Meet Lanny Smoot, the inventor with over 100 patents

The National Inventors Hall of Fame inducted their class of 2024 this year, honoring living and historical pioneers in science. Among them are patent holders in areas like biotech, agriculture, and magic - or the means to magical moments. Meet Lanny Smoot, the inventor of over 100 patents whose boundless sense of wonder fuels his creations.
"CBS Saturday Morning" co-hosts Jeff Glor, Michelle Miller and Dana Jacobson deliver two hours of original reporting and breaking news, as well as profiles of leading figures in culture and the arts. Watch "CBS Saturday Morning" at 7 a.m. ET on CBS and 8 a.m. ET on the CBS News app.
Subscribe to "CBS Mornings" on KZbin: / cbsmornings
Watch CBS News 24/7: cbsnews.com/live/
Download the CBS News app: cbsnews.com/mobile/
Follow "CBS Mornings" on Instagram: / cbsmornings
Like "CBS Mornings" on Facebook: / cbsmornings
Follow "CBS Mornings" on Twitter: / cbsmornings
Subscribe to our newsletter: cbsnews.com/newsletters/
Try Paramount+ free: paramountplus.com/?ftag=PPM-0...
For video licensing inquiries, contact: [e-mail]

[@richiexp2]

These are the people who should be celebrities 😊😊😊...

[@Glance852]

Well said!!

[@jdwool08]

They are getting their recognition here keep sharing

[@thecowegg]

Agree 1000% not those shady startup gurus

[@triplevvv3570]

Exactly

[@listenup2882]

Being a celebrity is overrated.

[@Rashaadthegr8]

As a black engineer this is very motivational! No limits. No boundaries.

[@D.Walt3000]

Lanny Smoot making science fiction real. What a GENIUS!!! Thank you Lanny, you deserve to be immortalized!

[@TeRonBryant1]

I will become a great inventor and scientist. I will be in the hall of fame. Mark my Words.

[@Cubicflow]

k

[@sp123]

People who make the hall of fame don't spend their time on KZbin comments

[@sky.the.infinite]

Good Luck, man. Truly.

[@drillerdev4624]

Leaving a message here so I get notified when it happens

[@nucle4rpenguins534]

Hey go for it; note that setting realistic goals/deadlines, knowing what you know and what you don’t, are also important

[@Stupid23590]

That light saber is breaking my brain.

[@the13nth25]

Mr Smoot has definitely done more than he can imagine, he has inspired generations of young people. I am from Rwanda, working in technology, and this is what I needed today! Thank you Mr Smoot!

[@gracefully_favored706]

Please tell your government to stop killing innocent people in the RDC, women and children are being abused for their minerals, these are your brothers and sisters. The Rwandese people need to protect to stop the killing. Please.

[@the13nth25]

@@gracefully_favored706 I honestly don't know how the Rwandan government is responsible for what's happening in Congo. Maybe you explain more why you think Rwanda is to blame, I am open to be educated.

[@gracefully_favored706]

@@the13nth25 Glad to, basically the Rwandese government is using the M23 rebels which is composed of mostly the Rwandese Defense Force to displaced civilians from their lands, these lands contains lots minerals used mainly electric car batteries and mobile phones, they they are killing civilians who to want to move from their ancestral lands, abusing women and children, just son they can still the minerals and sell it to the west. When the new Congolese government came into power, the president tried to work with Kagame to make a win win deal, but Kagame refused and continued send the Rwandese military into Congo to steal the minerals to support his government.

[@MWELASEDUBANDLELA]

​@@gracefully_favored706is that happening ?

[@wholeness]

I found my new Mentor!

[@theterminalguy]

This guy is so smooth, they made smooth his last name. Hats off

[@cryora]

So Smooth, they removed the h, so that it can be spoken more efficiently.

[@PavelPalancica]

As a white engineer who grew up in the poorest country in Europe, this is so inspiring. Hopefully Moldova will have many patents that will be used all over the world, cause our engineers are as smart as US engineers.

[@sky.the.infinite]

Good Luck!

[@ramasreekantham4586]

Such an inspiration to young generation… Lanny Smooth is brilliant, genius.. 🎉🙌🙌🙌

[@briancoreas1147]

From The Caribbean 🇻🇨...This Just Made My Weekend 🙌

[@byroncarter8561]

When did it say that? Time stamp please...

[@javionriley8739]

As a black American mechanical engineer! This is inspiring! Even though it’s known that 35% of USA inventions/innovations historically have come from black Americans who primarily graduated from HBCU

[@azsegrxdhtfgvijnkomlewrhtg9508]

35%? Honestly, what are you talking about? Sounds like complete nonsense. I mean think of the miniscule likelihood of that just based off numbers alone. Don't lie, man.

