Randy Sweeney facts for kids

William Randolph 'Randy' Sweeney (born January 7, 1956) is an American scientist. He is known for his work in research and development (R&D) at companies like Philip Morris USA. After retiring in 2010, Randy started a consulting group. This group focused on the "Internet of Things." Later, he became a Chief Engineer and then an entrepreneur, starting new technology companies.

Randy Sweeney's Journey

Randy Sweeney was born in Richmond, Virginia. He went to Virginia Tech and earned a degree in electrical engineering in 1978.

Right after college, Randy joined Philip Morris in 1978. He worked on making machines smarter using computers. He became a leader in how people and machines work together. He also helped develop systems where many computers work together to control things. Randy also worked on artificial intelligence (AI), which makes computers think like humans. He also developed machine vision systems, which let computers "see" things. Later, he led efforts in using digital technology for marketing and identifying products. While at Philip Morris, he created over 60 new inventions that were officially protected by patents.

Randy also worked on new ideas for other big companies. These included Kraft Foods and the Miller Brewing Company. He focused on using digital tools to sell products and making products better with technology.

Randy was one of the people who started the Wonderware International Users Group. This is a group for people who use a special computer software. He was also its first president. In 1999, he helped organize a big meeting about small computer systems. Randy also helped start MIT's "AutoID Center." This center focused on RFID technology. RFID uses radio waves to identify things. The center also created the Electronic Product Code (EPC).

After retiring in 2010, Randy became a consultant. He advised several companies on "Internet of Things" technology. This technology connects everyday objects to the internet. He also worked on digital precision agriculture for a company in Switzerland. This helps farmers use technology to grow crops better.

In 2014, he became the Chief Engineer at Critical Power Systems Inc. There, he oversaw the creation of smart power systems. These systems are used by the military and for everyday civilian use. In 2015, Randy helped start GenUPS International. This was a new company focused on smart power systems. He was also the Director of Product Development there.

Randy Sweeney used to be a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. He taught about digital technology. He has also given talks at many workshops across the country. This includes a workshop about RFID at the University of Washington.

About Randy's Life

Randy Sweeney is retired again. He lives in Richmond, Virginia, with his wife.