Huanyu Cheng

Jun 09, 2026

Artificial eyes could bring human-like sight to self-driving cars, robots

Although self-driving cars and sophisticated robots use advanced cameras, computer algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) to picture their surroundings, these artificial eyes struggle to remain reliable in mixed lighting conditions. A team of researchers, co-led by an engineer from Penn State, has proposed a solution that mimics the mechanics of the human eye to adapt from bright to dark light in seconds.

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May 22, 2026

Novel biogel may solve a hairy problem for wearable brain-monitoring systems

A vital tool for healthcare practitioners, electroencephalography (EEG) systems measure electrical activity in the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp, but getting reliable readings can be surprisingly difficult. Hair interferes with contact between the electrodes and skin, and the gels used to improve those connections often dry out over time, weakening signal quality. Researchers at Penn State have developed a reusable material designed to solve both problems at once. The material is a thermoreversible semiconducting ionic biogel, meaning it becomes liquid when gently heated so it can move through hair and reach the scalp, then returns to a stable gel as it cools, keeping its conducting and semiconducting character.

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Mar 30, 2026

Q&A: Robots can’t feel; these sensors could change that

A research team, including Huanyu “Larry” Cheng, James L. Henderson Jr. Memorial Associate Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics at Penn State, is using pressure sensors — tiny devices, roughly the size of a paperclip, that can measure the force applied over an area — to design a highly sensitive electronic “skin” to use alongside robots and prosthetic limbs.

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Nov 19, 2025

Shrinking materials hold big potential for smart devices, researchers say

Wearable electronics could be more wearable, according to a research team at Penn State. The researchers developed a scalable, versatile approach to designing and fabricating wireless, internet-enabled electronic systems that can better adapt to 3D surfaces, like the human body or common household items, paving the path for more precise health monitoring or household automation, such as a smart recliner that can monitor and co

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Oct 14, 2025

Cutting-Edge Monitor Capable of Detecting Vitamin B6 and Glucose Levels in Sweat

A groundbreaking development in health monitoring has emerged from a collaborative effort at Penn State.

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Oct 09, 2025

Highly sensitive monitor can detect vitamin B6, glucose in sweat

The on-skin sensing platform, developed by a team led by researchers at Penn State, can detect vitamin B6 in small concentrations of sweat. The sensor also has the capability to be adapted for glucose sensing at a high sensitivity, allowing patients with diabetes to monitor glucose and vitamin B6 simultaneously.

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Aug 22, 2025

New sensor is a breath of fresh air for diagnosing diabetes

A team led by a researcher at Penn State has developed a sensor that can help diagnose diabetes and prediabetes on-site in a few minutes using just a breath sample.

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Aug 20, 2025

Breaking a sweat: Using chloride in sweat to help diagnose cystic fibrosis

Researchers at Penn State develop a wearable sensor that can accurately measure the chloride ion levels of sweat in real time.

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Aug 02, 2025

New graphene-based sensor can help diagnose diabetes and prediabetes based on a breath sample

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Jul 09, 2025

Skin-like sensor monitors internal, external body movement, electrical signals

A new skin-like sensor developed by an international team led by researchers at Penn State could help doctors monitor vital signs more accurately, track healing after surgery and even help patients with bladder control issues.

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Jul 07, 2025

‘Scialog’ grant to study how rising ocean temperatures affect fish behavior

A wildlife behavioral ecologist at Penn State is part of a multi-institution team that received funding from Scialog: Neurobiology and Changing Ecosystems, a international three-year initiative that aims to spark new science exploring neurobiological responses to rapidly changing environments.

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May 27, 2025

Scientists create a smart sticker that reads your true feelings, even if you deliberately hide them

Scientists create a smart sticker that reads your true feelings, even if you deliberately hide them

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May 08, 2025

A Breakthrough in Emotional Sensing: Wearable Patch Reveals Hidden Feelings

To help healthcare providers better detect these hidden emotions, researchers led by a team at Penn State have developed a soft, stretchable, rechargeable sticker that can detect genuine emotional states by measuring physiological signals such as skin temperature, heart rate, and more.

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Apr 23, 2025

Forget "mood" rings, this invention just identified human emotions with nearly 90% accuracy

Penn State University scientists have invented a sticker that successfully identifies human emotions with nearly 90% accuracy.

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Apr 22, 2025

This sticker reads emotions (even the ones you try to hide)

The wearable device analyzes the tiny changes in physical responses to predict how a person is feeling.

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Apr 21, 2025

High-tech sticker can identify real human emotions

A team led by scientists at Penn State has created a stretchable, rechargeable sticker that can detect real emotions — by measuring things like skin temperature and heart rate — even when users put on a brave face.

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Feb 05, 2025

New smart sensor takes the pain out of wound monitoring

Laser-made, ultra-thin material enables precise, self-powered tracking of healing wounds.

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Dec 13, 2024

Old wisdom meets new tech: Traditional Chinese medicine inspires pulse sensors

A team led by Penn State researchers used principles of pulse monitoring in traditional Chinese medicine to design a pressure-sensing platform to identify the optimal pulse signal, which they combined with a machine learning model to also predict blood pressure.

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Apr 10, 2024

Q&A: New technology may help identify neuromotor disease symptoms in infants

A team of researchers led by Huanyu “Larry” Cheng tested the use of wearable sensors paired with a “tiny” machine learning algorithm to automatically monitor and evaluate general movements in infants.

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Mar 06, 2024

Q&A: Sensors that monitor neurological conditions in real time

A team of researchers led by Huanyu “Larry” Cheng created a highly-sensitive and cost-effective sensor to better monitor the concentration in sweat or urine of dopamine and tyrosine, a neurotransmitter and an amino acid that are present in the brain.

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Jan 30, 2024

$4M grant funds project to make robotic prostheses more like biological limbs

Prosthetic hands that incorporate robotics can perform dexterous self-care tasks, but they are often hard to operate, requiring a user’s constant attention with a limited number of hand functions. With a five-year, $4 million U.S. National Science Foundation grant, Penn State researchers aim to make robotic protheses more useful for people living with amputations.

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Dec 18, 2023

Health data, faster: Wearable stretchy sensor can process, predict health data

Engineering researchers created a machine learning platform that can more efficiently analyze and predict data points collected by wearables.

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Oct 30, 2023

A new wearable sensor can monitor sweat in real time

A team of researchers at Penn State has developed a new wearable patch that can monitor your health by analyzing your sweat

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Sep 27, 2023

New wearable sensor makes continuous analysis of sweat possible, researchers say

A Penn State research team has created a novel wearable patch that may provide the ability fir continuous monitoring of sweat.

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Aug 28, 2023

Penn State receives $3M grant to address insect biodiversity crisis

Penn State researchers have received a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation to spearhead a new initiative to create novel monitoring systems for insect populations.

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