Roberto Sabatini

Roberto Sabatini is a Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics with three decades of experience in aerospace and defense systems research and education, having served in various industry, government and academic organizations in Europe, North America, Australia, and the Middle-East. His research addresses key contemporary challenges in avionics, spaceflight and robotics/autonomous systems design, test and certification, focusing on the central role played by cyber-physical systems and AI in the digital transformation and sustainable development of the aerospace sector (e.g., trusted autonomous systems, urban and regional air mobility, distributed space systems, space domain awareness, and multi-domain traffic management). Throughout his career, Prof. Sabatini has led several research projects funded by national governments, the European Commission, and industrial partners such as Thales, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Leonardo, the SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), and many others

Prof. Sabatini has authored, co-authored, or edited several books, and has had more than 300 articles published in refereed international journals and conference proceedings. Since 2019, he has been listed by the Stanford University’s ranking among the top 2% most cited scientists globally in the field of aerospace and aeronautics. Prof. Sabatini is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS), the Royal Institute of Navigation (RIN), the Institution of Engineers Australia (IEAust), and the International Engineering and Technology Institute (IETI). He was conferred prestigious national and international awards including: Distinguished Leadership Award – Aviation/Aerospace Australia (2021); Scientist of the Year – Australian Defence Industry Awards (2019); Professorial Scholarship Award – Northrop Grumman Corporation (2017); Science Award – Sustainable Aviation Research Society (2016); Arch T. Colwell Merit Award – Society of Automotive Engineering (2015); and Scientific Achievement Award – NATO Research & Technology Organization (2008). Additionally, Prof. Sabatini was recognized best-in-field national scientist in aerospace engineering and aviation by the 2021 Australian annual research report.

In addition to his primary duties at Khalifa University of Science and Technology (Abu Dhabi, UAE), he serves as an Honorary Professor at RMIT University (affiliated to the Aerospace Engineering and Aviation Discipline and to the Sir Lawrence Wackett Defence and Aerospace Centre). Currently, Prof. Sabatini serves as Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Aerospace & Electronic Systems Society (AESS), Chair of the AESS Avionics Systems Panel, and member of the AESS Board of Governors. He is Editor-in-Chief for the IEEE Press Series on Aeronautics and Astronautics Systems, Editor for Progress in Aerospace Sciences, Section Editor-in-Chief for Robotics (Aerospace Robotics and Autonomous Systems), and Associate Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, Robotica, the Journal of Navigation, and Aerospace Science and Technology.

Teaching Areas

• Avionics Systems Design
• Spaceflight Systems Design
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems
• Air Traffic Management Systems
• Satellite and Integrated Navigation Systems
• Aerospace Systems and Software Engineering

Research Topics

• Aerospace Vehicle Design and Testing
• Avionics and Air Traffic Management Systems
• Spaceflight Systems Design and Operations
• Aerospace Robotics and Autonomous Systems
• Guidance, Navigation and Control Systems
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and UAS Traffic Management
• Advanced Air Mobility and Urban Air Mobility
• Distributed and Intelligent Satellite Systems
• Space Domain Awareness and Space Traffic Management
• GNSS Integrity Monitoring and Augmentation
• Defense C4ISR and Electronic Warfare Systems
• Cognitive Human-Machine Systems

