Euihyeon Choi (최의현)

Ph.D. Student at Georgia Tech | Integrated Decision-Making for Autonomous Aerospace Systems

Euihyeon Choi Portrait

Biography

I am a Ph.D. student in Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, advised by Prof. Koki Ho. My research develops integrated decision-making frameworks for autonomous aerospace systems by connecting mission operations, multi-agent coordination, and system architecture through optimization, operations research, and aerospace domain knowledge.

Before joining Georgia Tech, I worked as a Researcher at the Aerospace Technology Research Institute within the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) in South Korea. I received my Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering, as well as a Bachelor of Science in both Aerospace Engineering and Physics (Double Major) from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).

My name is pronounced E-hyun ("Eui" as in the letter 'E' and "hyeon" as in 'Hyundai').

Research Vision

My research develops integrated decision-making frameworks for autonomous aerospace systems. I study how decisions across mission operations, multi-agent coordination, and system architecture should be connected mathematically and computationally. By combining aerospace domain knowledge with optimization, operations research, and systems engineering, I aim to enable scalable, adaptive, and resource-aware decision-making for future air and space missions.
Integrated Mission Planning & Operations Adaptive Multi-Agent Coordination Operations-Informed System Architecture Space Logistics & Infrastructure Optimization & Operations Research Autonomous Aerospace Systems

Education

  • Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, expected August 2027
  • M.S., Aerospace Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 2024
  • B.S., Aerospace Engineering and Physics (Double Major), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 2019

Selected Publications

Research Overview

My research develops integrated decision-making frameworks for autonomous aerospace systems operating across air and space domains. The program connects three decision scales: how aerospace systems are operated, how autonomous agents are coordinated, and how systems and infrastructure are designed.

Integrated Decision-Making Framework
Integrated research framework connecting mission operations, multi-agent coordination, and systems architecture.

Research Thrusts

Thrust 1 (OPERATE): Integrated Mission Planning and Operations

Core Focus: Integrated optimization of routing, scheduling, trajectory design, resource allocation, and infrastructure utilization for servicing, exploration, and space logistics.

Key Contributions:

  • Integrated Spacecraft Routing and Trajectory Design: Developed arc- and path-based formulations jointly optimizing satellite selection, visiting sequences, en route refueling, and time-dependent trajectories, achieving comparable mission performance with an approximately 100-fold reduction in computation time.
  • Cislunar Split-Delivery Campaign and Launch Scheduling: Developed a two-phase optimization framework for split-delivery lunar campaigns that exploits resonance orbits and hybrid propulsion, systematically decoupling multi-body orbital dynamics from campaign-level launch scheduling and payload allocation.

Future Directions:

  • Adaptive-Fidelity Planning: Selectively refining physical models when additional detail changes mission-level decisions.
  • Uncertainty-Aware Operations: Revising schedules and resource flows as demand, vehicle states, and infrastructure availability change.
Integrated spacecraft routing and trajectory design
Integrated spacecraft routing and trajectory design (Choi and Ho, JSR, 2026)
Cislunar Split-Delivery Campaign and Launch Scheduling
Cislunar Split-Delivery Campaign and Launch Scheduling (Choi et al., JSR, 2026)
Thrust 2 (COORDINATE): Adaptive Coordination of Multi-Agent Aerospace Systems

Core Focus: Scalable task allocation, cooperative routing, and adaptive replanning for heterogeneous aerospace agents with interdependent capabilities, resources, and information.

Key Contributions:

  • Heterogeneous Surface Exploration: Developed a two-echelon routing framework for coordinated rover-helicopter operations, increasing exploration value by an average of 149% relative to rover-only missions in the evaluated scenarios.
  • Real-Time Adaptive Replanning: Co-developed a rolling-horizon framework with optimization, heuristic, and learning-based methods that generated feasible plans in under one second for tested instances with up to 100 tasks.

Future Directions:

  • Cross-Domain Heterogeneous Teams: Coordinating surface, aerial, and orbital agents operating across different environments and timescales.
  • Information-Aware Coordination: Quantifying when the mission value of observation, communication, and shared information justifies their costs.
Planetary surface exploration with heterogeneous agents
Planetary surface exploration with heterogeneous agents (Choi and Ahn, JSR, 2023)
Adaptive planning for multiple UAVs with in-flight refueling
Adaptive planning for multiple UAVs with in-flight refueling (Gwon et al., IJASS, 2026)
Thrust 3 (DESIGN): Operations-Informed Architecture and Infrastructure Design

Core Focus: Optimization of aerospace architecture, infrastructure, modularity, and phased deployment based on downstream operational consequences.

