View source for Yao-Tzu Li

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2012}}
{{Western name order|Li Yao-Tzu}}
'''Yao-Tzu Li''' or '''Y. T. Li''' ({{zh|c=李耀滋|p=Lǐ Yàozī}}; February 1, 1914, Beijing<ref>Some sources indicate as 1910, which is mistaken.</ref><ref name="Li Zh-Bio">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hudong.com/wiki/%E6%9D%8E%E8%80%80%E6%BB%8B%281910%EF%BD%9E%E3%80%80%E3%80%80%29 |script-title=zh:李耀滋(1910～) |publisher=hudong.com (a Chinese Internet encyclopedia) |access-date=April 23, 2010|language=zh}}</ref> – August 14, 2011<ref>{{cite news|url=http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/yao-tzu-li-0817.html|title=MIT professor emeritus Yao Tzu Li dies at 97|last=Chu|first=Jennifer|date=August 16, 2011|publisher=MIT News|access-date=October 19, 2011}}</ref>) was an American aerodynamicist, businessman, inventor, and mechanical engineer. He was the [[professor emeritus]] in aeronautics and astronautics at the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]].
==Biography==
In 1934 Li graduated from the school of engineering at Beiping University (北平大學, (different from today's [[Peking University]] in Beijing, even though ''Beiping'' is the official name for current ''Beijing'' in [[Republic of China|Republic]] era).<ref name="Li Zh-Bio"/> In 1937 Li graduated from the school of engineering at [[National Central University]] (now called [[Nanjing University]]) in [[Nanjing]], receiving a [[bachelor's degree]] in [[aeronautical engineering]].<ref name="Li Zh-Bio"/>
During the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]], Li, as chief engineer, established the first airplane factory in China – the Dading Airplane Factory (大定飛機製造廠) in Dading, current [[Guizhou Province]], Southwestern China. Li also led the building of the first Chinese indigenous [[aircraft engine]].
Li participated in the examination for the [[Boxer Rebellion Indemnity Scholarship Program]], and obtained the same score as [[Qian Xuesen]]. However, there was only one scholarship awardee and Qian published two or three more articles than Li, so Qian was preferred.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://big5.ifeng.com/gate/big5/book.ifeng.com/lianzai/detail_2009_11/30/292580_54.shtml |script-title=zh:走近錢學森——科學巨匠錢學森的傳奇人生: 錢學森的"影子"（1） |publisher=[[Phoenix Television]], Hong Kong |access-date=April 23, 2010|language=zh}}</ref> Nevertheless, Li went to study in the United States and received master and doctor's degrees from the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]. At MIT, Li co-founded the Man-Vehicle Laboratory. Li was also the director of the MIT innovation center. In 1951, Li collaborated with [[Charles Stark Draper]] and published an article on [[optimal control]], which opened a new field of [[automation]].
Li founded several companies including Dynisco, [[Setra Systems]] (co-founded with his brother [[S. Y. Lee]]), and Y.T.Li Engineering. Li is also an inventor and has been granted more than 60 US patents.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://patentuniverse.com/US3859575.html |title=Shih-Ying Lee, Yao-Tzu Li, Inventors US Patent 3859575 |publisher=Patent Universe (Beta) |access-date=April 23, 2010 |archive-date=October 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006185836/http://patentuniverse.com/US3859575.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 1987 Li was elected a member of the [[United States National Academy of Engineering]] for "his contributions to innovation in instrumentation, control, and to engineering education'".<ref name="Li NAE">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nae.edu/nae/naepub.nsf/Members+By+UNID/2953E3E71C265FE18625755200622C81?opendocument |title=Dr. Yao Tzu Li |publisher=[[National Academy of Engineering]] Membership Website member dictionaries |access-date=April 23, 2010}}</ref> From 1980 to 1984, Li was the President of the Chinese American Association.
Li was an important person involved in the peace dialogue between Beijing and [[Taipei]] during the 1970s and 1980s. Li delivered [[Chiang Ching-kuo]]'s personal messages to [[Deng Xiaoping]] when Deng was visiting the United States and Hong Kong. The [[Cross-Strait relations|diplomatic relationship between Beijing and Taipei]] was dramatically softened during the 1980s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.archives.sh.cn/docs/200802/d_158014.html |script-title=zh:我替邓小平给蒋经国传信息 |publisher=Shanghai Archive |access-date=April 23, 2010|language=zh}}</ref>
Li died on August 14, 2011, at the age of 97.
==Publications==
{{Expand list|date=September 2010}}
* ''Education in Creative Engineering''; Y. T. Li (Ed.); July 1970.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/author/default.asp?aid=3820 |title=Y. T. Li |publisher=The [[MIT Press]] |access-date=April 23, 2010 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629132536/http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/author/default.asp?aid=3820 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* ''Freedom and Enlightenment: My Life As An Educator/Inventor In China and the United States''; by Yao Tzu Li; January 2003.
* ''Technological Innovation in Education and Industry''; by Yao Tzu Li; August 1980.
==References==
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[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century American engineers]]
[[Category:20th-century American physicists]]
[[Category:Aerodynamicists]]
[[Category:American aerospace businesspeople]]
[[Category:American aerospace designers]]
[[Category:American aerospace engineers]]
[[Category:American chief executives of manufacturing companies]]
[[Category:American company founders]]
[[Category:American inventors]]
[[Category:American manufacturing businesspeople]]
[[Category:American mechanical engineers]]
[[Category:Chinese emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Members of the United States National Academy of Engineering]]
[[Category:MIT School of Engineering alumni]]
[[Category:MIT School of Engineering faculty]]
[[Category:Nanjing University alumni]]
[[Category:Tsien family]]