The Autonomous Physics Group is a group of scientists, engineers, and biologists who develop mathematical models for the physics governing autonomy. Mathematical models of biological autonomy may be applied to engineered systems. APG is located at Oklahoma State University. Funded PhD, postdoc, and research engineer positions are available for well-qualified applicants.
APG was formed in 2015 at the University of Maryland, College Park through the leadership of Imraan A. Faruque, and began to study gust-aware flight control. In 2017, APG moved to its current location at Oklahoma State University .
Our goals are to derive mathematically rigorous, physically intuitive, models of autonomy that apply to both biological and engineered systems. To do so, we study both natural and engineered aerospace systems, translating them into the language of control theory.
Imraan A. Faruque
Group Director
Imraan Faruque’s research interests include reduced-order models of complex systems, biologically inspired locomotion and control systems, unmanned aerial systems, and flight dynamics and control. Dr. Faruque’s specialization is in dynamic models of the feedback control of flying insects and in translating those strategies to engineered flight on unmanned aerial vehicles, where his work has led to numerous best paper awards and patents. He is a recipient of the 2019 ONR Young Investigator Award, the 2023 OKState CAET Excellent Faculty Award, the UMD 2022 Early Career Distinguished Faculty Award, and the 2017 AIAA NCS Young Engineer/Scientist of the Year Award.
Dr. Faruque is currently an Associate Professor in Oklahoma State University’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, with previous research professor appointments in the University of Maryland’s Department of Aerospace Engineering. He is a Commonwealth Scholar alumnus of Virginia Tech, and received his MS (2010) and PhD in Aerospace Engineering in 2011 from the University of Maryland. He previously held research positions at both the Army Research Lab and the Air Force Research Lab, and at General Electric Aircraft Engines.
Oklahoma State is home to the first graduate concentration in Unmaned Aerial Systems, supported by the facilities in the Unmanned Systems Research Institute, including a UAS fleet and set of DoD-approved test ranges. Partnerships with local tribal nations have recently expanded these ranges to include commercial test ranges, particularly through our work with the FAA-designated Choctaw Nation's UAS Integration Pilot Project (IPP site).
