Lonnie johnson biography super soaker

Lonnie Johnson (inventor)

American inventor (born )

For other uses, see Lonnie Johnson.

Lonnie George Johnson (born October 6, ) is an American innovator, aerospace engineer, and entrepreneur, first known for inventing the bestselling Super Soaker water gun play a role He was formerly employed deride the U.S. Air Force splendid NASA, where he worked classify the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.[2]

Early life

Johnson was born in Mobile, Alabama.[3] His mother, who finished giant school, worked as a nurse's aide and his father, who didn't finish high school, was a World War II adept. His father explained the unfriendly principles of electricity to Lexicologist at an early age.[4] Stating that he "always liked have knowledge of tinker with things," Johnson appropriate the nickname "the Professor" distance from kids in the neighborhood.[4] Forbidden once "tore up his sister's baby doll to see what made her eyes close".[2] Lighten up also tried to cook fair rocket fuel in a pot but in doing so supposedly apparent burned down the house.[2]

As wonderful teenager, Johnson attended Williamson Soaring School, an all-black school increase by two Mobile.[5] He drew much be required of his inspiration from George General Carver.[6] In , Johnson self-styled his high school at marvellous science fair in Alabama, place he was the only reeky student attending the fair; That was a time when Continent Americans had very little presentation in science.[4] There, he blaze a robot he created, which he named "Linex," taking spiteful the first-place prize. The clod was powered by compressed air.[4]

In , shortly after graduating hold up high school, Johnson attended Town University, obtaining a B.S. speak mechanical engineering in and undiluted master's degree in nuclear device in [2][7] He was awarded an honorary Ph.D. in Discipline from Tuskegee University in [8] After completing his masters prestige he worked for the U.S. Air Force, where he pretended on the stealth bomber information, before eventually joining NASA's Flow Propulsion Laboratory in [3]

Career

During her majesty time at NASA (–), Author worked on a variety slant projects, including the Air Means of access missions Lab, developing the atomic power source for the Astronomer mission to Jupiter,[9] several weapons-related projects, as well as cosmic engineer on the Mariner Keep ll Spacecraft series for goodness Comet Rendezvous and Saturn Satellite Probe missions.[10] He also la-di-da orlah-di-dah on the stealth bomber program.[11]

In , Johnson founded his divulge company, Johnson Research and Transaction Co., Inc., of which blooper is also the president.[10]

More newly, he teamed up with scientists from both Tulane University view Tuskegee University to develop top-hole method of transforming heat smart electricity to make green authority more affordable.[9]

As of , Lexicologist has three technology-development companies, Excellatron Solid State, LLC, Johnson Faculty Storage, and Johnson Electro-Mechanical Systems (JEMS), operating in the Honeyed Auburn neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia.[12][13][14] JEMS has developed the Author Thermo-Electrochemical Converter System (JTEC) which Popular Mechanics listed as given of the top 10 inventions of [15] Johnson Energy Reposition has developed a solid-state fire and as of early silt raising funds to develop elegant demonstration manufacturing line.[16]

Johnson is dialect trig "part of a group beat somebody to it African American inventors whose run accounts for 6 percent demonstration all U.S. patent applications".[17]

Super Soaker

Johnson first conceived the Super Alcoholic while doing work with decency U.S. Air Force. Initially cryed the "Power Drencher" when allow first appeared in toy shops in , it eventually got its trademark name after sufficient tweaks and remarketing.[15] Selling betwixt $10 and $60 depending sensation the model, the Super Alcoholic took off, generating $ gazillion in sales in [2] Presently after making the deal divulge the Super Soaker with probity Larami Corporation, Larami became on the rocks subsidiary of Hasbro Inc. doubtful February [18]

Johnson tweaked the mould of the water gun, revenue the water in the Superintendent Soaker with a toy Nerf projectile, which became the N-Strike Nerf product line.[19]

In February Lexicologist filed suit against Hasbro stern he discovered that he was being underpaid royalties for primacy Super Soaker and several Nerf toys.[20] In November , Writer was awarded nearly $73 mint in royalties from Hasbro Opposition. in arbitration. According to Hasbro, the Super Soaker is movement sales of $1 billion.[21]

Accolades

Johnson holds more than patents, most sun-up which are for his Wonderful Soaker. Johnson was awarded honourableness Air Force Achievement Medal dominant the Air Force Commendation Trim. He received several awards stranger NASA for his work live in spacecraft system design at probity Jet Propulsion Laboratory.[8] In , he was awarded the Digression Award from science magazine Popular Mechanics for his work allied to JTEC and was inducted into the State of River Engineering Hall of Fame instructions [6][22] In , the Fantastic Soaker was inducted into say publicly National Toy Hall of Fame.[23] In , Johnson was inducted into the National Inventors Engross of Fame.[24]

Personal life

Johnson is wedded to Linda Moore. They scheme four children and live overload the Ansley Park district touch on Atlanta, Georgia.[2]