Key Contributions:

  • Continuous Orbital Depot Location-Routing: Co-optimized continuous depot locations and satellite servicing routes, reducing effective mass to low Earth orbit by 36.9% relative to the initial depot configuration in the evaluated case study.
  • Constraint-Aware Architecture Design: Developed mathematical programming methods for modular architecture design and sequential infrastructure planning under practical constraints and uncertainty.

Future Directions:

  • Phased Infrastructure Deployment: Determining when to deploy, expand, or defer space infrastructure as demand evolves.
  • Modular & Reconfigurable Systems: Designing interfaces that preserve future operational options while balancing lifecycle cost, risk, and adaptability.
Continuous orbital depot location and satellite servicing routing
Continuous orbital depot location and satellite servicing routing (Choi and Ho, JSR, 2026)
DSM clustering for modular architecture design
DSM clustering for modular architecture design (Kim et al., JMD, 2025)

Journal Articles

  1. E. Choi, J. Lee, and J. Ahn, "Optimal Split-Delivery Lunar Campaign with Resonance Orbits and Hybrid Propulsion," Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets (Accepted).
  2. E. Choi and J. Ahn, "Optimal Routing for In-Situ Resource Utilization-Based Planetary Surface Explorations," Journal of Aerospace Information Systems (Accepted).
  3. E. Choi and K. Ho, "Integrated Routing and Trajectory Design for Satellite Servicing," Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 2026, pp. 1–15.
  4. B. Gwon*, E. Choi*, J. Lee, and J. Ahn, "Adaptive Planning for Multiple UAVs with In-Flight Refueling," International Journal of Aeronautical & Space Sciences, 2026, pp. 1–19 [*These authors contributed equally].
  5. J. Choi, J. Lee, E. Choi, and J. Ahn, "Sequential Vertiport Location Optimization Considering Uncertain Social Benefit," Journal of Aerospace Information Systems, Vol. 23, No. 8, 2026, pp. 737–752.
  6. E. Choi and K. Ho, "Orbital Depot Location Optimization for Satellite Constellation Servicing with Low-Thrust Transfers," Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 63, No. 1, 2026, pp. 4–13.
  7. C. Moon, E. Choi, and J. Ahn, "Aerial-Ground Collaborative Routing with Uncertain Exploration Value," International Journal of Aeronautical & Space Sciences, Vol. 26, 2025, pp. 2817–2841.
  8. J. Kim, E. Choi, J. Ahn, E.S. Suh, J. Kim, and D.G. Lim, "Mathematical Programming-Based Design Structure Matrix Clustering for Modular Architecture Design," Journal of Mechanical Design, Vol. 147, No. 10, 2025, 101401.
  9. E. Choi and J. Ahn, "Optimal Multi-agent Grouping and Routing with Cooperative Tasks," Journal of Aerospace Information Systems, Vol. 22, No. 3, 2025, pp. 163–176.
  10. E. Choi and W. Chang, "Multi-Agent Task Allocation with Inter-Agent Distance Constraints," Journal of Aerospace Information Systems, Vol. 21, No. 2, 2024, pp. 168–177.
  11. E. Choi and J. Ahn, "Optimal Planetary Surface Exploration with Heterogeneous Agents," Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 60, No. 4, 2023, pp. 1343–1354.
  12. E. Choi and J. Ahn, "Optimal Planetary Surface Routing Considering Exploration Values and Synergies," Journal of Aerospace Information Systems, Vol. 19, No. 6, 2022, pp. 406–420.

Working Papers

  1. B. Gwon, E. Choi, and J. Ahn, "An Integer Linear Programming-Based Framework for Satellite Coverage Optimization Problem Under Operational Constraints," International Journal of Aeronautical & Space Sciences (Major Revision).
  2. E. Choi, J. Kim, J. Kim, J. Ahn, "Optimal Design Structure Matrix Clustering with Constraint Selections for Conflict Resolution," Journal of Mechanical Design (Under Review).

