W4 – 2nd Workshop on Shaping the Future of Flight: Innovations in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)

Co-organizer: Abdellah Chehri, Royal Military College of Canada, Canada
Co-organizer: Kamesh Namuduri, University of North Texas, USA
Co-organizer: Gürkan Gür, Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), Switzerland
Co-organizer: Keven Gambold, CEO of Unmanned Experts, USA

Abstract: Recent advances in unmanned aviation have unlocked new opportunities for the aviation industry. Encouraged by successful demonstrations such as U-Space and Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM), the industry is progressing toward advanced air mobility applications, including air taxi and air ambulance services. Concurrently, academic research is addressing challenges posed by high-density, low-altitude UAS operations.

Advanced aerial mobility is described by the National Academies Press as a transformative airborne technology supporting an ecosystem designed to transport people and goods to locations beyond the reach of traditional air transportation, including complex urban environments. Key platforms being developed include short-range, runway-independent, and highly automated vehicles such as electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

In addition to new platforms, advancements are emerging in vertiport design, software, sensors, and alternative energy solutions. Global community testbeds and frameworks, such as the Aerial
Experimentation Research Platform for Advanced Wireless and U-Space, are enabling experimentation in advanced aerial mobility.

The industry anticipates challenges in airspace operations, traffic management, vehicle health monitoring, and human–autonomy teaming. There is a need for strategies in micro-weather modeling, collision avoidance, detection of uncooperative aircraft, and GPS-denied operations. Advances in communication, navigation, and surveillance are critical, including the exploration of 5G and 6G networks, satellite links, and radio-frequency communication.

Co-organizer’s Bios:

Abdellah Chehri:

Abdellah Chehri (Senior Member) is a Full Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), Kingston, Ontario. He also holds
appointments as an Affiliate Professor at the Université du Québec (UQO) and UQAC, and as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Chehri is recognized for his contributions to public safety technologies, intelligent mobility and transportation systems, vehicular and wireless communications, smart infrastructures, sustainable IoT architectures, and AI-driven frameworks for
connected environments. His research emphasizes V2X communications, 5G/6G connectivity, and federated learning frameworks, advancing innovation in public safety, energy efficiency, and
intelligent connectivity. He plays an active role in the IEEE Public Safety Technology (PST) Initiative, serving as Co-Chair of the Transportation Committee, and is a dedicated member of the IEEE Communications Society (ComSoc), IEEE Vehicular Technology Society (VTS), and IEEE Photonics Society.

Kamesh Namuduri:

Kamesh Namuduri is a Professor of Electrical Engineering and the director of Autonomous Systems Laboratory at the University of North Texas (UNT). He received his B.S. degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Osmania University, India, in 1984, M.S. degree in Computer Science from University of Hyderabad in 1986, and Ph.D. degree in Computer Science and Engineering from University of South Florida in 1992. Over the past eleven years, his research is focused on aerial networking and communications. He co-organized a series of workshops on “Airborne Networking and Communications” in conjunction with IEEE, AIAA, AUVSI, and ACM Conferences. He is serving as the chair for two Standards Working Groups (IEEE 1920.1: Aerial Communications and Networking and IEEE P1920.2: Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications for Unmanned Aircraft Systems). He is serving as the Chair for the IEEE Vehicular Technology Society’s Ad Hoc Committee on Drones. He is a co-editor for the book titled “UAV Networks and Communications” published by the Cambridge University Press in 2017. He is leading the Smart and Connected Community project on “Deployable Communication Systems” in collaboration with the government, public, and private organizations. This living laboratory project was demonstrated thrice during the Global City Teams Challenge hosted jointly by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and US Ignite in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. He contributed to the development of research agenda, requirements and blueprints highly deployable communications systems led by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and National Public Safety Telecommunications Council.

Gürkan Gür:

Gürkan Gür is a senior lecturer at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, 8401, Switzerland. Gur received his Ph.D. degree in computer engineering from Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey. He is senior member of the IEEE.

Keven Gambold:

Keven Gambold completed 21 years of active duty service with the Royal Air Force as a front-line combat pilot, logging 1,500 hours in Tornado GR4 fast-jets, and another 1,500 hours of unmanned
combat missions and two deployments to Iraq. In his subsequent role as Director of the Technical Aviation and Safety Committee for the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (North America),
Gambold published peer-reviewed papers on drone operations in the civil sector. He has chaired several conferences and workshops on uncrewed air vehicles and has written and broadcast
webinars, contributed to books, and created and taught several international training courses. He holds a Masters in Aeronautical Operations and a Commercial Pilots License, and is the co-founder
and CEO of Unmanned Experts Inc.

Paper submission deadline Extended: 8 February 2026
Acceptance notification: 18 March 2026
Final paper submission deadline Extended: 7 April 2026

Submission requirements: 5-page paper (without overlength charge) and up to 2 additional pages are allowed with the purchase of additional page charges in the amount of $100 USD per additional page at the time of registration and final paper submission.

Paper submission can be located here: https://vtc2026s-rr-wks.trackchair.com/