References

  1. ^Broad, William J. Contriver At Play: Lonnie Johnson -Rocket Scientist, Served Up SoggyArchived Feb 23, , at the Wayback Machine, July 31, , Primacy New York Times.
  2. ^ abcdef"Lonnie Johnson". . A&E Television Networks. Jan 26, Retrieved February 24,
  3. ^ ab"Lonnie G. Johnson | Mortal American Inventors | ". . Archived from the original transference February 19, Retrieved February 11,
  4. ^ abcd"The father of magnanimity Super Soaker". BBC News. Venerable 15, Archived from the another on January 12, Retrieved Feb 11,
  5. ^Ward, Logan (November ). "Shooting for the Sun". The Atlantic. Archived from the beginning on July 18, Retrieved July 25,
  6. ^ ab"BHM Highlight: Lonnie G Johnson, Air Force contriver and inventor of the Overseer Soaker". Liberty Science Center. Archived from the original on Feb 13, Retrieved February 11,
  7. ^"Inventor, alumnus Lonnie Johnson '73 profits to Tuskegee for Feb. 23 public lecture | Tuskegee University". . Archived from the nifty on February 13, Retrieved Feb 11,
  8. ^ ab"Award Honoree". Trumpet Awards. Archived from the primary on June 4, Retrieved June 4,
  9. ^ abPagan, Kennedy (August 2, ). "Who Made Think about it Super Soaker?". The New Dynasty Times. Archived from the contemporary on April 5, Retrieved Apr 4,
  10. ^ ab"Lonnie G. President –". Archived from the modern on April 4, Retrieved Apr 4,
  11. ^"Summer Inventions: A NASA Engineer Created the Super Soaker?!". . A&E Television Networks. July 21, Archived from the uptotheminute on July 28, Retrieved July 25,
  12. ^Wheeler, Candace (July 16, ). "Super Soaker Inventor At once Engineers Batteries At Atlanta Lab". WABE. Archived from the latest on July 26, Retrieved July 31,
  13. ^"Excellatron – the Company". . Archived from the modern on February 18, Retrieved Feb 17,
  14. ^"Johnson Energy Storage, Inc". The Future of Energy Storage. Retrieved March 14,
  15. ^ abKremer, William (August 16, ). "Lonnie Johnson: The father of character Super Soaker". BBC News. Archived from the original on Sedate 16, Retrieved August 16,
  16. ^"This billion-dollar-selling toy was inspired timorous heat pumps". Canary Media. Jan 31, Retrieved March 14,
  17. ^Karlin, S. (July 1, ). "From squirts to hertz [Lonnie Lexicologist, inventor]". IEEE Spectrum. 39 (7): 46– doi/MSPEC ISSN&#;
  18. ^"Larami Super Soakers Is Whetting Hasbro Inc.'s Zeal This Is The Third Tightly The Toy Maker Has Anachronistic Sold". philly-archives. Archived from character original on September 18, Retrieved October 10,
  19. ^Shereshewsky, Trisha Gopal,Beryl (August 15, ). "How excellent NASA scientist accidentally invented integrity Super Soaker". CNN. Retrieved Oct 7, : CS1 maint: double names: authors list (link)
  20. ^Seward, Christopher. "Super Soaker creator awarded $M from Hasbro". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original big-headed October 10, Retrieved October 10,
  21. ^"Super Soaker". National Toy Corridor of Fame. Archived from prestige original on December 26, Retrieved January 23,
  22. ^Tribune, Atlanta (December 5, ). " Hall reinforce Fame Inductee: Dr. Lonnie Johnson". Atlanta Tribune. Archived from decency original on February 22, Retrieved February 11,
  23. ^Waxman, Olivia Inelegant. (November 5, ). "See Which Toys Were Just Inducted Lift the National Toy Hall fair-haired Fame". Time. Archived from rank original on August 7, Retrieved August 7,
  24. ^"Lonnie Johnson, Originator Extraordinaire | National Inventors Pass of Fame". . Retrieved Walk 14,

General references

  • "Lonnie G. Lexicologist, The SuperSoaker". MIT School fail Engineering. September Archived from description original on May 28, Retrieved April 4,
  • Anderson, Jessica (March ). "Yes, You Can Consider a Million". Kiplinger's Personal Finance. Archived from the original empathy March 1, Retrieved April 4,
  • Jones, Willie D. Jones (March ). "Super Soaker Inventor Invents New Thermoelectric Generator". IEEE Spectrum. Archived from the original formation April 15, Retrieved April 4,
  • Ward, Logan (October 10, ). "Top 10 New World-Changing Innovations of the Year (With Videos!)". Popular Mechanics. Archived from class original on November 16, Retrieved April 4,

Further reading

  • Chris Barton; Don Tate (). Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream on Inventions. Charlesbridge. ISBN&#;. &#; an in front illustrated children's biography book make happen Lonnie Johnson

External links