Your doorbell rings. 

The FedEx Express courier stands there, package in one hand, a rugged handheld computer in the other. 

You sign with a swipe of your finger. 

Millions of people have repeated this moment. Millions still do.  

What most people don't know is that this everyday interaction was based on research done by Reuben F. Burch V, Texas Christian University’s vice provost for research. 

During his years at FedEx Express, Burch helped develop the rugged handheld device now used by couriers around the world. His first patent of many wasn't the handheld itself — it was the design of what’s possible: a wearable version that freed couriers' hands while making the job safer and more efficient. He’s now brought that inventor’s approach to TCU research. 

“Taking an idea from concept to reality is a multi-year process and requires endless patience,” Burch said. “Sometimes I have to remind myself why we do what we do as inventors. As a long-term planner, it helps me be okay with the small wins." 

A Prolific Inventor

This summer, Burch officially reached his 50th patent, placing him among the elite of the elite among inventors and earning him the designation of “Prolific Inventor.” 

“Fifty means just as much to me as my first one did,” Burch said, “and it means a lot more that I got it while I’m here at TCU.” 

The impetus behind patent No. 50 was to study movement where movement actually happens: on tracks, on football fields, on rugged terrain. 

The patented technology uses a swarm of drones to capture performance in real-world environments, allowing Horned Frog researchers to study athletes of all kinds in their respective arenas — not just in a laboratory. 

“Reuben has an extraordinary ability to see around corners,” said Jim Weinstein, director of TCU’s Roach Institute of Athlete Engineering. “He recognizes problems that others haven’t yet identified and then creates the technology needed to solve them. This patent isn’t just another invention; it’s a new research capability that will change how we study movement and human performance.” 

Built to Build 

How does someone become a prolific inventor? Not by chasing patents but by learning how to build. Build ideas, build teams, build technology, build institutions. And this mindset is now fueling TCU’s LEAD ON: Values in Action strategic plan to build the university’s research enterprise. Burch is building other builders, inventors and researchers who will have a huge impact in their fields.  

“The researchers were already here,” Burch said. “The momentum came from helping unlock their potential." 

The process of inventing teaches teamwork and patience, failure and persistence. 

“Reaching a 50th patent is an incredible achievement and a testament to Dr. Burch’s curiosity, creativity and commitment to translating research into real-world impact,” Chancellor Daniel W. Pullin said. “We are fortunate to have a leader of his caliber guiding TCU’s research enterprise as we continue to strengthen our position as a leading university for research, scholarship and creative activities." 

For Burch, the biggest lesson wasn't invention. It was learning to think decades instead of days. 

That builder mindset has shaped Burch's first year at TCU. Competitive external research awards increased by 79.7 percent. New partnerships were established with Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, Deakin University and the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge. The Roach Institute for Athlete Engineering was launched. None of those accomplishments happened overnight.  

Like every invention, they were built one idea, one partnership and one small win at a time. 

‘There Has to be a Better Way’

“Reuben is such a thought leader and problem solver,” said Ben Horan, head of the engineering school at Deakin University. “I think that engineering mindset is really a way of thinking. It’s a way of approaching problems, and it’s a way of bringing people along for the journey. So, as a fellow engineer, it’s a delight to work with Reuben.” 

Every invention begins the same way: with someone looking at a problem and saying, "There has to be a better way.” 

The same philosophy that brought Burch to your doorstep has carried him through 50 patents, transformed industries and now guides his work helping build TCU's research enterprise.  

“You don't build something meaningful all at once," Burch said. "You build it one day at a time. Then, when you look back over the course of a year, you realize just how much you've accomplished." 

The same philosophy that once helped millions of people sign for a package – and has earned 50 patents – is now helping build the next chapter of research at TCU. 

- Jen Floyd Engel