Dean Kamen

Kamen grew up in Rockville Centre, New York, and showed early aptitude for electronics, building his first light show at age 14. He attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute but dropped out to pursue medical device development. His first major invention was the AutoSyringe, a wearable insulin pump, which he developed in the 1970s after his brother, a medical student, complained about the limitations of existing infusion pumps. The device revolutionized diabetes care and led to the founding of his first company, AutoSyringe Inc., which he later sold to Baxter International. This success funded his independent research and the establishment of DEKA Research & Development in Manchester, New Hampshire, in 1982.¹

Kamen's most famous invention, the Segway Personal Transporter, was unveiled in 2001 after years of secret development under the codename 'Ginger.' The self-balancing electric scooter uses gyroscopes and accelerometers to maintain stability, a technology derived from his earlier work on the iBOT wheelchair. The iBOT, developed in the 1990s, can climb stairs and raise its user to standing height, offering unprecedented mobility for people with disabilities. Although the Segway was hyped as a revolutionary urban transport solution, it faced regulatory hurdles and high costs, limiting its adoption. The iBOT, after being discontinued in 2009, was reintroduced in 2021 with FDA approval for home use, reflecting Kamen's ongoing commitment to assistive technology.²

In 1989, Kamen founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a nonprofit that organizes robotics competitions for students from kindergarten through high school. The flagship FIRST Robotics Competition pairs professional mentors with student teams to build robots for a new game each year, fostering teamwork and engineering skills. FIRST has grown to involve over 600,000 students in more than 100 countries, with alumni often pursuing STEM careers. Kamen has been a vocal advocate for hands-on STEM education, arguing that such programs are essential to address the shortage of engineers and innovators. He has also served on national STEM advisory boards and received numerous awards for his educational contributions.³

Beyond mobility and education, Kamen has developed a range of technologies, including the Slingshot, a water purification device that can produce clean drinking water from almost any source using vapor compression distillation. The device, funded by Coca-Cola, has been deployed in developing countries and disaster zones. He also worked on the DEKA Arm, a prosthetic limb with advanced dexterity, developed under a DARPA contract and approved by the FDA in 2014. Kamen's philanthropic efforts extend to the ARMI (Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute), which he co-founded to advance tissue engineering. His work has earned him the National Medal of Technology and induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Kamen's early career included developing a portable dialysis machine for the NIH, which he built in his parents' basement. He also invented a wearable infusion pump that could deliver multiple drugs, a precursor to modern smart pumps. The Segway's codename 'Ginger' was inspired by the girlfriend of a DEKA engineer, and the project was so secret that employees signed non-disclosure agreements. Kamen has a passion for aviation and holds a pilot's license; he once flew a helicopter to work. He also designed a Stirling engine-powered bicycle, though it never reached production. His first robotics competition was initially called 'US FIRST,' and the first event in 1992 was held in a New Hampshire high school gymnasium with only 28 teams.⁴

Segway

A self-balancing personal transporter using gyroscopic sensors.

iBOT

A stair-climbing wheelchair that can raise the user to standing height.

FIRST

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, a youth robotics nonprofit.

Slingshot

A vapor-compression water purification device.

DEKA Arm

An advanced prosthetic limb with multiple powered joints.