Hi everyone! My name is Justin Kleiber, and I am a senior in Computer Engineering. My passion is robotics, which is the main reason I ended up choosing my major. At OU, I am the president of Sooner Competitive Robotics, which is one of the engineering college's competition teams (hit me up if you want to join!). I also do research on campus, where I mainly work on making a quadcopter fly around without a pilot controlling it. I help a group of high school students in OKC build and program a robot for the FIRST robotics competition, a worldwide high school robotics program. I love robotics, and as such, robots tend to surround my life.
Additionally, I am really competitive and love sports. I've gone to every home OU football game in the four years I have been here, as well as to the Rose Bowl, the Peach Bowl, and two Red River Shootout games. Growing up, I was a huge Virginia Tech fan because my parents went there - the lack of defense OU plays and the amazing offense we have are completely opposite of my college football experience growing up. The Peach Bowl was a pretty big disappointment, but here's a video of the team coming on to the field:
I currently am waiting on hearing back from various graduate schools to see if I will get into a Robotics Engineering masters degree program. I want to study robotics and then go work at a startup. I recently finished my work toward a minor in Entrepreneurship, so hopefully one day I can use that knowledge to start my own robotics company.
Update 1 (3/8/2020)
I have some grad school responses:
Arizona State - Robotics and Autonomous Systems - Accepted
WPI - Robotics Engineering - Accepted
Boston University - Robotics and Autonomous Systems - Accepted, partial scholarship
Virginia Tech - Computer Engineering - Accepted, full funding
Carnegie Mellon - Robotics - Rejected
Michigan - Robotics - Accepted
Still waiting to hear back from Oregon State, but I will be visiting Virginia Tech over spring break!
A picture I took of the research drone flying in its cage
Additionally, I am really competitive and love sports. I've gone to every home OU football game in the four years I have been here, as well as to the Rose Bowl, the Peach Bowl, and two Red River Shootout games. Growing up, I was a huge Virginia Tech fan because my parents went there - the lack of defense OU plays and the amazing offense we have are completely opposite of my college football experience growing up. The Peach Bowl was a pretty big disappointment, but here's a video of the team coming on to the field:
Personal video I took as the OU football team took the field for the 2019 Peach Bowl
I also love to watch another type of football: the European variety. I am a big Southampton FC fan, and wake up early on Saturday mornings to watch them play in the English Premier League. This season Southampton lost a game 0-9 (tied for worst ever loss), but also beat teams you may have heard of, like Chelsea and Tottenham - that's the type of rollercoaster it is supporting them. Even though they are one of the lesser known teams in England's top-flight it is exciting to watch them try to avoid relegation, or in more successful seasons, watch them try to qualify for bigger European competitions. I also play soccer recreationally, and hopefully will get to play some intramural soccer on campus this spring.
I currently am waiting on hearing back from various graduate schools to see if I will get into a Robotics Engineering masters degree program. I want to study robotics and then go work at a startup. I recently finished my work toward a minor in Entrepreneurship, so hopefully one day I can use that knowledge to start my own robotics company.
Update 1 (3/8/2020)
I have some grad school responses:
Arizona State - Robotics and Autonomous Systems - Accepted
WPI - Robotics Engineering - Accepted
Boston University - Robotics and Autonomous Systems - Accepted, partial scholarship
Virginia Tech - Computer Engineering - Accepted, full funding
Carnegie Mellon - Robotics - Rejected
Michigan - Robotics - Accepted
Still waiting to hear back from Oregon State, but I will be visiting Virginia Tech over spring break!
Hi Justin! My little brother was involved in robotics for a while! He really loved it and it helped him build confidence. I think it's so great that you're helping high school students with their robot for a competition. It's obvious that you're passionate about it and it's inspiring to hear that you're using your interests to help others. Good luck in the course!
ReplyDeleteHi Justin!
ReplyDeleteMy little brother is a computer engineering major, too! He is taking this senior level robotics course this semester. Perhaps, you're in his class haha! He loves robots, but is very inexperienced with them, so maybe I can learn more about robots from you as the class goes on to tell him!
Also, BOOMER SOONER forever!! I love OU football so much, but this season's offense was not the best you have to admit. Our defense in the last few games were better than the offense in my opinion. Maybe when we graduate, they will finally win a national championship. It's just us haha!
Good luck in the class!
Hey Justin!
ReplyDeleteThat is so neat that that you are a Computer Engineering major! I have always thought that was an interesting field because two of my cousins graduated from TCU with those degrees and I know they love their job. Your job sounds absolutely amazing and robotics has always something that has interested me. I hope the rest of your semester goes well!
Oh, how cool that you are doing robotics, Justin! If/when you have any events that people might want to attend, let me know; that would be so fun to include in the announcements. One of the best books I read last year was Adrienne Mayor's Gods and Robots... you might like it! It's about myths and legends of robots (yes, actual robots) in the ancient world, especially in Greece and in India too. Here's an essay she wrote too: Bio-techne. There are not really robots in the epics, although the flying Pushpaka is pretty cool. An engineering student did a project last semester on Vishvakarma ("All-Maker"), the god of engineering who built the Pushpaka; here's his project if you are curious: VISHVAKARMA'S ENGINEERING FEATS ... He did a super job with that; it was the first time anyone did a Vishvakarma project for class!
