About
My research focuses on harnessing the potential of swarms and artificial intelligence to benefit humanity. Swarms’ adaptability and scalability make them ideal for tasks requiring distributed sensing, acting, and processing. This presents exciting possibilities for tackling complex, large-scale challenges facing our world. From nanorobots for cancer treatment to environmental monitoring and conservation in the ocean, disaster response and recovery, traffic management, and logistics, swarm intelligence offers humanity significant benefits. Before joining the academia, I was the founder and CTO of Autonomy & Data Science R&D in the Israeli government sector. Building on this experience, I have been actively involved in bridging the gap between academia and industry. My collaborations with leading industries and startups in Israel have facilitated the application of advanced AI and robotics research in real-world settings, ensuring that my work not only advances knowledge but also directly contributes to technological innovation.
Publications
- Unmasking deepfakes: Leveraging augmentations and features variability for deepfake speech detection, Rimon, I., Gal, O. & Permuter, H., Jan 2027, In: Computer Speech and Language. 101, 101994.
- Utility of esophagogastroduodenoscopy in positive FOBT with negative colonoscopy: Yield of upper gastrointestinal malignancy and clinically significant findings, Taher Natour, R., Mahamid, A., Gal, O., Mari, A., Khader, M., Hazzan, R. & Abu Baker, F., Aug 2026, In: Journal of Investigative Medicine. 74, 6, p. 564-570 7 p.
- Comparative evaluation of ultrasound and computed tomography in the detection of imaging findings and complications of acute cholecystitis: a retrospective cohort study, Mahamid, A., Zeina, A. R., Hazzan, R., Natour, R. T., Nicola, D., Gal, O. & Baker, F. A., Aug 2026, In: Emergency Radiology. 33, 4, p. 793-799 7 p.
- Persistent heartburn in a multiethnic population: treatment gaps, ethnic disparities, and diagnostic yield from a large cohort, Abu Baker, F., Hazzan, R., Tatour, M., Gal, O., Khader, M., Natour, R., Nicola, D., Mansour, A., Abboud, W., Hany, S., Farah, A. & Mari, A., Jul 2026, In: European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 38, 7, p. 840-845 6 p.
- Practical realization and full cycle performance of an “hourglass” system for transient thermal management based on dynamic melting, Salman, I., Shockner, T., Koronio, E., Stavins, R. A., Celebi, B., Chicas, K., Gal, O., Spector, M. S., King, W. P., Miljkovic, N. & Ziskind, G., Apr 2026, In: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 257, 128250.
- Systemic and health care burden of elevated Fibrosis-4 index in the general population: a nationwide matched-cohort analysis, Baker, F. A., Haimi, M., Gal, O., Hazzan, R. & Israel, A., 24 Mar 2026, In: Polish Archives of Internal Medicine. 136, 3, 17225.
- Autonomous oil spill response through liquid neural trajectory modeling and coordinated marine robotics, Kuzmenko, H. C., Ehevich, D. & Gal, O., Mar 2026, In: Applied Ocean Research. 168, 104981.
- Correlating endoscopic findings with pathology to optimize biopsy strategies in gastritis: insights from a large cohort study, Abu Baker, F., Hazzan, R., Gal, O., Natour, R., Nicola, D., Farah, A. & Mari, A., Feb 2026, In: European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 38, 2, p. 161-169 9 p.
- Complete Rectal Anastomotic Occlusion That Spontaneously Recanalized, Allowing for Unusual Endoscopic Treatment with a Lumen-Apposing Metal Stent: A Case Report, Weiss, T., Kirshon, M., Zilbermints, V., Tchernin, N., Kessel, B. & Gal, O., 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: Case Reports in Gastroenterology. p. 78-83 6 p.
- Virtual-Target-Based Stochastic Shoot–Shoot–Look Assignment Algorithms, Merkulov, G., Iceland, E., Michaeli, S., Gal, O., Barel, A. & Shima, T., 2026, In: Journal of Aerospace Information Systems. 23, 6, p. 556-570 15 p.
