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Appointment Highlights Prof. Roberto Sabatini’s Contributions to Aerospace Systems Research, Innovation, and Education   

Khalifa University faculty Prof. Roberto Sabatini, Department of Aerospace Engineering has been elected as Vice-President of Technical Operations by the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society (AESS), the most prestigious professional organization entirely dedicated to this field. 

This appointment ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Prof. Sabatini’s extensive contributions to aerospace systems research, innovation and education, over the past three decades. His career is marked by a series of leadership roles across industry, government, and academia in Europe, North America, Australia, Asia, and the Middle East, making him a renowned figure in the advancement of aerospace and aviation technologies worldwide. 

Prof. Sabaini’s 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 and aviation sectors. Practical applications include trusted autonomous flight 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 industry and government-funded research projects and has authored or co-authored more than 350 peer-reviewed international publications. He holds various academic qualifications in engineering, science and management disciplines, including doctoral degrees in Aerospace Engineering (Cranfield) and Geospatial Systems (Nottingham).  

As a licensed Flight Test Engineer, Private Pilot and Remote Pilot, he has logged more than two thousand flight hours on various aircraft types, including jets, turboprops, propeller aircraft, helicopters, and both fixed-wing and multi-rotor unmanned aircraft. Prof. Sabatini is a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng), as well as a Fellow and Engineering Executive of Institution of Engineers Australia (FIEAust and EngExec). He is also a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS), Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation (FRIN), and Fellow the International Engineering and Technology Institute (FIETI). 

Currently, Prof. Sabatini serves in the editorial board of several journals, including the IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, Progress in Aerospace Sciences, Robotica, Aerospace Science and Technology, the Journal of Navigation, and the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine. 

Since joining Khalifa University in 2021, Prof. Sabatini has founded the Intelligent and Autonomous Aerospace Systems (IAAS) Group and the Guidance, Navigation and Control Laboratory (GNC-Lab). He also leads the FALCON program, a transdisciplinary research and training initiative dedicated to the future of aviation and commercial spaceflight. The FALCON program addresses critical gaps in sustainable flight systems design and operations, including advanced air mobility, high-speed and suborbital transport, and the seamless integration of ground and space-based communication, navigation and surveillance infrastructure. 

Prof. Sabatini said: “As Vice-President Technical Operations of the IEEE AESS, I envision a future where the aerospace and electronic systems community capitalizes on its strengths, embraces constant improvement, and leverages collaboration opportunities to maximize impact. I am strongly committed to the AESS mission and values, and I have actively contributed to this prestigious society since 2008 in various technical and operational leadership roles. As Vice-President, I will continue working with the team to uphold the highest possible standards in technical operations, also contributing to high-impact publications, educational initiatives, conferences, and standardization working groups.” 

Alisha Roy

Science Writer