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Sebastian SchererView profile

Research Professor

• Robotics
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
• Autonomous Navigation
• +13 more

Sebastian Scherer is an Associate Research Professor at the Robotics Institute (RI), Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), where he leads cutting-edge research in autonomous aerial systems and robotics. His work focuses on enabling unmanned rotorcraft to operate safely and efficiently in cluttered, low-altitude, and extreme environments. Education: Ph.D. in Robotics, Carnegie Mellon University (2010) MS in Robotics, Carnegie Mellon University (2007) BS in Computer Science (Minor in Robotics), Carnegie Mellon University (2004) His research interests span robotics, artificial intelligence, autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance, SLAM, visual-inertial odometry, energy infrastructure, and public policy . He has made seminal contributions to UAV autonomy, including the first obstacle avoidance for micro aerial vehicles in natural environments (2008) and the first automatic landing zone detection and landing on a full-size helicopter (2010). His recent publications (2023–2025) demonstrate a strong focus on resilient autonomy, multi-robot exploration, foundation models for robotics, and large-scale dataset development. His team has released key datasets like TartanGround , BETTY , and SubT-MRS , and simulation tools like Pegasus Simulator , indicating a systems-level approach to advancing real-world autonomy. The research trends emphasize self-supervised learning, robust perception, risk-aware planning, and multi-modal fusion for off-road and urban environments. Scientific Awards: Popular Science Best of What's New 2010 Award AIAA@Infotech Best Paper Runner-up Award (2010) Siebel Scholar Dr. Scherer has advised numerous students and leads a vibrant research group focused on high-impact robotics applications. He has secured significant grants related to UAV autonomy, energy infrastructure, and urban air mobility. His lab develops experimental infrastructure such as AIrTonomy for testing next-generation autonomous aerial vehicles. He is actively involved in advancing SLAM and localization in extreme environments, notably through participation in the DARPA Subterranean Challenge. His team develops large-scale datasets and benchmarking frameworks to push the boundaries of robustness and generalization in mobile robotics.

Kevin KochersbergerView profile

Associate Professor

• Dynamics and control
• Autonomous aerial systems
• Applied aerodynamics
• +7 more

Dr. Kevin Kochersberger is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech , with a career spanning academic research, technical innovation, and educational leadership. His work focuses on autonomous aerial systems , robotic control , and applied aerodynamics , particularly through the Uncrewed Systems Laboratory . Kochersberger's research has pioneered UAV-based radiation detection , 3D terrain mapping , and low-resource drone applications , including establishing the African Drone and Data Academy in Malawi . Education: Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech (1994) M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech (1984) B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech (1983) A.S., Engineering Science, Jamestown Community College (1981) Kochersberger's publications demonstrate expertise in UAV path planning , smart material actuation , and radiation source localization , with over $9M in research funding. His scientific awards include AIAA Associate Fellow (2009) and Aviation Week Aerospace Laureate (2003). Notable projects involve helicopter-deployable robotic systems and urban canyon navigation without GPS. Recent articles highlight BVLOS drone simulators , 2.5D terrain mapping , and autonomous negative obstacle traversal , reflecting his focus on real-time adaptive control and heterogeneous robotic systems . He teaches Drone Technology and Flight Operations and Advanced Design Projects , emphasizing student-driven innovation and industry collaboration .

