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
Foot Pedal Assistive Device, Julian Rubinstein, Connor Jessen, Isabelle Utsler, and Sydney Alexander
Drone Package Delivery System, Aiden Tyler Sim, Ryan Anders O'Toole, Matthew Karl Wyant, and James Shaw Glanville
Wind Turbine Rotor Test Stand, Ashlen Brooke Sperry, Cayley Mckee, Kristofer Lee Pascua, and Francisco Medina
LLNL Raft Flash Pole Redesign, Jack Stangel, Evan Wolfson, Jake Borden, and Alexander Meeter
Torsional Vibration Kit Simulator (TKS), Joseph Thachet, Luca Lawson, Ryan Ota, and Otis Mcloughlin
Custom Low-Profile Vacuum Valve, Aiden A. Theocheung, Nate R. Greco, Gavin T. Weber, and Nate A. Ferrari
MECC Wave Energy Converter, Kenna N. Toohill, Samuel Rothstein, Ellie Abundo, and Paige Dixon
Expeditionary Ocean Power Generator, Otto Jacob van Willigen, David Scott Nyberg, Logan Christopher Schilling, Kyle James Hohman, and Travis Michael Eccher
Combustion Liner Optimization, William Weeks, Daniel Reed, and Isaac Trull
Development of Planetary Drive System For Formula SAE Electric Race Car, Brian Wong, Bradley Maruoka, Joshua Charles Fine, and Madison Kai
2-Axis Solar Panel Tracker, Danica Wong, Oliver Barnaal, and Anton Orme
Senior Projects from 2024
F56: Rocket Thrust Vector Control, Ethan Douglas Anderson, Yiming Trent Jia, and Sahil Sampat
Pseudo GPS for Romi, Emmanuel Baez, Owen Guinane, Gabriel Coria, and Conor Schott
Spring Rate Measurement of a Pneumatic Mountain Bike Tire, Joseph D. Balderama, Alexandre Kachlakev, Duncan Wyke, and Luki Rosen
ASME Electric-Human Powered Vehicle (eHPV) Project, George Bernat, Roman Bradley, Casey Pickett, and Paul Mansfield
3D-Printed Remote Controlled Aircraft, Sebastian Bessoudo, Jose Ramirez, Manny Ruiz, and Andrew Edwards
Hydropower Collegiate Competition, Neel Bhargava, Connor Stoll, Cameron Brosnahan, and Tobias Coughlan
Zero-G Exercise Equipment, Charisse Biglete, Jake Brajevich, James Monroe, and Ethan Siahpush
SLO Children’s Museum Music Education Exhibit, Charles Coffen, Madeline Carleton-Sniff, Yael Castillo, and Anthony Ramos
Exhaust Manifold Pressure As Engine Tuning Parameter, Kieran Truth Cunningham, Adam Sullivan Mathews, and Connor Richard Smullen
Focused LED Sintering, Dylan DeFazio, Nilav Maulik, Branden Majors, and Michael Fontillas
LiftWalker, Kai A. De La Cruz, Lexie Caterine, Adam Monroe, and Jame Whealan
Northrop Grumman Collaboration Project, Dominic De La Mora, Michael C. Hartley, Allison Lee, Chase Pietro, and Seamus Robinson
Miniature Train Engine, Jason Patrick Lacson Del Castillo, Renato Andrew Dilauro, Sophia Theresa Tiu, and Robert John Pallares III
Ross Dam Micro Hydro Project, Marirose Evenden, Tyler Reents, Elena Ryan, and Tevan Kim