Pan Zhao

Pan Zhao Assistant Professor Director of Autonomous Systems and Control Lab (ASCL) Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics University of Alabama Office: 201 7th Avenue, Tom Bevill Building 1103D, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 (205) 348-2807 pan.zhao@ua.edu [CV] [Google scholar] [LinkedIn]

About me

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics at the University of Alabama, and the director of the Autonomous Systems and Control Lab (ASCL). Before joining UA, I was a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, advised by Prof. Naira Hovakimyan. I got my Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in 2018 from the University of British Columbia, advised by Prof. Ryozo Nagamune and Prof. Mu Chiao.

My research interests include control theory, autonomous systems, and machine learning with applications to robotics, transportation and agricultural systems. In particular, I leverage dynamical systems, control theory, and machine learning tools to design and validate control and decision-making algorithms for autonomous/intelligent systems to ensure their safe and efficient operation in challenging scenarios under various uncertainties.

Some specific directions that I currently focus on include Robust and adaptive control Planning and predictive control under uncertainties Data-driven modeling and control Safe learning-based control and decision making Resilient autonomous systems Applications in transportation, robotics, and sustainable agricultural management

Education

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2018
M.E. in Mechatronics Engineering, Beihang University, 2012
B.E. in Automation, Beihang University, 2009

Opening

I consistently look for self-motivated graduate students in the fields of Control and Autonomous Systems. See our lab website for details.