• Flexible spacecraft
• Flight control systems
• Robotic systems
• +7 more

Elisa Capello is a Full Professor of Flight Mechanics at Politecnico di Torino, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS). She serves as Contact person for internationalization of innovation and technology transfer, Member of the Interdepartmental Center PIC4SeR (PoliTO Interdepartmental Center for Service Robotics), and Deputy Coordinator of the Doctoral College in Aerospace Engineering. With over 100 publications, her work spans aerospace engineering, control systems, and robotics. Her research focuses on flexible spacecraft, flight control systems, robotic systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles. She designs guidance, control and navigation systems for aircraft and spacecraft, develops control systems for wind turbines and wind farms, studies flight mechanics of fixed and rotary wing aircraft, tests unmanned aerial systems, and plans mission control for autonomous systems. Her work bridges theoretical control systems with practical aerospace applications, with strong emphasis on experimental validation. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on advanced control techniques for aerospace applications, particularly in UAV control, spacecraft formation flying, and robotic systems. There's a clear trend toward integrating machine learning with traditional control methods, as seen in transformer-based MPC and multimodal learning approaches. Her work spans theoretical development, simulation, and experimental validation across multiple platforms. Member of the Editorial Board of IEEE Control Systems Society (2019-) Member of the Scientific Committee - IEEE Technical Committee Aerospace Control (2016-) International FAI Judge for Helicopter Championship (2009-2015) Professor Capello supervises numerous PhD students working on topics including autonomous aerial vehicles, path planning, risk analysis, spacecraft dynamics, and control. She leads multiple research projects including CREATEFORUAS (2019-2022), Assessment of drag free control systems for L3 gravity wave observatory (2018-2019), and Guidance, Navigation and Control algorithms for in-Orbit servicing (2020-2021). Her international collaborations include institutions in the USA, Japan, and Germany. She is actively involved with the Flight Dynamics, Control and Simulation research group at DIMEAS and the DRAFT (DRones Autonomous Flight Team) at PoliTo, where she mentors students in developing autonomous flight capabilities for various applications.

• Control Systems
• Machine Learning
• Electrical Engineering
• +4 more

Marko Tanasković (born December 6, 1986) is a researcher at Singidunum University with a PhD in Information Technology and Electrical Engineering from ETH Zurich (2015). His academic background includes master's (ETH Zurich, 2011) and bachelor's (University of Belgrade, 2009) studies in Electrical Engineering. Doctoral studies: Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, ETH Zurich (2011-2015) Master studies: Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, ETH Zurich (2009-2011) Basic studies: Electrical Engineering, University of Belgrade (2005-2009) Tanasković's research focuses on control systems , predictive modeling , and optimization algorithms for mechanical and electrical systems. His work addresses adaptive model predictive control (MPC), sensorless motor positioning, and data-driven approaches for nonlinear systems. Recent publications (2018-2024) demonstrate expertise in: Embedded control systems (rotor polarity detection) Drone forensics and autonomous navigation Industrial automation (LabVIEW applications) Biomedical sensor development ('Smart Anklet') Machine learning optimization (firefly algorithm)

Jeremy LaliberteView profile

Professor

• Composite Materials
• Fibre Metal Laminates (FMLs)
• Uninhabited Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
• +7 more

Professor Jeremy Laliberte is a faculty member in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Carleton University. He focuses on novel aircraft structures, composite materials, and next-generation UAV/MAV design. Previously a Research Officer at the National Research Council Institute for Aerospace Research (2001-2008), he now leads the Advanced Aircraft Design Lab and co-leads the NSERC CREATE UTILI initiative with multiple Canadian universities. Research areas include: Composite and hybrid material manufacturing Biomimetic aerospace structures Hydrogen fuel cell aircraft power systems Finite element analysis of impact damage Urban air mobility safety protocols Recent publications emphasize: High-fidelity composite modeling Low-velocity impact analysis Hybrid delivery logistics Battery lifecycle optimization Scientific recognition includes: Best Poster at ICAF 2023 Best Student Paper/Presentation awards (2022 AEAC) He supervises a research group working on projects with industry partners like Bell Helicopter, Bombardier, and NRC.

James E. BlumanView profile

Associate Professor

• Robotics
• Military Applications of Small UAS
• Flapping Wing Micro-Air Vehicles
• +5 more

Colonel James E. Bluman, PhD, PE , serves as the Research Program Director for the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Previously, he directed the Center for Innovation and Engineering and held an associate professorship in Civil and Mechanical Engineering at West Point. His Army career included operational roles as an Aviation Officer, Acquisition Corps officer with Level III DAWIA certification, and Assistant Product Manager for the Armed Scout Helicopter Project Office. Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering - University of Alabama in Huntsville M.S. in Aerospace Engineering - Penn State B.S. in Mechanical Engineering - U.S. Military Academy His research focuses on robotics, military applications of small unmanned aerial systems (UAS), flapping wing micro-air vehicles, insect flight dynamics, drone autonomy, image classification, automated target recognition , and generative AI in undergraduate research . His recent publications emphasize algorithmic advancements for aerial search patterns, including Lissajous curves and deterministic flight planning. Scientific recognition includes the American Society of Mechanical Engineering’s Donald N. Zwiep Award for Innovation in Education and the USMA’s 2024 Dean’s Mid-Career Award for Scholarship Excellence .

