeline for building these virtual tours using the Unity game engine, making the content accessible for agricultural education. This approach enables users to remotely gain insights into the housing conditions of poultry without needing a physical visit, enhancing both learning and engagement in animal welfare practices.