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Hyungho Na

Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology · Engineering

About the Lab

Professor Hyungho Na's research lab specializes in advanced defense systems and autonomous decision-making under uncertainty, with a focus on ballistic missile defense, multi-asset engagement optimization, and cooperative reinforcement learning for complex combat scenarios. The lab develops analytical models for kill probability, impact angle control, and weapon-target assignment, integrating probabilistic engagement analysis with machine learning techniques such as actor-critic frameworks and memory-augmented reinforcement learning. Key research directions include survivability optimization of protected assets, time-efficient solution methods for large-scale defense problems, and innovative space-based monitoring systems for disaster response. The lab bridges theoretical modeling with practical applications in aerospace and defense systems.

ballistic missile defenseweapon-target assignmentcooperative reinforcement learningsurvivability optimizationspace-based monitoring

Research Overview

Papers
19
Total Citations
82
Papers (5y)
12
Primary Field
Engineering

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
12total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
34total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|28 citations·2019
Optimal Arrangement of Missile Defense Systems Considering Kill Probability
Hyungho Na, Jin-Ik Lee
SJR Q1IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems

This paper proposes an optimal arrangement framework of ballistic missile defense systems, such as a launcher and radar to maximize the survivability of protected assets. In order to solve the optimization problem through a probabilistic approach, we derive a single shot kill probability (SSKP) model based on engagement geometries, trajectory characteristic of an interceptor and a ballistic missile, and error models embedded in both an interceptor and radar. This SSKP model is useful to predict

Aerospace EngineeringEngineering
2
Article|25 citations·2022
Weapon–Target Assignment by Reinforcement Learning with Pointer Network
Hyungho Na, Jaemyung Ahn, Il‐Chul Moon
SJR Q2Journal of Aerospace Information Systems
Aerospace EngineeringEngineering
3
Article|11 citations·2020
Midcourse Guidance Strategy for Multistage Interceptors with Coasting Phase
Hyungho Na, Yong-In Lee, Jin-Ik Lee
SJR Q1Journal of Guidance Control and Dynamics

This paper proposes a new approach on the impact angle control guidance problem for the multistage interceptor with nonmaneuvering phases, called coasting phase, and high acceleration buildup during the boosting phase. First, the required coasting time is determined to reach the target within the given time span considering operation time of the kill vehicle. Then, the required flight path angle profiles and corresponding guidance commands during the boosting phase are derived, in order to achie

Aerospace EngineeringEngineering
4
Article|4 citations·2017
Framework to operate multiple ship defense missiles under uncertain evasive maneuvers of target
Hyungho Na, Jaemyung Ahn
SJR Q2Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part G Journal of Aerospace Engineering

This paper proposes a two-phase framework to operate multiple ship defense missiles against the threat of an anti-ship missile. During the preparation phase, single-shot kill probability models associated with various evasive maneuvers of the anti-ship missile are developed and used to assess the overall kill probability obtained by combined operation of multiple defense missiles. An optimization problem to maximize the total kill probability of an engagement by determining the firing times of d

Aerospace EngineeringEngineering
5
Article|3 citations·2023
Time-Efficient Weapon-Target Assignment by Actor-Critic Reinforcement
Muhyun Byun, Hyungho Na, Il‐Chul Moon

This paper proposes a time-efficient model for solving the Weapon-target assignment (WTA) problem with actor-critic reinforcement learning. While typical heuristic algorithms and recently studied artificial neural network methodologies have shown good performance results, the previous approach has not been time-efficient in large-scale WTA problems. This paper utilizes the actor-critic framework to resolve the WTA problem, and this framework enables retrieving solutions 23 times faster than the

Aerospace EngineeringEngineering
6
Preprint|3 citations·2024
Efficient Episodic Memory Utilization of Cooperative Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning
Hyungho Na, Yunkyeong Seo, Il‐Chul Moon
arXiv (Cornell University)OA

In cooperative multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL), agents aim to achieve a common goal, such as defeating enemies or scoring a goal. Existing MARL algorithms are effective but still require significant learning time and often get trapped in local optima by complex tasks, subsequently failing to discover a goal-reaching policy. To address this, we introduce Efficient episodic Memory Utilization (EMU) for MARL, with two primary objectives: (a) accelerating reinforcement learning by leveragi

Artificial IntelligenceComputer Science
7
Article|3 citations·2013
Assessment of architectural options for a dual-mode disaster monitoring constellation supported by on-orbit propellant depots
Seungbum Hong, Hyungho Na, Jaemyung Ahn
SJR Q2Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part G Journal of Aerospace Engineering

This paper introduces a concept, a baseline design, and a trade study for a new space-based global continuous disaster monitoring system composed of a dual-mode satellite constellation and on-orbit propellant depots. The proposed constellation operates in two different modes: a normal mode and a disaster mode, which are responsible for atmospheric/oceanic imaging and disaster monitoring, respectively. The dual-mode concept enables the system to manage the uncertainties associated with the unknow

Aerospace EngineeringEngineering
8
Article|2 citations·2023
Optimal Coasting Time Determination of a Multi-stage Interceptor Considering Engagement Zone
Hyungho Na, Taehyun Sung, Jaemyung Ahn
AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum

View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-2637.vid This paper proposes a methodology to optimally determine the coasting time of a multi-stage interceptor, considering the engagement zone. Proper coasting time determination is critical for a multi-stage interceptor to extend its engagement boundaries and to engage with a target at a specified engagement point at the estimated impact time. Hence, we first define the optimization problem to determine multiple coasting times for a mul

