Prof. Dr 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.

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: