Cruise Control: Who is the Man Behind Its Creation?

For the modern cruise control came to Ralph Tetor in the 1940s while he was riding with his lawyer. He observed that the lawyer slowed down while talking and accelerated while talking to him, which irritated him

The man who created cruise control

The idea

. As a result, Tetor decided to develop a device to control the speed of the car automatically. In 1948, he applied for a patent for his invention. Tetor was never able to drive due to his loss of sight.

He had to work on his original machine for almost another ten years before he could produce a marketable, car-mounted version. The 1958 Chrysler Imperial, New Yorker, and Windsor models were the first automobiles to be equipped with this cutting-edge technology, and by 1960, cruise control was a standard feature on all automobiles. Cadillac.

When it first debuted,

the cruise control system went by multiple names, including “Speedostat,” “Touchomatic,” and “Auto-Pilot.” Chrysler was the company to finally coin the moniker “Cruise Control,” and several individuals creating their own variations of the technology. Numerous, as cruise control systems are still being develop today, and the development included integrating some of the most cutting-edge self-driving features like automatic braking. These systems were very popular due to their ability to save fuel in the 1970s oil crisis, and they are still being develope today.

When he was five years old, Titor was injure and lost his sight. Despite this, he never allowed it stop him from achieving his goals. His impressive record of inventions was indeed cover by the New York Herald in 1902. At the time, he was twelve years old.  Moreover, At the age of ten, he built a toy dynamo and other machines. At the age of twelve, he worked with his cousin to make a single-cylinder automobile out of an old engine and then made the parts needed to reconstruct it.

The University of Pennsylvania awarded this blind, brilliant mechanic a mechanical engineering degree in 1912. Also he was among the top students in his graduating class. A few years later, he created the turbine engine technology that was employing in World War One torpedo destroyers. For his family’s business, Tetor trained as a mechanical engineer. Tetor quickly progressed to vice president of engineering at the Light Inspection Vehicle Corporation in Hagerstown. Indiana, in the 1930s, and ultimately became president.

In the meantime,

Titor also created the gas-powered lawnmower and a novel fishing hook handle that makes it simple for the hunter to hold and reel in the fishing line. Ralph R. Teetor Educational Prize, which has his name. In 1965, Teetor also earned two honorary degrees, one from Earlham College (Doctor of Laws). Also one from Indiana University of Technology (Doctor of Engineering), both of which bear their respective institutions’ names. On February 15, 1982, he passed away at the age of 91 after receiving numerous accolades and awards.

for more interesting things, Click here.