Aerospace EngineeringEngineering
9
Article|1 citations·2011
Design of the High-Mobility Disaster Monitoring Satellite Constellation Using the Orbiting Depot
Jaemyung Ahn, Seungbum Hong, Hyungho Na

This paper proposes the initiative to design the continuous and global disaster monitoring satellite constellation supported by a flexibility element referred to as the “onorbit supply depot.” The goal statement, concept of operations, high-level requirements, and key design variables of the proposed monitoring system are presented. The proposed system is operated in two different modes – the nominal mode and the disaster mode. In the nominal mode, the system performs the weather forecasting mis

Aerospace EngineeringEngineering
10
Article|1 citations·2012
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Global Disaster Monitoring Architectures with an On-Orbit Servicing Depot
Seungbum Hong, Hyungho Na, Jaemyung Ahn

This paper proposes a framework for the cost/benefit analysis of global disaster monitoring constellation architectures that is operated in two modes: normal weather monitoring mode and disaster monitoring mode. Three architectures are proposed for quantitative cost/benefit analysis: 1) an independent weather monitoring satellite constellation and disposable disaster monitoring satellites, 2) dual-mode satellite constellations supported by an on-orbit fuel depot, and 3) dual-mode satellite const

Aerospace EngineeringEngineering
11
Preprint|1 citations·2024
LAGMA: LAtent Goal-guided Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning
Hyungho Na, Il‐Chul Moon
arXiv (Cornell University)OA

In cooperative multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL), agents collaborate to achieve common goals, such as defeating enemies and scoring a goal. However, learning goal-reaching paths toward such a semantic goal takes a considerable amount of time in complex tasks and the trained model often fails to find such paths. To address this, we present LAtent Goal-guided Multi-Agent reinforcement learning (LAGMA), which generates a goal-reaching trajectory in latent space and provides a latent goal-gu

Artificial IntelligenceComputer Science
12
Preprint|0 citations·2025
Trajectory-Class-Aware Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning
Hyungho Na, Kwanghyeon Lee, Sumin Lee, Il‐Chul Moon
ArXiv.orgOA

In the context of multi-agent reinforcement learning, generalization is a challenge to solve various tasks that may require different joint policies or coordination without relying on policies specialized for each task. We refer to this type of problem as a multi-task, and we train agents to be versatile in this multi-task setting through a single training process. To address this challenge, we introduce TRajectory-class-Aware Multi-Agent reinforcement learning (TRAMA). In TRAMA, agents recogniz

Automotive EngineeringEngineering
13
Article|0 citations·2026
Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning Considering Agent Priority for Weapon–Target Assignment
Hyungho Na, Jaemyung Ahn, Il‐Chul Moon
SJR Q2Journal of Aerospace Information Systems

This paper presents a novel multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) approach that incorporates agent priorities to address weapon–target assignment (WTA) with constraints, such as heterogeneous engagement time windows. The proposed approach begins by defining the decentralized Markov decision process (Dec-MDP) formulation for WTA involving heterogeneous, multiple agents. Our approach employs a hierarchical structure for MARL training, comprising an agent selector and a target selector, which s

Aerospace EngineeringEngineering
14
Article|0 citations·2024
Cross-entropy-based Framework for Preliminary Design of a Multi-stage Interceptor Considering Engagement Boundary
Hyungho Na, Junsub Hwang, Tae-Hyun Sung, Jaemyung Ahn
SJR Q4Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences

이 논문은 교전영역을 고려한 다단 요격탄의 최적 설계 프레임워크를 제시한다. 이 프레임워크는 시스템 및 서브시스템 요구 사항을 고려한 복잡한 설계 절차를 처리하기 위해 교차 엔트로피 방법(CEM)을 활용한다. 각 단의 효과적인 질량 분배를 달성하기 위해 최적 단설계는 적용된다. 주목할만한 점은, 제안된 인구 기반 설계 방법은 공력 산출을 위한 Missile DATCOM과 교전 평가를 위한 비선형 시뮬레이션 등의 복잡한 설계 구성 요소에도 훌륭한 수렴 성능을 나타낸다. 비선형 시뮬레이션에서의 요격탄 모델은 무유도 단계 및 관련 유도법칙을 적용하였으며, 따라서 제안된 프레임워크는 최적 설계 단계에서 다단 요격탄의 운용 특성을 고려할 수 있다. 사례 연구를 통해 제안된 프레임워크가 시스템 요구 사항과 서브시스템 제약 사항 만족하는 설계 결과를 효과적으로 도출할 수 있음을 보인다.

Control and Systems EngineeringEngineering
15
Preprint|0 citations·2026
Semantic-aware Wasserstein Policy Regularization for Large Language Model Alignment
Byeonghu Na, Hyungho Na, Yeongmin Kim, Suhyeon Jo, HeeSun Bae, Mina Kang, Il-Chul Moon
arXiv (Cornell University)OA

Large language models (LLMs) are commonly aligned with human preferences using reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF). In this method, LLM policies are generally optimized through reward maximization with Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence regularization of the reference policy. However, KL and its $f$-divergence variants only compare token probabilities at identical indices, failing to capture semantic similarity. We propose Wasserstein Policy Regularization (WPR), a semantic-aware reg

Artificial IntelligenceComputer Science

Research Areas

Aerospace EngineeringArtificial IntelligenceControl and Systems EngineeringAutomotive Engineering

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