The Mechanical Engineering Department is the largest department at Cal Poly with more than 1,250 undergraduates and is ranked as the second-best undergraduate focused mechanical engineering program in the country by U.S. News and World Reports.
The curriculum shares a common philosophy that real engineering work requires not only a solid understanding of theory but also hands-on experiences and skills to finish the job. With state-of-the-art laboratories, student clubs and organizations, and machine shops, the program effectively combines theory and practical application to prepare students for careers in a wide variety of industries and graduate school.
Modified from me.calpoly.edu
Senior Projects from 2025
Heart Valve Leaflet Cutting Automation, Gabriella Aclan, Josh DeWeese, Lizzie Dilao, and Jason Wong
Power Transmission System Demo, Jeremy Aiken, Shannon Robinson, and Graham Dzengelewski
Micro Mobile Home R3, Roha Y. Ali, Yuka M. Iwashita, Luke C. Douglas, and Joshua Q. Le
Edwards Lifesciences: eSheath+ Scoring Automation, Tony Lee Avina, Kirth Hirth, Charith Sunku, and Humberto Salazar-Banuelos
One-Handed Wheelchair, Brian Azevedo, Cade Veljovich, Carlos Perez, Jakob Zuckermandel, and Alexander Harper
Efficient Thermal Design of Data Centers, Keats M. Baggett, Andrew Ergood, Colin Brace, and Jack Zilligen
Trailer Transport System for Multi-Ton Bins, Joanna Lizbeth Bendy, Kevin Matthew Creel, Annelise Vaara Cuneo, and Hugo Alonso Valdez
Large Backflow Check Valve Life Cycle Test Stand, Colin Bentley, Christopher Carloni, Ethan Gray, and Luke Romanini
Aerospace Fastener Installation Tool, Anthony I. Berghout, Matthew K. Eggers, Liam Dunsmore, and Jose Pardo
Poly Mars Mini-Rover, Dane Carroll, Aaron Lubinsky, Henry Bouma, Gerardo Tapia-Onate, and Scott Frizzel
Conversational Social Robot, Julianna M. Christopoulos, Mackenzie Goldman, Cece E. Hujanen, and Jared Hunter
EVOQUE Delivery System Fixture Optimization, Jack Ellis, Florence Duff, Noah Dunsmore, Timothy Hunter, and Rafael Castillo
Hydropower Collegiate Competition, Aiden D. Foster, Devon Bountry, Joanna Vo, Timothy Rinker, Amanda Rodriguez, Minh Nguyen, Eli Haushalter, Sophie Watkinson, Maiya Holton, and Breanne Evans
UAV & UGV Drone Competition (Raytheon), Christian Michael Freese, Adien Edmond Haro, Ethan Ray Andres, and Sam Sakaguchi
Blow Down Air Knife System, Gunnar Glickert, Jacob Hambel, Chris Jacques, and Jackson Koempel
Kinetic, Wind-Driven Metal Sculpture, Irene Songhee Han, Aiden Brown Largay, and Madeline Vang Xiong
Aluminum Boat Rotation Fixture, Kevin W. Heiskell, Nathaniel M. Conway, James S. Knowles, and Austin J. Kehl
UV Vessel Hoist Scope of Work, Quinn J. Horak, Harvey Perkins, Andrew A. Osborn, and Mikayla H. Nieman
2024-2025 Cal Poly Fluid Power Vehicle Competition Team, Jaskaran Singh Hothi, Justin Menzie Lesko, Tristan Kai Crawford, Lucas Rupert Erickson, and Diego Velazquez
Cryogenic Fuel Delivery System, Carter Josef, Reilly Humphreys, Joseph O'Connor, and Nick Spreen
HI-TRAC Camera Jig, Gabriel Frank Junge, Josh Sherreitt, Jake Weiser, and Luke Silver
SciTechatorium, Olivia Lafferty, Yvonne Brien Miller, Colton Swinth, Savannah Pinheiro, and Gage Heinze
Floating Wind Turbine Foundation, Clayton Lahodny, Dillon Nelson, Trevor Ortega, and Andrew Cervantes
Van Accessibility, Ann Larson, Camelia Anne Noureddine, Stephanie Rose Ruzicka, and Kayla Joanne Gowey
3D Printed Fixed Wing Aircraft Competition, Sidney E. Long, Mitchell Heise, Jack Bride, and Daniel Salinas