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“Because great stories should be...experienced.”
By Koren Wetmore
When John Dunlop introduced the first pneumatic tire in 1888, it was made of sustainable, natural rubber. As the auto industry grew, the demand for better performance and lower price moved tire design toward synthetic materials made from crude oil. Then the loss of access to natural rubber sources during World War II cinched it: synthetic was the only source for American tires.
It would take more than 100 years and researchers such as Aki Nakamura ’66 to return the tire to its sustainable beginnings without losing desired performance.
Yet tire technology was the last thing on Nakamura’s mind when he received a scholarship to attend Harvey Mudd College. Although a mechanical engineering major, his computer science courses at HMC sparked a fascination with the role computers play in daily life. He later merged his passions by pursuing a master’s degree in software engineering from the University of Tokyo. This contributed to his success, as computers played a key role in his career.
“Our generation lived through the computer age,” says former classmate Craig Van Degrift ’66. “And Aki was intelligent and serious about learning.”
Following graduate school, Nakamura began working for Sumitomo Electric where he designed electronic controllers and later developed software for the auto industry. In 1994, he transferred to Sumitomo Rubber Industries to lead the company’s research and development department. It was an exciting time as Sumitomo had just purchased the Dunlop tire brand and Nakamura’s team was poised to pioneer a new tire design method...
Full text available to editors upon request.
Excerpt from “Nakamura’s Legacy”
Harvey Mudd College Magazine (The Bulletin)
Harvey Mudd College Magazine (The Bulletin)
