Roberto Sabatini is an Italian-Australian research engineer and academic specializing in aerospace and defense systems. Currently, he is a full professor at Khalifa University of Science and Technology (UAE) and honorary professor at RMIT University (Australia). Sabatini holds or has held visiting and consulting appointments at a number of institutions, including: Polytechnic University of Turin (Italy); Chosun University (South Korea); Durban University of Technology/Space Science Center (South Africa); the UAE Space Agency; and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. Additionally, Sabatini is a member of the Board of Governors of the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society (AESS), Chair of the IEEE AESS Avionics Systems Panel, and Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE AESS (aerospace cyber-physical systems; trusted autonomous systems; GNSS augmentation for unmanned aircraft and urban air mobility; future air and space transport; advances in digital avionics and space systems; and cognitive human-machine systems)
Research work
Sabatini'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 sector (e.g., trusted autonomy, urban and regional air mobility, distributed space systems, space domain awareness, and multi-domain traffic management). He has authored, co-authored or edited several books, and has had more than 300 articles published in refereed international journals and conference proceedings. The Australian Research Special Report 2021 recognized Sabatini as the top national scientist in the field of Aerospace Engineering and Aviation<ref name="The Australian Research Special Report 2021" and, 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.
Fellowships
Royal Aeronautical Society
Royal Institute of Navigation
Institution of Engineers Australia
International Engineering and Technology Institute
Editorial Duties
Editor, IEEE Press Series on Aeronautics and Astronautics Systems
Editor, Progress in Aerospace Sciences
Section Editor-in-Chief, Robotics (Aerospace Robotics and Autonomous Systems) Associate Editor, IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems Associate Editor, Aerospace Science and Technology Associate Editor, Journal of Navigation Associate Editor, Aerospace Associate Editor, Robotica
Awards and honours
Arch T. Colwell Merit Award - Society of Automotive Engineering (2015) Science Award - Sustainable Aviation Research Society (2016) Professorial Scholarship - Northrop Grumman Corporation (2017) Scientist of the Year - Australian Defense Industry Awards (2019) Distinguished Leadership Award - Aviation/Aerospace Australia (2021)