Recent Invention

iPod

The iPod originated with a business idea dreamed up by Tony Fadell, an independent inventor. Fadell's idea was to take an MP3 player, build a Napster music sale service to complement it, and build a company around it. Apple hired Fadell in early 2001 and assigned him a team of about 30 people, including designers, programmers and hardware engineers.

SegwayHT

by Dean Kamen After months of hype, rumor, and speculation, the Segway Human Transporter—formerly known by the code names Ginger and IT—has been unveiled. Using a process called dynamic stabilization, the Segway HT works with human equilibrium and responds to movements; lean forward and the HT will accelerate, tilt backward and it will come to a stop. You can also perform full turns, achieve speeds of up to 12.5 miles per hour, and get up to 17 miles out of a single charge. The HT runs on either ni-cad or NiMH batteries; to recharge, simply plug the unit into an AC outlet.
The first HT model weighs 80 pounds and has a 250-pound passenger payload (future versions are expected to support over 300 pounds). It also features an adjustable control shaft, Intelligent Key technology (a private code which starts and locks your HT), an eight-inch-high platform, silica wheels (each with an independent, emission-free engine), and, perhaps most importantly, five gyroscopes and two tilt sensors which work together to ensure balance and safety on varying terrain

ROOMBA robotic vacuum

by Helen Greiner Under Ms. Greiner's leadership, iRobot Corporation is delivering robots into the industrial, consumer, academic, and military markets. Recently, she was named the Ernst and Young New England Entrepreneurs of the Year® for 2003 (with iRobot co-founder Colin Angle). Selected from entrants across New England, she was cited for her experience, expertise and innovation. She has also been honored as a Technology Review Magazine "Innovator for the Next Century," invited to the World Economic Forums as a Global Leader of Tomorrow, and has been awarded the prestigious DEMO God Award at the DEMO Conference. Her 15 years of experience in robotic technology includes work at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and MIT's Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. She holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an M.S. in Computer Science, both from MIT.
These days, robots are typically used in limited, specialized roles. But if Helen Greiner and Colin Angle have anything to say about that, robots may soon be a more versatile and ubiquitous part of our lives. Greiner and Angle are two of the founders of IS Robotics. As president of the company and head of research, Greiner has been able to balance the company’s business and research needs. "Helen is an innovator in technology, government research and business," says Rodney Brooks, director of MIT’s Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and a co-founder of the company.