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Draper Prize Winner Eric Fossum
Posted on 2026-01-17 , by News Service
Eric Fossum, Inventor of the Modern CMOS Sensor, Awarded the Draper Prize In a landmark moment for engineering and imaging technology, Eric R. Fossum, the visionary behind the modern CMOS image sensor, has been awarded the 2026 Charles Stark Draper Prize for Engineering — one of the most prestigious honors in the field, often likened to a “Nobel Prize of Engineering.” The announcement was made in early January 2026, with the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) selecting Fossum as the laureate for his groundbreaking work that fundamentally transformed the way the world captures and perceives images. The award ceremony and formal recognition events were held shortly thereafter, celebrating Fossum’s lifetime contributions to engineering and technology. At its core, the Draper Prize honors engineers whose innovations have had profound impacts on society — improving quality of life, advancing technology, and shaping the way people live and work. Fossum’s invention certainly fits this mandate: his development of the complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) active pixel image sensor, often referred to as a “camera-on-a-chip,” made high-quality, low-power imaging technology compact and affordable enough for universal adoption. The journey began in the early 1990s when Fossum, then working with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, was tasked with miniaturizing space-borne imaging systems. Traditional charge-coupled device (CCD) sensors were too large, power-hungry, and impractical for small spacecraft. To address this, Fossum pioneered the CMOS active-pixel architecture, integrating amplification and processing functions directly into the sensor itself. This innovation slashed power consumption and drastically reduced size, paving the way for the ubiquitous imaging tools of today. What followed was nothing short of a revolution. CMOS sensors now power billions of devices worldwide, from smartphones and action cams to professional mirrorless cameras, surgical imaging tools, automotive safety systems, industrial vision applications, and even spacecraft cameras. The ripple effect of Fossum’s work reaches into countless industries, enabling new forms of communication, entertainment, science, and safety that were once the stuff of science fiction. In recognition of this monumental impact, the Draper Prize comes with a significant award and places Fossum among an elite roster of engineering innovators. Beyond this honor, Fossum’s career has included numerous accolades — including the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, and earlier engineering prizes acknowledging the global significance of CMOS imaging. Now serving as a professor and vice provost at Dartmouth College’s Thayer School of Engineering, Fossum continues to mentor the next generation of innovators and push the boundaries of imaging technology. His ongoing research includes work on next-generation image sensors capable of photon counting, hinting at a future where cameras might approach the sensitivity and dynamic range of the human eye. The awarding of the 2026 Draper Prize to Eric Fossum not only honors an individual achievement but also celebrates a technology that has reshaped how humanity sees and records the world — from the vastness of space to the palm of your hand. Eric Fossum and the CMOS Revolution A Timeline of Innovation and a Simple Guide to How CMOS Sensors Work Eric R. Fossum’s influence on modern imaging is so profound that it is almost invisible. Every smartphone photo, security camera clip, medical scan, and space probe image traces its lineage back to his work. Below is a clear timeline of Fossum’s key milestones, followed by an easy-to-understand explanation of how CMOS sensors differ from older technologies and why they changed the world. Timeline: Eric Fossum’s Path to the Draper Prize Early 1990s – The Problem at NASA While working at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Eric Fossum faced a major challenge. Space missions needed cameras that were: Extremely small Highly reliable Low in power consumption The dominant imaging technology of the time, CCD (charge-coupled device) sensors, was too power-hungry, expensive, and bulky for future space exploration. 1993–1995 – Birth of the CMOS Active Pixel Sensor Fossum proposed and developed the CMOS Active Pixel Sensor (APS) concept. Instead of moving electrical charge across the sensor (as CCDs did), each pixel could: Capture light Amplify its own signal Be read independently This idea became known as the “camera-on-a-chip.” Late 1990s – Commercial Adoption Begins The CMOS concept moved beyond NASA labs and into commercial development. Early CMOS sensors were not perfect, but their advantages were undeniable: Dramatically lower power usage Smaller size Lower manufacturing costs 2000s – CMOS Takes Over Rapid improvements in image quality pushed CMOS sensors ahead of CCDs. By the mid-2000s: Smartphones adopted CMOS exclusively Consumer digital cameras followed Industrial, automotive, and medical imaging switched rapidly 2010s – CMOS Becomes Universal CMOS sensors became the backbone of: Smartphones and mirrorless cameras Autonomous vehicle vision systems Medical imaging devices Scientific instruments and satellites At this point, CCDs were largely phased out of mainstream use. 2020s – Next-Generation Imaging Fossum continued research into advanced sensor architectures, including: Photon-counting sensors Ultra-low-noise imaging Human-eye-level sensitivity 2026 – Draper Prize for Engineering In January 2026, Eric Fossum was awarded the Charles Stark Draper Prize for Engineering, recognizing the CMOS image sensor as one of the most impactful engineering inventions of the modern era. CMOS vs CCD: A Simple Explanation What Is a CCD Sensor? A CCD sensor captures light at each pixel, then shifts all the electrical charge across the chip to a single output point. Pros: Excellent image quality (for its time) Cons: High power consumption Slower readout speeds Expensive to manufacture Difficult to miniaturize What Is a CMOS Sensor? A CMOS sensor places amplifiers and readout circuits inside each pixel. Every pixel works independently. Pros: Much lower power consumption Faster readout (great for video and burst shooting) Smaller and lighter camera designs Lower cost and higher scalability Easy integration with digital electronics Cons (early days): Initially more noise than CCDs (later solved through innovation) Why CMOS Changed Everything The CMOS sensor made it possible to put a high-quality camera: In every phone In cars for safety and autonomy In hospitals for diagnostics In drones, robots, and spacecraft Without CMOS technology, modern photography, social media, video streaming, AI vision, and autonomous systems would look radically different — or might not exist at all. Why the Draper Prize Matters The Draper Prize honors engineering achievements that fundamentally improve human life. Fossum’s CMOS sensor did exactly that by democratizing imaging — turning cameras from specialized tools into everyday companions used by billions of people worldwide. Eric Fossum didn’t just invent a better sensor. He redefined how humanity sees, records, and understands the world.
