Pan Zhao

Dr. Pan Zhao is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics at the University of Alabama (UA). He directs the Autonomous Systems and Control Lab (ASCL), focusing on the integration of control theory, machine learning, and autonomy for aerospace and robotics applications. Prior to UA, he was a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

• B.E., Automation, Beihang University (2009)
• M.E., Mechanical Engineering, Beihang University (2012)
• Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia (2018)

Dr. Zhao’s research spans robust, adaptive, and nonlinear control theory, with applications to autonomous systems in aerospace, robotics, and sustainable agriculture. His group develops algorithms for safe and efficient operation under uncertainties, validated through real-world experiments on unmanned vehicles. Recent work includes advancements in control barrier functions, contraction metrics, and adaptive control for VTOL aircraft and quadrotors.

Notable scientific awards include the NSERC Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (2015) and recognition as an Excellent Reviewer by the Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics (2022). The ASCL lab has secured funding from UA’s ORED Small Grant Program for resilient autonomous systems research.