Dr. OU MA

CHAIR

Dr. Ou Ma received his Ph.D. from McGill University in 1991. He is currently the Alan B. Shepard Chair Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Cincinnati (UC), where he founded and directs the Intelligent Robotics and Autonomous Systems Laboratory (IRAS Lab). His research focuses on the dynamics and control of spacecraft and robotic systems, artificial intelligence, and heterogeneous multi-agent systems. From 1991 to 2002, Dr. Ma worked at MDA Space Missions, where he contributed to the development of robotic systems for the International Space Station (ISS), including the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) and the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM). He led efforts in contact dynamics modeling, simulation, and experimental validation of these robotic systems. He also participated in the design of the end-effector of the robotic arm flown on the Orbital Express mission. Since joining academia in 2002, Dr. Ma has led numerous fundamental research projects sponsored by NSF, AFOSR, AFRL, ARO, NASA, and industry, advancing enabling technologies for spacecraft, space robotics and autonomous systems. He currently serves as the principal investigator for one of the two U.S. Space Force’s multi-university Space Strategic Technology Institute 2 (SSTI2).

VICE CHAIR

Dr. Cesare Guariniello is a Principal Research Scholar in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University. He holds two master’s degrees from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, in Automation and Robotics Engineering (with a thesis on decentralized algorithms for multi-robot exploration), and in Astronautical Engineering (with a thesis on the dynamics of a robotic arm on a space free flyer for proximity operations).

In 2016, he earned a PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Purdue University, with an award-winning dissertation on System of Systems methodologies to support space systems design. His research interests include System of Systems design and architecture –including various space applications–, space robotics, and human-autonomy interaction. His research projects have been funded, among others, by NASA, the US Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation, the US Navy, and Lockheed Martin. He subsequently expanded his research in the field of Earth Sciences, with courses and research in a master’s program in Planetary Geology, studying remote sensing for In-Situ Resource Utilization on Mars.

Dr. Guariniello is a senior member of IEEE and AIAA, vice chair of the AIAA Space and Automation and Robotics Technical Committee (SARTC), and member of INCOSE.

Outside work, Dr. Guariniello enjoys a wide variety of activities. He represented Purdue University in various fencing collegiate tournaments and served as coach of Purdue Fencing Club and advisor of Purdue Archery Club. He is an instrument-rated commercial airplane pilot and ground instructor, a sailboat racer, a licensed radio amateur, and holds multiple scuba diving certifications. Since 2017, he participated in seven simulated Martian missions as analog astronaut and commander.