RMIT University
Sam Hilton completed his PhD at RMIT University as part of a SmartSat CRC and Northrop Grumman Mission Systems USA co-funded research program, focused on intelligent autonomy for distributed satellite systems supporting space traffic management. His thesis developed novel frameworks for multi-agent planning, onboard optimisation under uncertainty, and supervisory control to enable safe, coordinated operations of space-based space surveillance assets.
Sam has published extensively in leading space-focused journals including Acta Astronautica, Progress in Aerospace Sciences, and Sensors, addressing challenges in uncertainty quantification, intelligent mission planning, and autonomous space system design. His work has been presented at top-tier space and aerospace conferences such as the IEEE Aerospace Conference, AIAA/IEEE Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC), SmallSat, and the International Astronautical Congress.
His research was deeply collaborative, engaging with experts from RMIT, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin’s STELaRLab, where he completed an internship on trusted autonomy for operator-in-the-loop optimisation. Sam’s work also contributed to multi-university research teams exploring AI-enabled satellite autonomy, space situational awareness, and resilient mission assurance frameworks. Through this, he has helped bridge theoretical innovation with the practical needs of defence and commercial space stakeholders.
