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Dean Kamen

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Dean Kamen
Kamen atWhiteman Air Force Baseon April 26, 2016
Born
Dean Lawrence Kamen

(1951-04-05)April 5, 1951(age 73)[1]
Rockville Centre, New York,U.S.[1]
NationalityAmerican
Known forInvention of theiBot Wheelchair,theSegwayand founder ofFIRST
North Dumpling Island
AwardsHoover Medal(1995)

Heinz Awardin Technology, the Economy and Employment(1999)
National Medal of Technology and Innovation(2000)
Lemelson–MIT Prize(2002)
ASME Medal(2007)
Lindbergh Award(2011)

Global Humanitarian Award(2013)

Dean Lawrence Kamen(born April 5, 1951) is an American engineer, inventor, and businessman. He is known for his invention of theSegwayandiBOT,[2]as well as founding the non-profit organizationFIRSTwithWoodie Flowers.[3][4]Kamen holds over 1,000 patents.[5]

Early life and family[edit]

Kamen was born onLong Island,New York, to aJewishfamily.[6] His father wasJack Kamen,an illustrator forMad,Weird Scienceand otherEC Comicspublications. During his teenage years, Kamen was already being paid for his ideas; local bands and museums paid him to build light and sound systems. His annual earnings reached $60,000 before his high school graduation.[2]

He attendedWorcester Polytechnic Institute,but in 1976[7]quit before graduating, after five years of private advanced research for theinsulin pumpAutoSyringe.[8][9]

Career[edit]

PresidentBill Clintonand Kamen in theWhite House,Kamen riding theiBOTMobility System

Inventions[edit]

Kamen is known best for inventing the product that eventually became known as theSegway PT,an electric, self-balancing human transporter with a computer-controlledgyroscopicstabilization and control system. The device is balanced on two parallel wheels and is controlled by moving body weight. The machine's development was the object of much speculation and hype after segments of a book quotingSteve Jobsand other notableinformation technologyvisionaries espousing its society-revolutionizing potential were leaked in December 2001.[10]

Kamen was already a successful inventor: his companyAuto Syringemanufactures and markets the first druginfusion pump.[11]: 13 His companyDEKAalso holds patents for the technology used in portabledialysismachines, an insulin pump (based on the drug infusion pump technology),[11]: 19 and an all-terrain electricwheelchairknown as theiBOT,using many of the same gyroscopic balancing technologies that later made their way into the Segway.

Kamen on one of his inventions, the Segway
Kamen Stirling Generator 10 coupled to Water Still 12 (fromU.S. patent 7,340,879)

Kamen has worked extensively on a project involvingStirling enginedesigns, attempting to create two machines: one that would generate power, and theSlingshot[12]that would serve as awater purificationsystem.[13]He hopes the project will help improve living standards in developing countries.[14][15]Kamen has apatenton his water purifier,[16]and other patents pending. In 2014, the filmSlingShotwas released, detailing Kamen's quest to use his vapor compression distiller to fix the world's water crisis.[17]

Kamen is also the co-inventor of acompressed airdevice that would launch a human into the air in order to quickly launchSWATteams or other emergency workers to the roofs of tall, inaccessible buildings.[18][19]

In 2009 Kamen stated that his companyDEKAwas now working onsolar poweredinventions.[15]

Kamen and DEKA also developed the DEKA Arm System or "Luke",aprostheticarm replacement that offers its user much more fine motor control than traditional prosthetic limbs. It was approved for use by the USFood and Drug Administration(FDA) in May 2014, and DEKA is looking for partners to mass-produce the prosthesis.[20]

FIRST[edit]

In 1989, Kamen foundedFIRST(For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an organization intended to build students' interests in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). In 1992, working with MIT Professor EmeritusWoodie Flowers,Kamen created theFIRST Robotics Competition(FRC), which evolved into an international competition that by 2020 had drawn 3,647 teams and more than 91,000 students.[21][4][22]

FIRST organizes robotics competition leagues for students in grades K-12, including FIRST LEGO League Discover for ages 4–6,FIRST LEGO League Explorefor younger elementary school students,FIRST LEGO League Challengefor older elementary school and middle school students,FIRST Tech Challenge(FTC) for middle and high school students, andFIRST Robotics Competition(FRC) for high school students.[23]In 2017, FIRST held its first Olympics-style competition – FGC (FIRST Global Challenge) – in Washington, D.C.

