Ms Cynthia Koopman, a Research Officer and PhD candidate at the University of Malta’s Institute of Aerospace Technologies, has recently participated in and won the Intelligent Systems Student Paper Competition at SciTech 2024, the world’s largest event for aerospace R&D. 

Since commencing her PhD studies at the Institute of Aerospace Technologies in 2020, she has been actively involved in multiple projects with a focus on utilising AI to enhance safety and automation in the cockpit for commercial aviation. Ms Koopman's academic background in AI, coupled with her passion for aerospace, offers her many appealing research opportunities. 

She participated with her paper called ‘Using Reinforcement Learning for AI systems in the Mitigation of Automation Failures and Stall Recovery in Complex Aircraft’, which, in a nutshell, is about the potential of Artificial Intelligence in acquiring a comprehensive understanding of the cockpit environment that pilots operate in, and through Reinforcement Learning, increase the level of automation on board while decreasing the risks of a disconnect between the pilot and the automation. 

The paper is available for reading online. 

The SciTech Forum is an annual initiative of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and it delegates over 1,500 undergraduate and graduate students as well as aerospace professionals from nearly 1,000 corporate, academic institutions in 43 countries, including Malta, this year through the participation of Ms Koopman. 

AIAA is also the world’s largest aerospace technical society, with 30,000 individual members from 85 countries. 

“This is a huge moment of pride for us at the Institute; not just because we are immensely proud of Ms Koopman’s achievement, but also because it puts us on the map and increases the exposure of our work on such an international forum. We augur Ms Koopman every bit of success in her PhD studies and hope our students and members keep pushing the envelope in terms of research that leaves an impact on the whole industry”, said Prof. Ing. David Zammit-Mangion, the Director of the Institute of Aerospace Technologies at UM. 

“I was grateful to be chosen as one of the finalists and to have the chance to showcase my work in Orlando, USA, alongside other talented students. Following my presentation, I received the news that I had emerged as the competition winner. The recognition of my hard work serves as a strong motivator, inspiring me to persist in my research in the currently highly exciting field of AI”, commented Ms Koopman.

In a recent social media post, several colleagues and peers of Ms Koopman’s have posted their congratulations on this recent achievement.