Technology Founder · Inventor · Systems Architect

Ihor Lys, Ph.D.

Robotics, embedded systems, digital power, intelligent control, sensing, machine vision and AI-enabled physical systems.

I build multidisciplinary technology platforms from first principles through commercialization: hardware, power electronics, embedded control, networking, sensing, software, thermal systems, machine vision, intellectual property and engineering organizations.

Patent Portfolio CMU Navlab II CMU Locomotion Emulator
75+issued U.S. patents
CLRKColor Kinetics co-founder / NASDAQ
Ph.D.Electrical & Computer Engineering, CMU
30+ yrsrobotics, embedded & intelligent systems

Selected Systems & Technology

A career centered on making complex physical systems work in the real world — across robotics, power, embedded control, sensing and intelligent products.

Carnegie Mellon Navlab II autonomous HMMWV
Navlab II — Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute
CARNEGIE MELLON · FIELD ROBOTICS CENTER

Navlab II

Worked on CMU's early autonomous-vehicle program. Navlab II was an automated HMMWV used for off-road autonomy research integrating perception, computing, sensor fusion, navigation and vehicle control.

CMU project page →
CMU LOCOMOTION EMULATOR all-wheel steer • all-wheel drive • rotating payload platform
Locomotion Emulator — schematic based on CMU FRC descriptions and archival publications
CARNEGIE MELLON · FIELD ROBOTICS CENTER

Locomotion Emulator

Worked on a highly maneuverable research chassis with independently steerable and driven wheels. Its software could emulate the locomotion behavior of tanks, cars and other wheeled machines.

CMU project page →
Color Kinetics intelligent RGBW LED luminaires
Color Kinetics intelligent LED luminaire family — Color Kinetics / Signify
COLOR KINETICS · CO-FOUNDER / CTO / CHIEF SCIENTIST

Intelligent Solid-State Lighting

Led foundational work spanning digitally controlled illumination, embedded systems, networking, power conversion, software-driven control and scalable product architecture. Helped build the company from startup through public-company scale and acquisition by Royal Philips.

Agnetix water-cooled LED system in a controlled-environment agriculture installation
Agnetix water-cooled high-power LED platform — Agnetix
AGNETIX · CO-FOUNDER / CTO

Integrated Sensing, Imaging & Digital Power

Architected platforms combining high-power electrical systems, distributed sensing, embedded communications, multispectral imaging, machine vision, analytics, fluid cooling and facility-level control.

Technology & Company Building

Technical leadership from research prototypes to high-volume products, defensible platforms and operating companies.

2017–2026

Agnetix — Co-Founder & CTO

Digital power, sensing, machine vision, thermal systems, embedded networking and AI-enabled controlled-environment platforms.

2012–2014

Cree / Cree Lighting — Technology Consultant

Solid-state lighting, digitally controlled power conversion, power-factor correction, EMI/noise reduction and high-volume product architecture.

2010–2020

Cerebellum Capital — Board Member

Algorithmic investment management using machine learning and quantitative models.

1997–2009

Color Kinetics — Co-Founder, Board Member, CTO & Chief Scientist

Created and commercialized foundational digitally controlled lighting, embedded-control, networking and power technologies; helped grow the company through NASDAQ listing and acquisition by Royal Philips.

CMU

Carnegie Mellon University — B.S., M.S. & Ph.D., ECE

Field Robotics Center research and systems development, including Navlab II and the Locomotion Emulator.

Intellectual Property

IP has been a core engineering and business tool throughout my career: identify fundamental architecture, build it, protect it, and turn it into durable product and enterprise value.

75+issued U.S. patents, plus associated applications and international counterparts

From invention to licensing platform

Foundational Color Kinetics inventions became part of Signify's broad intelligent-lighting licensing portfolio. More recent Agnetix inventions extend into distributed sensing, multisensory imaging, machine learning, thermal management and integrated controlled-environment systems.

Current inventor record →
Earlier inventor record →

Recognition & Independent References

PROCEEDINGS OF THE IEEE

“Aliens From Planet Pittsburgh”

Bob Johnstone's history of how two Carnegie Mellon roboticists helped pioneer digital lighting and build Color Kinetics.

Read article →
SELECTED RECOGNITION

Technology & Invention

Inventor of the Year, Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation; Technology Review TR100; Mass High Tech All-Stars; Entertainment Design “50 Most Powerful People”; Color Kinetics technology represented in the Smithsonian permanent collection.