Professor Massimiliano Vasile

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Personal statement

Professor Vasile key expertise is in computational intelligence applied to the solution of complex problems in aerospace engineering. He pioneered the use of global optimisation techniques for the design and optimisation space trajectories and the use of uncertainty quantification technique in conjunction with optimisation for the design and control of complex engineering systems. He developed innovative methods for optimisation under uncertainty based on evidence theory, called Evidence Based Robust Optimisation, he has worked on non-deterministic planning and goal allocation for robots, fault tolerant distributed navigation systems for spacecraft and nonlinear uncertainty quantification in space flight mechanics, with particular application to space debris and asteroid manipulation. He also developed innovative techniques for multi-objective optimal control and multi-objective optimisation under uncertainty. He is currently leading the Stardust network on asteroids and space debris, the UTOPIAE network on uncertainty treatment and optimisation in aerospace engineering and is part of the management team of the EPSRC ENCORE network on resilience in complex engineering systems.

Expertise

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Area of Expertise

Computational optimisation
Multidisciplinary design
Robust design optimisation
Astrodynamics and mission analysis
Computational intelligence
Development of computational tools for system,component and process design and optimisation
Integrated design of new products and processes
Reliability analysis of products and processes, enhanced product quality
Analysis of new mission concepts
Autonomous control of processes and systems
Autonomous activity planning and scheduling, support to multi-criteria decision making

Prize And Awards

Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society: Recipient; 29/10/2024
Innovative Computational Methods in Dynamical Astronomy: Recipient; 13/5/2023
AIAA Associate Fellow: Recipient; 1/10/2022
Senior IEEE member: Recipient; 27/9/2022
Best Paper Award in "Innovation in Smart Cities and Systems": Recipient; 1/9/2022
Best interactive paper award - IAC 2021: Recipient; 2021

More prizes and awards

Publications

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Publications

Generating stable and metastable critical points in uncertain systems via flow‐based models: Wilson Callum, Vasile Massimiliano; Expert Systems Vol 43 (2026); https://doi.org/10.1111/exsy.70196
Analysis and implementation of DVB-S2 in the UHF band for STRATHcube downlink communications: Stebbings Daniel, Crockett Louise, Clemente Carmine, Vasile Massimiliano; 2025 European Data Handling & Data Processing Conference (EDHPC) European Data Handling and Data Processing Conference 2025 (2026)
Overall results of the SMPAG work package on mission scenarios definition in response to the 2025 Planetary Defense Conference Hypothetical Asteroid Impact Threat Scenario: Cano Juan L, Khan Michael, Colombo Camilla, Vasile Massimiliano, Moissl Richard, Koschny Detlef; Acta Astronautica Vol 242, pp. 158-165 (2026); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2026.01.023
Attitude estimation using AI-based hyperspectral technology for autonomous close-proximity operations: Cakir Alper, Porter Fiona, Jinglang Feng, Vasile Massimiliano, Campbell Andrew, Zabalza Jaime, Savitski Vasili; IAF Astrodynamics Symposium 76th International Astronautical Congress, pp. 194-208 (2026); https://doi.org/10.52202/083087-0019
Designing an in-space recycling station for a sustainable circular space economy: Laino Maria Anna, Vasile Massimiliano; 23rd IAA Symposium on Building Blocks for Future Space Exploration and Development 76th International Astronautical Congress, pp. 538-550 (2026); https://doi.org/10.52202/083093-0052
Thermal model and radiator design for the SPS-ALPHA concept: Alotaibi Ghanim, Vasile Massimiliano; IAF Space Power Symposium 76th International Astronautical Congress, pp. 121-128 (2026); https://doi.org/10.52202/083089-0012

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Research

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Professional Activities

2nd International Workshop on AI for Space Sustainability: Member of programme committee; 30/10/2024
1st International Workshop on AI for Space Sustainability: Member of programme committee; 2024
NASA Visit to the University of Strathclyde: Organiser; 8/11/2023
Italian Embassy Scientific Attaché Visit: Organiser; 7/11/2023
International Funding Opportunities for Space Research: Organiser; 20/12/2022
OAS Artificial Intelligence Workshop: Organiser; 14/12/2022

More professional activities

Projects

PS25128 - Assess the utility of existing metrics and develop new metrics for space environment: Vasile, Massimiliano (Principal Investigator); 30-Jan-2025 - 31-Jan-2026
Spatial Open-Source Intelligence (S-OSINT) in the Age of Misinformation and Disinformation: Schippers, Birgit (Principal Investigator) Riccardi, Annalisa (Principal Investigator) O'Donnell, Therese (Principal Investigator) Vasile, Massimiliano (Principal Investigator); Reliable and verifiable sources that can document human rights abuses or violations of international humanitarian law are crucial in legal contexts. Spatial open-source intelligence (S-OSINT), which is information that is gathered from publicly available digital data such as satellite or remote sensing data, has become an increasingly significant resource in human rights lawyering, from investigations and fact-finding missions through to courtroom evidence at trial. S-OSINT can bypass challenges in evidence gathering, especially where access to witnesses or sites is difficult.

Despite its considerable value, the use of S-OSINT raises concerns about its impact on data privacy and security, and about the validity and reliability of open-source information. Specifically, worries about the effects of misinformation—the inadvertent sharing of inaccurate content—and disinformation—the intentional sharing of inaccurate content with the aim of causing harm—can raise doubts about the trustworthiness of S-OSINT.

This project asks what best practice in the use of S-OSINT in legal contexts should look like, and it will create frameworks to prevent misinformation and disinformation from undermining the value of S-OSINT.

By investigating the legal, ethical and engineering challenges of S-OSINT, the project will establish rigorous standards that will inform a best practice framework for engineers, legal professionals, researchers, and other S-OSINT users. Its interdisciplinary approach supports the project’s ambition to advance the development of human-centred, ethical and lawful uses of digital and industrial technologies. With this focus, the project will also enhance the Global Challenges theme ‘Digital, Industry and Space’.

To deliver on its ambition, the project will (1) develop a Strathclyde-led interdisciplinary research programme that will create a best practice framework for the use of S-OSINT; (2) foster interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaborations with external partners, including international governmental and non-governmental organisations, legal professionals, and SMEs; and (3) prepare two external funding applications.

Funded by the University of Strathclyde's Institutional Funding for Research Culture Award, Cultures of Collaborative Research (Wellcome Trust). For further information please visit the Collaborative Research Cultures Web Page (https://www.strath.ac.uk/research/researchenvironment/collaborativeresearchcultures/).; 30-Jan-2025 - 28-Jan-2026
Robust Attitude Uncertainty Estimation for Debris Removal: Vasile, Massimiliano (Principal Investigator) Ilioudis, Christos (Co-investigator) Zabalza, Jaime (Co-investigator); 20-Jan-2024 - 19-Jan-2026
Space Solar Mission Analysis: Vasile, Massimiliano (Principal Investigator); 01-Jan-2024 - 14-Jan-2025
AI-based multi-sensor data fusion for autonomous navigation around asteroids: Feng, Jinglang (Principal Investigator) Vasile, Massimiliano (Co-investigator) Wu, Yue (Co-investigator) Zabalza, Jaime (Co-investigator); 01-Jan-2024 - 30-Jan-2027
Protecting Earth from the uncertAinty of spaCe debris re-Entry: Fossati, Marco (Principal Investigator) Bi, Sifeng (Co-investigator) Vasile, Massimiliano (Co-investigator); 01-Jan-2024 - 31-Jan-2027