Zhenbo Wang

Associate Professor

Biography

August 2024-Present
Associate Professor
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

August 2018-July 2024
Assistant Professor
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Research

Optimal control; numerical optimization; convex optimization; machine learning; guidance and control; space systems; aerial vehicles; connected and automated vehicles; power and energy systems

Education

PhD, Purdue University, 2018

ME, Beihang University, 2013

BE, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2010

Professional Service

Senior Member of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

Member of AIAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Technical Committee

Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems

Reviewer for Aerospace Science and Technology; IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems; Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics; Acta Astronautica; Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets; Advances in Space Research; Annual Reviews in Control; Transportation Research Part C; etc.

Awards and Recognitions

• Professional Promise in Research Award, Tickle College of Engineering, University of Tennessee, 2024
• Louis and Ann Hoffman Endowed Excellence in Research Award, Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 2023
• NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Award, 2023
• Estus H. and Vashti L. Magoon Award for Excellence in Teaching, Purdue University, 2018
• Koerner Scholarship, Purdue University, 2017

Publications

Wang, Z. (2024). A survey on convex optimization for guidance and control of vehicular systems. Annual Reviews in Control, 57, 100957.

Wu, Y., Deniz, S., Shi, Y., & Wang, Z. (2024). Convex approach to real-time multiphase trajectory optimization for urban air mobility. Journal of Air Transportation, 1-17.

Deniz, S., Wu, Y., Shi, Y., & Wang, Z. (2024). A reinforcement learning approach to vehicle coordination for structured advanced air mobility. Green Energy and Intelligent Transportation, 3(2), 100157.

Coulter, B. G., Huang, D., & Wang, Z. (2023). Geometric design of hypersonic vehicles for optimal mission performance with high-fidelity aerodynamic models. Journal of Aircraft, 60(3), 870-882.

Shi, Y., Wang, Z., Wang, C. R., & Shao, Y. (2023). Pseudospectral convex optimization for on-ramp merging control of connected vehicles. Journal of the Franklin Institute, 360(15), 10972-10999.

Shi, Y., Wang, Z., LaClair, T. J., Wang, C., & Shao, Y. (2023). Real‐time control of connected vehicles in signalized corridors using pseudospectral convex optimization. Optimal Control Applications and Methods, 44(4), 2257-2277.

Shi, Y., Wang, Z., LaClair, T. J., Wang, C., Shao, Y., & Yuan, J. (2023). A novel deep reinforcement learning approach to traffic signal control with connected vehicles. Applied Sciences, 13(4), 2750.

Rice, C. R., McDonald, S. T., Shi, Y., Gan, H., Lee, W. S., Chen, Y., & Wang, Z. (2022). Perception, path planning, and flight control for a drone-enabled autonomous pollination system. Robotics, 11(6), 144.

Shi, Y., & Wang, Z. (2021). Onboard generation of optimal trajectories for hypersonic vehicles using deep learning. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 58(2), 400-414.

Wang, Z., & Lu, Y. (2020). Improved sequential convex programming algorithms for entry trajectory optimization. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 57(6), 1373-1386.

Wang, Z., & McDonald, S. T. (2020). Convex relaxation for optimal rendezvous of unmanned aerial and ground vehicles. Aerospace Science and Technology, 99, 105756.

Wang, Z. (2019). Optimal trajectories and normal load analysis of hypersonic glide vehicles via convex optimization. Aerospace Science and Technology, 87, 357-368.

Wang, Z., & Grant, M. J. (2018). Autonomous entry guidance for hypersonic vehicles by convex optimization. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 55(4), 993-1006.

Wang, Z., & Grant, M. J. (2018). Optimization of minimum-time low-thrust transfers using convex programming. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 55(3), 586-598.

Wang, Z., & Grant, M. J. (2018). Minimum-fuel low-thrust transfers for spacecraft: A convex approach. IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, 54(5), 2274-2290.

Wang, Z., & Grant, M. J. (2017). Constrained trajectory optimization for planetary entry via sequential convex programming. Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 40(10), 2603-2615.