NASA ULI Annual Review 2026
Registration
Registration is free and open to all attendees. We ask that you register in advance so we can plan accordingly.
Agenda
May 4, 2026 — Illini Union
8:00 – 9:00 AM — Breakfast
9:00 – 9:15 AM — Remarks by Associate Dean of Research
9:15 – 9:30 AM — “Ontological Robustness for Certification of Autonomous Systems” — Prof. Naira Hovakimyan
9:35 – 9:50 AM — “Certifiably Safe and Robust Perception for Urban Air Mobility” — Prof. Lui Sha
9:55 – 10:10 AM — “Verification of Multi-UAM Scenarios” — Prof. Sayan Mitra
10:15 – 10:30 AM — Student Demo Talk (tentative)
10:35 – 10:50 AM — “Runtime Fault Diagnosis (FD) and Reachability Analysis (RA) for In-Flight Contingency Management” — Prof. Ali Karimoddini
11:00 – 11:30 AM — Coffee Break
11:30 – 11:45 AM — “Network Logistics and Planning Problems in Airspace Management: AI for Parameterized Sequential Decision-Making Problems” — Prof. Srinivasa Salapaka
11:50 – 12:05 PM — “Simulation Development for Robust and Resilient Autonomy for Advanced Mobility” — Professors Petros Voulgaris and Hyung-Jin Yoon
12:10 – 12:25 PM — “SAFE Flight Tests on X-62A VISTA” — Lockheed Martin
12:30 – 12:45 PM — Talk by Google Wing (tentative)
1:00 – 2:00 PM — Lunch
2:00 – 2:15 PM — Presentation — Prof. Evangelos Theodorou (tentative)
2:20 – 2:35 PM — “Real-Time Bayesian Fault Diagnosis over High-Dimensional Fault Spaces” — Prof. Ioannis Raptis
2:40 – 2:55 PM — “Reachability Analysis for Feasible Task Assignment” — Prof. Melkior Ornik
3:00 – 3:15 PM — “Systems Integration and Field Deployment Verification” — Prof. Christos Papachristos
3:20 – 3:35 PM — “Outreach: Engaging the Next Generation” — Dr. Jessica Peterson
3:40 – 4:05 PM — Talk by Archer Aviation (tentative)
4:10 – 4:25 PM — Talk by Irene Gregory
4:30 – 5:30 PM — Poster Session
5:30 – 7:00 PM — Dinner
May 5, 2026 — Mechanical Engineering Building (Room 2058)
8:00 – 9:00 AM — Breakfast
9:00 – 11:00 AM — Advisory Board Meeting
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM — Closing Remarks — Prof. Naira Hovakimyan
12:00 – 1:00 PM — Lunch
Travel & Accommodation Information
Travel
University of Illinois Willard Airport (CMI) — Recommended Willard Airport is the closest airport to campus, just 10 minutes away. It offers daily connecting flights via American Airlines and United Airlines. For most attendees, flying into CMI and taking an Uber or taxi directly to the venue is the simplest option.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) O’Hare is approximately 150 miles from Champaign, with a driving time of around 3 hours. Peoria Charter also operates a bus service from O’Hare to the Illinois Terminal in Champaign, with tickets typically in the $45–60 range. Rental cars are available at the airport for those who prefer to drive.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) Midway is approximately 133 miles from Champaign, with a drive time of around 2.5 hours. A charter bus service operated by Peoria Coach connects Midway to Champaign twice daily. Rental cars are available at the airport as well.
Central Illinois Regional Airport, Bloomington-Normal (BMI) BMI is approximately 56 miles from Champaign, with a drive of just over an hour. It is a small regional airport with connections to major hubs via Delta, United, and American Airlines. A rental car is the most practical option for the last leg of the trip.
Indianapolis International Airport (IND) IND is roughly 126 miles from Champaign, with a drive of about 2 hours. It offers a broad range of domestic and international connections and may be a convenient option for attendees flying from the East Coast or abroad. Rental cars are available at the airport.
Accommodation
We recommend booking early, as hotels in the Champaign-Urbana area fill up quickly around campus events.
I Hotel & Illinois Conference Center — Recommended 1900 S 1st St, Champaign The closest hotel to campus, located on-site at UIUC. This is the most convenient option, as it is the closest to the event venues and located on-site at UIUC. It features a full conference center, on-site dining, and easy walking access to the event venue.
Hilton Garden Inn Champaign/Urbana — 1501 S Neil St, Champaign A full-service hotel located about a 10-minute drive from campus, with an on-site restaurant and bar.
Hyatt Place Champaign/Urbana — 217 N Neil St, Champaign Situated in downtown Champaign, within walking distance of a variety of restaurants and shops.
Hampton Inn Champaign/Urbana — 1200 W University Ave, Urbana Conveniently located near the north side of campus, with complimentary breakfast and ample parking.
Holiday Inn Champaign — 101 Trade Ctr Dr, Champaign A comfortable mid-range option a short drive from campus, with an on-site restaurant and bar.
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Champaign/Urbana — 603 S 6th St, Champaign An extended-stay hotel situated in Campustown, within walking distance of campus. Rooms include kitchenettes, making it a practical option for attendees staying multiple nights.