The Henry Ford's Innovation Nation Season 8, Episode 17: Best of – Convertibles

1

Wright Brothers Patents

Our curator of transportation talks about the Wright brothers' battle to protect their airplane patents with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a soft serve ice cream maker for your countertop, an app that translates your dog’s barks, and special drones helping hunt down invasive pythons in the Florida Everglades.

2

Apples

Our curator of agriculture demonstrates the old-fashioned way to make apple cider for host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a high-tech bird feeder that lets you shoot pictures and video of your feathered friends, a bottle cap that purifies water with light, and see-through urban beehives that let you watch how the honey is made.

3

Convertibles

Our curator of transportation discusses when the convertible became the coolest car on the road with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us GPS trackers disguised as sea turtle eggs to help catch poachers, a new way of timing a timer, and the self-cleaning door handle.

4

Spinning

Our chief curator discusses the machines that spin the thread for your threads with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a robotic restaurant kitchen, how to keep your belongings safe at the beach or pool, and the artist telling time with a paint brush.

5

Toll Roads

Our curator of transportation discusses the history of toll roads with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us how police dogs are being kept safe on the job, the safety vest lighting the way for nighttime runners, and the webcam that's revolutionizing video calls.

6

Children’s Furniture

Our curator of decorative arts shares downsized furniture for kids with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a stylish bracelet that sends out an SOS if the wearer needs help, the scanning technology preserving classic car design, and ski poles that help keep skiers' hands warm.

7

Tomato Harvester

Our curator of agriculture & the environment shares the history of mechanized tomato harvesting with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a water-filled blanket, the filter keeping washing machine microfibers out of the oceans, and building a better mousetrap.

9

Taxicabs

Our curator of transportation discusses the evolution of the taxicab with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us how to feel music with haptic speakers, stylish homes made from shipping containers, and an air filtration system made of plants.

10

Public Education

Our curator of domestic life discusses the advent of public education with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us how solar energy is powering water filtration, a new satellite keeping track of the earth’s climate, and a targeted red light therapy device.

11

Cast Iron Cookstoves

Our curator of domestic life discusses cast iron cookstoves with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a pool escape ramp for critters, an app helping PTSD survivors, and renewable energy created from crop waste.

12

Best of – Wright Brothers Patents

Our curator of transportation discusses the Wright brothers' battle to protect their patents with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a stylish bracelet that sends out an SOS if the wearer needs help, GPS trackers disguised as sea turtle eggs to help catch poachers, and a beehive that lets you see how the honey is made.

13

Dr. Howard

Our curator of public life discusses 19th-century medicine with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us how AR is helping surgeons see inside their patients, the doorway roller easing backaches, and a status report on previously featured innovators.

14

Studio Glass

Our curator of decorative arts discusses the beautiful art of studio glass with host Mo Rocca, who also show us a speaker powered by water, the car seat net that stops your things from taking flight, and GPS for your pet’s collar.

15

Baseball

The director of Greenfield Village discusses baseball's beginnings with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us dry dock boat storage that works like a vending machine, the heads-up display showing pilots what’s behind the clouds, and the device measuring the air in your lungs.

16

Airplane Racing

Our curator of transportation discusses airplane racing with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a smart notebook, swim goggles that display real-time metrics, and the wristband GPS for extreme sports and boating.

17

Best of – Convertibles

Our curator of transportation discusses how the convertible became the coolest car on the road with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a water-filled blanket, a way to keep police dogs safe, and an air filtration system made of plants.

18

Standard Sizes

Our chief curator discusses standard sizes with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a tennis ball bot, a device saving lives by keeping transplant hearts beating, and a blow-dry box for pets.

22

Best of – Tomato Harvester

Our curator of agriculture & the environment shares the history of mechanized tomato harvesting with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a soft serve ice cream maker for your countertop, the webcam that's revolutionizing video calls, and building a better mousetrap.

23

National Parks

Our curator of public life shares the history of America's national parks with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us custom camper vans, dousing a fire with the toss of a ball, and how to create compost on your kitchen countertop.

24

20th-century Jewelry

Our curator of decorative arts shares the history of modern jewelry with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a computerized exoskeleton allowing some paralyzed people to walk, creating electricity with turbines inside of pipes, and parking your dog in a hut outside of stores.

25

Weaving

Our chief curator discusses the history of weaving with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us 3D printing with sawdust, the smart delivery box protecting your packages, and advice from our past innovators.

26

Best of - Ackley Covered Bridge

Our curator of historic structures & landscapes discusses covered bridges with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us special drones helping hunt down invasive pythons in the Florida Everglades, how to feel music with haptic speakers, and ski poles that help keep skiers' hands warm.