Roberto Sabatini

Roberto Sabatini is a Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics with three decades of experience in aerospace, defense, and geospatial systems research and education, having served in various industry, government, and academic organizations in Europe, North America, Australia, Asia, 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 published more than 300 articles 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 Adjunct Professor at RMIT University (affiliated with the Aerospace Engineering and Aviation Discipline and the Sir Lawrence Wackett Defence and Aerospace Centre). He also collaborates with various national and international organizations, including ICAO, NASA, FAA, JARUS, TII-PSRC, UAE Space Agency, Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund, Polytechnic University of Turin, Chosun University, DUT Space Science Center, and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. In 2020, Prof. Sabatini was nominated Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Aerospace & Electronic Systems Society (AESS) and elected Chair of the IEEE AESS Avionics Systems Panel (ASP) in 2021 (two consecutive mandates till December 2024). Appointed to the Board of Governors of the IEEE AESS in 2022, he assumed the role of Vice President of Technical Operations in January 2024. Prof. Sabatini is a founding Editor of the IEEE Press Series on Aeronautics and Astronautics Systems, Editor for Progress in Aerospace Sciences, and Associate Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, Robotica, the Journal of Navigation, and Aerospace Science and Technology. 

Professional roles:

- Professor, Aerospace Engineering Department, Khalifa University of Science and Technology (UAE) 

- Director, Intelligent and Autonomous Aerospace Systems Group, Khalifa University (UAE)

- Chair, Aerospace Research Strategy Committee - FALCON Program, Khalifa University (UAE)
- Director, Guidance, Navigation and Control Laboratory, Khalifa University (UAE)

- Adjunct Professor, Aerospace Engineering and Aviation/SLWDAC (Australia)

- Member, Khalifa University Space Technology and Innovation Laboratory (UAE)

- Member, Khalifa University Center for Cyber-Physical Systems (UAE)
- 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)

Industry experience:
Prof. Sabatini has three decades of experience in research, education and DDT&E (Design, Development, Test and Evaluation) activities for the aerospace, geospatial, 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.

Research and teaching interests:
- Aeronautics and Astronautics; Aerospace Systems; Defence Systems
- Avionics Systems; Air Traffic Management System; 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