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 2012
Solar Turbines Creep Test Fixture, Rene Maciel, Eric Nelson, and Chris Ewald
Innovative Cargo Rack Solutions, Travis McCart, Brian Blummer, and Whit Ratcliff
Formula Hybrid Drivetrain Design, Zachary (Zak) McFarland, Alex Pruitt, and William Domhart
Wolfpack Gear Inc. Composite Frame Firefighter Backpack, Gabriel Mountjoy, Blair Ridings, and Carl Drummond Buchenroth
Mercedes-Benz Engine Oil Level Monitor, Andrew Oshinsky, Eric Frasch, and Jeremy Ramos
Human Powered Helicopter: Rotor Structure, Joseph Ram and Juan Carlos Olvera
Quantifying Proximal Conformability of a Thoracic Aortic Stent Graft, Dylan Reinsdorf and Kendall Smith
Mini Pump, Stephen Scruggs, Britta Berg-Johansen, and Kyle Kriete
Micro-Grid Wind Energy System, Aaron Steinkraus, Brian Huntziker, and Cesar Hurtado
Aerodynamic Test Platform for Human Powered Vehicle (HPV), Spencer Wangerin, Spencer Lillywhite, and Colburn Davis
Senior Projects from 2011
HPV 20" Composite Disc Wheel Design and Production Senior Project, Stephen Abraham, Jack Pearson, and Chad Carpenter
Flow Loop Simulator, John Abruzzini, Manuel Carrasco, Neil Sutherland, and Elise Woolworth
Raytheon UAV Launcher, Chad Amonn, Spencer Chin, Alexander (Alex) Deuitch, and Mark Jastrzebski
Automated Mail Stacker, Robert (RJ) Atkinson, Stephanie Henning, and Tyler Wetzel
Cal Poly Human Powered Helicopter, Josiah Auer, Eric Behne, Dave Berry, Rebecca Hennings, James Koch, Ian Marquardt, Josiah Mayfield, and Sean Miller
3-D Terrain Mapping and Navigation Using a Laser Range Finder, Matthew L. Azevedo, Matthew Parilla, and Kevin K. Parsons
Low-Cost Prosthetic Leg for the Vida Nueva Prosthesis Clinic, Sarah M. Baker, Justin G. Lekos, Jen Van Donk, and Kevin Yamauchi
Challenger J Hockey Prosthesis Final Design Report, Ryan Bakker, Spencer Noe, and Christopher Perkins
Access|Closure Balloon Catheter Redesign Project, Keenan Bamburg, Yvette Castillo, and Elizabeth Eskildsen
Ergonomic Lifter, Bejan Brian Banihashemi, Dylan James Schockemoehl, and Andrew Ouellet
Multiple Motors with Single Controller, Jason Eugene Barbeiro, Benjamin Erik Johnson, and Abraham Garza
Golf Prosthesis Final Design Report, Joseph Barcus, Lauren Wilson, and Ryan Satcher
Boom Stability Control Final Project Report, Michael Barnes, Justin Carnahan, Daniel Fluitt, and Alicia Johnstone
Engineering on the Rose Float: Final Project Report, Stephen Boles, Garrett Dong, and Peter Hoonhout
Wireless Solar-Powered Thermal Imaging Camera, Andy Bonk, Billy McVicker, and Jacob Richardson