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Robotics

Giving robots superhuman vision using radio signals
(From left) Freddy Liu, Haowen Lai, and Mingmin Zhao, assistant professor in CIS, setting up a robot equipped with PanoRadar for a test run.

(From left) Freddy Liu, Haowen Lai, and Mingmin Zhao, assistant professor in CIS, setting up a robot equipped with PanoRadar for a test run.

(Image: Sylvia Zhang)

Giving robots superhuman vision using radio signals

Engineers have developed a new tool to transform simple radio waves into detailed, 3D views of the environment.

Ian Scheffler

Mastering physical contact with new algorithm for robots
A robotic arm balancing a tray in a lab.

The new algorithm allows the robotic arm to balance and move a waiter’s plastic tray, mastering control of a sliding object—a previously impossible task for robots.

(Image: DAIR Lab)

Mastering physical contact with new algorithm for robots

Penn Engineers have developed an algorithm that makes previously impossible tasks possible for autonomous robots, like controlling the motion of a sliding object.

Ian Scheffler

Pioneering robotic triage
remote controlled robotic vehicle

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Pioneering robotic triage

By combining the power of autonomous systems and medical expertise, a team of engineers and physician scientists from Penn are tackling the challenge of mass casualty triage.
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.”

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Racing to the future

Rahul Mangharam’s scaled-down, self-driving race cars are revamping engineering education at Penn.
Exploring the limits of robotic systems
A robotic arm in a lab.

Image: iStock/gorodenkoff

Exploring the limits of robotic systems

Bruce Lee, a doctoral student in Penn Engineering’s Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, offers insights into the fundamental limits of machine learning.

From Penn Engineering Today

Teaching doglike robots to walk on the moon’s dusty, icy surface
Close-up of NASA's LASSIE robot, logo in frame.

Penn researchers are part of a collaborative multidisciplinary effort that’s preparing doglike robots to traverse extraterrestrial landscapes, like those that are analogous to the moon’s surface.

(Image: Courtesy of Sean Grasso)

Teaching doglike robots to walk on the moon’s dusty, icy surface

Researchers from Penn are part of a NASA-funded multidisciplinary collaborative effort that’s teaching robots to navigate the extraterrestrial craters, like the moon and Mars.
Microrobots: An emerging biomedical trend
Medical concept in the field of nanotechnology, a nanobot studies or kills a virus. 3D rendering.

Image: Courtesy of iStock / K_E_N

Microrobots: An emerging biomedical trend

In a Q&A with Penn Today, Hyun (Michel) Koo of the School of Dental Medicine and Edward Steager of the School of Engineering and Applied Science discuss the emerging trend of microrobots in healthcare.
A centimeter-scale quadruped leverages curved-crease origami
A centimeter-scale quadruped robot sitting on a desk next to a a quarter for scale

(Image: Sung Lab)

A centimeter-scale quadruped leverages curved-crease origami

Researchers led by Cynthia Sung in Penn Engineering have crafted a more simplified approach to the design and fabrication of these robots.

From Penn Engineering Today

Penn Engineering’s Michael Posa on robots in the real world
Illustration of Michael Posa.

Michael Posa is an assistant professor in the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

(Image: Courtesy of Penn Engineering Today)

Penn Engineering’s Michael Posa on robots in the real world

With funding from the National Science Foundation’s CAREER Award, Posa is working on a new teaching method where robots interact with objects in the real world to build real-world intelligence via small data sets.

From Penn Engineering Today