Contact Professor Rafal Zbikowski
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 754763
- Email: r.w.zbikowski@cranfield.ac.uk
Areas of expertise
- Autonomous Systems
- Computing, Simulation & Modelling
- Defence Sensors
- Flight Physics
- Instrumentation, Sensors and Measurement Science
- Mechatronics & Advanced Controls
- Systems Engineering
- Vehicle Health Management
- Weapons Engineering
Background
A control engineer with a strong mathematical background, Rafal Zbikowski has been researching various aspects of bio-inspired engineering since the early 1990s while developing his skills in guidance & control. Rafal Zbikowski's research on bio-inspired engineering has been based on real engagement with biology, coupled with mathematical and physical rigour. Initially, Rafal Zbikowski focused on researching adaptive capabilities of neural networks from the control engineering perspective which resulted in his PhD in neurocontrol completed in 1994 at Glasgow University. His PhD work led to European funding for a joint project with Daimler-Benz. The project entailed further theoretical developments and their verification by trials of a test vehicle in real road traffic. The neural network research was very fruitful, including the survey paper [Automatica, 28(6), 1992, 1083-1112] which has been cited 800+ times as of early 2012. In October 1997 Rafal Zbikowski moved to Cranfield University at Shrivenham, England. There he initiated research on insect-like flapping wing micro air vehicles (FMAVs) while also working on to guidance & control, especially for multiple, co-operating autonomous vehicles. He has led the interdisciplinary FMAV research for more than ten years which entailed several engineering subjects and biology, including collaboration with leading biologists from Cambridge and Oxford. These complementary, engineering and biological, tracks of the FMAV research have been reflected in a series of funded projects, providing valuable experience in management of often challenging and interdisciplinary projects. Reverse engineering of insect flight still is a substantive part of Rafal Zbikowski's bio-inspired research.
Current activities
In August 2012 Rafal Zbikowski moved to the Cranfield campus of Cranfield University, joining the School of Engineering there. Recently, he has turned his attention back to the subject of neurocontrol, because in the last ten years there has been remarkable progress in the understanding of neural networks and their mathematical modelling, which has not been exploited in the engineering context. Another recent strand of Rafal Zbikowski's bioinspired research has recently focused on mitigating the deluge of sensory data via content-activated sensing which means information extraction only in reaction to appearance of the relevant information in the data. Rafal Zbikowski has also been engaged in research on guidance & control, lately dealing with verifiable autonomy and the newly-important subjects of integrated system health management and cyber-physical systems.
Clients
UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
UK Ministry of Defence:
Joint Grants Scheme (JGS)
Competition of Ideas PILOT Scheme
Data and Integrated Fusion - Defence Technology Centre
Centre for Defence Enterprise
Defence Evaluation Research Agency (DERA)
Dstl
US Department of Defense:
AFRL
ARL
Other US Government:
DARPA/NASA
Industry:
Alenia Marconi
BAE Systems
MBDA
Thales General Dynamics UK
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Ramírez López N & Zbikowski R. (2018). Effectiveness of autonomous decision making for unmanned combat aerial vehicles in dogfight engagements. Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 41(4)
- Verhaegen A & Zbikowski R. (2017). Aeroservoelastic modelling and control of a slender anti-air missile for active damping of longitudinal bending vibrations. Aerospace Science and Technology, 66
- Sirigineedi G, Tsourdos A, White BA & Żbikowski R. (2011). Kripke modelling and verification of temporal specifications of a multiple UAV system. Annals of Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence, 63(1)