In 2010, Kamen called FIRST the invention he is most proud of, and said that 1 million students had taken part in the contests.[24]

Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute[edit]

In 2017, Kamen founded the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI)[25]and launched BioFabUSA,[26]aManufacturing USAInnovation Institute with an $80 million grant from theDepartment of Defense.BioFabUSA's mission is to "...make practical the large-scale manufacturing of engineered tissues and tissue-related technologies, to benefit existing industries and grow new ones "[25]In addition to DoD funding, Kamen brought together a consortium of private sector entities to form apublic-private partnershipwhich pledged $214M additional private dollars.[27]

In early 2020, ARMI was awarded a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services to establish the first Foundry for American Biotechnology,[28]known as NextFab[29]"to produce technological solutions that help the United States protect against and respond to health security threats, enhance daily medical care, and add to the U.S.bioeconomy".[28][30]

Awards[edit]

Kamen has won numerous awards. He was elected to theNational Academy of Engineeringin 1997 for inventing and commercializing biomedical devices and fluid measurement and control systems, and for popularizing engineering among young people. In 1999 he was awarded the 5th AnnualHeinz Awardin Technology, the Economy and Employment,[31]and in 2000 received the National Medal of Technology from thenPresident Clintonfor inventions that have advanced medical care worldwide. In April 2002, Kamen was awarded theLemelson-MIT Prizefor inventors, for his invention of the Segway and of an infusion pump for diabetics. In 2003 his "Project Slingshot", an inexpensive portablewater purificationsystem, was named a runner-up for "coolest invention of 2003" byTimemagazine.[32]

In 2005 he was inducted into theNational Inventors Hall of Famefor his invention of the AutoSyringe. In 2006 Kamen was awarded the "Global Humanitarian Action Award" by theUnited Nations.In 2007 he received theASME Medal,the highest award from theAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers,[33]in 2008 he was the recipient of theIRI Achievement Awardfrom theIndustrial Research Institute,[34]and in 2011 Kamen was awarded theBenjamin Franklin Medalin Mechanical Engineering of theFranklin Institute.[35]

Kamen received an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1992,[36]Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute May 17, 1996,[37]a Doctor of Engineering degree fromKettering Universityin 2001,[citation needed]an honorary Doctor of Science degree fromClarkson Universityon May 13, 2001,[citation needed]an honorary "Doctor of Science" degree from theUniversity of Arizonaon May 16, 2009,[citation needed]and an honorary doctorate from theWentworth Institute of Technologywhen he spoke at the college's centennial celebration in 2004,[citation needed]and other honorary doctorates fromNorth Carolina State Universityin 2005,[citation needed]Bates Collegein 2007,[38]theGeorgia Institute of Technologyin 2008,[39]theIllinois Institute of Technologyin 2008[citation needed]thePlymouth State Universityin May 2008[citation needed]andRose-Hulman Institute of Technologyin 2012.[40]In 2015, Kamen received an honorary Doctor of Engineering and Technology degree fromYale University.[41]In 2017, Kamen was honored with an institutional honorary degree fromUniversité de Sherbrooke.[42]

Kamen received the Stevens Honor Award on November 6, 2009, given by theStevens Institute of Technologyand the Stevens Alumni Association.[43]On November 14, 2013, he received the James C. Morgan Global Humanitarian Award.[44]

Kamen received the 2018 Public Service Award from theNational Science Board,honoring his exemplary public service and contributions to the public's understanding of science and engineering.[45]

Trivia[edit]

Will.i.amspeaking at the 2011FIRSTkickoff atSouthern New Hampshire Universitywith Kamen

In 2007, his residence was ahexagonal,shed stylemansion he dubbed Westwind,[14]located inBedford, New Hampshire,just outsideManchester.The house has at least four levels and is very eclectically conceived, with such things as: hallways resemblingmine shafts;1960s novelty furniture; a collection of vintage wheelchairs;spiral staircases;at least onesecret passage;an observation tower; a fully equipped machine shop; and a hugecast ironsteam enginewhich once belonged toHenry Ford(built into the multi-story center atrium of the house) which Kamen is working to convert into aStirling engine-poweredkinetic sculpture.[citation needed]Kamen owns and pilots anEmbraer Phenom 300light jet aircraft[46]and threeEnstromhelicopters, including a280FX,a480,and a 480B.[47][48][49]He regularly commutes to work via his helicopters and had a hangar built into his house.[50]In 2016 he flew as a passenger in aB-2 Spirit bomberatWhiteman AFB,marking the opening of the2016 FRC World Championshipin St. Louis.[51]

He is the main subject ofCode Name Ginger: the Story Behind Segway and Dean Kamen's Quest to Invent a New World,a nonfiction narrative book by journalist Steve Kemper published by Harvard Business School Press in 2003 (released in paperback asReinventing the Wheel).[11]

His company, DEKA, annually creates intricate mechanical presents for him. The company has created a robotic chess player, which is a mechanical arm attached to a chess board, and a vintage-looking computer with antique wood, and a converted typewriter as a keyboard. In addition, DEKA has received funding fromDARPAto work on a brain-controlled prosthetic limb called theLuke Arm.[52]

Kamen is a member of theUSA Science and Engineering Festival's Advisory Board[53]and is also a member of the Xconomists, an ad hoc team of editorial advisors for the tech news and media company,Xconomy.[54]He is also on the Board of Trustees of theX Prize Foundation.

