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Firsts

MOTOBOT

2016

MOTOBOT

First autonomous motorcycle-riding humanoid robot
2000s Artificial intelligence Firsts Robotics Seminal innovations Sensing and devices Software
Sleep-activated neurons

2008

Sleep-activated neurons

Identification of rare neurons may help treat sleep disorders and understand memory.
2000s Firsts
Sleep-activated neurons
Siri

2007

Siri

Apple acquired our spin-off and the iPhone got Siri.
2000s Artificial intelligence Communication Firsts Products Seminal innovations Sensing and devices Software
Advanced modular incoherent scatter radar

2005

Advanced modular incoherent scatter radar

Our AMISR ushered in relocatable radar to read atmospheric events, rain, sleet or tsunami.
2000s Communication Earth and Space Federal Programs Firsts Radar Security and defense Sensing and devices
Advanced modular incoherent scatter radar
Artificial intelligence: CALO

2003

Artificial intelligence: CALO

“Hey, Siri. Did you really start as cogintive decision making software?”
2000s Artificial intelligence Firsts Military Security and defense Software
Charter school evaluation

2002

Charter school evaluation

The first national evaluation of public charter schools
2000s Firsts
Charter school evaluation
Robot teams: Centibots

2002

Robot teams: Centibots

Robots coordinate, communicate and create milestones at the same time.
2000s Artificial intelligence Firsts Military Robotics Security and defense Sensing and devices Software
Venus night-side airglow

2001

Venus night-side airglow

First observation provides new insight into Earth’s closest neighbor.
2000s Earth and Space Firsts
Venus night-side airglow
Artificial muscle

2000

Artificial muscle

Artificial Muscle made easy work of heavy lifting.
2000s Chemistry and materials Firsts Products
Lymphoma treatment: Targretin® (bexarotene)

1999

Lymphoma treatment: Targretin® (bexarotene)

FDA approves treatment for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
1990s Firsts Pharmaceutical Products Seminal innovations
Lymphoma treatment: Targretin® (bexarotene)
Hazardous waste disposal

1998

Hazardous waste disposal

Patented process decomposes hazardous wastes to undetectable amounts.
1990s Chemistry and materials Energy and green tech Firsts Pollution
Natural language speech recognition

1996

Natural language speech recognition

Speech recognition technology translates to multiple successful spin-offs.
1990s Communication Firsts Products Sensing and devices Software Speech/audio
Natural language speech recognition
Telerobotic surgery

1995

Telerobotic surgery

Less invasive surgery. Steadier hands. More happy patients.
1990s Firsts Products Robotics Seminal innovations Sensing and devices Software
Virtual private networks

1994

Virtual private networks

VPNs let people connect to work from home. Sorry it’s been so successful.
1990s Communication Cyber security Firsts Internet Security and defense Software
Virtual private networks
Virtual advertising insertion

1994

Virtual advertising insertion

Those in-game ads on TV that made you wonder, “How’d they do that?” We did that.
1990s Firsts
High-definition television

High-definition television

We help develop and standardize HDTV technology–and win an Emmy for our contributions.
1990s Broadcasting Communication Firsts Products Seminal innovations
High-definition television
Longitudinal studies of youth with disabilities

1985

Longitudinal studies of youth with disabilities

Pioneering study improves U.S. education for students with disabilities
1970s Federal Programs Firsts
CCD broadcast camera

1984

CCD broadcast camera

The first commercially available all-solid-state broadcast camera delivers clearer, sharper images than ever before.
1980s Broadcasting Communication Firsts Products
CCD broadcast camera
Environmental test methods

1982

Environmental test methods

SRI methods help develop EPA testing still used today.
1980s Energy and green tech Federal Programs Firsts Pollution Seminal innovations Sensing and devices
Random Sample Consensus (RANSAC) algorithm

1981

Random Sample Consensus (RANSAC) algorithm

Algorithm becomes widely referenced paradigm for computer vision.
1980s Artificial intelligence Firsts Security and defense Seminal innovations Software
Random Sample Consensus (RANSAC) algorithm
ImageCalc software

ImageCalc software

Image processing system makes it possible to manipulate 3D object models overlaid on imagery.
1980s Artificial intelligence Firsts Software
Internetworking

1976-1977

Internetworking

Today’s internet was born in a 1970’s van.
1970s Communication Firsts Internet Seminal innovations Software
Internetworking
Software implemented fault tolerance

1973

Software implemented fault tolerance

Develop a redundant flight control system that Langley would approve. We made that fly.
1970s Earth and Space Firsts Military Seminal innovations Software Transportation
Blue light-emitting diode

1972

Blue light-emitting diode

The world’s first blue light-emitting diode (LED) lays the foundations for Blu-Ray.
1970s Chemistry and materials Firsts Products Seminal innovations Sensing and devices
Blue light-emitting diode
Cash management accounts