- Hierarchical Continuous Hidden Markov Models for Lane-Change Behaviour Prediction in Multi-Lane Autonomous Driving, Sharma, O., Gal, O., Dharmveer, Sreenivasulu, G., Dhaked, D. K. & Dash, S., 2026, 2026 1st International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Communication and Power Systems, AIMLCPS 2026. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., (2026 1st International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Communication and Power Systems, AIMLCPS 2026).
- Robust Monocular Visual Odometry via Dual-Paradigm Curriculum Learning, Lahiany, A. & Gal, O., 2026, In: IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters. 11, 1, p. 978-985 8 p.
- Adherence and sustained virologic response in HCV treatment: A real-world comparison of major pangenotypic direct-acting antivirals, Abu Baker, F., Hazzan, R., Saadi, T., Yacoub, A., Nasser, R., Friedrich, Y., Taha, G., Taher, R., Gal, O., Zuckerman, E. & Israel, A., 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: Journal of Investigative Medicine.
- Serrated polyps in colorectal cancer prevention: prevalence, characteristics and clinical insights from a large retrospective cohort study, Baker, F. A., Gal, O., Tatour, M., Ovadia, B., Nicola, D., Taher, R. & Hazzan, R., Dec 2025, In: BMC Gastroenterology. 25, 1, 590.
- Yield of upper endoscopy and predictors of clinically relevant outcomes in patients with proton pump inhibitor–refractory heartburn, Baker, F. A., Hazzan, R., Gal, O., Natour, R., Nicola, D., Farah, A. & Mari, A., 1 Oct 2025, In: Diseases of the Esophagus. 38, 5, doaf072.
- Robust prosody modeling for synthetic speech detection, Cohen, A., Shyrman, D., Solonskyi, A., Frenkel, R., Krishtul, A. & Gal, O., Oct 2025, In: Speech Communication. 174, p. 103283
- A “hourglass” system for transient thermal management based on dynamic close-contact melting of a phase-change material, Salman, I., Shockner, T., Stavins, R. A., Kim, S., Koronio, E., Gal, O., Spector, M. S., King, W. P., Miljkovic, N. & Ziskind, G., Apr 2025, In: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 239, 126542.
- Reinforcement-Learning-Based Cooperative Dynamic Weapon-Target Assignment in a Multiagent Engagement, Merkulov, G., Iceland, E., Michaeli, S., Gal, O., Barel, A. & Shima, T., 2025, AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition, AIAA SciTech Forum 2025. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA, (AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition, AIAA SciTech Forum 2025).
- Enhancing AUV 3D Obstacle Avoidance: A Novel Approach with Self-Supervised Network for Fusion of Forward-Looking Camera and Sonar Data, Gutnik, Y., Fabian, I., Zagdanski, N., Gal, O., Treibitz, T. & Groper, M., 2024, OCEANS 2024 - Halifax, OCEANS 2024. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., (Oceans Conference Record (IEEE)).
- Search and Tracking of a Moving Target Using Heterogeneous USVs Swarm, Gal, O., 2024, OCEANS 2024 - Halifax, OCEANS 2024. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., (Oceans Conference Record (IEEE)).
- Learning to Explore Indoor Environments using Autonomous Micro Aerial Vehicles, Tao, Y., Iceland, E., Li, B., Zwecher, E., Heinemann, U., Cohen, A., Avni, A., Gal, O., Barel, A. & Kumar, V., 2024, 2024 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, ICRA 2024. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., p. 15758-15764 7 p. (Proceedings - IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation).
- Reinforcement Learning Based Decentralized Weapon-Target Assignment and Guidance, Merkulov, G., Iceland, E., Michaeli, S., Riechkind, Y., Gal, O., Barel, A. & Shima, T., 2024, AIAA SciTech Forum and Exposition, 2024. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA, (AIAA SciTech Forum and Exposition, 2024).
- Experimental and parametric numerical investigation of finned heat sinks with organic and metallic phase-change materials, Koronio, E., Sharar, D. J., Spector, M. S., Gal, O., Shockner, T., Regev, O. & Ziskind, G., 15 Aug 2023, In: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 210, 124175.
