This Year’s Technologies

Each year, Y-Prize spotlights a cutting-edge technology invented by Penn scientists and challenges students to imagine its commercial future. This year, two technologies are in play — learn more about both and choose the one that sparks your best idea.

SPOTs

Technology 1

Scalable Reflective Optical Communication for Microscopic Electronics: a way for microscopic devices to communicate wirelessly using reflected light.

Explore SPOTs →

UTSA

Technology 2

Uniform Twisted String Actuator: a lightweight and low-cost muscle-like actuator for next-generation robotics and electromechanical systems.

Explore UTSA →

EXPLORE THE Y-PRIZE

Learn more about the competition.

Understand the resources and timelines.