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51���� Today will be following a group of six Golden Flashes for the 2024-25 academic year chronicling their efforts and successes during the fall and spring semesters. The group of students are at various places in their 51���� academic careers and will share their experiences throughout the year as they take part in our distinctive programs, research and global experiences.

51���� Today caught up with Jude Carver near the end of fall semester as he was looking back at his experiences so far, and looking forward to Spring Semester 2025.

This spring, he began the first semester of his junior year. In December, Carver said he was wrapping up his fall classes and beginning to think about winter break, the classes he would be taking in the spring and preparing for the KSU Combat Robotics on-campus competition in March.

Favorite Fall Classes and Activities

During the fall semester, Carver engaged in a variety of on-campus activities including the Halloween party at the College of Aeronautics and Engineering (where he came dressed as Billie Joe Armstrong, the lead singer of Green Day), the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry’s “Chem-o-Ween” event and the annual Veterans Day bulb planting event on Daffodil Hill.

Daffodil Hill was conceived in 1985 by 51���� Professor Emeritus Brinsley Tyrrell and included 58,175 flowers, one for each U.S. service member lost in Vietnam.

Carver planted bulbs in tribute to his great uncle Richard Von “Pete” Young Jr., who had served in the U.S. Army as a Tank Commander in Vietnam. He was shot by a tank – and survived. He was awarded the Purple Heart and recovered stateside. He lived in West Virginia until he passed away in 2022.

One of the fall classes he enjoyed, in addition to his engineering-focused classes, was called Roman Achievement. It was an online class that he was finishing purposely slowly “because I don’t want it to be gone this soon.”

One of the topics explored in this class was the Roman bathhouses. “It’s a public place and the Romans would go there,” Carver said. “This bathhouse is kind of like a swimming pool. There would be a cold bath and then a warm bath and a furnace that heats it from the outside. There are some libraries and a bar in there as well.”

He had also just completed a final project in his Japanese studies – a Japanese essay – and was proud to report that he had turned it in before the due date.

Engineering vs. Engineering Technology

51���� offers programs in mechatronics engineering and mechatronics engineering technology in its College of Aeronautics and Engineering. Carver’s major is mechatronics engineering technology. He explained the differences between the two similarly named programs. “Mechatronics engineering technology differs from mechatronics engineering since it involves the technology of coding and computers and programming,” Carver said. “Mechatronics engineering only focuses on the mechanics and mechanical aspect of it.

“I made my choice because it’s definitely a more inclusive field, because if I chose mechatronics engineering, it wouldn’t fit everything I’m interested in, compared to mechatronics engineering technology which does include everything,” he said.

‘I’m Ready to Kick Some ‘Bot!’

The 2025 3 lb. Plastic-Weight Competition will be held on campus on March 22. Combat robots (‘bots) are classified into several weight classes: Fairyweight at 150 grams (about 1/3 lb.), Antweight at 1 lb., Beetleweight at 3 lbs., and Hobbyweight at 12-15 lbs. There are also several heavier weight classes, ranging between 30 and 340 lbs., but the largest ‘bots that KSU Combat Robotics builds are in the 12-15 lb. class.

The ‘bot that Carver is building for the competition, called “Gondola,” is a boxcar-shaped robot on the heavy side of the Plastic Weight class at 1.5 lbs. “Plastic Weight” is the KSU Combat Robotics designation for ‘bots three lbs. or less that are primarily constructed of 3D-printed materials. Carver has designed his ‘bot to be balanced on one end with its battery and control mechanics on one end, and its weapon – a vertical spinner – on the opposite end. 

There are restrictions about the weapons that ‘bots can carry. “You cannot use a projectile; you can’t make it shoot arrows or something,” he said. Flamethrowers are also prohibited. Blades are allowed, but Carver said that they’re not practical, because combat effectiveness is more about impact than cutting. 

“You could have some teeth on it if you want to have a little grip,” he said. “For it to be sharp, as a weapon, it wouldn’t do much good because you can have a bar be very effective.”

“I’m ready to kick some ‘bot!” said Carver.

Building His Flag Collection

A person who collects flags as a hobby is called a vexillologist. Carver has 26 flags in his collection and is looking to add a few more by including the flag of the United Nations and the flag of Egypt on his Christmas wish list.

“I collect flags because I like geography, culture, language, history” he said. “I collect flags of countries, states, historical flags and miscellaneous. And I don’t just leave them in a box. I actually hang them up in my room, two per week. There’s not really any theme, unless there’s a special event or if it has some other significance. I hung up my flag of Florida one week to show support during Hurricane Milton and I also hung up my Air Force flag during my granddad’s birthday week because he was in the Air Force.”

Of particular interest to Carver are historical flags from nations that no longer exist. “I have (a flag) of China under the Qing Dynasty, which is a really cool flag,” he said. “It’s a yellow flag with a red circle on the top left corner, which unlike Japan (the flag of Japan’s red circle symbolizes a rising sun), it’s supposed to symbolize a red pearl. In the middle is this really cool and elaborate dragon. It’s an awesome flag.

“I also have the flag of Prussia,” Carver said. “It’s unique because it’s mostly black and white.”

‘Walking My Schedule’

One of the things that Carver enjoys doing before a new semester begins is what he calls “walking my schedule.”

“So, I’m looking forward to next semester, of course, the robot fighting competition and just walking my schedule and seeing where all my new classes are,” he said. “It just never gets old, seeing where everything is. I write it [his schedule] down on paper and I write them in order of time, so I know where to go afterward.”

Beginning Spring Semester 2025

Carver is taking a break from his Japanese studies for spring semester because of scheduling conflicts with his engineering-focused classes, which include Introduction to Engineering, Engineering Analysis, Cultural Dynamics in Engineering and Trigonometry. He said he doesn’t want to let his Japanese writing skills lapse before he takes another class in the fall, so he continues to do some reading and practice his Japanese writing.

He received some of the flags that were on his wish list for his collection as Christmas gifts, including the flag of the United Nations, a historic flag from the American Revolution and the flag of Egypt. Carver also received a 51���� blanket, new sneakers and the Limp Bizkit CD he had been hoping for.

Since returning to campus after winter break, Carver also attended his first on-campus athletics event – a Golden Flashes Men’s Basketball game. He enjoyed the experience and attended another home game about a week later.