- Ansari SA, Phillips N, Stabler G, Wilkins PC, Żbikowski R, .... (2011). Erratum to: Experimental investigation of some aspects of insect-like flapping flight aerodynamics for application to micro air vehicles. Experiments in Fluids, 51(2)
- Shanmugavel M, Tsourdos A, White B & Żbikowski R. (2010). Co-operative path planning of multiple UAVs using Dubins paths with clothoid arcs. Control Engineering Practice, 18(9)
- Lazarus SB, Tsourdos A, White BA, Silson P & Żbikowski R. (2010). Co-operative unmanned aerial vehicle searching and mapping of complex obstacles using two-dimensional splinegon. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 224(2)
- Lazarus S, Tsourdos A, White BA, Silson PMG & Zbikowski R. (2010). Airborne Vehicle Mapping of Curvilinear Objects Using 2-D Splinegon. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 59(7)
- Ansari SA, Phillips N, Stabler G, Wilkins PC, Zbikowski R, .... (2009). Experimental investigation of some aspects of insect-like flapping flight aerodynamics for application to micro air vehicles. Experiments in Fluids, 46(5)
- White BA, Tsourdos A, Ashokaraj I, Subchan S & Zbikowski R. (2008). Contaminant cloud boundary monitoring using network of UAV sensors. IEEE Sensors Journal, 8(10)
- Ansari SA, Knowles K & Zbikowski R. (2008). Insectlike Flapping Wings in the Hover Part II: Effect of Wing Geometry. Journal of Aircraft, 45(6)
- Ansari SA, Knowles K & Zbikowski R. (2008). Insectlike Flapping Wings in the Hover Part I: Effect of Wing Kinematics. Journal of Aircraft, 45(6)
- Lazarus SB, Tsourdos A, Silson P, White B & Żbikowski R. (2008). Unmanned aerial vehicle navigation and mapping. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 222(4)
- Subchan S, White BA, Tsourdos A, Shanmugavel M & Żbikowski R. (2008). Dubins Path Planning of Multiple UAVs for Tracking Contaminant Cloud. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 41(2)
- White BA, Zbikowski R & Tsourdos A. (2007). Direct Intercept Guidance using Differential Geometry Concepts. IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, 43(3)
- Subchan S & Zbikowski R. (2007). Computational optimal control of the terminal bunt manoeuvre—Part 1: minimum altitude case. Optimal Control Applications and Methods, 28(5)
- Lazarus SB, Ashokaraj I, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R, Silson PMG, .... (2007). Vehicle Localization Using Sensors Data Fusion Via Integration of Covariance Intersection and Interval Analysis. IEEE Sensors Journal, 7(9)
- Shanmugavel M, Tsourdos A, White BA & Żbikowski R. (2007). Differential Geometric Path Planning of Multiple UAVs. Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement, and Control, 129(5)
- Subchan S & Żbikowski R. (2007). Computational optimal control of the terminal bunt manoeuvre—Part 2: minimum‐time case. Optimal Control Applications and Methods, 28(5)
- Galiński C & Zbikowski R. (2007). Some problems of micro air vehicles development. Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences: Technical Sciences, 55(1)
- Galiński C & Żbikowski R. (2007). Materials challenges in the design of an insect-like flapping wing mechanism based on a four-bar linkage. Materials & Design, 28(3)
- Zbikowski R. (2007). Agile flight on the fly. Computing and Control Engineering, 18(3)
- Ansari SA, Zbikowski R & Knowles K. (2006). Non-linear unsteady aerodynamic model for insect-like flapping wings in the hover. Part 1: Methodology and analysis. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 220(2)
- Ansari SA, Żbikowski R & Knowles K. (2006). Aerodynamic modelling of insect-like flapping flight for micro air vehicles. Progress in Aerospace Sciences, 42(2)
- Zbikowski R, Ansar SA & Knowles K. (2006). On mathematical modelling of insect flight dynamics in the context of micro air vehicles. Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 1(2)
