Let Loose The Robots
William "Red" Whittaker. That’s one solid name in the robotics industry. And he will let loose his robots… soon.
"I was looking for something that would change the world and would have a broad reach," Whittaker said in an interview with IBD. At 59, Whittaker, has established a big name in robotics. He's credited with liberating robots from repetitive assembly line work and setting them loose in the field.
Earlier, Whittaker led a Carnegie Mellon team that won a robotic vehicle race called the Darpa Urban Challenge. The Boss, Whittaker's vehicle, merge into traffic, deal with busy intersections, avoid obstacles in Victorville, Calif., reported CNN. Devoid of Mallory 61 series distributor, the vehicles still manage to make a remarkable performance.
To be taken seriously, "you have to show the goods and have every answer to every question about how it'll get done, how much it will cost, what are the risks, what's the payoff, why would anyone bother and so on," Whittaker noted. "If you haven't done everything, you haven't done anything."
According to the GM Vice President for Research and Development and Strategic Planning Larry Burns, Whittaker impressed the automaker’s officials with his meticulous planning. Actually, the Detroit automaker signed on to the Carnegie Mellon team largely because of Whittaker. “He exudes confidence and knows how to motivate his team,” said Burns. "Red knew how to win this race. He approached it with an intensity and a passion and a standard of excellence and with motivational skills that you don't see very often out of a university professor."
"He knew the way to motivate his team and knew the exact emotions that they were going to have at different points over the 18 months it took to get ready for the race," Burns noted. "He even coached me on when would be the right time to send out a note or come and visit or do something to boost the team up because he knew there were going to be some flat spots along the way."
Burns said Whittaker reminds him of Bill Belichick, the coach of the New England Patriots. Whittaker focuses on preparation and confidence. "To be a winner, you have to think like a winner," Burns said. "That's paying attention to detail.”
