The aerospace domain has historicallyÌýbeen at the forefront of cutting-edge control theory. Due to the potential consequences of aircraft or spacecraft failure, one of the main research challenges in this area of applications is to improve certainÌýperformance objectives (e.g. manuverability, speed, efficiency) while simultaneouslyÌýprovidingÌýformal safety guarantees.


Spacecraft Attitude Control

A satellite orbiting earth

The ÌýJason-2 satellite orbiting earth.

Spacecraft carry a variety of sensors and auxiliary systems that must be oriented correctly to ensure proper functionality (e.g. photo-sensitive sensors should never be pointed towards the sun, antennas need to point towards the source of their targetÌýsignal, etc.). This project develops optimal control strategies for re-orienting spacecraft whileÌýenforcing safety constraints and mission objectives.

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Collaborators: Xudong Chen1, John Hauser1,Ìý2
1. Â鶹ÊÓƵ
2. Air Force Research Lab

Students: Thomas Dearing

Funding:ÌýÌý(Awarded to Thomas Dearing)


Formation Control of Multi-Agent Systems

A flight of starlings

Award-winning photo of a flock of starlings by .

This project investigates the control of multi-agent systems that must achieve an emerging behavior while being subject to local interactions and constraints. Application areas include swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles as well as small satellite formations, both of which share the similarity of beingÌýunderactuated systems.

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Collaborators: Xudong Chen1, 2, 3
1. Â鶹ÊÓƵ
2. Air Force Research Lab

3. Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Students: Thomas Dearing, Bryan Convens

Funding:ÌýÌý(Travel grant)


Control of Tilt-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Tilt-wing aircraft

Canadair CL-84 Tilt-wing aircraft.

Tilt-wingÌýaircraft combine the maneuverability of vertical take-off and landing vehicles with the endurance of fixed-wing aircraft. As opposed toÌýmore traditional tilt-rotor designs, the rotor and the wing perform a rigid rotation while transitioning from hover mode to forward flight. Due to the aerodynamic interactions between the wing and the propellers, the aircraft is subject toÌýa wide array of forces and torques, which can be used to perform maneuvers that would otherwise be impossible.

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Collaborators:ÌýJohn Hauser1, 2
1. Â鶹ÊÓƵ
2. Università di Bologna

Students:ÌýJacob Cook, Andrea Mengozzi


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