GRASP Lab (General Robotics, Automation, Sensing & Perception Laboratory) at the University of Pennsylvania

GRASP Lab (General Robotics, Automation, Sensing & Perception Laboratory) at the University of Pennsylvania is one of the world’s premier academic research centers in robotics. Founded in 1979, it is an interdisciplinary laboratory within Penn Engineering that brings together faculty and students from Computer Science, Electrical and Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, and other departments. The lab is widely recognized for its pioneering contributions to robotics research and for training generations of leaders in the field.

GRASP does not manufacture commercial robot products. Instead, it serves as a major research and innovation hub that develops cutting-edge robotic technologies, algorithms, and systems. The lab’s work spans fundamental theory to applied prototypes, with strong emphasis on real-world impact through collaboration with industry and government partners.

Key research areas and robot-based systems developed at GRASP include:

• Multi-Robot and Swarm Systems: Research on coordinated teams of aerial and ground robots for search & rescue, environmental monitoring, and collaborative tasks.
• Autonomous Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): Advanced quadrotors and micro-aerial vehicles with sophisticated perception, planning, and control capabilities.
• Humanoid and Legged Robots: Work on dynamic locomotion, balance, and human-robot interaction.
• Computer Vision and Perception: Cutting-edge algorithms for object recognition, SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), and scene understanding that power many modern robotic systems.
• Soft Robotics and Mechanism Design: Innovative compliant and bio-inspired robots for manipulation in unstructured environments.
• Medical and Assistive Robotics: Projects involving surgical robots and rehabilitation technologies.
• Planning, Control, and AI: Foundational work on motion planning, reinforcement learning, and safe autonomy.

The lab occupies over 21,000 square feet of research space and maintains state-of-the-art facilities, including motion capture systems, fabrication labs, and testing arenas. GRASP has produced numerous successful spin-off companies (such as Exyn Technologies) and continues to drive innovation in autonomous systems, AI for robotics, and human-centered automation.