EECS Professor Leads Groundbreaking Research on Safer Autonomous Flight Communications

We’re proud to announce that Dr. Morteza Hashemi, Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, has been awarded a $760,000 research grant from the NSF for his project titled AeroSpec: An Adaptive Spectrum Framework for Autonomous Aerial Systems. This exciting initiative is supported by co-investigators Professor Shawn Kashmiri from Aerospace Engineering and Professor Tarun Sabarwal from Economics, reflecting a powerful interdisciplinary collaboration across campus.

As unmanned aerial systems (UAS)—think drones and autonomous aircraft—become more common in our skies, ensuring their safe and reliable communication is critical. Professor Hashemi’s project tackles one of the biggest challenges in this space: how to manage the radio frequencies these aircraft use to talk to each other and to ground stations, especially when flying beyond visual range.

The AeroSpec project aims to create a smarter, more adaptive system for managing these communication channels, helping prevent interference and paving the way for safer, more scalable autonomous flight. It’s a timely and forward-looking effort that aligns with national priorities in spectrum management and air mobility.

Professor Hashemi’s leadership in this project exemplifies our department’s commitment to advancing cutting-edge research that blends engineering innovation with real-world impact. His work not only contributes to the future of autonomous aviation but also engages students in hands-on, interdisciplinary learning at the intersection of technology, policy, and economics.

Congratulations to Professor Hashemi and the entire research team on this well-deserved recognition!