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Lawrence K. Edwards (July 10, 1919 April 4, 2009)[1] was an American innovator in aerospace and ground transportation. Early in his career, he pioneered technologies for U.S. space and missile defense programs. He went on to invent and promote high-speed Gravity-Vacuum Transit[2] and monobeam rail transit. He obtained a total of fourteen patents in those areas.


Early life and education


Edwards was born in Delaware, Ohio. He was the son of a physics professor and was raised in Oxford, Ohio. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Miami University where he studied geology, math and physics.


Accomplishments in aerospace


Edwards played a role in the engineering of four of the nation's major aerospace programs:


Accomplishments in ground transportation


Edwards briefs Transportation Secretary John Volpe (second from left) on Gravity-Vacuum Transit
Edwards briefs Transportation Secretary John Volpe (second from left) on Gravity-Vacuum Transit

Edwards founded three firms dedicated to his innovations in ground transportation, Tube Transit Corp., Transit Innovations and Futrex Inc. His pursuits in this field include:


Honors and awards


NASA Administrator Robert Frosch (left), presents the Skylab Award to Edwards, team leader
NASA Administrator Robert Frosch (left), presents the Skylab Award to Edwards, team leader

Edwards was twice nominated by Lockheed executives for the National Medal of Technology, the highest honor for technological achievement in the United States. In 1980, NASA awarded him a team leadership award for his role in the Skylab Reentry Program. His inventions have been publicized in dozens of national newspapers, magazines and books. On three occasions, they were illustrated as "Patent of the Week" in the New York Times.

Edwards received six federal grants for his work in Gravity-Vacuum Transit and System 21.[15] Additionally, $1.25 million in Commerce Department funds supported the construction of a functional scale model of System 21 in Charleston, South Carolina. It was unveiled in 1996.


Professional affiliations


Edwards was a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and the Cosmos Club. He was also an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences.


References


  1. "Miamian Winter 2010 - Obituaries". miamialum.org.
  2. Gravity-Vacuum Transit
  3. BOEING CO SEATTLE WA (1963-02-01). "DYNA SOAR TESTING FOR THE BOEING COMPANY". Fort Belvoir, VA. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. Aviation Week June 2, 1958: Talos Has Conventional, Nuclear Punch
  5. "Lockheed UGM-27 Polaris". www.designation-systems.net.
  6. U. S. Navy Department book, circa 2000 Facts: Polaris - Poseidon - Trident
  7. Space Chronicle of JBIS, August 2006: Genesis of Agena D, America's Most-Used Space Vehicle
  8. "Lockheed Martin". lockheedmartin.com.
  9. Science, October 15, 1965, Volume 150, Number 3654, Barriers to Innovation
  10. The New York Times, Monday, August 30, 1965, High-Speed Rail Transit
  11. "PROJECT 21 URBAN MONOBEAM SYSTEM". faculty.washington.edu.
  12. Passenger Transport, May 4, 1998, Page 7, Vice President Gore Visits FUTREX Site in Charleston
  13. Federal Register, Vol. 54. No. 55, Thursday, March 23, 1989, Notices
  14. "Project 32: A High-Performance Tilting Three-Wheel Vehicle Development". www.rqriley.com.
  15. Railway Age, January 1999, Page 29, FUTREX Monobeam Receives Federal Grant



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