People

Dr. Jonathan Rogers:

Dr. Jonathan Rogers is a professor in the Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering. Prior to his appointment in the School of Aerospace Engineering, Dr. Rogers served as a faculty member in the School of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech and the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University. Dr. Rogers is director of the Aerial Robotics and Experimental Autonomy Lab (AREAL) at Georgia Tech where his group conducts research in applied dynamics, controls, robotics, and autonomy.  Through a combination of theoretical and applied research, Dr. Rogers has developed groundbreaking new technologies in a variety of areas from rotorcraft and smart weapons to stochastic optimal control. He is the recipient of the NSF CAREER Award and the Lockheed Martin Inspirational Young Faculty Award. His work has been featured by MIT Technology Review, Engadget, BBC news, and IEEE Spectrum.

Lee Whitcher – Senior Research Engineer:

Wade Kovalik – Aerospace Engineering:

Wade Kovalik is a doctorate student under the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering. He has also received his master’s and bachelor’s in aerospace engineering at Georgia Tech. Wade is currently employed as a graduate research assistant as part of AREAL, where his primary research focuses on the guidance and control of low-cost projectiles intended for atmospheric sensing. He also has worked on fault-tolerant missile control with the University Consortium of Applied Hypersonics. For part of the year, Wade is a coop intern at NASA Johnson Space Center as part of their Graduate Pathways program. There, he works with the flight controllers and engineers responsible for ascent and entry guidance for the upcoming human missions to the Moon and Mars. In his free time, Wade loves to cook, play with his cat, and sail as a member of Georgia Tech’s keelboat race team.

Rui de Gouvea Pinto – Robotics:

Rui graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2022 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and minor in Computer Science. His research is focused on cooperative control of multi-agent systems. His current project is focused on utilizing drone swarms for wildfire fighting. Outside of the lab Rui enjoys working out, cooking, and playing tennis and golf.

Brian Epstein – Mechanical Engineering:

Brian Epstein is a Ph.D. candidate in Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, specializing in Autonomous Systems and Controls. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Robotics from Georgia Tech, graduating with Highest Honors. His work focuses on integrating renewable energy with autonomous vehicles, particularly in the field of aerial robotics. Outside of academia, Brian enjoys competing nationally in combat robotics and traveling.

Jonathan Corbin – Robotics:

Johnathan (Jack) graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in 2020 with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering. His research at RPI focused on developing industrial robotic systems with an emphasis on metal additive manufacturing. He then worked in industry for several years at a small company performing R&D on SBIR and STTR government contracts. His current research focuses on guidance, navigation, and control for multi-agent aerial robotics systems. Some of his favorite hobbies include reading novels, cribbage/board games, and racing drones

Turner Bumbary – Aerospace Engineering:

Turner graduated from Caltech in 2024 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Aerospace Engineering. His research is focused on autonomous aerial vehicles. His current project investigates how to create a drone capture system. Outside of the lab Turner enjoys running, hiking, reading, and spending time outsdoors.