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Blinking eye-on-a-chip used for disease modeling and drug testing
The Huh lab’s eye-on-a-chip attached to a motorized, gelatin-based eyelid.

The Huh lab’s eye-on-a-chip attached to a motorized, gelatin-based eyelid. (Image: Penn Engineering)

Blinking eye-on-a-chip used for disease modeling and drug testing

Penn Engineering’s Dan Huh and Jeongyun Seo built an eye model that could imitate a healthy eye and an eye with dry eye disease, allowing them to test an experimental drug without risk of human harm.

Penn Today Staff

Iron Man: The engineer who became a superhero
Film still of Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man character standing at a work table full of tools trying on a robotic-looking arm.
  • Q&A

    • Iron Man: The engineer who became a superhero

    A Q&A with Marc Miskin and James Pikul about the real-world tech and practical limitations that underly Tony Stark’s superpowered suit.

    Erica K. Brockmeier

    ‘Why not fly over it?’ Uber picks New Jersey firms in ambitious bid to beat traffic congestion
    Philadelphia Inquirer

    ‘Why not fly over it?’ Uber picks New Jersey firms in ambitious bid to beat traffic congestion

    Rahul Mangharam of the School of Engineering and Applied Science commented on Uber’s new air taxi venture. “It’s going to be a very congested sky,” he said. “You want to make sure that each flight plan is safe by design, and that even if they do mess up for some reason, they have a fallback option.”

    Remembering the past while looking forward
    lunar landing boot print

    Buzz Aldrin’s boot print from the Apollo 11 mission, one of the first steps taken on the Moon. Neil Armstrong and Aldrin walked on the Moon on July 20, 1969. (Photo: NASA)

    Remembering the past while looking forward

    As the nation celebrates the Apollo 11 mission, a look at Penn’s connection to the historic event and how the Moon impacts science, politics, and culture.

    Erica K. Brockmeier

    ‘Robotic blood’ powers and propels synthetic lionfish
    A robotic lionfish in an aquarium

    The “blood” in the darker areas serves as both a battery and a hydraulic fluid that moves the robotic lionfish’s fins and tail. This kind of double-duty can make for more efficient robots. (Image: Penn Engineering)

    ‘Robotic blood’ powers and propels synthetic lionfish

    Combining different functional components that are normally compartmentalized can lead to both powerful and lightweight future robots. A new paper by James Pikul highlights the success of a robotic lionfish that combines energy storage and movement through the use of a hydraulic liquid referred to as “robotic blood.”

    Penn Today Staff

    This freaky robotic fish is powered by ‘blood’
    Gizmodo

    This freaky robotic fish is powered by ‘blood’

    James Pikul of the School of Engineering and Applied Science co-authored a study in which researchers developed a soft, robotic lionfish powered by a blood-like compound. “This robot blood is our first demonstration of storing energy in a fluid that is normally only used for actuation,” he said.

    A new way to fly, built up from the nanoscale
    closeup image of nanocardboard

    A new way to fly, built up from the nanoscale

    Super-thin “nanocardboard” can levitate using only the power of light, opening the door to tiny flying machines with no moving parts.

    Gwyneth K. Shaw

    For Philly Tech Week, a showcase for cutting-edge robots
    Robot and crowd

    The event was part of Philly Tech Week, a citywide technology showcase, and attracted entrepreneurs and potential funders. 

    For Philly Tech Week, a showcase for cutting-edge robots

    Penn students, faculty, and affiliated entrepreneurs showed off their latest legged robots, drones, automated driving systems, and more at the Pennovation Center as part of the annual celebration of the tech industry in Philadelphia.

    Gwyneth K. Shaw

    At Weiss Tech House, a race from idea to prototype in one semester
    People looking at computer

    Laura Ceccacci of AutoTrach considering design questions with Weiss Tech House mentor Varun Sanghvi. Teams used off the shelf equipment to work on their prototypes. (Photo: Gwyneth K. Shaw)

    At Weiss Tech House, a race from idea to prototype in one semester

    The student-run incubator hosted its first hardware accelerator this spring, offering cash, mentoring, and access to specialized equipment to four teams.

    Gwyneth K. Shaw

    The microbots are on their way
    The New York Times

    The microbots are on their way

    Marc Miskin of the School of Engineering and Applied Science spoke about his cell-sized microbots, which may one day be used for a variety of purposes ranging from measuring brain networks to cleaning cellphone batteries.