Javier González-Rocha is an assistant professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics at the University of California, Santa Cruz. His research bridges dynamics, control and state estimation to advance the capabilities of uncrewed aerial robotic systems for environmental and atmospheric applications. He develops autonomous flight methods and sensing technologies that enable reliable operation of advanced aerial robotic systems in dynamic weather conditions. Prior to joining UC Santa Cruz, González-Rocha was a UC Riverside Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow in mechanical engineering. He earned his B.S. in mechanical engineering from California State University, Sacramento, and his Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from Virginia Tech.
Relevant expertise:
- Smart weather-aware autonomy in air mobility: developing autonomous systems that leverage system identification, flight dynamic modeling and state estimation with low-cost sensors for atmospheric boundary layer operations
- Autonomous atmospheric sensing: creating autonomous aerial robotic systems capable of sensing wind, turbulence and air composition for enhanced autonomous flight performance in dynamic weather conditions