Intro: Imagine you’re driving down the highway and someone suddenly cuts you off. You
quickly adjust — maybe switch lanes or ease off the gas — without anyone telling you what to
do. Now imagine a drone doing the same thing mid-flight. What if it could learn and adapt in real
time? What if it could reroute itself because of a sudden storm or avoid unexpected obstacles —
all without relying on GPS?
That’s the kind of future Professor Naira Hovakimyan is building at the University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Her work at the AVIATE Center is transforming what we thought
drones could do.
Who is Prof. Naira Hovakimyan? She’s a heavy hitter leading NASA research projects. More
about her a bit later.
Her team focuses on how drones can “learn on the fly” — adjusting their behavior based on
what’s happening in the environment rather than rigid programming. Think of it as the difference
between a GPS giving directions and a driver who reroutes themselves based on instinct and
traffic.
Why Her Research Matters for the UAV Industry Most commercial drones today rely heavily
on known environments, pre-set routes, or strong satellite signals. But many of the most
pressing UAV applications — jungle delivery, offshore logistics, emergency response — happen
in the exact opposite conditions: GPS-denied, unstable, and unpredictable.
This is where Prof. Hovakimyan’s research is a game-changer. She focuses on creating drones
that can:
● Adapt in real time: No GPS? No problem. Use visual cues, sensor fusion, and onboard
intelligence.
● Stay resilient: Handle weather changes, signal drops, or even partial hardware failures.
● Make decisions: Not just react, but predict and choose optimal actions based on
incoming data.
For companies like Mule Works building heavy-lift UAVs that operate in harsh and remote
conditions, this level of autonomy isn’t a bonus — it’s a requirement.
What It Looks Like in Practice At the AVIATE Center, teams test AI models that control aircraft
with limited or uncertain data. They use simulations, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and even
real-world missions to train drones to “think,” not just fly.
Imagine a drone carrying 800 pounds of medical supplies through a mountainous region.
Halfway through the flight, wind patterns shift and satellite coverage drops. A traditional UAV
might abort the mission. But with Prof. Hovakimyan’s adaptive systems, the drone recalculates,
shifts flight paths, and completes the mission.
The Takeaway If Mule Works and other forward-looking UAV companies want to unlock the
next generation of logistics and emergency response, they need more than big batteries and
strong frames. They need brains onboard.
Prof. Hovakimyan’s work is lighting the way for that future — where drones aren’t just tools, but
trusted teammates in the sky.
About Prof. Naira Hovakimyan Professor Naira Hovakimyan holds the W. Grafton and Lillian
B. Wilkins Professorship of Mechanical Science and Engineering at UIUC. She directs the
AVIATE Center, a NASA-funded research initiative focused on adaptive control, AI-driven flight
systems, and the future of autonomous aerial mobility. Her interdisciplinary work blends
machine learning, robotics, and control systems to equip drones with the intelligence to make
safe, real-time decisions in uncertain environments. She is widely published, actively
collaborates with government agencies, and is recognized as a pioneer in the field of intelligent
UAV autonomy.
Want to learn more? We’ll be highlighting more trailblazing professors in UAV research over
the coming weeks. If you’re building or flying next-gen aircraft, you’ll want to know who’s leading
the way.
