Marco Ciarcià

Dr. Marco Ciarcià is an Associate Teaching Professor at Colorado State University's Department of Mechanical Engineering, part of the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering. Previously, he served as an Assistant Professor at South Dakota State University (2016–2023) and as a Research Associate at the Naval Postgraduate School's Spacecraft Robotics Laboratory (until 2015). He is also the CTO and co-founder of AeroFly LLC, specializing in UAV design and development. His research focuses on robotics, mechatronics, UAV design, control systems, spacecraft guidance, and small satellites.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Rice University (2008)
• M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Università degli Studi di Palermo (2001, magna cum laude)

Research Interests:
Dr. Ciarcià’s work spans robotics, mechatronics, UAV design, nonlinear control, spacecraft navigation, and satellite technology. He emphasizes practical applications, including autonomous systems, human-robot collaboration, and aerospace engineering challenges like Mars drone configurations and thermal simulation of CubeSats.

Notable Contributions:
His research includes advancements in attitude control systems for satellites, UAV-based structural monitoring, and optimization algorithms for multi-UAV path planning. He has also developed low-cost satellite testbeds and contributed to thermal simulation studies for CubeSats.

Awards:

• U.S. National Research Council Fellowship (2010–2015)

Teaching and Advising:
Dr. Ciarcià teaches courses in Aircraft Design, Spacecraft Guidance, Optimal Control, and Robotics. His academic leadership includes mentoring students in mechanical engineering and aerospace systems. He actively contributes to the AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Technical Committee.

Labs and Teams:
His involvement includes the Spacecraft Robotics Laboratory (Naval Postgraduate School) and collaborations with AeroFly LLC, focusing on UAV innovation and commercial applications.