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Bruce A. ConwayProfessorbconway@illinois.edu |
Return to: Faculty |
| Office address | Mailing Address | Research Group |
|---|---|---|
| 319G Talbot Lab 217-333-4979 |
306 Talbot Lab 104 S. Wright St. Urbana, IL 61801 |
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| Research Areas | ||
| Prof. Conway's research interests are primarily: orbital mechanics, optimal control, and improved methods for the numerical solution of problems in optimization. Recent work is in the application of optimal control theory to determine optimal low-thrust trajectories for travel from Earth to Mars, from Earth to the Moon, and from Earth to intercept a dangerous asteroid. Another focus of research is the application of new numerical methods for the solution of "differential games" problems including optimization of fighter vs. fighter air combat. Two Ph.D. students are presently working with Prof. Conway on the development of evolutionary methods (especially genetic algorithms) for the solution of “hybrid” optimal control problems, which arise in space mission planning. | ||
Professor Conway is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) and a Fellow of the AAS (American Astronautical Society). Professor Conway has been recognized on the "List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students" for 63 courses taught between 1980 and 2012. He has been chosen (by vote of the students) as the "Teacher of the Year" in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1992, 2000, 2002, and 2003.
He has a Commercial pilot's license and Instrument Pilot, Flight Instructor, and Instrument Flight Instructor Ratings, as well as more than 2000 hours of flight experience.
Education:
- Ph.D. Aeronautics & Astronautics, Stanford University, 1981
- M.S. Mechanics, University of Minnesota, 1974
- B.A. Physics, Macalester College, 1973
Academic Positions:
- 1993-present: Professor of Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering, University of Illinois
- 1986-1993: Associate Professor of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, University of Illinois
- 1980-1986: Assistant Professor of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, University of Illinois
- Summer 82: Research Scientist, Guidance and Control Systems, Lockheed Corp., Sunnyvale, CA
- 1979-1980: Visiting Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, University of Minnesota
- 1978-1979: Engineer, Ford Aerospace Corporation (now Loral Space Systems), Palo Alto, CA
Major Honors and Awards:
- UIUC College of Engineering Rose Award for Teaching Excellence, 2005
- UIUC College of Engineering Everitt Award for Teaching Excellence, 2006
- UIUC College of Engineering Teaching Excellence Award, 2007
- UIUC Campus Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, 2007
- Fellow of the American Astronautical Society, 2010
- Dirk Brouwer Award of the American Astronautical Society, 2010
- John V. Breakwell Award of the International Astronautical Federation, 2010
- UIUC Campus Award for Excellence in Graduate and Professional Teaching, 2011
Selected Publications:
- Englander, J. A., Conway, B. A. and Williams, T., “Automated Mission Planning via Evolutionary Algorithms”, J. of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 35, No. 6 1878-1887, 2012.
- Conway, B. A. (ed.) Spacecraft Trajectory Optimization, Cambridge University Press, 2010.
- Pontani, M and Conway, B. A., “Particle Swarm Optimization Applied to Space Trajectories”, J. of Guidance, Control and Dynamics, Vol. 33, No. 5, 1429-1441, 2010.
- Pontani, M and Conway, B. A., “Optimal Interception of Evasive ICBM Warheads: Numerical Solution of the Differential Game”, J. of Guidance, Control and Dynamics, Vol. 31, No. 4, 1111-1122, 2008.
- Conway, B. A., Chilan, C. and Wall, B., “Evolutionary Principles for Solution of Hybrid Optimal Control/Mission Planning Problems”, Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy, Vol. 97, No. 2, 73-86, Feb 2007.
- Horie, K. and Conway, B. A., “Optimal Fighter Pursuit-Evasion Maneuvers Found via Two-Sided Optimization”, J. of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 29, No. 1 105-112, Jan-Feb 2006.
- Wall, B. J. and Conway, B. A., “Near-Optimal Low-Thrust Earth-Mars Trajectories Found Via a Genetic Algorithm,” J. of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 28, No. 5, 1027-1031, Sept-Oct 2005.
