Patrick Holthaus

Dr. Patrick Holthaus is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Hertfordshire's Robotics Research Group, affiliated with the School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science. He specializes in assistive and social robotics, focusing on nonverbal communication, trust dynamics, and systems integration. His work integrates fundamental research with real-world applications like the Robot House and Kaspar robot for children with autism.

Teaching: Module leader for Data Structures and Algorithms and co-leader of Advanced Research Topics in Computer Science. Supervises multiple PhD students and serves as external examiner for postgraduate programs.

Research Leadership: Principal Investigator (PI) for projects such as the Robot House Immersive Showcase and Enhancing Research Cultures grants. Collaborates internationally on initiatives like the SWAG wearable assistive garments and Hospital@Home virtual care system.

Key Projects: Co-Investigator (CoI) on Horizon Europe’s SWAG project and the Dinwoodie-funded Hospital@Home initiative. Previously led EPSRC’s EMERGENCE network and the Kaspar Explains study.

Labs & Teams: Manages the Robot House facility, a unique environment for HRI studies. Active in the Assuring Autonomy International Programme (AAIP).