Seongim ChoiView profile

Assistant Professor

• Computational Design Optimization
• CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics)
• Multidisciplinary Analysis and Design Optimization (MADO)
• +5 more

Seongim Choi is an Assistant Professor in the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering at Virginia Tech and an Adjunct Professor at KAIST's Graduate School of Transportation. His research focuses on computational design optimization, advanced CFD methods, and multidisciplinary analysis for aerospace systems. He holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University (2006) and degrees from Seoul National University (B.S. 1997, M.S. 1999). His expertise includes unsteady flow analysis, fluid-structure interaction, and rotorcraft design. Notable awards include the Young Investigator Award from the Asian/Australian Rotorcraft Forum (2012) and Best Paper Awards from AIAA conferences (2004). Professional roles span NASA Ames, the U.S. Army Aeroflightdynamics Directorate, and KAIST. Research interests emphasize adjoint-based sensitivity analysis, time-spectral methods for CFD, and machine learning integration in design optimization. Current work addresses low-boom supersonic jets, helicopter rotors, and autonomous UAV systems. His affiliations include the Virginia Tech College of Engineering and collaborations with KAIST's aerospace programs.

Raúl OrdóñezView profile

Professor

• Nonlinear Control
• Adaptive Control
• Extremum-Seeking Control
• +4 more

Raúl Ordóñez is a full professor and Director of Graduate Programs in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Dayton’s School of Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from The Ohio State University (2001 and 1996) and a B.E. from Monterrey Institute of Technology. His research focuses on nonlinear control, adaptive systems, extremum-seeking control, and applications in aerospace, robotics, and power systems. Professional highlights include serving as Associate Editor for Automatica since 2006, co-authoring textbooks on adaptive control and extremum-seeking techniques, and holding editorial roles for IEEE conferences. Awards include the Boeing Welliver Faculty Fellowship (2008) and AFRL Summer Faculty Fellowship (2014). He has conducted research collaborations at institutions like Université de Picardie Jules Verne (France) and TU Wien (Austria). Key research areas include control of hypersonic vehicles, industrial robots, scramjets, and power generators. His work integrates advanced control methodologies with practical systems, emphasizing real-time optimization and robustness. Courses taught span control systems, nonlinear dynamics, and adaptive control. Education: Ph.D./M.S. (Ohio State), B.E. (Monterrey Tech) Professional Activities: IEEE Control Systems Society, CCCS Collaborative Center Recent Awards: AFRL (2014), Boeing (2008) Labs/Teams: Collaborates with robotics and aerospace teams at UD and international institutions

Torsten MerzView profile

Researcher

• Uncrewed Aircraft Robotics
• Dependable Autonomous Systems
• Underwater Vehicles
• +7 more

Dr. Torsten Merz is a Principal Research Engineer at CSIRO's Autonomous Systems Laboratory , focusing on technologies for dependable autonomous mobile robots in environmental applications. He holds a Dr.-Ing. (Doctor of Engineering) and a Diplom-Informatiker (Master's equivalent) from German universities. Education : Doctoral degree in Engineering (2000), Department of Computer Science, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (Germany) Diplom-Informatiker in Applied Computer Science in the Natural Sciences (1995), University of Bielefeld (Germany) Research Interests : Enabling technologies for autonomous helicopters , underwater vehicles , and uncrewed surface vehicles with a focus on dependable systems and real-time control . Integration of computer vision , modelling languages , and evolutionary robotics into environmental monitoring and infrastructure inspection. Article Trends : Recent work emphasizes edge-AI for reef surveys, underwater imaging for habitat mapping, and multi-objective motion planning for dynamic environments. Historical contributions include control frameworks for autonomous robots, obstacle avoidance in rural areas, and autonomous landing systems for UAVs. Labs & Teams : Lead developer at CSIRO's Autonomous Systems Laboratory , where he pioneered autonomous flight technologies for helicopters and expanded into underwater/surface robotics . Previously led the Perception and Control Group at Linköping University, developing avionics for autonomous helicopters.

