DEKA (company)

DEKA Research & Development Corporation is a technology company based in New Hampshire, U.S., founded in 1982 by Dean Kamen, consisting of over 1000 engineers, technicians, and support staff. DEKA is an acronym derived from Dean Kamen. The company is located in a series of old Amoskeag Falls Millyard buildings in Manchester, New Hampshire; Kamen has real estate investments in the neighborhood beyond DEKA offices, contributing to revitalization of the neighborhood along with other major investors.^[1][2]

DEKA Research & Development Corporation

Company type	Private
Founded	1982; 42 years ago (1982)
Founder	Dean Kamen
Headquarters	Manchester, New Hampshire
Key people	Dean Kamen (CEO)
Products	Research & Development
Website	www.dekaresearch.com

Products

• IBOT wheelchair, licensed to Johnson & Johnson
• HomeChoice, portable dialysis machine, licensed to Baxter Healthcare
• Stirling engine technologies
• Stent
• Segway, a personal transporter
• Therakos
• Slingshot, portable water purification system
• Luke Arm,^[3] a DARPA project
• Silicone Ankle Foot Orthosis (SAFO) and FLO-TECH APOPPS, adjustable postoperative protective and preparatory systems to protect injuries during early rehabilitation, both spun off to Next Step Orthotics & Prosthetics, Inc.^[4]
• Microdispensing contractor for the development of Coca Cola Freestyle.^[5][6][7]

Electric vehicles

Dean Kamen has developed a series plug-in hybrid car using a Ford Think and a Stirling engine.^[8] DEKA has shown off its new electric car, the DEKA Revolt, a two-seat hatchback that can achieve a range of about 60 miles (97 km) on a single charge of its lithium battery.^[8] The Stirling engine is used for cabin heat, windshield defrosting and battery recharging.

Stirling engines can use any fuel and are affordable for the average consumer.^{[citation needed]}

Kamen's team has also folded it into a hybridized Th!nk City as the on-board generator for the electric drive system.^[9]

In 2009, development of the two-wheeled Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility (PUMA) vehicle was announced in cooperation with General Motors.

Awards and philanthropy

Dean Kamen was awarded the National Medal of Technology in 2000 by then President Clinton for inventions that have advanced medical care worldwide.

In 2003, his "Project Slingshot", a cheap portable water purification system, was named a runner-up for coolest invention of 2003 by Time magazine.^[10][11] Dean Kamen appeared on The Colbert Report showing off his water purifier by dumping Doritos into a red liquid, and having it purify the red liquid into a clear colorless pure water.^[12][13]

DEKA is a major sponsor and strategic partner of FIRST,^[14] also founded by Dean Kamen.

See also

• Cryocooler

References

1. Prevost, Lisa (March 14, 2017). "A Millyard Transitions From Textiles to Tech". The New York Times.
2. Woodard, Colin. "How a 19th-Century Town Became a New Millennium Marvel". Politico Magazine.
3. "Full Page Reload". IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News.
4. "Next Step". Manchester, New Hampshire: New Hampshire Business Resource Center. August 2007. Archived from the original on 2008-07-26. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
5. Collier, Joe Guy (2009-09-29). "Coke targets Freestyle expansion for 2010". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
6. Goodwin, Jenifer (2009-07-22). "Futuristic, 100-flavor Coke dispenser tested". San Diego, CA: Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on 2009-12-24. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
7. "Coca-Cola's Freestyle, Dean Kamen, and More". Businessweek. Atlanta, Georgia. September 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-10-03. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
8. Wickham, Shawne K. (2008-11-09). "Kamen's Revolt". New Hampshire Sunday News. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
9. Wojdyla, Ben (2008-11-13). "Dean Kamen Creates Hybrid Th!nk City Car With Stirling Engine". Jalopnik. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
10. Grossman, Lev (2003). "Coolest Inventions 2003: Runner Up: Water Purifier". Time. Archived from the original on November 18, 2003. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
11. Plummer, Daryl (2003-10-30). "The Gartner Fellows: Dean Kamen Interview". Gartner. Archived from the original on December 21, 2003. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
12. "Dean Kamen". ColbertNation.com. 2008-03-20. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
13. "Colbert: First Vid of Dean Kamen's Miracle Water Distiller". Gizmodo. 2008-03-20. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
14. "FIRST Strategic Partners". FIRST. 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-25. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• DEKA Research and Development Corp.