Cal Poly Rose Float

Engineers, artists, florists, and more come together to create one 20+ ton machine to enlighten the hearts of millions across the globe. Cal Poly Rose Float is a 100% student built joint effort between Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to build a Rose Float for the annual Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade.

A sign that we have hanging in our machine shop at Rose Float. This quote is something that we at Rose Float live by. Being in Rose Float has taught me the skill of scrappiness - that is to make use of the little you may have whether it be parts, tools, or finances and to make something significant from it and to always find solutions, no matter the circumstance.

2017 Cal Poly Rose Float:

A New Leaf

Pictured above: Cal Poly Universities 2017 Float "A New Leaf" going down the parade route on January 2nd 2017.

What shocks most people is that Rose Float is a year long project that we actually start working on immediately after the parade in January. We spend January through April choosing and then fully designing our concept and the mechanisms that will be placed on it to animate it.

The picture to the left is one of the many meetings we had discussing concepts and ideas for our rose float.

By May, we have finalized our design and our rendering is complete. To the right is "A New Leaf's" rendering.

The primary means of construction in Rose Float is welding. We weld not only the structures underlying the entire float, but also the mechanisms and the wire structures which define the shape of the float.

Constructing the over-height structure which our purple chameleon is mounted to. Because this part of the structure is taller than the bridge the float must cross underneath on parade day, the structure must be able to raise and lower, which we do so with a large hydraulic cylinder.

The first inspection day of our float by the tournament officials which covers safety, drive operation, and several other aspects of the float.

After all structures are completed and the pod is fully shaped, the float is covered in foam to give it a solid base for decoration.

At last! We get to decorations week. Decorations week takes place in Pasadena December 26th-31st and requires the work of hundreds of volunteers every day to cover every inch of the float in organic material whether that be roses, carnations, coffee grounds, or Christmas trees. During this time, the Rose Float team acts as a facilitator, organizing and guiding volunteers in the decoration of the float.

2018 Cal Poly Rose Float:

Dreams Take Flight

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's half of the float arriving at the Cal Poly Pomona Rose Float Lab.

Connecting the two halves of the Rose Float.

The first technical inspection for the 2018 Cal Poly Rose Float.

Team members constructing the 2018 Rose Float.

The Tournament of Roses Queen and Court visit the Cal Poly Rose Float lab to take a look at our float.

Here you can see the entire rose float really coming together.

Foaming of the 2018 Rose Float.

Within weeks of foaming, all of the major elements are placed on the float just in time for our first inspection day.

A big day for Cal Poly Rose Float is our move out day. Family, friends, and alumni come out to view the float and celebrate as we move the float from Pomona to Pasadena.

Now in Pasadena, the float quickly changes in appearance as the team organizes hundreds of volunteers in order to paint and decorate every inch of the float in botanical materials.

Through all the tireless nights and ups and downs, we finally have finished our float. We presented our float to the judges and were excited to earn the Past President's award.

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