Walter FichterView profile

Professor

• Flight Control Systems
• Aerospace Engineering
• Satellite Dynamics
• +5 more

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Walter Fichter is Director of the Institute of Flight Mechanics and Flight Control at the University of Stuttgart, within the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering and Geodesy. With 17 years of industrial experience at Airbus Defence and Space and Mitsubishi Electric, he has contributed to six satellite control systems and holds 14 patents. His research focuses on advanced flight control systems, autonomous UAVs, helicopter dynamics, and spacecraft navigation. Notable projects include the LISA Pathfinder mission's drag-free system and the MosaicGPS receiver for geostationary orbits. His expertise spans satellite aerodynamics, nonlinear control theory, and AI-driven autonomous flight. Current research includes energy-efficient soaring algorithms, distributed propulsion systems (e.g., Icaré aircraft), and real-time evasion maneuvers for eVTOLs. Prof. Fichter actively pilots aircraft (EU/US certifications) and serves on the AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics advisory board. Key achievements include pioneering tilt-to-length noise estimation techniques for gravitational wave observatories and developing stall-prevention systems for gliders. His work bridges academic research with industrial applications, addressing challenges in space exploration, urban air mobility, and sustainable aviation technologies.

Gary SlaterView profile

Professor

• Air Traffic Management
• Aircraft Control Systems
• Satellite Formation Flight
• +5 more

Gary Slater is a prominent aerospace engineering researcher with an extensive publication record spanning several decades, demonstrating significant contributions to air traffic management systems, aircraft control, and satellite formation flight. His academic career shows progression from fundamental aircraft control systems in the 1970s-1980s to complex air traffic flow management problems in the 1990s-2000s. Dr. Slater's primary research areas include: Air Traffic Management and Flow Optimization Aircraft Control Systems and Flight Dynamics Satellite Formation Flight and Spacecraft Control Collision Avoidance Systems for aircraft and satellites Helicopter Flight Path Optimization Dynamic Scheduling Algorithms for congested airspace Analysis of his publication trends reveals consistent focus on optimizing air traffic systems, with particular emphasis on reducing flight delays, improving airspace capacity, and enhancing safety through advanced control algorithms. His later work (2003-2009) increasingly addresses satellite formation flight and collision avoidance, demonstrating cross-domain application of control theory principles. Dr. Slater has secured substantial research funding throughout his career, serving as Principal Investigator on numerous NASA grants through the Ohio Space Grant Consortium, as well as industry-funded projects with General Electric Company. His grant portfolio includes significant projects such as 'Collision Avoidance and Safe Mode for Satellite Formations,' 'Approaches to Multi-center Based Air Traffic Management,' and 'Transition to Superdensity Operations-2015 Timeframe,' totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars in research funding.

Luis Mejias AlvarezView profile

Associate Professor

• Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
• Computer Vision
• Collision Avoidance
• +5 more

Luis Mejias Alvarez is an Associate Professor and Researcher in the School of Electrical Engineering & Robotics at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). He specializes in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), focusing on vision-based guidance, collision avoidance, and autonomous navigation technologies. His work integrates computer vision, sensor fusion, and control systems to advance UAV applications in aerospace and robotics. Education: Electronic Engineer (UNEXPO, Venezuela, 1999) MSc in Networks and Telecommunication Systems (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 2001) PhD in Robotics and Automation (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid) Research Interests: His research spans Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), including autonomous helicopters, vision-based navigation, collision avoidance, and forced landing technologies. He develops algorithms for computer vision, sensor fusion, and control systems, with applications in aerospace engineering and artificial intelligence. His work aims to enhance UAV safety and autonomy in complex environments. Awards & Fellowships: 2017 Endeavour Executive Fellowship Visiting Professorships at Université de Bretagne Occidentale (2017) and UTIS (2017) Editor of Springer Tracts in Advanced Robotics (2016) Keynote Speaker at CIIMA 2014 Program Chair for UAS Conferences (2013) DECRA Fellowship (2012–2015) IRSES Grant (2009) Advising & Grants: Supervised PhD/Masters students in areas like vision-based collision avoidance and UAV navigation. Key grants include ARC DECRA and international IRSES collaboration with European institutions. Labs & Collaborations: Active in QUT’s Centre for Robotics and the Australian Research Centre for Aerospace Automation. Collaborates globally on projects like drone ship landing under adverse conditions and beyond-line-of-sight navigation.

