Hossein Rastgoftar

Hossein Rastgoftar is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Arizona, College of Engineering. He is also a member of the Graduate Faculty, contributing to interdisciplinary research and education in autonomy, robotics, and intelligent systems.

Education:

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
• MS in Mechanical Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL (Mechanical Systems and Solid Mechanics)
• BS in Mechanical Engineering - Thermo-Fluids

Rastgoftar's research focuses on swarm robotics, system autonomy, human-robotic interaction, UAS traffic management, and intelligent transportation systems. He develops physics-inspired models such as continuum deformation and fluid flow navigation for multi-agent coordination, with applications in urban air mobility, disaster response, and traffic congestion control. His work emphasizes safety, resilience, and formal verification in autonomous systems.

His recent publications (2023–2025) reveal a strong trend in safety-critical planning for human-UAS collaboration, decentralized swarm control, and formal methods for traffic and airspace management. He frequently integrates machine learning, optimal control, and multi-agent coordination to solve real-world challenges in urban environments and emergency response.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards listed in the provided text.

Rastgoftar has advised students and leads a research group focused on autonomy and multi-agent systems. He teaches AME 455: Control System Design and has been involved in projects related to UAV coordination, payload transport, and traffic modeling. His lab work includes experimental validation of continuum deformation and swarm coordination algorithms using quadcopter teams.

Labs and Research Teams: His research involves experimental evaluation of multi-agent systems, particularly quadcopter teams, using fluid flow and continuum deformation models. He collaborates with researchers at the University of Michigan and Villanova, and his work often bridges aerospace, mechanical, and electrical engineering disciplines.