Presentation of my Research at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Los Angeles

I had the great honor of giving a research talk at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Los Angeles, where I presented my recent work on modular autonomy and multi-agent aerial robotics.

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Last week I had the privilege to present my research at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Los Angeles. Being back at JPL, where I had previously contributed to the Mars Science Helicopter concept during my Master’s thesis, was a special experience. This time I shared the latest results from my PhD research on modular autonomy frameworks and multi-agent aerial robotic systems.

The talk focused on how hybrid control architectures combining Finite State Machines and Behavior Trees can enable robust, adaptive decision-making in complex missions, both for planetary exploration scenarios and for terrestrial applications such as autonomous search and rescue. I also highlighted our recent demonstrations with multi-agent UAV teams operating in GPS-denied environments, showing how scalable autonomy can be achieved across different contexts.

Presenting at JPL was not only an opportunity to exchange ideas with some of the leading experts in space robotics, but also a moment of reflection. I was reminded of how my earlier time at JPL shaped my current research direction, and how the collaboration between academic research and NASA’s pioneering work continues to inspire new developments. Engaging with colleagues who share the vision of extending robotic autonomy for space and Earth missions was both motivating and rewarding.