What if we had a hand in 10 innovations you’ve held in your hands?
We’ve spearheaded groundbreaking innovations from talented scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs.
Take a minute to explore our rich timeline of innovation that’s touched the lives of, well, pretty much everyone.
2018
NASA Parker Solar Probe
SRI imagers help revolutionize our understanding of the sun.
2000’s Earth & space Sensing & devices2016
MOTOBOT
First autonomous motorcycle-riding humanoid robot
2000’s artificial intelligence Firsts Robotics Seminal innovations Sensing & devices Software2006
Iris recognition
It’s all in the eyes: Iris on the Move makes biometric identification a widespread reality.
2000’s Products Sensing & devices2005
Advanced modular incoherent scatter radar
Our AMISR ushered in relocatable radar to read atmospheric events, rain, sleet or tsunami.
2000’s Communication Earth & space Federal programs Firsts Radar Security & defense Sensing & devices2018
Artificial muscle
Artificial Muscle made easy work of heavy lifting.
2000’s Chemistry & materials Firsts Products Software Speech/ audio1996
Natural language speech recognition
Speech recognition technology translates to multiple successful spin-offs.
1990’s communication firsts Products Sensing & devices Software Speech/ audio1995
Telerobotic surgery
Less invasive surgery. Steadier hands. More happy patients.
1990’s Firsts Products Robotics Seminal innovations Sensing & devices Software1990s
Open agent architecture software
Software agents pave the way for distributed systems.
1980’s Artificial intelligence Seminal innovations Software1990s
Network intrusion detection
Fewer cyber attacks for a safer internet.
1990’s Cybersecurity Internet Products Security & defense Seminal innovations Software1983
Atmospheric research and radar
Advanced radar facilities help keep U.S. safe during Cold War.
1980’s Earth & space Federal programs Radar1983
Human liver tissue bank
The first human liver tissue bank for testing drugs on humans versus animals.
1908’s Pharmaceutical1976-1977
Internetworking
Today’s internet was born in a 1970’s van.
1970’s communication firsts internet seminal innovations software1969
ARPANET
We helped invent ARPANET. You may know it as The Internet.
1960’s communication firsts internet seminal innovations software1968
Computer mouse and interactive computing
Your Mouse. Our “X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System.” Thankfully Mouse won out.
1960’s communication firsts products seminal innovations software1966
Acoustic modem
SRI scientists made vast improvements to the acoustically coupled modem, which had been invented elsewhere in the early 1960s.
1960’s communication firsts sensing & devices Speech/ audio1966
Shakey the Robot
Our robot was so self-aware we almost didn’t tell him his name was Shakey.
1960’s artificial intelligence firsts robotics seminal innovations software