Read Noah Shachtman’s excellent article about Jameel Ahed, a brilliant young roboticist who left iRobot and then scooped it to a colossal defense contract by improving on its battlefield robots. The problem? Beneath his lighter, cheaper design sat some suspiciously familiar fundamentals.
It’s a great story, packed with echoes so stunning as to seem almost like buried ledes. What, for example, is the bigger story: that someone almost burned their former employer to a $300m payday, or that the bidding process was a transparent sham designed to funnel the contract to Ahed? Or that an unnamed major defense contractor, able to manufacture the ‘bots in bulk, was helping his bid? Or that paranoia–he foolishly tried to dispose of evidence, instead of sitting tight–was his downfall?
“He and his partner discussed a media strategy in which Ahed would be portrayed as “the aggrieved party … in a David vs. Goliath situation,” according to one recovered email. … Yet when marshals showed up at Ahed’s door, he called the [defense contractor] executive in a frenzy. “What should I do?” he shrieked. The man answered: Cooperate, no matter what. Tell them absolutely everything. Of course, Ahed responded. Of course. But he had already destroyed evidence, giving iRobot the ammunition it needed to undermine Ahed’s credibility and get the deal scuttled.”
Amazing stuff.
But… which defense contractor?
Who Stole the Plans for iRobot’s Battle Bots? [Wired.com]
In Jameel’s defense, the robot he made was not only lighter and easier to use with a gripper that could be remotely operated, it was also cheaper. Now the Army gets saddled with shittier robots they have to pay more for. I can definitely see the military’s point: if it’s tech that can save more soldiers’ lives, fuck copyright disputes.
“a brilliant young roboticist who left … and then scooped it … by improving on its … robots”
Yowza, this *really* reminds me of Robert Heinlein’s novel “The Door Into Summer”. Has anyone made sure that Ahed isn’t really the founder of iRobot traveling backwards through time?