Dean of Invention,a TV show onPlanet Green,premiered on October 22, 2010. It starred Kamen and correspondentJoanne Colan,in which they investigate new technologies,[55]

Kamen was a keynote speaker at the 2015 Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders.[56]

In the2016 United States Senate election in New Hampshire,Kamen endorsedKelly Ayotte,appearing in an ad supporting her.[57]

See also[edit]

Index[edit]

  1. ^ab"Dean Kamen".Lemelson–MIT Prize.RetrievedAugust 3,2019.
  2. ^ab"Dean Kamen | Biography, Pictures and Facts".Famous Entrepreneurs.RetrievedMay 13,2020.
  3. ^Longley, Robert."Biography of Dean Kamen, American Engineer and Inventor".
  4. ^abCullinane, Maeve."Afterhours with Woodie Flowers".The Tech.RetrievedJune 14,2019.
  5. ^"Dean Kamen Doesn't Have 450 Patents (He Has Way More)".PCMAG.RetrievedApril 16,2020.
  6. ^Kraft, Dina (April 24, 2008)."Segway inventor Dean Kamen brings his high-tech vision to Israel".The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles.RetrievedAugust 3,2019.
  7. ^"Pure Genius: How Dean Kamen's Invention Could Bring Clean Water To Millions | Richard Dawkins Foundation".richarddawkins.net.June 17, 2014.RetrievedJune 25,2020.
  8. ^"AutoSyringe".freepatentsonline.RetrievedApril 28,2012.
  9. ^"$500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize Awarded To Dean Kamen".mit.edu.Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Engineering. Archived fromthe originalon March 6, 2003.RetrievedApril 28,2012.
  10. ^Heilemann, John (December 2, 2001)."Reinventing the Wheel".Time.RetrievedMay 7,2019.
  11. ^abcKemper, Steve (2003).Code Name Ginger: the story behind Segway and Dean Kamen's quest to invent a new world.Harvard Business School Press.ISBN1-57851-673-0.
  12. ^"Pure Genius: How Dean Kamen's Invention Could Bring Clean Water To Millions".Popular Science.June 16, 2014.RetrievedJune 25,2020.
  13. ^Whitesides, Loretta Hidalgo (March 25, 2008)."Colbert and Kamen Solve the World's Water Problems".WIRED.RetrievedAugust 3,2019.
  14. ^abKirsner, Scott (January 9, 2000)."Breakout Artist".WIRED.RetrievedAugust 3,2019.
  15. ^abHarris, Mark (July 22, 2009)."Segway inventor on future technology".The Guardian.RetrievedSeptember 18,2009.
  16. ^U.S. patent 7,340,879
  17. ^"About|SlingShot".slingshotdoc.Archived fromthe originalon March 4, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 4,2016.
  18. ^Williams, Chris (May 16, 2006)."DARPA plots emergency man-cannon".The Register.RetrievedAugust 3,2019.
  19. ^US Patent Application No. 20060086349
  20. ^Lawler, Richard (September 5, 2014)."FDA approves a life-like prosthetic arm from the man who invented the Segway".Engadget.RetrievedAugust 25,2019.
  21. ^Stone 2007,pp. 204–205.
  22. ^"2020 Season Facts"(PDF).FIRST.January 2, 2020.
  23. ^FIRST Official WebsiteArchivedOctober 3, 2011, at theWayback Machine– accessed December 23, 2009
  24. ^Harris, Mark (June 10, 2010)."Brain scan: Mr Segway's difficult path".The Economist.RetrievedJune 11,2010.
  25. ^ab"Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute".Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute.RetrievedApril 16,2020.
  26. ^"BioFabUSA".Manufacturing USA.RetrievedApril 16,2020.
  27. ^"DOD-funded Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute opens its doors to the future".army.mil.August 24, 2017.RetrievedApril 16,2020.
  28. ^ab"HHS Pioneers First Foundry for American Biotechnology".HHS.gov.February 10, 2020. Archived fromthe originalon April 17, 2020.RetrievedApril 16,2020.
  29. ^"First Foundry for American Biotechnology Launched in New Hampshire | Governor Christopher T. Sununu".governor.nh.gov.RetrievedApril 16,2020.[permanent dead link]
  30. ^Bookman, Todd (November 19, 2023)."Dean Kamen's private companies reap millions from the federally funded nonprofit he runs".New Hampshire Public Radio.RetrievedNovember 20,2023.
