Harry Roberts (inventor)

Harry Roberts (1926 – 2012) was a British inventor best known for his contributions to the development of the modern fuel gauge. He spent much of his career working for Smiths Industries, a prominent British engineering company specializing in instrumentation for the automotive and aerospace industries.

Roberts' key invention was a more reliable and accurate fuel gauge system. Traditional fuel gauges often relied on imprecise mechanical linkages and were prone to inaccuracies, particularly when a vehicle was on uneven terrain. Roberts devised an improved system using electronic sensors and more robust float mechanisms to provide a more consistent and reliable reading of the fuel level. This improved accuracy contributed significantly to driver confidence and reduced the risk of running out of fuel unexpectedly.

While the specific details of Roberts' inventions are often protected by patents held by Smiths Industries, his work is widely acknowledged as a crucial advancement in automotive instrumentation. His innovations became standard features in vehicles worldwide, significantly improving the functionality and reliability of fuel gauge systems.

Beyond his work on fuel gauges, Roberts contributed to other aspects of automotive instrumentation during his time at Smiths Industries, though details about these contributions are less readily available in the public domain. He is remembered as a dedicated and innovative engineer who played a significant role in the evolution of modern vehicle technology.