The University of Arizona
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
    Home  «  People  «  Faculty  «  Furfaro
Roberto Furfaro
Assistant Research Professor
 
 • OfficeAME N615
 • Phone(520) 312-7440
 • Fax(520) 621-8191
 • Emailrobertof@email.arizona.edu
 • MailDr. Roberto Furfaro
The University of Arizona
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
PO Box 210119
Tucson AZ 85721-0119
Roberto Furfaro
Research Expertise
Education
Courses Taught
Employment
Honors and Awards
Publications
Research Grants

Research Expertise

 • Radiative and particle transport theory with applications in satellite remote sensing
 • Neural networks and fuzzy systems
 • Control of aerospace systems
 • Spacecraft design
 • Numerical methods
 Top

Education

 • Ph.D.Aerospace Engineering, University of Arizona, 2004
 • Laurea (M.S.)Aerospace Engineering, University of Rome "La Sapienza," 1998
 Top

Courses Taught  (since 2000)

 • AME 301Engineering Analysis
 • AME 302Numerical Methods (1/4)
 • AME 321Aircraft Performance (TA)
 • AME 352Dynamics of Machines (TA)
 • AME 413a/bMechanical Engineering Design Lab [supervised projects]
 • AME 424/524Introduction to Space Technologies (TA)
 • AME 455Control System Design
 Top

Employment

 • 2/05-dateAerospace and Mechanical Engineering, The University of Arizona: Assistant Research Professor
 Top

Honors and Awards

 • Imaging Fellowship Program, 2002-03
 • Graduate Registration Scholarship, Fall 2002, Spring 2004
 Top

Selected Publications  (since 2005)

