Roger Billings - Dr. Hydrogen Has a New Facebook Page

Fans of Facebook will be pleased to know that Roger Billings recently released a new Facebook page about his hydrogen work titled "Roger Billings - Dr. Hydrogen".  It features some posts of his earlier hydrogen cars and mentions new announcements from major automakers.  Hydrogen is indeed heating up fast!

Take a look: Roger Billings - Dr. Hydrogen

Roger Billings shares "The Science of Learning"

I now take a break from Hydrogen to see what else Roger Billings is up to in recent years.  This new video features his work on "Acellus", an online learning tool he refers to as The Science of Learning.  Students are presented with video lectures and then graded on their comprehension.  Based on their responses, Acellus gives them more instruction on the topic or moves them on the next one.  A simple but powerful idea.  The magic happens when the administrators of the program statistically analyze responses from the thousands of students and then refine the videos, tests, and other materials.   More about Roger Billings Acellus Project.  I think you will enjoy this inspiring video.

New Roger Billings Hydrogen Now Post

Big News!  In a new post on his blog, Hydrogen Now, Roger Billings reveals that he has filed a new patent just two weeks ago on a "new way to generate large quantities of electricity efficiently from hydrogen".  He also hints at more patents yet to come in the next few months.

Interesting that Billings says the new technology may be superior to fuel cells!  If so this could be revolutionary. Roger Billings provides an update to his "Hydrogen World View" in light of development and current market realities. 

The first part of the post gives interested updates on some of his other projects including online education, data security, and his work for the US Army on computer networking.  For a fan like myself, this post is a must-read.

Roger Billings Hydrogen Now Post

Roger Billings in Energy Crisis – One Solution

Here is another video from the past that gives an interesting perspective on the world energy crisis and the case for hydrogen as the solution.  The video features interviews with several researchers including Roger Billings.  Really it's startling how familiar the problem is so many years later.  But the solution remains largely the same.  This copy of the video cuts off.  For the full video, see the Roger Billings' Hydrogen project page.

Roger Billings Article in Wiley Online Library

I recently came across an article written by Roger Billings in the Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology.

Titled "Hydrogen Energy" focuses on the state of the technology and ways that hydrogen is making headway due to its higher efficiency rates  -- basically: use the energy better, you need less of it, and it costs you less.

About the Encyclopedia: Written by prominent scholars from industry, academia, and research institutions, the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology presents a wide scope of articles on chemical substances including their properties, manufacturing, and uses.  It also focuses on industrial processes and unit operations in chemical engineering, as well as covering fundamentals and scientific subjects related to the field. Additionally, environmental and health issues concerning chemical technology are also addressed.

The article is available through the Wiley Online Library:
Hydrogen Energy by Roger Billings

Roger Billings in Popular Mechanics - 1978

It is neat to see how many magazines are now making their past issues available online through Google.  Popular Mechanics is yet another that makes it oh so easy to look up cool articles about Roger Billings and his hydrogen projects through the years.

In May 1978, Popular Mechanics ran a story about the hydrogen home that Roger Billings designed and lived in.  According to the story, on page 58 of the issue:

"… the “Hydrogen Homestead” is America’s first house to use hydrogen for heating, cooling and cooking…

The house is occupied by the Roger Billings family.  He is chairman of the Billings Energy Corp., a leader in hydrogen applications research and builder of the home."

Roger Billings is quoted in the article as saying:

"What better way is there to demonstrate that hydrogen is safe than by living in the home?"

I must agree -- quite a vote of confidence.  Check out the link for the full article and some photos.

Roger Billings in Popular Mechanics - 1978

About the "Hydrogen Now" blog by Roger Billings

If you haven't yet, make sure to read this blog post by written by Roger Billings (who apparently is a fellow "Blogger").  I read it again today and am still blown away by the story and by the vision that this man has.

