Samer M. Khanafseh

Samer M. Khanafseh is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), affiliated with the CARNATIONS research group. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from IIT (2008), an M.S. from IIT (2002), and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Jordan University of Science and Technology (2000).

His research focuses on high-accuracy navigation algorithms, cycle ambiguity resolution, fault monitoring, and robust estimation techniques. Key areas include GNSS spoofing detection, integrity risk bounding, and sensor integration for aerospace applications. He is a member of the Institute of Navigation (ION) and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

His publications span navigation integrity, fault-tolerant systems, and GNSS applications, with notable work on Bayesian fault-tolerant estimators and GNSS spoofing attack detection using aircraft autopilot responses. His work bridges theoretical modeling with experimental validation, such as testing ground-based augmentation systems (GBAS).

• Awards:
  • Best-of-Session Paper Award, Institute of Navigation (2006)
  • Institute of Navigation 2011 Early Achievement Award
• Grants/Advising: Active involvement in CARNATIONS research initiatives, though no formal advisee list is provided.
• Labs/Teams: CARNATIONS (Context-Aware Navigation and Optimal Sensing) research group at IIT.