University of Surrey

About

The University of Surrey has established itself as a remarkably diverse and forward-thinking research institution, with particular strengths spanning service robotics, agricultural automation, space systems, and human-robot interaction. This breadth of expertise positions Surrey as a uniquely interdisciplinary hub where engineering innovation meets real-world social and economic application. Surrey's research portfolio has garnered extraordinary international recognition, with flagship publications accumulating thousands of citations across multiple domains. The institution has made landmark contributions to the understanding of AI and robotics in hospitality and tourism, producing some of the field's most-cited work on service robot adoption, consumer trust, and the transformation of hotel management — research that is actively shaping industry strategy worldwide. Complementing this, Surrey researchers have pioneered investigations into agricultural robotics, including machine vision systems for fruit harvesting and plant species identification, directly addressing urgent global food security challenges. Beyond service applications, Surrey has demonstrated remarkable range through influential work in space robotics and on-orbit servicing, soft robotics for surgical applications, and bio-inspired multi-robot systems. Particularly noteworthy is the institution's long-standing commitment to assistive technology, exemplified by the AURORA project's groundbreaking research on robot-mediated joint attention in children with autism — work that remains a touchstone in therapeutic robotics nearly two decades on. Surrey's engagement with Industry 4.0, circular economy manufacturing, and the policy implications of automation reflects an institution unafraid to interrogate the broader societal consequences of technological change. For prospective students and collaborators seeking a research environment that combines rigorous engineering with genuine interdisciplinary ambition — from agricultural fields to hospital wards to outer space — the University of Surrey offers an exceptionally stimulating and impactful home.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   A review of research into automation in tourism: Launching the Annals of Tourism Research Curated Collection on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in Tourism

   894 citations · 2020
2. 2
   Recognition and Localization Methods for Vision-Based Fruit Picking Robots: A Review

   546 citations · 2020
3. 3
   Artificial intelligence in business: State of the art and future research agenda

   512 citations · 2020
4. 4
   Plant species identification using digital morphometrics: A review

   398 citations · 2012
5. 5
   Applications and Implications of Service Robots in Hospitality

   369 citations · 2020
6. 6
   Do travelers trust intelligent service robots?

   312 citations · 2020
7. 7
   Consumer Evaluation of Hotel Service Robots

   295 citations · 2017
8. 8
   Robot-mediated joint attention in children with autism

   286 citations · 2004
9. 9
   Review on space robotics: Toward top-level science through space exploration

   284 citations · 2017
10. 10
    Utilizing Industry 4.0 on the Construction Site: Challenges and Opportunities

    271 citations · 2020

Faculty & Researchers

…