Jhon Portella to defend PhD (Dec 19, 2025)
Committee: Zhu, Shen, Lee, Goel. Congrats, Jhon!
Estimation, Control & Learning Lab
Adaptive and data‑driven control for complex dynamical systems—ramjets, aeroelastic structures, autonomous aircraft, and quantum systems.
About
We design learning‑based, model‑free, and adaptive controllers with guarantees. Our work blends theory, computation, and experiment, spanning propulsion (solid‑fuel ramjets), aeroelasticity and vibration suppression, multicopter flight control, and safety‑critical control.
The lab is led by Prof. Ankit Goel in the Mechanical Engineering Department at UMBC.
Research Themes
Adaptive Control
Control Barrier Functions
RCAC / DMAC
Aeroelastic Flutter
SFRJ Thrust Regulation
Quantum Control
News
ONR project on learning‑based SFRJ control
Award No. N00014‑23‑1‑2468; paper accepted to AIAA SciTech.
RIVS prototype for wind‑turbine blades
In collaboration with industry partners; seeking MII support.
People
Prof. Ankit Goel
Director
Adaptive & learning‑based control; safety‑critical systems; propulsion.
Parham Oveissi
PhD Student
DMAC/RCAC; vibration suppression; beam experiments.
Jhon Portella
PhD Candidate
Adaptive control with constraints; dissertation defense Dec 2025.
Alex Dorsey
BS‑MS Student
Quadcopter adaptive control; SMART applications.
Projects
Learning‑Based Adaptive Control of Solid‑Fuel Ramjets
ONR Award N00014‑23‑1‑2468
Data‑driven thrust regulation with experimental validation and mixed‑fidelity modeling.
SFRJThrust ControlMixed Fidelity
Real‑Time In‑Situ Vibration Suppression (RIVS)
Active damping of wind‑turbine blades using learning‑based controllers and embedded sensing.
AeroelasticityExperimental
Safety‑Critical Control with CBFs
Predictive barrier functions for unknown relative degree systems with input delay.
CBFSafetyTheory
Publications (selected)
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Google Scholar
Prof. Ankit Goel
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, UMBC
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Open Positions
We are recruiting PhD and MS students with strong background in control (linear/nonlinear), optimization, and coding (MATLAB/Python/C++). Please send a CV, transcript, and a brief note on your research interests.
UMBC values diversity and an inclusive environment. International applicants are welcome.
Contact
Email: ankit.goel@umbc.edu
Address: Estimation, Control & Learning Lab, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, UMBC, Baltimore, MD