- Deep Learning on Home Drone: Searching for the Optimal Architecture, Maalouf, A., Gurfinkel, Y., Diker, B., Gal, O., Rus, D. & Feldman, D., 2023, Proceedings - ICRA 2023: IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., p. 8208-8215 8 p. (Proceedings - IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation; vol. 2023-May).
- Effect of Doctor's and Assisting Nurse's Years of Experience on Polyp Detection Rate: A Retrospective Cohort, Suki, M., Baker, F. A., Pery, S., Levin, M., Nephrin, S., Beshara, A., Ovadia, B., Gal, O. & Kopelman, Y., Jan 2023, In: Israel Medical Association Journal. 25, 1, p. 13-17 5 p.
- PCM-BASED HEAT SINK FOR PASSIVE COOLING OF ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS: NUMERICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDY, Wiener, E., Koronio, E., Rodes, L., Sharar, D. J., Gal, O., Spector, M. S., Shockner, T. & Ziskind, G., 2023, In: International Heat Transfer Conference.
- Integrating Deep Reinforcement and Supervised Learning to Expedite Indoor Mapping, Zwecher, E., Iceland, E., Levy, S. R., Hayoun, S. Y., Gal, O. & Barel, A., 2022, 2022 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, ICRA 2022. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., p. 10542-10548 7 p. (Proceedings - IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation; vol. 2022-January).
- Decentralized Swarms Visibility Algorithms in 3D Urban Environments, Gal, O. & Doytsher, Y., 2022, GEOProcessing 2022: The Fourteenth International Conference on Advanced Geographic Information Systems, Applications, and Services.
- Compressing Neural Networks: Towards Determining the Optimal Layer-wise Decomposition, Liebenwein, L., Maalouf, A., Gal, O., Feldman, D. & Rus, D., 2021, Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems 34 - 35th Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems, NeurIPS 2021. Ranzato, M., Beygelzimer, A., Dauphin, Y., Liang, P. S. & Wortman Vaughan, J. (eds.). Neural information processing systems foundation, p. 5328-5344 17 p. (Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems; vol. 7).
- Deep Reinforcement Learning for Spatial Motion Planning in 3D Urban Environments, Gal, O. & Doytsher, Y., 2021, In: International Journal on Advances in Intelligence Systems. 14, 1&2, p. 164-174
- מה עכשיו? - על ה"משתכנזים" והקיבוץ ב"ישראל השנייה": [שיר], גל, א., 2021, In: עמודים. 794, p. 38 1 p.
- Coverage and optimal visibilitybased navigation using visibility analysis from geospatial data, Gal, O. & Doytsher, Y., 2021, In: Coordinates. XVII, 2
- Drone Autonomous Landing on a Moving Maritime Platform Using Machine Learning Classifiers, Shriki, U., Gal, O. & Doytsher, Y., 1 Dec 2020, In: International Journal of Data Science and Advanced Analytics. 2, 2, p. 30–35
- High Level Mission Assignment Optimization, Gal, O., 1 Apr 2020, In: International Journal of Data Science and Advanced Analytics. 2, 2, p. 26–29
- Multi-Agents Spatial Visibility Trajectory Planning and Patrolling Using Inverse Reinforcement Learning, Gal, O. & Doytsher, Y., 2020, In: International Journal on Advances in Systems and Measurements. 13, 1&2, p. 107-118
- Motion Planning for USV using Classification Capabilities, Gal, O., 2020, In: Journal of Unmanned System Technology. 8, 1, p. 1-4 4 p.
- Object Identification in Maritime Environments for ASV Path Planner, Gal, O., 1 Sep 2019, In: International Journal of Data Science and Advanced Analytics. 1, 1, p. 18–26
- Visible routes in 3D dense city using reinforcement learning, Gal, O. & Doytsher, Y., 12 Sep 2018, In: International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences - ISPRS Archives. 42, 4/W10, p. 41-46 6 p.
