Innovation Becomes Number One As New Ford Patents Top The Industry In 2016

patents use to mean innovation. now companies make minor design changes to avoid paying royalties to their competitors' patents

@BobM so true. I'm obviously fond of Ford, but I don't see them doing any real technological advancement. The aluminum F150 is just a regular F150 done in aluminum. There is a small weight savings, but I honestly think that if they had used steel, the F150 would have gotten similar MPG and would have sold as well.

There really isn't that much innovation coming to market by ANY manufacturer.

@BobM: you're a clueless bunch. Get out of your back-water hell holes and see the actual America tech landscape before spewing your idiotic comments.

All the tech hubs in America are bustling with breakthroughs and innovations - most come from start-ups and smaller companies. Large companies are too worried about the bottom lines to take the risks. Merging is now the way large tech companies expand their product and patent portfolios.

Your "30 years in engineering" is such a waste, now all you can do is lament at your uselessness. Your skill set wouldn't last a week in Silicon Valley today.

And where did you get the phrase "the little guy who's struggled in his garage" ? from a paperback book about the 60's ? You have no idea how a start-up works these days !!

And you, MD: "There really isn't that much innovation coming to market by ANY manufacturer." - NOT SO!

There is one right here in Silicon Valley. It's called Tesla Factory, located in Fremont. It currently employs over 6000 people, and is expanding to add 3000 more.

http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/12/08/fremont-city-council-approves-major-tesla-facility-expansion-plan/


Maybe a factory tour could change your mind on "isn't much innovation ... by any manufacturer".

Or, you can take a virtual tour online - a link here as a courtesy:

http://www.popsci.com/inside-tesla-factory-and-elon-musks-master-plan-for-companys-future

@HenryN...Tesla uses readily available EV technology and their products are in no way truly innovative or game changing.

@MD: "Tesla uses readily available EV technology" - you should remind GM and LG this. GM and LG with their vast engineering resources still struggle with the 10%-40% battery degradation over 100K miles.

For comparison, data on Tesla Model S: https://electrek.co/2016/06/06/tesla-model-s-battery-pack-data-degradation/).

Maybe GM and LG engineers forgot their homework ?

Bob! Bob! Bob! ... you're such a fire cracker. A little tickle and you went off in a tantrum. How did you manage to "own ... business over 30 years" in this manner ? Are you making broomsticks ?

Your thesis is that "First to Apply" patent is BAD for smaller guys, and it "will eventually zap the enthusiasm of the entrepreneurs". To that, I'd say bullshit.

While the patent portfolios from large companies make life harder for smaller companies and startups since litigation tends to sap a company's energy and resources, they actually drive the smart and resilient engineers to innovate and beat the big guys.

In term of "worried about the bottom lines", it doesn't just involve R&D money alone. Companies are reducing product cycles and prefer incremental changes rather than step jumps to reduce the risks - auto industry is a good example.

Also low tolerance for errors in large companies - due to schedule and budget impact - further drives smart and independent engineers from large companies. This cycle has been the driving force behind the growth of tech hubs for decades.

I am just a small gear in the Silicon Valley tech machine, but I have been working long enough in industry leading companies as well as successful startups to witness the differences and how they thrived over the years. There is always room for innovation if you have the brain and the will to compete.

You, on the other hand, are apparently stuck with your "own company" for the last 30 years, no surprise what state of mind you're in.

Time for you to pack up and move to Pensacola. You may get peace there and live a bit longer.

HenryN! HenryN! ...you're such a fire cracker. A BobM tickle and you went off in a tantrum.

Probably dimentia makes you miss my sarcasm. But hey, if you're happy being stuck, then who's complaining ?

Dammit! I took my morning power dump and didn't get any research done. Of course, from sit to flush was maybe 20 seconds.

I'm too busy living in fear that I'll knock up my wife again. I have no idea how that happens. I may have to research that.

I married a Catholic who wants a large family because that's how she grew up. We have 5 boys under the age of 6 and a teenager who is sort of a foster kid. I grew up with 4 siblings because my mother was promiscuous. LOL Is it promiscuity if you're Catholic and cranking out babies?