Lonnie Johnson has always loved tinkering. He made a pressurized Chinaberry shooter from junkyard scraps while in high school and later created a robot to win a science competition. His love of tinkering led him to pursue engineering degrees at Tuskegee University. After graduating from Williamson County’s last segregated school, he worked on the B-2 stealth bomber and then joined NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he helped with the Galileo mission to Jupiter and the Mars Observer project.
Inventor of the Super Soaker Water Gun: Lonnie Johnson
Lonnie Johnson has an impressive engineering resume, including work with the US Air Force and NASA (on projects like the Galileo Jupiter probe and Mars Observer project), a nomination for astronaut training, and dozens of patents. But it’s his Super Soaker water gun that has made him famous — the toy has generated close to a billion dollars in sales since its introduction in 1990.
Johnson’s idea for the Super Soaker came about by accident in 1982. He was experimenting at home on a heat pump that used pressurized water vapor instead of environmentally harmful Freon. The nozzle he used on his bathroom sink accidentally sprang a leak, shooting a powerful stream of water across the room. That’s when he realized he had the basis for an awesome toy.
After securing a patent for his invention, Johnson sought out a manufacturer. He ultimately licensed his Super Soaker to a company called Larami Corporation in 1989. The toy was an immediate success, and it’s still one of the best-selling toys in America today.
Today, Lonnie Johnson works to encourage students to pursue careers in science and technology. He has partnered with organizations such as 100 Black Men of Atlanta and FIRST Robotics to introduce young people to the joys of engineering and inventing. He also has his own research and development firm, where he works on advanced energy technologies such as a rechargeable battery and a heat pump that uses water instead of Freon.
Inventor of the Linex Robot
Lonnie Johnson loved taking things apart and building new ones. His parents, who were truck drivers and a nurse’s aide, encouraged his passion for physics and mechanics. Neighborhood kids called him “the Professor” because he was always experimenting with go-kart engines and even once almost burned down his house cooking rocket fuel in the kitchen. He went on to win a first-place prize in a science competition with a remote-controlled robot named Linex that he built from junkyard scraps while attending Williamson High School in Mobile, Alabama. He earned a math scholarship to Tuskegee University where he obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical and nuclear engineering. Johnson went on to work as a systems engineer for the U.S. Air Force and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory where he won multiple achievement awards for his work on spacecraft power systems.
Though he authored dozens of inventions — including a ceramic battery and hair rollers that set without heat, as well as a diaper that plays nursery rhymes when soiled – it’s the Super Soaker water gun that made Johnson famous. He has patented dozens of his creations, and now serves as the president of Atlanta-based Johnson Research & Development and leads its spin-off companies such as Excellatron Solid State LLC, Lonnie Johnson Electro-Mechanical Systems LLC, and Johnson Real Estate Investments LLC. He also sits on the boards of Georgia Alliance for Children and Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation and is a member of the 100 Black Men of Atlanta organization.
Inventor of the Lubricating Device
Lonnie Johnson’s interest in engineering started with his father, who helped him build toys. He continued his fascination with mechanical devices as he grew older, taking apart and reassembling objects around him. His curiosity led him to create his first invention in his teens, a compressed air-powered robot called Linex. He entered the robot into a science fair, winning first place and earning a scholarship to Tuskegee University.
After graduating from college, Lonnie Johnson went on to work as a fireman and oilman for railroads in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He soon noticed that existing systems for lubricating train parts were inefficient. When trains stopped to lubricate, they were vulnerable to overheating, which could damage the engine and even cause a fire. Johnson solved this problem in his home-based machine shop by developing a system that oiled the locomotive while it was moving. He patented the invention in 1872.
Lonnie Johnson went on to serve in the Air Force, earning two Commendation Medals and the Air Force Achievement Medal. He later worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, developing thermodynamically and control systems for space projects. He also contributed to the Mars Observer project and the Galileo Jupiter probe. His work at JPL earned him seven patents. Today, Johnson is the founder and president of Atlanta-based technology development company Johnson Research & Development, as well as a mentor for young people through 100 Black Men of Atlanta.
Inventor of the Lawn Sprinkler
If you live in a neighborhood with grassy lawns, then chances are you’re familiar with the sprinkler. This handy device allows homeowners to keep their yards lush and green with ease, but where did the idea come from? Lonnie Johnson is the man behind the invention of this useful gadget.
Born in 1949, Johnson was raised in segregated Alabama and began tinkering with inventions from an early age. His mother remembered him taking apart her baby doll to see what made its eyes close, and his high school classmates dubbed him “The Professor.” This inquisitive spirit helped Lonnie win a scholarship to Tuskegee University, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering and nuclear engineering.
After graduation, he worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the U.S. Air Force, where he was a project engineer and nuclear systems manager. He also spent time at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
Lonnie Johnson’s interest in toy design led to the creation of his most famous invention, the Super Soaker water gun, in 1982. He originally intended the device to be a more environmentally friendly version of a heat pump that used water instead of Freon. However, he was soon impressed by the water-blasting ability of his prototype and decided to adapt it as a toy.