Recent Research Projects

• KUST (UAE): An Intelligent Cyber-Physical System for Multi-Domain Traffic Management (2022-24)
• SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) PhD Scholarship: Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Distributed Satellite Systems (DSS) Autonomous Operations (2020-23)
• Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG): Satellite Resilience and Autonomous Manoeuvring (2021)
• Civil Aviation Safety Authority (Australia): Airspace Risk Modelling Research Program (2020-21)
• Insitec Defence (Australia) PhD Scholarship – AI for System Fault Detection and Data Bus Optimisation (2020-21)
• Lockheed Martin – Science, Technology, Engineering Leadership, Research Laboratory (STELaRLab), PhD Internship: AI for Aerospace and Defence Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) – Gaining Insights into Complex Suggestions (2020-21)
• SmartSat CRC (Australia): Human-Autonomy Team for Intelligent Distributed Satellite Operations (2019-22)
• Northrop Grumman Mission Systems (USA): Cognitive Human-Machine System for Multiple UAS and LEO Satellite Operations. Focus on Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions (2019-23)
• Lockheed Martin –  STELaRLab PhD Internship: AI for Aerospace and Defence CPS – Optimisation of Personal Preferences (2020-21)
• Defence Science Institute (DSI) PhD Scholarship: Low Size, Weight, Power and Cost (SWaP-C) Unmanned Aircraft Navigation and Guidance Systems in GNSS-denied environments (2019-21)
• Food Agility Cooperative Research Centre (CRC): A Novel LIDAR System UAS and Satellite Plant Heath Assessment – Deploying Advanced Sensors to Meet Fruit Export Requirements for China (2019-23)
• Australian Department of Defence (DoD) Land Engineering Agency (LEA): Diagnostics and Prognostics Models and Software Tools for Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (2019-20)
• Australian Mineral Industries Research Association (AMIRA): Developing UAV-Mounted Geophysical Sensor Arrays – UAV and Avionics Systems (2019-20)
• British Maritime Technology (BMT) Defence and Security Australia PhD Internship: An Intelligent Vision Based Surveillance System for UAS Search-and-Rescue (2019-20)
• Thales Australia: Human-Autonomy Interactions for Very Low-Level Air Traffic Operations – UAS Traffic Management and Urban Air Mobility (2019-22)
• Northrop Grumman Mission Systems (USA): Cognitive Human-Machine System for “One-to-Many” UAS Operations (2018-21)
• Australian Government, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science – Defence Innovation Hub (DIH): Stop-Rotor Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) UAS Guidance, Navigation and Control (2018-19)
• Jetstar Airways (Australia) PhD Internship: Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Future Technology Applications (2018-19)
• Northrop Grumman Mission Systems (USA): Cognitive Processing and Machine Learning for Aerospace and Defence Systems (2017-20)
• Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group (Australia): Cognitive and Adaptive Human-Machine Interfaces for Aerospace Systems – Civil/Military ATM and UAS Command & Control (2016-17)
• Defence Science Institute/DST Maritime Future Technology Watch Program (Australia): Development of a Novel Tool for Recoverability in Maritime Evacuation (2017)
• THALES Australia: Development of a Cognitive Human-Machine Interface and Interaction (HMI2) for Next Generation Air Traffic Management Systems (2016-19)
• Defence Science Institute/DST Maritime Future Technology Watch Program (Australia): Decision Support Tool to Reduce Maritime Platform Hazards and Incidents (2017)
• Defence Science Institute (Australia): Development of the dynamics model of the Stop-Rotor UAV for accurate performance evaluation (2016-17)

Research Affiliations

• Member, Khalifa University Space Technology and Innovation Center (UAE)
• Member, Khalifa University Center for Cyber-Physical Systems (UAE)
• Member, Khalifa University Robotics and Intelligent Systems Institute (UAE)
• Honorary Professor, Sir Lawrence Wackett Defence and Aerospace Centre (Australia)
• Member, RMIT Cyber-Physical and Autonomous Systems Group (Australia)
• Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Korea Aerospace Research Institute (South Korea)
• Adjunct Professor, Space Science Centre, Durban University of Technology (South Africa)
• Visiting Professor, PhD Training Courses and Joint MEng/PhD Supervisor, Polytechnic University of Turin, Italy
• Adjunct Professor, Department of Control, Instrumentation and Robotics Engineering, Chosun University (South Korea)

University Degrees

• PhD Aerospace Systems Engineering (Cranfield University)
• MSc (Laurea) Astronautical Engineering (Sapienza University of Rome)
• MSc Navigation Technology (University of Nottingham)

Professional Licenses

• Aircraft Private Pilot License (Airplane), Italian Civil Aviation Authority
• Flight Test Engineer (Military Aircraft), ITAF Research and Flight Test Division
• Remote Aircraft Pilot License (Multirotor Helicopter), Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority

Industry Experience

Prof. Sabatini has three decades of experience in research, education and DDT&E (Design, Development, Test and Evaluation) activities for the aerospace and defence industries, with a focus on: Avionics Systems, Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC), Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), UAS Traffic Management (UTM), Human-Machine Systems, and Trusted Autonomy. His work has led to the development of innovative navigation and guidance techniques; UAS sense-and-avoid; optimal control and trajectory optimisation software; electro-optical and laser systems; GNSS integrity augmentation; cognitive ergonomics; and enhanced human performance solutions. Prof. Sabatini's research and professional interests include:

• Aeronautics and Astronautics; Aerospace Systems; Defence Systems
• Avionics Systems; Air and Space Traffic Management; Autonomous Systems
• Distributed Space Systems; Space Domain Awareness; Space Traffic Management 
• Autonomous Vehicles; Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS); UAS Traffic Management
• Guidance, Navigation and Control Systems; Optimal Control; Trajectory Optimization
• Spacecraft Dynamics and Control; Space Transportation Systems; Space Power Systems
• Human Factors Engineering; Human-Machine Interactions; Cognitive Human-Machine Systems
• Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS); Integrated Navigation Systems; GNSS Augmentation 
• Intelligent Transport Systems; Transport Environmental Sustainability; Sustainable Aviation Systems
• Artificial Intelligence; Machine Learning; Fuzzy Logics; Genetic Algorithms; Knowledge-Based Systems
• Multisensor Fusion; Fault-tolerant Avionics Design; Aircraft Data Networks; Integrated Modular Avionics
• Aerospace Remote Sensing; Electro-Optics and Lasers; Acoustic Sensors; Airborne Lidar/Radar Systems
• Vehicular Communication Systems; VLOS/BVLOS Communications; SATCOM; Civil and Military Data Links