Blair Thornton

Blair Thornton is a Professor of Marine Autonomy at the University of Southampton's Engineering and Physical Sciences faculty. He specializes in autonomous marine robotics, sensing systems, and AI-driven data interpretation for oceanic research. As Co-Director of the FEPS In situ and Remote Intelligent Sensing (IRIS) Centre of Excellence, he leads projects advancing underwater exploration technologies.

Education: PhD in Underwater Robotics (University of Southampton, 2006), with postdoctoral research at the University of Tokyo (2006–2016). Over 500 days at sea, leading 30 expeditions as Principal Investigator. Teaching includes modules on Maritime Robotics and Intelligent Mobile Robotics with practical robotics coding.

Research focuses on 3D seafloor mapping, low-cost robotic platforms, and laser spectroscopy for in-situ chemical analysis. Collaborations include the National Oceanography Centre, Sonardyne International, and JAMSTEC. Awards include the Okamura Kenji Prize (2014), IEEE Mid-Career Rising Star (2022), and Japanese Government Open Innovation Prize (2024).

Leading 15+ active/completed research projects, including BioCam (NERC), TechOceanS (EU), and DriftCam (EPSRC). Supervises 15+ PhD students in marine robotics and sensing. External roles include IEEE Journal reviewing and international conference speaking on seabed imaging and marine autonomy.

Labs/Teams: Ocean Perception Group, Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute, and the IRIS Centre. Develops commercial survey services and robotic teaching platforms for field trials and education.