Transforming healthcare logistics with low-cost AI Credit: mtcurado Transforming healthcare logistics with low-cost AI Researchers from the Wharton School and Penn Engineering partnered with Sierra Leone’s government to build a low-cost AI tool that optimizes the allocation of essential medical supplies across the country. By accounting for missing data and navigating unexpected supply chain disruptions, the system ensures life-saving products reach the clinics that need them most. 4 min. read
Tiny, knotted robots jump, fly, and plant seeds Jiarui Wang, a member of the Yang Lab, holds up one of these programmable knot robots with forceps showing how something not much bigger than a grain of rice can pack a serious punch in the world of soft, automated robotics.(Image: Courtesy of Penn Engineering) Tiny, knotted robots jump, fly, and plant seeds Researchers at Penn Engineering have developed a tiny, soft robot using opposable materials that are capable of leaping meters into the air with flexibility, responsiveness, and programmability. 2 min. read
Helping robotic arms solve problems using tools Image: Sylvia Zhang Helping robotic arms solve problems using tools Penn engineers have developed VLMgineer, an AI framework that can design, adapt, and deploy tools in the real world. 2 min. read
Enabling robots to chart a better course Image: Francesco Scatena via Getty Images Enabling robots to chart a better course A novel, open-source system has the ability to streamline disaster recovery and parcel delivery by rapidly generating a smooth path plan that cuts travel time and avoids obstacles. 2 min. read
Turf war: Artificial versus real grass Image: aire images Turf war: Artificial versus real grass In conversation with Penn Today, mechanical engineer, tennis player, and soccer fan Paulo Arratia discusses the material differences between natural grass and synthetic turf. 3 min. read
An AI tool to speed antibiotic discovery (From left) Co-authors Jacob R. Gardner, César de la Fuente and Marcelo Torres, holding a 3D-printed example of the kind of antibiotic peptide they generated using AI.(Image: Sylvia Zhang) An AI tool to speed antibiotic discovery APEX is an AI model that predicts whether or not a given peptide is likely to have antimicrobial properties. Now, APEXGo can identify antibiotic candidates with laboratory activity against disease-causing bacteria, simply by searching large datasets. 2 min. read
Qubits in the classroom Qubits in the classroom Thorlabs, a provider of optical equipment, has donated a suite of quantum teaching tools that allow Penn Engineering undergrads to experiment with the quantum properties of light.
SmartDJ lets users reshape audio experiences with simple words As a test, Yiduo Hao (left) recorded the sounds of spring in Philadelphia, then used SmartDJ to transform them into the sounds of a forest.(Image: Sylvia Zhang) SmartDJ lets users reshape audio experiences with simple words Penn Engineers have created an AI-powered audio editor specifically for stereo that responds to simple requests in everyday language. 2 min. read
Inside NSF AIRFoundry, Senator McCormick gets a look at the future of RNA discovery Senator Dave McCormick (second from left) and Andrew Hanna (left) observing Hanna’s robotic system for rapidly formulating large numbers of lipid nanoparticles.(Image: Sylvia Zhang) Inside NSF AIRFoundry, Senator McCormick gets a look at the future of RNA discovery A visit to Penn’s Artificial Intelligence-driven RNA BioFoundry gave U.S. Senator Dave McCormick a firsthand look at how federal investment in science translates into shared research infrastructure, student training, and regional economic development. 2 min. read
Penn students and alumni awarded Fulbright 2026-27 U.S. Student Program grants (Top row) Max Annunziata, Sangeetha Bhuyan, Solange Campos, and Nik Donoughe. (Second row) Preethi Jayaraman, Christine Kim, Enne Kim, Alexander Li, Noa Machover, and Shivek Narang. (Third row) Keanu Natan, Tammy Nguyen, Bedansh Pandey, Sophia Powell, Ana Richardson, and Grant Schatzman. (Bottom row) Andi Sycip, Julian Tash, Hannah Tsai, Zoie Weinsweig, and Claire Zhang.nocred Penn students and alumni awarded Fulbright 2026-27 U.S. Student Program grants The awardees will spend the 2026-27 academic year conducting research, pursuing graduate degrees, or teaching English overseas. 6 min. read