ReplyDeleteHey Justin,
ReplyDeleteI am a huge OU football fan too! I mostly grew up here in Oklahoma so I have been watching OU football for as long as I can remember. What you are doing with Robotics sounds super interesting! I have always wondered how you program robots and it's so cool how you're sharing your love with robots with high schoolers. Good luck with graduate school and I hope you get into your first choice! Hope you have a nice semester!
Hey Justin!
ReplyDeleteSmall world, as I was reading your blog post I was watching the Totttenham and Manchester City game where Tottenham won 2-0. I have recently started watching more Premier League soccer and find it a lot of fun. As I am from Houston, I have been to a few Houston Dynamo games and they are an absolute blast! Good luck with graduate school I hope you get your top pick!
Hey Justin. I am not any sort of engineering or robotics major but I find robotics to be so cool! I think it's a great achievement that you are the president of Sooner Competitive Robotics and I find you following your passion so fervently a source of inspiration. Also, great to know that you enjoy football (the European kind) as that is not too big here in the United States.
ReplyDeleteHi Justin! I think your passion is really interesting. One of my friends graduated last year with a degree in Engineering (I forgot exactly what kind) and is working in robotics now. Given how relevant automation is in the modern age, I have no doubts that you'll be able to find a job in that field. Good luck on getting into the grad program!
ReplyDeleteHi, Justin
ReplyDeleteI really like your interest in robotics! I have always been interested in doing something similar, however I do not think I am well equipped academically in the subjects required as I am more medicine based, but this really made me reconsider it, the way you described it! I like how you incorporate your robotic hobby into your life as well. I wish you the best of luck in getting into your graduate program, as it seems like you would make a great student! Best of luck!
Hi Justin
ReplyDeleteYour robotics project sounds really cool and interesting. I myself have never really been into robotics but I am still no doubt very impressed by people who are. I too am a really big sports fan but instead of football and soccer I love football and basketball. My favorite team by far is the Dallas Mavs and I have probably watched at least 90% of their games this season. Thankfully I don't have to wake up super early saturday mornings to watch my games but I have a couple of friends who do the exact same thing so they can watch the overseas soccer games.
Hi Justin, nice to meet you! Firstly, computer engineering, WOW that is such a cool (but I bet difficult) major! Although I haven’t been to all home games, I’ve been to quite a few but my roommate is a BIG OU football fan and has been to all the home games just like you! I admire your passion for robotics, it definitely not something most people can get a handle on and you seem like you’re extremely comfortable with the material. I had friends in high school who did FIRST robotics, but it was never something I knew how to do. I wish you the best of luck with your masters and I can wait to see all that you accomplish in this field!
ReplyDeleteHey Justin! I am also a senior engineering major and I have a little experience with robotics. No where near as much as you and it sounds like you have really found a passion which is super awesome! Like you, I am also a huge football fan and have been to a lot of the games but unfortunately didn't get the chance to go to any bowl games. Best of luck the rest of this semester!
ReplyDeleteHi Justin!
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to meet you! I think it's cool that you're into robotics. My high school had a robotics team that would go to competitions, and it looked like a lot of fun. Wow, computer engineering sounds super challenging, but you sound like you're handling it well. I have no doubt that you'll get into the masters program of your choice. You definitely have a bright future ahead of you!
Hello again,
ReplyDeleteWow, Robotics! That is so cool! I think it is really great that you help and work with high school students and are able to give them their 1st robotics competition. Being an OKC high school alumni I know that there is so many incredibly smart and enthusiastic high school students who want to learn more STEM careers and an especially different division of engineering they just don't have access to equipment or guidance so it's really cool that you took the initiative to start a program for these students. I hope you hear from Oregon State soon and congratulations on all your other acceptance news and scholarships!!
Hi Justin, it's so cool to see your graduate school progress, congratulations on your acceptances! I'm getting ready to go to law school, and the process it stressful, but gratifying (when it works out that is). You'll have to let us know which school you decide on going to. I'm really gonna miss OU sports when I leave, but it'll be nice for you to have another team to root for!
ReplyDeleteHi Justin!
ReplyDeleteIt's great that you have so many options for getting your masters in robotics! Your passion for it really shows. I also think its really cool that you went to both the Rose and Peach bowl. That sounds like a lot of fun but it also sounds like some serious dedication to OU football. Good luck with the rest of your semester!
Wow you are busy!! I don’t do anything on campus because there isn’t anything for me but it is awesome how many activities interest you!! Haha I have never gone to an OU football game in my life. Congratulations on all of your accepted applications. That is so exciting! You definitely seem like you have a bright future ahead of you!
ReplyDeleteOhhhhh, so you're the guy who wrote Super Ramayana Bros. Yeah that was my favorite storybook thus far and Justin! I've been waiting for your next update! CONGRATS on all those green acceptances!!! I have so much respect for people who specialize and have a passion for robotics or anything computer/technology related. You guys are the rock of our future! I'm in the health field, so I kind of just have a bias over STEM majors ;-)
ReplyDeleteGood luck on everything, Justin. Whether it be a virtual commencement ceremony or one later down the road, I hope you (and I) will get to celebrate the way we'd like to in the near future.