Conference Papers

  1. E. Choi and K. Ho, "In-Space Recycling Logistics Optimization for Circular Space Economy," 2027 AIAA SciTech Forum, January 2027 (Forthcoming).
  2. T. Noro, E. Choi, S. Han, M. Isaji, and K. Ho, "Optimal Scheduling of ADR Missions in the Near-GEO Region Based on a Competing-Risk Failure Model," The 70th Space Sciences and Technology Conference, November 2026 (Forthcoming).
  3. T. Noro, K. Ho, E. Choi, S. Han, and M. Isaji, "Low-Thrust Trajectory Optimization via Sequential Convex Programming for On-Orbit Servicing in GEO," The Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences 57th Annual Meeting, April 2026.
  4. E. Choi and K. Ho, "Optimal Routing and Trajectory Planning for Asteroid Mining with Partial In-Situ Resource Utilization," 2026 AIAA SciTech Forum, January 2026.
  5. E. Choi and J. Ahn, "Optimal Routing Problem with Precedence Constraints for Surface Exploration," 2024 AIAA SciTech Forum, January 2024.
  6. J. Choi, J. Lee, E. Choi and J. Ahn, "Optimizing UAM Vertiport Location in Jeju Island: Incorporating Noise for Public Utility," 2023 Asia-Pacific International Symposium on Aerospace Technology, October 2023.
  7. E. Choi and J. Ahn, "Optimal Short-Term Scheduling for Space Telescope in Low-Earth Orbit," 2023 AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, August 2023.
  8. E. Choi, D. Han, and W. Chang, "Decentralized Task Allocation for Multiple UAVs with Iterative Cost Reduction," KSAS 2023 Spring Conference, pp. 60–61, April 2023.
  9. J. Ahn, E. Choi and D.U. Lee, "Application of routing problems to space exploration missions," 2023 AIAA SciTech Forum, January 2023.
  10. W. Chang and E. Choi, "Trade-off Study on Multi-UAV Autonomous Mission Planning Algorithms," KSAS 2022 Fall Conference, pp. 1736–1737, 2022.
  11. E. Choi and W. Chang, "Multi-Agent Decentralized Task Allocation Algorithms with Fuel Constraints," KSAS 2021 Fall Conference, pp. 432–433, 2021.

Media Articles

  1. E. Choi and K. Ho, "SpaceX aims to use rockets to quickly transport cargo across the Earth and into orbit – moves that would expand the global cargo system," The Conversation, 2026.

Theses

  • E. Choi, "Optimal Planetary Surface Routing Considering Synergy Value System and Heterogeneous Agents," Master's Thesis, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 2024.

Patents

  1. D. Han, W. Jang, E. Choi, "Method and apparatus for determining the path of an unmanned vehicle using a distributed network," KR Patent, 10-2946314, 2026.

Software & Tools

  1. T. Noro, M. Isaji, E. Choi, S. Han, and K. Ho, "PosbasedOOSnearGSO.jl," Georgia Tech Software Disclosure, Invention ID 2026-248, 2025.
  2. T. Noro, M. Isaji, E. Choi, S. Han, and K. Ho, "LowthrustSCP.jl," Georgia Tech Software Disclosure, Invention ID 2026-247, 2025.
  3. E. Choi, K. Ho, and Y. Shimane, "Continuous Location Routing Problem for Orbital Depot (CLRPOD) v1.0.0," Georgia Tech Software Disclosure, Invention ID 2026-018, 2025.
    [View on GitHub]

Professional & Research Experience

Georgia Institute of Technology Aug. 2024 – Present
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering.
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant, Spacecraft Flight Dynamics, Fall 2026.
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) Aug. 2022 – Aug. 2024
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Aerospace Engineering.
Agency for Defense Development (ADD) Jun. 2019 – May 2022
  • Researcher, Aerospace Technology Research Institute.

Selected Projects

  • Innovative Decision-Making Frameworks for Next-Generation Space Systems (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Georgia Tech)
  • ATLAS: Advancing Technologies for Logistics Architectures in Space (AFRL/AFOSR, Georgia Tech)
  • Space Logistics Model for Temporary Deployment of Earth Imaging Satellites (ThinkOrbital, Georgia Tech)

Contact Information

Email: ehchoi@gatech.edu

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ehchoi

Google Scholar: Euihyeon Choi

Location: Atlanta, GA, USA

Download Full CV

You can download a complete and up-to-date copy of my Curriculum Vitae in PDF format below.

📄 Download CV (PDF)