Cruise Control Was The Creation Of Blind Inventor Ralph Teetor After His Lawyer Annoyed Him

Summary

Cruise control, a widely used automotive feature allowing vehicles to maintain a constant speed without driver input, was invented by blind engineer Ralph Teetor, inspired by his lawyer's erratic driving habits.

Abstract

Cruise control, a standard feature in modern vehicles, was the brainchild of Ralph Teetor, an inventor who overcame blindness to make significant contributions to the automotive industry. Teetor's inspiration for this innovation struck during a car ride with his family lawyer, whose inconsistent speed while conversing led to a frustrating experience. Over a decade of experimentation, Teetor developed the concept and was granted a patent in 1945 for his Speedostat, which became the basis for the cruise control systems we know today. Although the initial patent was issued in 1950, it wasn't until 1958 that Chrysler and Cadillac introduced the feature to the market under different names, with "Cruise Control" eventually becoming the universally recognized term. Teetor's invention revolutionized driving comfort and convenience, and despite subsequent adaptations, it remains rooted in his original design.

Opinions

The article suggests that innovation is often underappreciated, with new inventions quickly replacing old ones in the public's appreciation.
Ralph Teetor's determination and ingenuity are highlighted, emphasizing that his blindness did not hinder his ability to create a transformative technology.
The narrative implies that personal experiences, such as Teetor's car ride with his lawyer, can be powerful catalysts for innovation.
The author seems to admire Teetor's preference for not discussing his disability, focusing instead on his achievements and contributions to the field of engineering.
The text conveys a sense of historical progression, showing how Teetor's Speedostat evolved into the cruise control feature known and used internationally today.

One of the most widely used features of modern cars was born out of a frustrating car ride a brilliant, but blind, engineer took with his attorney

Innovation is often taken for granted. Every time something is invented that makes life a little bit easier, people gobble it up until the next thing comes along to fawn over, leaving little room for true appreciation. One 20th century development that has been used countless times the world over is cruise control — the function of a vehicle to go a set speed without having to continuously employ the gas pedal. Surprisingly, this driving feature was originated by a brilliant inventor named Ralph Teetor, despite being completely blind when he developed the concept.

Teetor was born in Indiana in 1890. At the age of five, an accident with a knife claimed one of his eyes, and a medical condition claimed sight in his other eye the following year. He never let his disability stop him, and even preferred not talking about it.

He went on to earn multiple engineering degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and worked in the motor division of his family’s Teetor-Hartley Motor Company. After this was sold in 1918, he went on to work for various other companies that built motors and engines. Despite a career of accomplishments, the one that he is best remembered for is cruise control.

Teetor’s inspiration for cruise control came into his mind during a car ride he took with the family lawyer, Harry Lindsay, around 1935. The attorney had a peculiar habit when driving of slowing down while talking, and speeding up while listening, creating a rhythm that grated on Teetor’s nerves. Determined to find a solution to avoid future rocking back and forth during a conversation in the car, the engineer embarked on a lengthy journey of experimentation before hitting upon a solution.

10 years later, in 1945, a year before Teetor became President of Perfect Circle Corporation, he was finally granted his first patent for his speed control device, which was alternately called Controlmatic, Touchomatic, Pressomatic, and Speedostat. The latter eventually became the trademark name that stuck. The patent for the Speedostat was officially issued on August 22, 1950, and when installed on a vehicle, allowed a driver to set a cruising speed that was only reset after deploying the brakes.

However, it wasn’t until 1958 that Teetor’s invention found its way into widespread commercial use. Chrysler offered the device as a luxury model option under the name Auto Pilot. Simultaneously, Cadillac marketed the same product as Cruise Control, which was the name that would ultimately become its international identity.

The inner workings of Teetor’s design were an engineering marvel. The throttle was controlled by a bi-directional screw drive electric motor, with an electromagnet connecting the motor and the throttle during operation. A 12-volt post remained centered between two electric contacts on the throttle, one for increasing throttle and the other for reducing it.

The floating post served as a guide for the motor, throttle, and vehicle speed. This guidance came from two sources: first, leveraged spinning weights, driven by the transmission’s speedometer cable, and second, a counter-spring tension regulated by a cable connected to a dial near the steering wheel.

Cruise control quickly became an industry standard. Although it was adapted and changed over the years, it was still rooted in the Speedostat product of Teetor’s genius.

Teetor passed away in 1982. The crowning achievement from his life of engineering work was a device he birthed out of the annoyance he held towards a peculiar driving habit of his lawyer, which made him not want to get in a car with him again. Once again, it was a textbook case of necessity being the mother of invention.