[@bobweiram6321]

@@azsegrxdhtfgvijnkomlewrhtg9508Wow! You're so quick to read the worst of his intentions! He probably meant to say that 35% of US black inventors came from HBCUs. He's definable a bad proofreader, but calling him a liar is an overreach.

[@rolandchisom1684]

@@bobweiram6321why do you respond to people with no real name. 😂.

[@azsegrxdhtfgvijnkomlewrhtg9508]

​@@rolandchisom1684 What's your point? Does having a first and last name make the comment any more valid? So if I just made up a fake name what does that do? You have an opinion but you have no idea why you have it.

[@digdug23]

​@azsegrxdhtfgvijnkomlewrhtg9508 35% sounds insanely high, but that could also include useless inventions but it still wouldn't seem correct.

[@mikmillerrealtor4491]

Iron sharpens iron, congrats to two these two men breaking boundaries with innovations.

[@_Pinkysrecords]

I’m from Brownsville… Good to see other ppl from the area who made a way positively.

[@naturalbeauty25]

I love this so much! “Get it out of your brain and into the world.” Very wise words!

[@Hawgvillain]

The coolest nerds. You guys are incredible and what a great story

[@lannylancaster62]

Congratulations Lanny. I completely agree with Do It - find a way to make our world better.

[@desertstar7664]

2:42 "He credits his 'father' for that initial spark" - If Lanny hadn't had a good FATHER figure in his early life, we wouldn't have Star Wars LIGHT saber. Let that sink in.

[@sp123]

The biggest loss of production comes from kids raised in broken families

[@user-qx6kn4zp6f]

another black man making history again but yet we as a tribe of people still gets a fight in this modern time cheers mr smooth real smooth

[@uoohknk6881]

He is not a "black man" like you. Completely different pedigree. He is from New York City, probably of Dutch origin, and he went to the nation's most prestigious high school then went on to an Ivy League. But all you see is skin color then automatically think you or people you know are somehow entitled to something he has.

[@mandjivatuva]

I still wonder how I did not know about this guy. He has been in Bell Labs and his story was never told. What a heck

[@kickroxanne]

Why am I just hearing about this man 😭😭 Thank you Lanny!

[@tomlineberger]

Very inspiring story! He is a true genius!!

[@louisveracitymedia9881]

Sir, I will like to work in your lab. Could it happen?

[@jessicaT12345]

holy smokes. this guy is a genius! that tile invention is insanely phenomenal.

[@midorite9216]

This guy is amazing! How am I just hearing about this guy?!

[@robertsamuel2990]

Absolutely Awesome!

[@hakimjenkins7137]

Excellent segment. He is elite and has definitely paid his dues! It is a blessing and an honour that he is receiving his flowers and recognition for a lifetime of world shaping inventions and accomplishments many have not ever heard of! Incredible 👍🏾

[@user-iq3th6ff6q]

Our young need encouragement to express their dreams.

[@ispah7]

Wow, just do it. What an inspiration. I need more of these in my life.

[@kennybrown3302]

Yet they will gaslight us that we don't innovate

[@abepresume8132]

It's not gaslighting, as much as it is propaganda, cognitive dissonance, willful ignorance.

[@beckyecklund5773]

Mr Smoot you are an amazing person thank you and all of the others like you 😊😮😊

[@solidorsharp3091]

Thank you for your innovations and contributions. 🎉

[@publichealth9470]

This is indeed inspiring.

[@inggomez-allen7920]

I love positive news

[@TheWirelessace]

Very inspiring 👏 😊

[@addi2014]

He is a genuine & the story is inspiring.

[@thecomplimentking]

We are special...Thank you.

[@niojackson938]

I needed this

[@kavorka8855]

We have the exact same soldering microscope! But I have zero patents, he's over a a hundred! I am speechless at what this inventor gentleman can do!

[@drillerdev4624]

That's around 50 patents each on average

[@donaldbetheljr1568]

Thank you for sharing this❤❤

[@frankcb11]

A lot of Jedi nerds don’t even know a black guy invented the light saber

[@michaelrfx7]

Congrats Lanny!! You are inspirational!!!

[@miltonmitchell4290]

Congrats to him!

[@itakagastonkitambala3918]

This is amazing, thank you for inspiring us !

[@BounceIO]

Genius, incredible walk. This is going to revolutionize VR. Can’t wait.

[@duaneswaby622]

Go Lanny!

[@ChristopherBriscoe]

I love this story! This guy!