- Motion Planning in 3D Environments Using Visibility Velocity Obstacles, Gal, O. & Doytsher, Y., 2018, GEOProcessing 2018: The Tenth International Conference on Advanced Geographic Information Systems, Applications, and Services. p. 60-65
- On Line Visibility-Based Trajectory Planning in 3D Dynamic Environments Using Local Point Clouds Data, Gal, O. & Doytsher, Y., 2017, In: International Journal on Advances in Systems and Measurements. 10, 3&4, p. 174-183
- Hovering Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Trajectory Planning in Complex Environments, Gal, O., 2017, In: Journal of Unmanned System Technology. 5, 1
- Fast and efficient visible trajectories planning for the Dubins UAV model in 3D built-up environments, Gal, O. & Doytsher, Y., Jan 2014, In: Robotica. 32, 1, p. 143-163 21 p.
- Dynamic objects effect on visibility analysis in 3D urban environments, Gal, O. & Doytsher, Y., 2013, Web and Wireless Geographical Information Systems - 12th International Symposium, W2GIS 2013, Proceedings. p. 147-163 17 p. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics); vol. 7820 LNCS).
- Fast visibility analysis in 3D procedural modeling environments, Gal, O. & Doytsher, Y., 2012, COM.Geo 2012 - International Conference on Computing for Geospatial Research and Applications. (ACM International Conference Proceeding Series).
- Visibility-based path planning for autonomous underwater vehicle, Gal, O., 2012, p. 189-192. 4 p.
- דאון תת-ימי, גל, א., 2011, In: מערכות. 439, p. 62-67 6 p.
- Adaptive time horizon for on-line avoidance in dynamic environments, Shiller, Z., Gal, O. & Raz, A., 2011, IROS'11 - 2011 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems: Celebrating 50 Years of Robotics. p. 3539-3544 6 p. 6048288. (IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems).
- Safe navigation in dynamic environments, Shiller, Z., Gal, O. & Rimon, E., 2010, CISM International Centre for Mechanical Sciences, Courses and Lectures. Springer International Publishing, p. 225-232 8 p. (CISM International Centre for Mechanical Sciences, Courses and Lectures; vol. 524).
- Efficient and safe on-line motion planning in dynamic environments, Gal, O., Shiller, Z. & Rimon, E., 2009, 2009 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, ICRA '09. p. 88-93 6 p. 5152330. (Proceedings - IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation).
Education
I received my B.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering, M.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Geo-information Engineering, all from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.
Academic Background
I am currently an Assistant Professor, heading the Swarm and AI (SAIL) Lab, at the Hatter Department of Marine Technologies. Prior to joining the University of Haifa, I was the founder and CTO of Autonomy & Data Science R&D in the government sector, working with research partners around the world and leading research groups, for more than twenty years. In the last five years, I am working on joint research with CSAIL & LIDS MIT labs and UPenn, on swarms and machine learning algorithms.
Research Areas
My research focus on making humanity better, using swarms and AI across scales. The adaptability and scalability of swarms make them particularly suited to tasks that require distributed sensing, acting, and processing, presenting numerous possibilities for addressing complex and large-scale challenges facing humanity. From nanorobots for cancer treatment, to environmental monitoring and conservation in the ocean, or disaster response and recovery, traffic management and logistics etc. – swarms, particularly swarm intelligence, offer several significant benefits for humanity.In our cutting-edge research lab, we delve into the complex and rapidly evolving field of swarms and autonomy, leveraging the latest advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to push the boundaries of autonomous systems across scales.Our vision is to make human life better, where adaptability and scalability of swarms can make the difference for the ocean and for other aspects as well.We strive to pioneer innovations that contribute significantly to the fields of autonomy and swarms, ultimately shaping the future of intelligent autonomous systems.
Awards
Invited Seminar lecture at MIT CSAIL (2024), CSAIL (2025), Harvard -SEAS (2025), John Hopkins Univ (2025): Awarded a prestigious travel grant by MIT to give in a high-level seminar, reflecting the importance and recognition of my work within the academic and industrial communities with additional leading universities.
Additional Info
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT92dGqi9kE