Meet the Team
A multidisciplinary team of researchers, engineers, and domain experts working at the intersection of AI and air traffic management — spanning NATS, The Alan Turing Institute, and the University of Exeter.
Research Theme 1 — Digital Twin
Research Theme 3 — Assurance
Data Team
Previous Collaborators
Team Profile
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Team
Research Theme 2 — Agents
Role
Machine Learning Research Fellow
Dr. Paul Kent
Machine Learning Research Fellow
Biography
Paul Kent is a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Exeter. Paul gained his PhD at the university of Warwick, where he developed methods for Bayesian optimisation approaches to Quality-Diversity, an innovative approach to finding diverse solutions that are high-performing. He is part of Project Bluebird, which is a collaboration between NATS, the Alan Turing Institute, and the University of Exeter. The project aims to develop a digital twin of UK airspace in conjunction with the world's first AI air traffic control system. Paul is currently working on developing AI agents for Air Traffic control. Paul's ongoing research interests are in optimisation and machine learning, with a passion for real-world applications and a particular interest in technologies for human learning. If he's not working, he's probably playing a board game or trying to get the highest score on the bluebird ATCO simulation game.
Publications
- A Future Capabilities Agent for Tactical Air Traffic Control
AIAA SciTech Forum, 2026