[@Malouco]

This dude is like a Tesla of entertainment 😮

[@Shadow-user-pq3ik1wd5c]

Lanny you're an absolute genius, massive congratulations on all your successes. However I have a simple question, why did you not form a company that created inventions for the entire movie industry? Why limit yourself to being a disney employee? You could be a Billionaire by now.

[@MRKEYZ-rp1mq]

Brilliant man!

[@michaelrigoli]

A true Inspiration!!

[@thermologo3451]

Imagine all of those guys that got their inventions stole during slavery

[@YoutubeVagabond]

How could they invent anything when they were chained ?

[@issiewizzie]

There are plenty of role models out there if some of us choose to look ...(CONGRATULATIONS )

[@nicokwesi]

Lanny is smooth with it.

[@flying_salt]

That omnidirectional floor might just be the coolest thing ever invented! Imagine call of duty on that floor.

[@omarusmani1]

Beautiful story ❤

[@davidnyeko5695]

Super smooth like Smoot

[@Glance852]

The movable floor would be great for rehabilitation for patients need for mobility and muscle training

[@kayjay74]

yeah they will show us how criminal we are but not teach us things that will motivate our ppl. KEEP IT UP 👏🏾

[@user-iq3th6ff6q]

Beautiful minds.

[@coleturner5665]

Wonderful group of humans

[@Alien_DNA_]

The floor invention is wild🔥🔥

[@scorporsupremacy7948]

Congratulations 🎊🍾🎉

[@brad2548]

Brilliant man.

[@thegoldenpersona]

Wow, this is amazing. I want to meet him.

[@ALJ_1981]

This guy is absolutely amazing 👏 🤩

[@uditjoshi1407]

Thank you

[@ruthwilson8274]

Big ups to you Lanny smoot

[@CEELOW3000]

HOW COOL IS HE!?

[@LearningSpanishwithDrL]

Awesome!

[@a_bar8579]

It is very wonderful for him to be crowned like this, but what is disappointing is that after his hair turned grey

[@maymayman0]

Its really nice he can work for Disney inventing patents in his own name. Many companies just immediately own the rights to the inventions of their employees

[@isabellemos3333]

Lanny Smoot's story is quite inspiring because using science to make inventions are useful for our society.

[@steve293]

Its trulu a shame that as much as I always felt on top of things like this....i HAD NO IDEA SUCH AN AWARD EXISTED. It truly shows how so much of true authentic innovation and creativity has been tarnished by greed.

[@Gypsyman40]

No joke... I want that light saber

[@ocayaro]

Inspiring ❤

[@LaudvekkysGrooveLab]

Amazing!

[@chizzymomentum1807]

Feels good a black man made it!! 👀💯🙌🏿

[@SueChef100]

Amazing😊

[@mauricecurtis68]

Awesome.

[@Oo2004oO]

Basically what I wanted to be when I was a kid

[@frankcb11]

I love this

[@TheInnovstar]

Inspiration

[@igweogba6774]

A great inspiration to young people

[@patternaid280]

❤ Wow, no words

[@jsnmad]

6:16 The takeaway. Great advice.

[@Hereforyou2]

theres a reason why they don't tell us about him

[@OsceolaNola7]

You have a computer in your hand, stop relying on “them” to teach you anything.

[@Hereforyou2]

@@OsceolaNola7 who would have guessed that a black guy invented the lite saber. never heard of him at any star war conventions

[@edwinmaywa]

No human is limited

[@greatidea7808]

During slavery and immediately afterwards, Black inventors faced immense challenges due to discriminatory laws and systemic barriers. I would like to see acknowledgement of those Black inventors who were excluded from obtaining patents because they were black. Or to obtain a certain patent, they had to partner with someone white.

[@gregorylewis9442]

Awesome 😎🤩

[@RajivB.]

Rip sparky sweet

[@shaduwy]

They don’t tell us about successful black men that are pioneers of arts, culture and technology but instead always show us the drug dealer or the man who they beat up and arrested for misdemeanour

[@CMedia87]

About right. We been doing this

[@ufc5148]

These people should be the real celebrities that walk on the red carpet not Kim Kardashian 😂

[@TheCristuff]

You represent us well

[@goodoboyde]

Love it

[@MosesAndersonSpeaks]

Great mind 🙌

[@psychicspy]

The relationship those two men share should be the norm.

[@TradeGod]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 there would be so many more inventions if people had more push/ opportunity Also if our school system was restructured, it wastes alot of time, needs to be straight to the goal

[@odiadavid6957]

Brilliance has no color. Wonderful

[@kwesidamalie8772]

Such an awesome job to have 🎉😂