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ROBOTICA

by Tom Cantrell

Start ı Fear and Loathing ı Blood, Sweat, and Duct Tape ıTrouble in Tinsel Town ı When the Musicıs Over ı Sources and PDF

WHEN THE MUSICıS OVER

On the way home, I stopped by my folksı house for a visit. Still buzzing from the excitement, I replayed the Robotica story in gory detail. I tried to convey my mixed feelings of sympathy for the team combined with the journey-is-the-reward inspiration of their effort.

Pop related how, during his career at Lockheedıs storied Skunk Works, his team had to deal its own share of engineering failures. Plenty of blood, sweat, and, yes, tears. Itıs one thing to lose a TV show contest, but quite another when the test pilot you had coffee with in the morning augers in later that afternoon.

The stakes were higher, but Dadıs words still hold true. You suck it up, learn from your mistakes, and never give up.

Then my mom, whose technological proclivities never got much further than the phone and TV, chimed in, "Why donıt they make one that will clean floors?" Have you ever noticed how the older you are, the smarter your parents seem to get?

As long as there are engineers willing to put it all on the line and push the envelope, anythingıs possible. Judging by what I saw these fine young folks accomplish, that can-do spirit lives on.

Iıll buy us both one, Mom.

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