Seong-Jin LeeView profile

Associate Professor

• Autonomous Control Systems
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
• Multivariable Control Systems
• +7 more

Seong-Jin Lee is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Alfred University's Inamori School of Engineering. His research focuses on autonomous control systems, UAV optimization, aerodynamic drag reduction, and CFD simulation. He holds a PhD in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering from Oklahoma State University, an ME from Cornell University, and a BS from Korea Aviation University. Education: PhD: Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Oklahoma State University ME: Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University BS: Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Korea Aviation University Research Interests: Dr. Lee specializes in autonomous systems for drones, multivariable control systems, and optimization algorithms. His work includes CFD-driven drag reduction for trucks and UAVs, thermal analysis via FEA, and advanced robotics/machine dynamics. Recent projects emphasize high-altitude parafoil navigation and energy harvesting through MACE turbines in train tunnels. Publications: His work spans aerodynamic optimization, UAV path planning, and autonomous recovery systems. Key themes include CFD applications, flow control via vortex generators, and real-time flight control for small helicopters. Awards/Grants: None explicitly listed in the provided materials. Advising & Labs: Advises research in autonomous systems and mechanical dynamics. Based in Engineering Laboratories, Room 203.

Cornel SultanView profile

Professor

• Tensegrity Structures
• Rotorcraft Modeling and Control
• Planning and Coordination
• +3 more

Cornel Sultan is a Professor in the Department of Aerospace & Ocean Engineering at Virginia Tech. His research focuses on Tensegrity Structures, Rotorcraft Modeling and Control, and Energy Harvesting. He earned his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue University. Sultan has advised numerous Ph.D. students, with recent graduates contributing to academia and industry. He holds awards including AIAA Associate Fellow (2017) and Fellow of Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering (2016). Education: Ph.D., M.S. (Applied Mathematics) from Purdue University; B.S./M.S. from Polytechnic University, Romania. Research Interests: Tensegrity Structures (prestressable, dynamics, membrane integration); Rotorcraft Control (helicopter models, shipboard operations); Energy Harvesting (ocean current turbines, vibration energy). Key publications include works on tensegrity deployment, helicopter control algorithms, and ocean energy systems. His work spans theoretical mechanics, control theory, and applied engineering solutions. Professional Contributions: Technical chairs for AIAA conferences (2015-2016), member of AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Technical Committee. Grants supported by NSF and ONR, focusing on hydrokinetic power systems and structural dynamics. Labs/Teams: Active in Virginia Tech’s aerospace robotics and autonomous systems research, collaborating on projects like ocean current turbine arrays and tensegrity-based robotics.

• Autonomous Robotics
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems
• Flight Mechanics
• +3 more

Stefano Primatesta is a Fixed-term tenure-track Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS) at Politecnico di Torino. He is also a member of the Interdepartmental Center PIC4SeR - PoliTO Interdepartmental Center for Service Robotics. His academic work focuses on flight mechanics and control systems within the broader field of Industrial and Information Engineering. His research interests span multiple domains related to autonomous systems: Autonomous Robotics Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Flight Mechanics Control Engineering Robotics Simulation Engineering and Modelling Professor Primatesta's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on UAV control systems, path planning in complex environments, and practical applications of drone technology in agriculture and urban logistics. His work combines theoretical control approaches with practical implementation, often addressing real-world challenges such as payload uncertainty, urban navigation constraints, and mission safety. His notable scientific contributions include: Development of robust control systems for quadrotor UAVs Research on noise-aware path planning using reinforcement learning Work on multi-UAV formation flight and target estimation Innovations in precision agriculture applications for drones Advancements in safe mission planning for urban environments Professor Primatesta actively supervises multiple PhD students working on cutting-edge UAV research topics, including robust control under uncertain conditions and urban air mobility applications. He serves as Scientific Director for the 4IPLAY research project focused on improving intelligent infrastructure inspection through advanced UAV autonomy. His teaching portfolio includes advanced courses in flight dynamics, modeling and simulation, and helicopter flight mechanics at both undergraduate and graduate levels. He contributes to multiple degree programs as an invited member of academic colleges.