9781422284872

and gunpowder. One day, they used the gunpowder to launch a rocket off the roof of their high-rise apartment building. The flame from the ignited gunpowder rose 15 feet (4.6 m) high. The security guards were angry, but their father was not. Hong’s father was an aerospace engi- neer who led South Korea’s short-range missile program. He approved of his children’s experimenting. After finishing high school in Korea, Hong went to the Universi- ty of Wisconsin-Madison to study mechanical engineering. When he started college in the United States after living in Korea, it was hard at first. Gradually, he adjusted to a new life and a new culture. Next, Hong went to Purdue University in Indiana to complete a master’s and doctorate degree. Today, Hong is an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He also established and is in charge of the Robotics and Mechanisms Lab (RoMeLa). He teaches classes and works with teams of students on robotics projects. Hong loves what he does. Tonight in the RoMeLa lab, the lights are blazing, and Hong glanc- es over to see one of his students finishing a cup of coffee. Yes, it is late—again, Hong thinks. He works very long hours in the lab with his team of computer software and mechanical engineering students from the university. Every day, Hong inspires his students to improve the world with robotics. Two years ago, they worked on an automatic car for people with poor sight to drive. His team collaborates on these projects with teams from other universities and companies. Hong looks over the shoulder of one of his computer engineers as she punches code into the computer. This week, the team has been working on its humanoid robot’s balance. The robot walks on two legs

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