Normally, Penn Biology professor Lawrence Rome's academic life consists of teaching classes and researching fish.
But when the Navy came calling, he decided to turn his attention to a new pursuit - backpacks.
Traditionally an expert on how fish swim, Rome recently finished designing a new "suspended-load ergonomic backpack," which will likely be used by the armed services to lighten the loads carried by soldiers overseas.
And while Rome's backpack was designed with the military in mind, it may also be useful to students who risk back injuries by lugging around heavy textbooks.
The backpack is designed around a rigid frame much like a hiking backpack, but the load is suspended by bungee cords on two rails and can move independently from the wearer's body, Rome said.
Because the backpack is not fixed to the body, the natural up-and-down motion of a person's hips is not transmitted.
And as a person runs with the backpack, it remains level relative to the ground and slides up and down relative to one's body - easing some of the burden off someone's back.
"I think it's a great invention," College freshman Sumeet Khetarpal said. "I just hope he'll offer it at a discount to us Penn students."
But despite how much Rome's backpack would aid students, it is even more helpful for soldiers.
Currently, troops must carry packs weighing over 80 lbs., including as much as 20 lbs. of batteries. The backpacks they carry are so heavy that many sprain ankles while running and jumping, Rome said.
But Rome's new backpack can reduce stress experienced by the wearer by up to 86 percent, which translates into far fewer injuries for soldiers in the field.
According to Rome, wearing a normal backpack triples the amount of stress a person has to endure when running.
That means a normal 50-lb. backpack would put 150 lbs. of force on your hips, knees and ankles with every step. Rome's backpack brings that stress down to 64 lbs.
Rome first became involved with the Navy after they asked him to use his expertise on fish movement to advise them on plans for an underwater vehicle.
But in 2002, the Navy came to him with a new problem: In order to keep troops from having to carry those heavy batteries while in the field, they asked Rome to develop a backpack capable of generating electricity.
Rome did just that in 2005, and he decided to take it one step further, developing his newest backpack this year.
He said he found the principle for his idea in Asia, where some merchants carry their wares on long, flexible bamboo sticks.
"I was always amused with the idea of giving kids these six-foot poles and watching them go from class to class," Rome said.
And Rome has since developed a new company, Lightning Packs, founded to develop and market his backpacks.
But don't worry, Rome says - he has no plans to stop teaching classes at Penn.
And for his students, those books he assigns might be just a little easier to carry.
