Principle Investigator

Emre Koyuncu is the PI of the research group and Associate Professor at Istanbul Technical University, Department of Aeronautical Engineering. Prof. Koyuncu is currently the Vice-Dean of the Aerospace Institute of Istanbul Technical University and Co-Director of ITU Aerospace Research Center (ITU ARC). Prof. Koyuncu received his Ph.D. (SESAR JU) in Aerospace Engineering from ITU in 2015. He was a visiting researcher at Boeing Research and Technology of Europe during 2013-2014 and at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Aero-Astro Department during 2014-2015.

His research interests lie in the broad areas of aeronautics, robotics, navigation, and control theory. In particular, he focuses on: Optimization-based control, reinforcement learning and probability theory for the design and analysis of high-performance cyber-physical systems; flight trajectory optimization and planning; airborne conflict detection and resolution; control authority sharing and collaborative/competitive AI algorithms; flight management and decision support systems; high-level autonomy in air traffic control systems; resiliency and stability assurance in large-scale air traffic networks.

Koyuncu has led numerous research grants and industrial projects from organizations and companies such as SESAR JU, BOEING, ASELSAN, HAVELSAN, ROKETSAN, TAI, TUBITAK, STM, Turkish Airlines, and IGA. He is the recipient of a Boeing Faculty Grant in 2015 and SESAR JU Ph.D. Fellowship during 2012-2015. He is a Senior Member of IEEE and AIAA and member of EASN. He is technical committee members of AIAA Air Transportation Systems, IEEE RAS Aerial Robotics and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, IEEE Control Systems Society - Hybrid Systems, EUROCONTROL Agency Research Team and Association for the Scientific Development of ATM in Europe (ASDA). In addition to holding associate editorship in IEEE Access Journal and IEEE Control System Society Conference Editorial Board, he performs project evaluations on behalf of SESAR JU, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and TUBITAK. Currently, Prof. Koyuncu holds advisory positions in Turkish Aerospace Industry (TAI), DeltaV Space and Fergani Space of Baykar Group.