Timothy remembered his first DSO assignment where he had to solve a navigation problem Alpha was facing. It was something he never did before and he worked tirelessly for 3 weeks. The effort was well worth it as it eventually enabled Alpha to autonomously avoid obstacles. “It was an indescribable feeling of satisfaction!”

Success, however, is often short lived. Timothy recalled a new promising concept which he and his team were exploring for Alpha but it began to run into extensive problems. “It was demoralising, but the lessons learnt were invaluable.” The disappointment strengthened his resolve to apply the lesson he learnt to good use.

Having great team mates who share his passion for creating robots also certainly helps. They often talk through ideas and do not shy away from unknown territories. No challenge is too difficult to see through.

This is the very same reason why Timothy looks forward to work each day. “It is exciting to be exposed to new ideas and challenges, so that we can use them to design better robotic systems.” Likewise, he takes joy in the fact that his work is multi-varied, keeping him occupied beyond the confines of his office.

An avid sailor, Timothy finds much similarity between the sport and the work he is both passionate in. “It’s not about the destination but rather, the enjoyment of the journey.” It is this positive attitude, he believes, that will make him an accomplished engineer in the future. “It does not matter if I face problems or obstacles. With the right focus and planning, I will get there some day.”