AI in the Physical World: Helping Robotic Arms Solve Problems Using Tools News / May 12, 2026 When Tianyu Li, a doctoral student in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (MEAM), and George Jiayuan Gao, former master’s student in Robotics and current research engineer at Dyna, set out to study how robots might better interact with the physical world, they weren’t just thinking about smarter machines, they were... Read More
Tiny, Knotted Robots Jump, Fly and Plant Seeds News / April 23, 2026 A knotted fiber that snaps itself open can launch like a spring. By combining Kevlar and liquid crystal elastomers, researchers created tiny soft robots that jump, spin and even plant seeds. Their motion is programmed through knot design and triggered by heat, offering a new approach to autonomous systems. Read More
A New Swarm AI Project Takes on Safety at Scale News / March 20, 2026 Penn Engineering is leading a global effort to bring AI off the screen and into coordinated teams of physical robots. The project explores how large groups of autonomous agents can cooperate, compete and make decisions safely in complex, real-world environments. Read More
When Bone Behaves Like a Sponge: A New Platform for Observing How Cells Feel Force News / February 24, 2026 Penn engineers have developed a nano-3D printed, porous scaffold that mimics bone’s fluid–solid mechanics, revealing how coupled strain and fluid flow reshape cell architecture. The platform lays a foundation for studying mechanobiology in bone and other load-bearing tissues. Read More
Two Penn Engineering Faculty Elected to National Academy of Engineering News / February 10, 2026 Nader Engheta, H. Nedwill Ramsey Professor in Electrical and Systems Engineering, and Karen Winey, Harold Pender Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and in Materials Science and Engineering, have been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), bringing the total Penn Engineering NAE faculty membership to 16. Read More
The Path Forward: Penn Engineering 2030 News / January 13, 2026 The cover story of the 2025-2026 issue of Penn Engineering magazine explores Penn Engineering 2030, the School’s new strategic plan, which charts a bold, collaborative path forward in this new era for higher education. Read More
Penn Startup Showcase 2025 Recap News / November 24, 2025 Penn Engineering innovators took center stage at the inaugural Penn Startup Showcase, highlighting breakthrough ventures in robotics, AI and health care. Read More
Aaron Roth Receives 2025-26 Heilmeier Award News / November 24, 2025 Aaron Roth, Henry Salvatori Professor of Computer & Cognitive Science in Computer and Information Science, is the recipient of the 2025-26 George H. Heilmeier Faculty Award for Excellence in Research for “fundamental contributions to formalizing, quantifying and enforcing data privacy and algorithmic fairness.” Read More
National Academy of Medicine Issues Code of Conduct to Guide Health Care’s AI Revolution News / November 12, 2025 Kevin Johnson, David L. Cohen University Professor, contributed to a new report with guidelines on incorporating AI in health care. Read More
University of Pennsylvania and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Sign a Cooperative AI Advising Agreement News / October 31, 2025 Penn and Governor Josh Shapiro’s Office of Administration are partnering to shape the future of artificial intelligence in Pennsylvania. Through a new agreement, experts from Penn Engineering and across the University will advise the Commonwealth on AI strategy, risk and governance to support responsible innovation. Read More
