Mission

The main purpose of this page is to serve as a photo album of the things I’ve made. The pictures will be used to illustrate discussions on forums to help other people to make (or not) similar items. Feel free to base your own projects after mine, however, I recommend doing your own research. All photographs on this site are my own. Let me know if you intend to use them for anything. If it's a worthy cause, I can even send to you the original files which are generally larger and better quality. Otherwise, make your own armour and take pictures of it instead. Trust me, you'll get a lot more out of it.

Most of the things I make are either for myself or they are gifts. However, when scheduling allows, I do make things to sell or trade. If there is something you'd like me to make, contact me directly at: jselmer@vt.edu. I will deal with each request on a case-by-case basis. The biggest restriction is time. I'm only at home a few months out of the year, so most things will not have a fast turnaround time. This web page is not a catalog, it's just pictures of things I've made when the digital camera was at hand.

About Me

Jacob Selmer

2003-2004:

This years robotic challenge is the biggest of all of them so far. Check out DARPA's Grand Challenge here: http://www.darpa.mil/grandchallenge/ and more details on our autonomous vehicle here: http://filebox.vt.edu/eng/mech/dgc/

2002-2003:

I'm a 21 year old mechanical engineering student at VA Tech. I'm not currently working on any robot projects, but I'll be on AVT (Autonomous Vehicle Team) again next year. This year my big project has been to build an armoury/ blacksmithing shop. Currently it's up and running with only a few more important things on the wish list. Hopefully soon I'll have time to post a page of pictures.

2001-2002:

This year I'm building my fourth large-scale robot for competition. This robot will run autonomously for the Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition, http://www.secs.oakland.edu/SECS_prof_orgs/PROF_AUVSI/index.html. Previous robots I've made have been for a radio-controlled competition, http://www.usfirst.org. I enjoy designing and building things. My current plan is to get a job in robotics after college and make enough money to set up a decent shop of my own. I'll continue blacksmithing and armouring as a hobby and probably sell some things on the side.

'99 Robot (SECOND) '00 Robot (Vermin) '01 Robot (Hokie GUARD) '02 Robot (Zen)

About the Other Me

Lord Edric of Scardeburg

In the SCA, everyone has at least two identities. For those of us who don't pay close attention to names in the first place, this can be confusing. My persona is essentially me with a new name and birth date (minus the robotics interest as well). My goal is to have a relatively normal and realistic persona that only lives in one country, one time period, and whose parents have met more than once.

Persona Location: Scardeburg, England (Now Scarborough)
Persona Era: 1250
Persona Information: Edric is a blacksmith by trade. He creates the metal wares needed for everyday use as well as the arms and armour needed for combat. He occasionally practices combat skills for when he is called upon to fight. Edric is neither highly educated nor high ranking in his society. His goals are simply to become better at his craft and provide for the livelihood of his family and himself.

Areas of Interest: The development of arms and armour, medieval technology, medieval and renaissance swordfighting, metalworking, archery.

Awards: Silver Crocus (Baronial A&S award, 2002)
                Stierbach Mug (Wining pair for the 2-man bearpit at Stierbach's Baronial Birthday, my first heavy fighting event.
                            Many thanks to my partner, Count Ragnar Blackhammer, 2002)
                Heavy Buckler (For fighting in a style that most embodied the I33 sword and buckler manual at the I33 Tourney
                            during Pennsic XXXI, part of the Historic Comabt Series, 2002)

                Heavy fighting champion, Barony of Black Diamond (Baronial position, 2003)
                Award of Arms (Kingdom of Atlantia, 2003)
                Recognition for fighting in a style that most embodied the I33 sword and buckler manual at the I33 Tourney
                            during Pennsic XXXII, part of the Historic Comabt Series, 2003