Aerospace engineer studying bio-inspired flight

Aerospace engineer studying bio-inspired flight

Ahmed Elgohary's work has been featured in journals and presented at international conferences

Passionate about aircraft and flight, doctoral candidate Ahmed Elgohary chose the University of Cincinnati to further his education in aerospace engineering. Part of the Modeling, Dynamics, and Control Lab, he has conducted meaningful research work in the areas of nonlinear control systems and bio-inspired flight. Recently, he was named Graduate Student Engineer of the Month by UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science.

Why did you choose UC? What drew you here?

Why did you choose your field of study?

I have always been fascinated by aircraft and flight. During my undergraduate studies and internships, I became particularly interested in flight dynamics and control systems because they combine mathematics, physics, and engineering to solve complex real-world problems. I was especially drawn to areas where mathematical theory meets practical engineering implementation. Over time, this interest developed into studying nonlinear control systems and bio-inpsired flight, particularly understanding how nature achieves stable and efficient flight behaviors that engineers are still trying to replicate.

Briefly describe your research work. Why does it inspire you?

My research focuses on nonlinear control systems and bio-inspired flight dynamics for autonomous aerial vehicles. More specifically, I study extremum-seeking control, an adaptive control method that allows systems to optimize performance in real time without requiring detailed mathematical models.

My work is conducted within the Modeling, Dynamics, and Control Lab at UC, where I have been leading several research efforts on nonlinear control systems and biologically inspired flight. This work combines mathematics, control theory, and aerospace engineering to better understand how natural flyers achieve efficient and stable motion, and how those ideas can be translated into future autonomous aerial vehicles.

Recently, our group achieved a breakthrough in understanding how flapping insects and hummingbirds maintain stable hovering flight. Our research introduces a new pattern showing that the complex physics of hovering can emerge from a very simple and natural feedback mechanism based on flapping motion and sensory feedback related to altitude or environmental signals.

Our results were validated sing biological data from several species, including hawkmoths, bumblebees, craneflies, hoverflies, dragonflies, and hummingbirds. We also demonstrated the concept experimentally using a flapping robot that stabilizes itself using only light sensing, similar to how moths navigate toward light sources.

This work was published in Physical Review E and highlighted by Physics World. Earlier related work introducing the mathematical control framework was published in IEEE Control Systems Letters. These discoveries may open the door to new designs for micro-air vehicles and autonomous flying robots inspired by biological flight.

My research also contributes to a significant DARPA-funded project aimed at developing unmanned aerial vehicle technologies that mimic the flight strategies of dynamic soaring birds.

What are some of the most impactful experiences during your time at UC?

One of the most impactful experiences during my time at UC has been working closely with Assistant Professor Sameh Eisa and collaborators in the Modeling, Dynamics, and Control Lab on challenging research problems.

Another important experience has been serving as a teaching assistant for undergraduate aerospace engineering courses, helping students understand complex concepts in dynamics, aerodynamics, and control.

I have also had the opportunity to present my research at international conferences such as the AIAA SciTech Forum, the European Control Conference, and the SIAM Conference on Control and its Applications, which allowed me to share our work with researchers from around the world.

What are a few of your accomplishments of which you are most proud?

One accomplishment I am particularly proud of is publishing several journal papers during my PhD. These publications represent years of research and collaboration, and it is rewarding to see the work contribute to the scientific community. I am especially proud of our research that led to a breakthrough in hovering flight in flapping-wing insects, which was published in Physical Review E and highlighted by Physics World. I am also proud to contribute to collaborative research efforts such as our DARPA-funded project and to represent the university at major conferences.

When do you expect to graduate? What are your plans after earning your degree?

I expect to graduate in the fall. After graduation, I hope to continue working on advanced research in dynamics and control systems, either in academia, national laboratories, or research and development roles in industry. My long-term goal is to contribute to innovative aerospace technologies and autonomous systems.

Aerospace engineer studying bio-inspired flight

Outside of research, I enjoy spending time with my family and exploring new places. During my time at UC, I met my wife, Asmaa, and we started our family here in Cincinnati. We recently welcomed our daughter, which has been one of the most meaningful parts of my graduate journey.

I am very grateful for the continuous support from my family and my family-in-law here in Cincinnati, who have played an important role in helping me balance research, teaching, and family life during my PhD.

In my free time, I enjoy traveling, learning about new cultures, and playing soccer, which has always been one of my favorite activities. I also enjoy mentoring students who are interested in aerospace engineering and research.

Featured image at top: Ahmed Elgohary is working on projects related to bio-inspired flight. Photo/Michael Miller

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