- Ansari SA, Zbikowski R & Knowles K. (2006). Non-linear unsteady aerodynamic model for insect-like flapping wings in the hover. Part 2: implementation and validation. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 220(3)
- Jeyaraman S, Tsourdos A, Żbikowski R & White B. (2006). Kripke modelling approaches of a multiple robots system with minimalist communication: A formal approach of choice. International Journal of Systems Science, 37(6)
- Ariff O, Zbikowski R, Tsourdos A & White BA. (2005). Differential Geometric Guidance Based on the Involute of the Target's Trajectory. Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 28(5)
- Jeyaraman S, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R & White BA. (2005). Kripke modelling of multiple robots with decentralized cooperation specified with temporal logic. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part I: Journal of Systems and Control Engineering, 219(1)
- Zbikowski R. (2005). Fly like a fly [micro-air vehicle. IEEE Spectrum, 42(11)
- Jeyaraman S, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski RW & White BA. (2005). A study of Kripke modeling of a multirobot system for cooperative control. Journal of Computer and Systems Sciences International, 44(3)
- Galiński C & Żbikowski R. (2005). Insect-like flapping wing mechanism based on a double spherical Scotch yoke. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 2(3)
- Z˙bikowski R, Galin´ski C & Pedersen CB. (2005). Four-Bar Linkage Mechanism for Insectlike Flapping Wings in Hover: Concept and an Outline of Its Realization. Journal of Mechanical Design, 127(4)
- Taylor GK & Żbikowski R. (2005). Nonlinear time-periodic models of the longitudinal flight dynamics of desert locustsSchistocerca gregaria. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 2(3)
- Zbikowski R. (2005). Fly like a fly. IEEE Spectrum, 42(11)
- Zbikowski R. (2004). Sensor-rich feedback control. IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Magazine, 7(3)
- Żbikowski R, Knowles K, Pedersen CB & Galiński C. (2004). Some aeromechanical aspects of insect-like flapping wings in hover. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 218(6)
- Ariff O, Żbikowski R, Tsourdos A & White BA. (2004). Differential Geometric Guidance Based on the Involute of the Target's Trajectory: 3-D Aspects. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 37(6)
- Szmelter J & Żbikowski R. (2002). A study of flow arising from insect wing flapping motion. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids, 40(3-4)
- Zbikowski R. (2002). Red admiral agility. Nature, 420(6916)
- Żbikowski R. (2002). On aerodynamic modelling of an insect–like flapping wing in hover for micro air vehicles. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 360(1791)
- Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R & White BA. (2001). Robust Autopilot for a Quasi-Linear Parameter-Varying Missile Model. Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 24(2)
Conference Papers
- Gonzalez GM, Petrunin I, Zbikowski R, Voutsis K & Verdeguer Moreno R. (2019). Vulnerability analysis of GPS receiver software
- Jonchery S, Bresson G, Vallet B & Zbikowski R. (2018). A Stixel Approach for Enhancing Semantic Image Segmentation Using Prior Map Information
- Shanmugavel M, Tsourdos A, White BA & Zbikowski R. (2012). Path Planning of UAVs in Urban Region Using Pythagorean Hodograph Curves
- Wang F, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R & White BA. (2010). Robust polynomial eigenstructure assignment control of a class of nonlinear systems
- Wang F, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R & White BA. (2010). Robust control for a quasi-linear parameter varying Sun-Earth L
2 formation flying - Lazarus SB, Silson P, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R & White BA. (2010). Multiple sensor fusion for 3D navigation for unmanned autonomous vehicles
- Wang F, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R & White BA. (2010). Robust control for a Quasi-Linear Parameter Varying Sun-Earth L-2 Formation Flying
