Zhenbo Wang

Biography

August 2024–Present
Associate Professor
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

August 2018–July 2024
Assistant Professor
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Personal Website

Education

• PhD, Purdue University, 2018
• ME, Beihang University, 2013
• BE, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2010

Research

Optimal control; numerical optimization; convex optimization; AI and machine learning; guidance and control; space systems; aerial vehicles; connected and automated vehicles; power and energy systems; autonomous systems

Professional Service

• Senior Editor for IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems
• Senior Member of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
• Member of AIAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Technical Committee

Awards and Recognitions

• Professional Promise in Research Award, Tickle College of Engineering, University of Tennessee, 2024
• Louis and Ann Hoffman Endowed Excellence in Research Award, Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 2023
• NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Award, 2023
• Estus H. and Vashti L. Magoon Award for Excellence in Teaching, Purdue University, 2018
• Koerner Scholarship, Purdue University, 2017

Publications

• Acharya, K., Raza, W., Vasiloff, K., Wang, Z., Sun, L., & Song, H. H. (2026). Demand Modeling for Advanced Air Mobility: Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Directions. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 27(7), 7454-7474.
• Mall, K., Gadre, R., Wu, Y., Wang, Z., & DeLaurentis, D. A. (2026). Trajectory Optimization of eVTOL Vehicles for Urban Air Mobility Using Uniform Trigonometrization Method. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 27(7), 8553-8563.
• Boghrabadi, N. S., Wang, Z., Timilsina, L., Ciftci, O., Khan, A. A., Papari, B., & Edrington, C. S. (2026). A deep learning approach to nonconvex optimal energy management for microgrids. Electric Power Systems Research, 252, 112466.
• Muzahid, A. J. M., Shi, Y., Wang, Z., Zhou, A., Cook, A., Wang, C. R., & Wang, Z. (2025). Optimizing on-ramp merging for connected and automated vehicles: A hierarchical approach using deep reinforcement learning and optimal control. Control Engineering Practice, 165, 106614.
• Deniz, S., Barzegar, A., Sagirli, F. Y., Vasiloff, K., & Wang, Z. (2025). Deep reinforcement learning approach to autonomous landing of eVTOL vehicles for advanced air mobility. Control Engineering Practice, 164, 106519.
• Barzegar, A., Deniz, S., Vasiloff, K., Sagirli, F. Y., & Wang, Z. (2025). Trajectory optimization for vertical take-off and landing vehicles in urban air mobility via data-driven sequential convex programming. Aerospace Science and Technology, 164, 110383.
• Katherine, V., Israel, A., Wang, Z., Kshitij, M., & DeLaurentis, D. A. (2025). Trajectory optimization for orbit transfers: Principles, advances, case studies, and outlook. Aerospace, 12(12), 1087.
• Hurley, J. T., Mall, K., & Wang, Z. (2025). Solving Complex Low Earth Orbit-to-Geostationary Earth Orbit Transfer Problems Using Uniform Trigonometrization Method. Aerospace, 12(11), 960.
• Wu, Y., Deniz, S., Shi, Y., & Wang, Z. (2025). Convex approach to real-time multiphase trajectory optimization for urban air mobility. Journal of Air Transportation, 33(1), 69-85.
• Deniz, S., Wu, Y., Shi, Y., & Wang, Z. (2024). A reinforcement learning approach to vehicle coordination for structured advanced air mobility. Green Energy and Intelligent Transportation, 3(2), 100157.
• Wang, Z. (2024). A survey on convex optimization for guidance and control of vehicular systems. Annual Reviews in Control, 57, 100957.
• Coulter, B. G., Huang, D., & Wang, Z. (2023). Geometric design of hypersonic vehicles for optimal mission performance with high-fidelity aerodynamic models. Journal of Aircraft, 60(3), 870-882.
• Shi, Y., Wang, Z., Wang, C. R., & Shao, Y. (2023). Pseudospectral convex optimization for on-ramp merging control of connected vehicles. Journal of the Franklin Institute, 360(15), 10972-10999.
• Shi, Y., Wang, Z., LaClair, T. J., Wang, C., & Shao, Y. (2023). Real‐time control of connected vehicles in signalized corridors using pseudospectral convex optimization. Optimal Control Applications and Methods, 44(4), 2257-2277.
• Shi, Y., Wang, Z., LaClair, T. J., Wang, C., Shao, Y., & Yuan, J. (2023). A novel deep reinforcement learning approach to traffic signal control with connected vehicles. Applied Sciences, 13(4), 2750.
• Rice, C. R., McDonald, S. T., Shi, Y., Gan, H., Lee, W. S., Chen, Y., & Wang, Z. (2022). Perception, path planning, and flight control for a drone-enabled autonomous pollination system. Robotics, 11(6), 144.
• Shi, Y., & Wang, Z. (2021). Onboard generation of optimal trajectories for hypersonic vehicles using deep learning. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 58(2), 400-414.
• Wang, Z., & Lu, Y. (2020). Improved sequential convex programming algorithms for entry trajectory optimization. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 57(6), 1373-1386.
• Wang, Z., & McDonald, S. T. (2020). Convex relaxation for optimal rendezvous of unmanned aerial and ground vehicles. Aerospace Science and Technology, 99, 105756.
• Wang, Z. (2019). Optimal trajectories and normal load analysis of hypersonic glide vehicles via convex optimization. Aerospace Science and Technology, 87, 357-368.
• Wang, Z., & Grant, M. J. (2018). Autonomous entry guidance for hypersonic vehicles by convex optimization. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 55(4), 993-1006.
• Wang, Z., & Grant, M. J. (2018). Optimization of minimum-time low-thrust transfers using convex programming. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 55(3), 586-598.
• Wang, Z., & Grant, M. J. (2018). Minimum-fuel low-thrust transfers for spacecraft: A convex approach. IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, 54(5), 2274-2290.
• Wang, Z., & Grant, M. J. (2017). Constrained trajectory optimization for planetary entry via sequential convex programming. Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 40(10), 2603-2615.