  31. ^"Dean Kamen".heinzawards.net.The Heinz Awards.
  32. ^"The Gartner Fellows: Dean Kamen Interview".Gartner.October 30, 2003. Archived fromthe originalon December 21, 2003.RetrievedMarch 11,2009.
  33. ^"ASME Medal".American Society of Mechanical Engineers.RetrievedOctober 1,2011.
  34. ^"Dean Kamen Honored with IRI 2008 Achievement Award".Industrial Research Institute. Archived fromthe originalon September 25, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 8,2012.Add'l archive URLs as primary is glitchy and numeric IP-based:,https://archive.today/20130503043538/http:// iriweb.org/Main/About_IRI/IRI_Awards/IRI_Achievement_Award/
  35. ^"Benjamin Franklin Medal in Mechanical Engineering".Franklin Institute.2011. Archived fromthe originalon August 1, 2012.RetrievedDecember 23,2011.
  36. ^"Symposium Keynote".wpi.edu.Worcester Polytechnic Institute.March 3, 2017.RetrievedOctober 23,2019.
  37. ^"Commencement Speakers & Honorary Degree Recipients | Institute Archives and Special Collections".archives.rpi.edu.RetrievedDecember 1,2023.
  38. ^"Citation for Dean Kamen".Bates College.April 26, 2010.RetrievedAugust 31,2020.
  39. ^"Two Hundredth And Thirtieth Commencement Exercise"(PDF).Georgia Institute of Technology.May 3, 2008.RetrievedJuly 9,2011.
  40. ^"Graduation 'responsibility': Rose-Hulman stages 134th commencement exercises".Tribune Star.May 27, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 16,2022.
  41. ^"Yale awards nine honorary degrees at Commencement 2015".Yale University.May 15, 2015.RetrievedMay 15,2015.
  42. ^"La 58e promotion et Dean Kamen à l'honneur"(in French). Université de Sherbrooke. September 24, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 26,2017.
  43. ^"The Heinz Awards:: Dean Kamen receives the Stevens Honor Award".heinzawards.net.Archived fromthe originalon October 22, 2021.RetrievedDecember 22,2020.
  44. ^"Pioneering health-care technologist Dean Kamen named 2013 James C. Morgan Global Humanitarian Award recipient".TheTech.org.The Tech Museum of Innovation. Archived fromthe originalon October 3, 2013.RetrievedNovember 14,2013.
  45. ^"National Science Board".National Science Board.RetrievedDecember 22,2020.
  46. ^"N-Number Inquiry Results".Archived fromthe originalon July 14, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 1,2013.
  47. ^"N-Number Inquiry Results".Archived fromthe originalon July 14, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 1,2013.
  48. ^"N-Number Inquiry Results".Archived fromthe originalon July 14, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 1,2013.
  49. ^"N-Number Inquiry Results".Archived fromthe originalon July 14, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 1,2013.
  50. ^Iconoclasts,Season 2, Show #10. Isabella Rossellini and Dean Kamen, November 16, 2006.
  51. ^"FIRST founder, Dean Kamen, flies in B-2 Spirit At Whiteman AFB maintained by FIRST alumni".businesswire.April 26, 2016.RetrievedMay 3,2016.
  52. ^"New Luke Arm Video".Medgadget.Archived fromthe originalon January 12, 2009.RetrievedMarch 11,2009.
  53. ^"Advisors".usasciencefestival.org.USA Science and Engineering Festival.Archived fromthe originalon April 21, 2010.RetrievedMay 23,2015.retrieved July 5, 2010
  54. ^"About Our Mission, Team, and Editorial Ethics".Xconomy.RetrievedJanuary 2,2018.
  55. ^"About Dean Of Invention: A New Show Dedicated To The World's Greatest Scientific Breakthroughs Of Today".planetgreen.discovery.
  56. ^"Speaker Lineup Confirmed for Congress of Future Scientists and Technologists".PRWeb.RetrievedMay 13,2020.
  57. ^""One of Us" | Kelly Ayotte | New Hampshire ".YouTube.

Works cited[edit]

  • Stone, Brad (2007).Gearheads: The Turbulent Rise of Robotic Sports.Simon and Schuster.ISBN978-1-4165-8732-3.

External links[edit]

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