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the chance. He loves that kind of challenge.When he was in- terviewed about it in Virginia Tech News, he said, “This is the craziest, boldest, most ex- pensive, most challenging, yet possibly the most important robotics project in the history of mankind. We have a mis- sion. Whether we succeed or not, if the technology we de- velop through this project can even save a single person’s life in the future, then everything is worth it.We believe we are truly changing the world.This challenge was probably what I was born for.” In the lab, the team gath- ers around the robot, watch-

One of the robots from Hong’s lab is designed to move like a snake as it climbs this pole.

ing it climb clumsily up a step. After many adjustments in the software coding, the robot climbs up the step without falling. Success! With a lot of cheering and high fives, Hong and his students head home for some needed sleep. They will be up early tomorrow working again. Winning any part of the competition will mean prize money for the RoMeLa lab and a lot of attention from other robotics professionals and the press! It also means that the team can contribute its knowledge and experience to the growing field of robotics.

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