ACI 2026: Just Over One Month to Go

With just over one month to go, preparations for the thirteenth edition of the Animal-Computer Interaction International Conference (ACI 2026) are entering their final stage. The event will take place from December 2 to 5, 2026, at the FHNW Campus Brugg-Windisch in Switzerland – marking the first time ACI will be held in continental Europe. The General Chair is Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel, author of „Tier-Maschine-Interaktion“ („Animal-Machine Interaction“). ACI 2026 brings together researchers and practitioners working in Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI), Animal-Machine Interaction (AMI), animal welfare, robotics, interaction design, and related fields. This year’s conference will also feature demonstrations of technologies that illustrate how machines can support the observation and protection of animals. Two organizations, Octanis and NOCTUA, will present their technologies at exhibition stands in the Studiensaal. Octanis will showcase its intelligent bird weighing system, demonstrating how technology can contribute to the monitoring and study of birds. NOCTUA will present an impressive drone with a wingspan of five metres and a length of three metres, designed for nature observation. Both exhibits offer concrete examples of the possibilities emerging at the intersection of technology, animal research, and environmental monitoring. While the conference sessions themselves are reserved for registered participants, the exhibition stands in the Studiensaal will be open to all members of FHNW. This provides an opportunity for the wider university community to discover these technologies and engage with their developers. ACI 2026 is pleased to receive support from the City of Brugg, the Municipality of Windisch, and Rehkitzrettung Schweiz, whose work with thermal imaging drones to protect young deer illustrates a practical application of Animal-Machine Interaction. Further information on the program, workshops, and participation is available on the ACI 2026 website.

Abb.: Oliver Bendel mit seinem Unitree Go2 (Foto: Jork Weismann)