- Wang F, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R & White BA. (2010). Robust Polynomial Eigenstructure Assignment Control of a Class of Nonlinear Systems
- Seungkeun Kim , Zbikowski RW, Tsourdos A & White BA. (2010). Airborne monitoring of ground traffic behaviour for hidden threat assessment
- Shin H-S, Ménec SL, Tsourdos A, Markham K, White B, .... (2010). Cooperative Guidance for Naval Area Defence
- Wang F, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R, White B, Ankersen F, .... (2010). Relative Position and Attitude Coupling Control of Sun-Earth L2 Point Formation Flying by QLTV Polynomial Eigenstructure Assignment
- Sirigineedi G, Tsourdos A, White B & Zbikowski R. (2010). Kripke Modelling and Model Checking of a Multiple UAV System Monitoring Road Network
- Kim S, Żbikowski R, Tsourdos A & White BA. (2010). Behaviour Recognition of Ground Vehicle for Airborne Monitoring by UAV Swarm
- Voelker A, Dördelmann M, Kouramas K, Pistikopoulos EN, Shanmugavel M, .... (2010). Three-layer Aircraft Control: Path-planning, Guidance, Model Predictive Controller as Autopilot
- Wang F, Tsourdos A, Żbikowski R & White BA. (2010). Quasi-LTV Polynomial Eigenstructure Assignment Control for Formation Flying Around Sun-Earth L2 Point
- Sirigineedi G, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R & White B. (2009). Modelling and verification of multiple UAV mission Using SMV
- Ansari S, Phillips N, Stabler G, Zbikowski R & Knowles K. (2009). Spanwise Flow on an Impulsively-Started Rotating Wing at Low Reynolds Numbers
- Ménec SL, Shin H-S, Tsourdos A, White B, Zbikowski R, .... (2009). Cooperative Missile Guidance Strategies for Maritime Area Air Defence
- Lazarus SB, Tsourdos A, White BA, Zbikowski R & Silson P. (2009). Cooperative UAVs mapping complex environment using 2D Splinegon
- Sirigineedi G, Tsourdos A, White B & Zbikowski R. (2009). Towards Verifiable Approach to Mission Planning for Multiple UAVs
- Le Ménec S, Shin HS, Tsourdos A, White B, Zbikowski R, .... (2009). Cooperative missile guidance strategies for maritime area air defence
- Lazarus SB, Shanmugavel M, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R & White BA. (2008). Airborne mapping of complex obstacles using 2D Splinegon
- Lazarus SB, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R & White BA. (2008). Unstructured environmental mapping using low cost sensors
- Lazarus S, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R, White B, Rabbath CA, .... (2008). Co-Operative Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Mapping of Complex Obstacles Using 2-D Splinegon
- Subchan S, White BA, Tsourdos A, Shanmugavel M & Zbikowski R. (2008). Pythagorean Hodograph (PH) Path Planning for Tracking Airborne Contaminant using Sensor Swarm
- Subchan S, White BA, Tsourdos A, Shanmugavel M & Zbikowski R. (2008). Dubins path planning of multiple UAVs for tracking contaminant cloud
- Lazarus S, Tsourdos A, Aouf N, Zbikowski R & White B. (2007). Autonomous Aerial Vehicle Localisation and Mapping
- Shanmugavel M, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R & White B. (2007). 3D Path Planning for Multiple UAVs Using Pythagorean Hodograph Curves
- Lazarus SB, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R, Nabil A & White BA. (2007). Robust localisation using data fusion via integration of covariance intersection and interval analysis
- White B, Tsourdos A, Ashokaraj I, Subchan S & Zbikowski R. (2007). Contaminant Cloud Boundary Monitoring Using UAV Sensor Swarms
- Lazarus SB, Ashokaraj I, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R, Silson P, .... (2007). Robot localisation and mapping using data fusion via integration of covariance intersection and interval analysis for a partially known map
- Shanmugavel M, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R & White B. (2007). PATH PLANNING OF MULTIPLE UAVS WITH CLOTHOID CURVES IN TWO DIMENSIONS
- Lazarus SB, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R, Nabil A & White BA. (2007). Robust localisation using data fusion via integration of covariance intersection and interval analysis