1970s

Cash management accounts

Access to all your money, in all its iterations, in one place.
1970s Economic development Firsts Products
Air combat training

1970s

Air combat training

The first instrumented training system takes flight.
1970s Firsts Military Security and defense Transportation
Air combat training
PROSPECTOR computer-based expert system

1970s

PROSPECTOR computer-based expert system

One of the first computer-based expert systems aids geologists in mineral exploration.
1970s Artificial intelligence Chemistry and materials Economic development Firsts Sensing and devices
Digital FAX machine

1970s

Digital FAX machine

SRI develops prototype for world’s first digital fax machine.
1970s Broadcasting Communication Firsts Products Software
Digital FAX machine
Formal software methods

1970s

Formal software methods

We applied hard methods to software development.
1970s Firsts Products Security and defense Seminal innovations Sensing and devices Software
Domain names and the Network Information Center

1970

Domain names and the Network Information Center

From a simple network information hub to the first ever “dot com.”
1970s Communication Firsts Internet
Domain names and the Network Information Center
ARPANET

1969

ARPANET

We helped invent ARPANET. You may know it as The Internet.
1960s Communication Firsts Internet Seminal innovations Software
Computer mouse and interactive computing

1968

Computer mouse and interactive computing

Your Mouse. Our “X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System.” Thankfully Mouse won out.
1960s Communication Firsts Products Seminal innovations Software
Computer mouse and interactive computing
Acoustic modem

1966

Acoustic modem

SRI scientists made vast improvements to the acoustically coupled modem, which had been invented elsewhere in the early 1960s.
1960s Communication Firsts Sensing and devices Speech/audio
Shakey the Robot

1966

Shakey the Robot

Our robot was so self-aware we almost didn’t tell him his name was Shakey.
1960s Artificial intelligence Firsts Robotics Seminal innovations Software
Shakey the Robot
CMOS integrated circuit

1965

CMOS integrated circuit

Vital technology still found in most of the world’s electronic circuitry
1960s Firsts Products Seminal innovations Sensing and devices
Eyetracker

1965

Eyetracker

Follow what people are looking at to see solutions clearer.
1960s Firsts Products Sensing and devices
Eyetracker
Handwriting recognition, signature verification and pen-input computing

1964

Handwriting recognition, signature verification and pen-input computing

How they know your online you is really you.
1960s Communication Cyber security Firsts Products Security and defense Seminal innovations Sensing and devices
Optical video disk

1963

Optical video disk

Optical recording paves the way for first video disk recording/playback system.
1960s Broadcasting Firsts Products Seminal innovations
Optical video disk
Airline reservation system

1962

Airline reservation system

From 1962 to 1964, SRI led development of a real-time communications system for the Scandinavian Airline System (SAS) to process passenger reservations and check-in.
1960s Communication Firsts Software Transportation
TIROS 1 weather satellite

1960

TIROS 1 weather satellite

World’s first space-based meteorology satellite
1960s Earth and Space Firsts Sensing and devices
TIROS 1 weather satellite
Anti-viral: Vidarabine

1960

Anti-viral: Vidarabine

Drug originally intended to fight cancer discovered effective against herpes simplex and varicella zoster viruses.
1960s Firsts Pharmaceutical Products Seminal innovations
All-magnetic logic computer

1960

All-magnetic logic computer

Virtually indestructible computer circuitry
1960s Firsts Transportation
All-magnetic logic computer
Laser photocoagulation for ophthalmology

1960

Laser photocoagulation for ophthalmology

A better way to look at eye surgery.
1960s Firsts Seminal innovations Sensing and devices
Electrostatic discharge rods

1956

Electrostatic discharge rods

Innovative rods help protect aircraft from potentially dangerous levels of static electricity.
1950s Earth and Space Firsts Products Transportation
Electrostatic discharge rods
Solar energy

1955

Solar energy

As early as 1955, we saw a viable energy source. And a few dozen patents.
1950s Earth and Space Energy and green tech Firsts
Disneyland

1955

Disneyland

How Mickey Mouse found the location for his first house.
1950s Economic development Firsts
Disneyland
Banking automation: ERMA

1955

Banking automation: ERMA

Easier money counting led to easier money making.
1950s Firsts Seminal innovations Software
Color television

1953

Color television

RCA Laboratories (now part of SRI) brings television to full-color life.
1950s Broadcasting Communication Firsts Products Sensing and devices
Color television
Smog research

1947

Smog research

Healthier air for L.A. and the world
1940s Earth and Space Energy and green tech Federal Programs Firsts Pollution Seminal innovations
Transmission electron microscope

1940

Transmission electron microscope

Revolutionary microscope improved magnification by 10,000 times.
1940s Chemistry and materials Firsts Products Sensing and devices
Transmission electron microscope

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