 • Morris, R. D., Kottas, A., Furfaro, R., Taddy, M., and Ganapol, B.., A Statistical Framework for the Sensitivity Analysis of Radiative Transfer Models Used in Remote Sensed Data Product Generation, IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens. (submitted).
 • Furfaro, R., Dohm, J. M., Fink, W., Kargel, J., Schulze-Makuch, D., Fairén, A.G., Palmero-Rodriguez, A., Bake, V. R., Ferré, P. T., Hare, T. M., Tarbell, M. A., Miyamoto, H., and Komatsu, G., The Search for Life Beyond Earth Through Fuzzy Expert Systems, Planet. Space Sci. (accepted).
 • Kargel, J. S., Furfaro, R., Rodriguez, A. P., et al., Martian Hydrogeology Sustained by Thermally Insulating Gas and Salt Hydrates, Geology (in press, article G23783, November 2007 issue).
 • Furfaro, R., Ganapol, B. D., Johnson, L. F., and Herwitz, S. R., Coffee Ripeness Monitoring with Airborne Imagery: Neural Network Algorithm for Field Ripeness Evaluation Using Reduced a priori Information., Appl. Eng. Ag. 23:379-387, 2007.
 • Furfaro, R. and Ganapol, B., Spectral Theory for Photon Transport in Dense Vegetation Media: Caseology for the Canopy Equation, Transp. Theory Stat. Phys. 36, 107-135, 2007.
 • Furfaro, R., Dohm, J. M, Fink, W., Kargel, J. S., Schulze-Makuch, D., Fairen, A. G., Ferré, T. P. A., Tarbell, M. A., Hare, T. M., Komatsu, G., Palmero-Rodriguez, A. J., Baker, V. R., and Miyamoto, H., Searching for Life on Extraterrestrial Bodies: Fuzzy Autonomous Systems for Planetary Reconnaissance [abstract 1372], 38th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference Abstracts, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, Texas, 2007 [CD].
 • Fink, W., Dohm, J. M., Tarbell, M. A., Hare, T. M., Baker, V. R., Schulze-Makuch, D., Furfaro, R., Fairen, A. G., Ferre, T. P. A., Miyamoto, H., Komatsu, G., and Mahaney, W. C., Tier-Scalable Reconnaissance Missions for the Autonomous Exploration of Planetary Bodies, IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings, Big Sky, Montana, 2007.
 • Fink, W., Dohm, J. M., Tarbell, M. A., Hare, T. M., Baker, V. R., Schulze-Makuch, D., Furfaro, R., Fairén, A. G., Ferré, T. P. A., Miyamoto, H., Komatsu, G., and Mahaney, Multi-tier Multi-agent Autonomous Robotic Planetary Surface/Subsurface Reconnaissance for Life [abstract 1433], 37th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference Abstracts, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, Texas, 2006 [CD].
 • Furfaro, R., Dohm, J. M., Fink, W., Schulze-Makuch, D., Fairén, A.G., Tarbell, M. A., Hare, T. M., and Baker, V. R., Multi-Layer Fuzzy Logic-based Expert System for Conducting Tier-scalable Planetary Reconnaissance [abstract 1257], 37th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference Abstracts, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, Texas, 2006 [CD].
 • Furfaro, R., Dohm, J. M., and Fink, W., Fuzzy Logic Expert System for Tier-scalable Planetary Reconnaissance, Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Space Operations, AIAA, Rome, Italy, June 19-23, 2006.
 • Dohm, J. M., Fink, W., Tarbell, M. A., Hare, T. M., Schulze-Makuch, D., Furfaro, R., and Baker, V.R., Tier-scalable Reconnaissance to Test Overarching Geological Theories and Locate Prime Targets on Mars; [abstract], 25th International Space Development Conference, Los Angeles, California, 2006.
 • Fink, W., Dohm, J. M., Schulze-Makuch, D., Fairen, A. G., Baker, V. R., Furfaro, R., Tarbell, M. A., and Hare, T. M., Tier-Scalable Reconnaissance for Remote Planetary Exploration [abstract], 25th International Space Development Conference, Los Angeles., California, 2006.
 • Furfaro, R., Dohm, J. M., and Fink, W., Autonomy in Planetary Exploration: Fuzzy Expert System for Tier-Scalable Reconnaissance [abstract], 25th International Space Development Conference, Los Angeles, California, 2006.
 • Fink, W., Dohm, J. M., Tarbell, M. A., Harem T, M., Baker, V. R., Schulze-Makuch, D., Furfaro, R., Fairén, A. G., Ferré, T. P. A., Miyamoto, H., Komatsu, G., and Mahaney, W. C., Autonomous Tier-scalable Reconnaissance Missions for Remote Planetary Exploration [abstract ], 4th International Planetary Probe Workshop, Pasadena, California, 2006.
 • Furfaro, R., Ganapol, B., Johnson, L., and Herwitz, S., Model-based Neural Network Algorithm for Coffee Ripeness Prediction Using Helios UAV Aerial Images, Remote Sensing for Agriculture, Ecosystems and Hydrology, SPIE Proceedings 5976, 2005.
 • Furfaro, R. and Ganapol, B., Probabilistic and Generalized Neural Networks for Non-Multiplying Material Identification, Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc. 93:514-516, 2005.
 Top

Research Grants

 • Autonomous Navigation Capability for a Titan Balloon Mission, JPL DRDF Strategic University Research Partnership, 1/07-1/08 (with Jonathan Lunine, Lunar and Planetary Lab.).
 • Types and Origin of the Martian Outflow Channels, NASA Mars Data Analysis Program (ROSES 2006), 10/07-10/10 (with Alexis Rodriguez, Planetary Space Institute).
 • GLIMS: Core Functions, Multi-Sensor Applications to Alaskan Glacier Monitoring, and Glacier/Lake Dynamics and Radiative Transfer, NASA Earth System Science Research Using Data and Products from the Terra, Aqua, and ACRIMSAT Satellites (ROSES 2006), 11/07-11/10 (with Jeff Kargel, Hydrology and Water Resources).
 • Satellite, Airborne, and Ground-based Assessment of Cryosphere Changes in the Copper River/Chitina Basins and Adjoining Ranges (Alaska) from Late Maximum to Now, NASA International Polar Year (ROSES 2006), 9/07-8/10 (with Jeff Kargel, Hydrology and Water Resources).
 • Improving Remote Sensed Data Products Using Bayesian Methodology for the Analysis of Computer Model Output, NASA Applied Information Research Systems (ROSES 2006), 11/07-12/10 (through Robin Morris NASA/ RIACS).
 • Quantifying the Uncertainty of Biospheric Quantities, NASA Ames, 1/1/06-12/31/08 (with B. Ganapol).
 Top