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Electrical and Computer Engineering

Teaching robots common sense, empathy and other forms of intelligence
A person programming a robotic arm with a laptop.

Image: iStock/gorodenkoff

Teaching robots common sense, empathy and other forms of intelligence

Antonio Loquercio, an assistant professor in electrical and systems engineering, explores the potential that robots can have in answering fundamental questions on decision-making.

Melissa Pappas

Pioneering efficient traffic control and sustainable energy solutions
Highway traffic congestion and exhaust.

Image: iStock/ssuaphoto

Pioneering efficient traffic control and sustainable energy solutions

Nandan Tumu, a doctoral student in Electrical and Systems Engineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, is developing algorithms to improve traffic management for a more sustainable world.

From Penn Engineering

Racing to the future
A small racecar in a makeshift track in Penn Engineering with student spectators.

“Understanding the human factors and ethical implications of autonomous systems is just as crucial as the technical components,” says Mangharam. “This holistic approach aims to produce well-rounded engineers capable of addressing the multifaceted challenges of autonomous vehicle technology. Our goal is to equip them with the tools and mindset to tackle the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.”

nocred

Racing to the future

Rahul Mangharam’s scaled-down, self-driving race cars are revamping engineering education at Penn.
A first, physical system to learn nonlinear tasks without a traditional computer processor
Contrastive local learning network.

University of Pennsylvania physics and engineering researchers have created a contrastive local learning network, an analog system that is fast, low-power, scalable, and able to learn nonlinear tasks.

(Image: Erica Moser)

A first, physical system to learn nonlinear tasks without a traditional computer processor

Physics and engineering researchers created a contrastive local learning network that is fast, low-power, and scalable.
Recognizing a pioneer: Penn Engineering’s Grace Hopper
Grace Hopper in Naval gear introducing a computer system to a student.

Grace Hopper, then head of the Navy Programming Language Section of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, discusses a phase of her work with a staff member in August 1976.

(Image: U.S. Navy photo by PH2 David C. MacLean)

Recognizing a pioneer: Penn Engineering’s Grace Hopper

Hopper was honored for developing the A-0 compiler, an early innovation in computer programming.

From Penn Engineering Today