- Shanmugavel M, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R, White BA, Rabbath CA, .... (2006). A solution to simultaneous arrival of multiple UAVs using Pythagorean hodograph curves
- Shanmugavel M, Tsourdos A, White B & Zbikowski R. (2006). 3D Dubins Sets Based Coordinated Path Planning for Swarm of UAVs
- Shanmugavel M, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R & White B. (2005). Path Planning of Multiple UAV’s in an Environment of Restricted Regions
- Shanmugavel M, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R & White B. (2005). Path Planning of Multiple UAVs Using Dubins Sets
- White B, Zbikowski R & Tsourdos A. (2005). Direct Intercept Guidance using Differential Geometry Concepts
- Wilkins PC, Knowles K & Zbikowski RW. (2005). Some Non-linear Aerodynamics Relevant to Flapping-wing MAVs
- Subchan S & Zbikowski R. (2005). Minimum-Time Optimal Trajectories for the Terminal Bunt Manoeuvre
- Suresh Jeyaraman , Tsourdos A, Ratal Zbikowski & White B. (2005). Formal techniques for the modelling and validation of a co-operating UAV team that uses Dubins set for path planning
- Ansari SA, Knowles K & Żbikowski R. (2005). Design Guidelines for Flapping-Wing Micro UAVs
- Galinski C, Lawson NJ & Zbikowski R. (2004). Delta wing with leading edge extension and propeller propulsion for fixed wing MAV
- Ariff O, Zbikowski R, Tsourdos A & White BA. (2004). Differential geometric guidance based on the involute of the target's trajectory: 2-D aspects
- Jeyaraman S, Tsourdos A, Żbikowski R & White B. (2004). A Hybrid control approach to autonomous navigation in cooperative multi-robot systems using Kripke models and model checking
- Ariff O, Zbikowski R, Tsourdos A & White BA. (2004). Differential geometric guidance based on the involute of the target's trajectory: 2-D aspects
- Jeyaraman S, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R, White B, Bruyere L, .... (2004). Formalised hybrid control scheme for a UAV group using Dubins set and model checking
- Szmelter J & Zbikowski R. (2003). Progress in Aerodynamic Studies of Micro Air Vehicles Based on Insect-Like Flapping Wings
- Subchan S, Zbikowski R & Cleminson J. (2003). Optimal Trajectory for the Terminal Bunt Problem: An Analysis by the Indirect Method
- White BA, Zbikowski R & Tsourdos A. (2003). Aim point guidance: an extension of proportional navigation to the control of terminal guidance
- Bruyere L, Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R & White BA. (2002). Robust performance study for lateral autopilot of a quasi-linear parameter-varying missile
- Tsourdos A, Zbikowski R & White BA. (2000). Robust pseudo-linearising autopilot for a quasi-linear parameter varying missile model
- Tsourdos A, Żbikowski R & White BA. (2000). Lateral Acceleration Flight Control for a Quasi-Linear Parameter Varying Missile Model Via Pseudolinearisation
- Economou JT, Colyer RE & Zbikowski R. (1999). Electric rotary actuator sizing applied to wheeled skid-steer vehicles
Books
- Żbikowski R. (2010). Basics of
MAV Flight Control In Blockley R & Shyy W (eds), Encyclopedia of Aerospace Engineering (Volume 7. Vehicle Design; Part 34. Micro Air Vehicles). Wiley. - Zbikowski R. (2010). Fundamentals of Micro Air Vehicle Flight Dynamics In Blockley R & Shyy W (eds), Encyclopedia of Aerospace Engineering (MVolume 7. Vehicle Design; Part 34. Micro Air Vehicles). Wiley.
- Ansari SA, Phillips N, Stabler G, Wilkins PC, Żbikowski R, .... (2010). Experimental investigation of some aspects of insect-like flapping flight aerodynamics for application to micro air vehicles In Animal Locomotion. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
- Subchan S & Zbikowski R. (2009). Computational Optimal Control: Tools and Practice (1st)
- Subchan S & Żbikowski R. (2009). Computational Optimal Control
- Pedersen CB & Żbikowski R. (2006). An indicial-Polhamus aerodynamic model of insect-like flapping wings in hover In WIT Transactions on State of the Art in Science and Engineering (2). WIT Press.