Marc Alexander Hanheide

Marc Hanheide is a Professor of Intelligent Robotics and Interactive Systems in the School of Computer Science at the University of Lincoln, UK. His academic career spans positions at the University of Lincoln (2012-present), University of Birmingham (2009-2011), and Bielefeld University (2006-2009).

His doctoral training at Bielefeld University (2001-2006) established his foundation in computer science, leading to significant contributions in robotics research. He began his research career working on the EU IST project VAMPIRE, followed by leadership roles in major EU projects including COGNIRON, CogX, and the long-running STRANDS project.

Marc Hanheide's research focuses on Autonomous Robotics, Human-Robot Interaction, Long-term Autonomy, Agricultural Robotics, and Nuclear Robotics. His work addresses fundamental challenges in enabling robots to operate effectively in dynamic, real-world environments over extended periods. He has pioneered approaches to human-robot spatial interaction, long-term localization, and multi-robot fleet management.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trajectory toward practical applications in agriculture and hazardous environments, with emphasis on long-term stability, human-aware navigation, causal modeling for interaction, and fleet optimization. His work integrates theoretical advances in AI with tangible robotics applications that address real-world challenges in food production and nuclear decommissioning.

Principal Investigator for major research initiatives:

• EU FP7 STRANDS project on long-term robotic behavior
• EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Agri-Food Robotics (AgriFoRwArdS)
• National Centre for Nuclear Robotics (NCNR)
• Multiple agricultural robotics projects including ILIAD and Bacchus Long-Term

His research leadership has secured substantial funding from EPSRC, BBSRC, Innovate UK, and the European Commission. He actively mentors students and early-career researchers, with a focus on translating theoretical robotics research into practical applications. His work demonstrates strong industry engagement, particularly in agricultural technology and nuclear robotics sectors.

Based at the Lincoln Centre for Autonomous Systems (LCAS), Hanheide leads research on enabling robots to operate continuously in changing environments through innovations in perception, navigation, and human-robot interaction. His team develops systems that maintain functionality despite environmental changes, sensor degradation, and evolving task requirements.