Hydrogen Now by Roger Billings

Roger Billings Featured in Time Magazine - 2003

I am coming back to this article from Time Magazine back in July 2003 titled "Hydrogen Is in His Dreams". Though it is by no means the most exhaustive report on Roger Billings' hydrogen work, it does seem to capture just how long he's been pushing for a hydrogen economy.  You sure get the impression from this and other reports that this long time "dream" of his has gotten him a lot of flack from special interests along with a lot of naysayers over the years.  With major car manufacturers and even oil companies getting on the hydrogen bandwagon though, today that dream seems closer than ever to coming true.

Roger Billings in Time Magazine

Also check out some of his books on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Hear Roger Billings Tell His Story - Maker Faire 2011

Now to much more current material, here's a full video I found from the Maker Faire in Kansas City less than two years ago.  It looks like the Maker Faire is a convention about all things high-tech and self-made, from robots to hats.  It was put on by the Kauffman Foundation of Entrepreneurship and others.  See more videos about the Maker Faire.

What I found very intriguing and enjoyable, was to hear Roger Billings tell his own story in such a detailed way.  He talks all the way from his experiences being mentored by Bill Lear to his current work on data security, all with some laughs in between.  If you are a fellow fan, you are going to love this.

Video: Roger Billings at the Maker Faire 2011

Roger Billings in Popular Science - 1981

OK, this is more history.  Though some of the concepts may be outdated now, take a look at the then "Smallest desk-top computer yet" two pages down and you get an idea how far ahead of his time Roger Billings is.

Roger Billings in Popular Science - 1981

Roger Billings' H2 Vehicles

An interesting collection of hydrogen-fueled projects features Roger Billings on pages 12 - 16 of this PDF document.

The report covers Billings' Superbeetle win at the Urban Vehicle Design competition, 21-passenger H2 bus, Cadillac Seville used for President Jimmy Carter’s inaugural parade, and The Hydrogen Homestead.

I also found a book list from Amazon with books by Roger Billings concerning his hydrogen projects.

LaserCel - Roger Billings

Now a little more recent but still all the way back in the '90s, take a look this video from the 1991 Extraordinary Science Conference in Colorado Springs, CO: Roger Billings LaserCel 1991 Video

Roger Billings - If the Apple Did Not Fall - 1971

Here's an interesting blast from the past.  I found a paper written by Roger Billings back in 1971 while he was still in college.  It was in response to a call from the Gravity Research Foundation for essays with unique perspectives on gravity.  Here it is:

Roger Billings' If the Apple Did Not Fall (.pdf)

The published list of Roger Billings' competition that year shows international interest for many well known universities including University of Cambridge, University of California, Stanford, Tel-Aviv University, and many others.

I enjoyed the bio and list of awards at the end -- quite a list for 22 years young.  To me the paper inspires one to think "out of the box" and believe that the next quantum leap in science might just happen today.

Here is my first collection of links about Roger Billings with commentary:

Hydrogen Now - This is the official blog of Roger Billings regarding Hydrogen energy. It is a collection of interesting stories and thoughts about what it will take to get the world on a new energy system. I have a feeling that if there is big news of Billings' hydrogen work, it will show up here.

Time Magazine, Dr. Roger Billings, "Dr. Hydrogen" - This is a reprint of a well done story by Time Magazine a while back regarding Roger Billings' hydrogen background. It tells some of the story with an interesting perspective for the time.

Roger E. Billings - Welcome to the International Association for ... - Here is a bio with some interesting background notes about Roger Billings -- did you know he was featured in People Magazine and a guest on Good Morning America?

Omni Magazine, Dr. Roger Billings, "The Hydrogen Man" - A little older story but it's neat to read about a scientist drinking water that came out of his car's exhaust pipe!

Dr. Roger Billings - Here's a new one with some "big picture" looks at not just his work on hydrogen but also other industry projects and technology. Neat stuff.

Let me know what you think in the comments below.


Notice: This is unofficial commentary by a fan of Roger Billings and has not been authorized by him.