Mehmet Ali Erbil

Mehmet Ali Erbil is a Researcher at the University of Southampton, where he serves as Principal UAV Engineer in the SotonUAV research facility. His work focuses on drone avionics design, layout, fitment, and development for projects funded by UKRI, EPSRC, and the Department for Transport. He has extensive experience in UAV systems since 2005 and contributes to both research and teaching.

Research interests include:

• Drone avionics engineering
• Flight systems optimization
• Aerodynamic layout
• Sensor integration

Recent publications highlight advancements in fixed-wing UAV noise modeling and VTOL drone development through the CASCADE Open Aircraft Project. His work spans technical design, data analysis, and interdisciplinary applications in aerospace systems.

Erbil supervises research students and contributes to teaching responsibilities at the university. He is actively involved in UAV research supervision and project delivery, with expertise in intellectual property (IP) and graduate degree programme (GDP) guidance.