Animal Engineers and Huge Robot Highlight Cal Poly Universities Rose Float Design
Cal Poly Universities’ 77th Parade float, “Jungle Jumpstart,” explores the 2026 Rose Parade theme “The Magic in Teamwork” by portraying the dynamics between nature and technology through the story of a rainforest community coming together to restore their robot friend with what they know best – the jungle!
The only student-designed and student-built float in the Rose Parade, “Jungle Jumpstart” is a joint effort between students at Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, who collaborate on all aspects of the float despite being separated by 250 miles.
The animal engineers include a frog, monkey, giant jaguar, lemurs, and a toucan who use their different skills, illustrating the beautiful outcomes that can be achieved when technology and nature work together in harmony. With some inspiring teamwork, the robot flickers alive. In thanks, the robot lifts a vibrant macaw into the sky, helping it take flight.
The robot’s spare parts can also have a new life, repurposed to create a habitat for birds making a home in the fallen tree’s stump. The new rainforest robo-parts as well as the robot’s open chest cavity also feed the diverse rainforest, creating new spots for jungle plants to thrive.
Creating a requires year-round dedication from the two teams of about 75 students and hundreds more who assist in labs. Their Learn by Doing process includes building and designing the mechanical, drive and animation systems; welding structural supports and shaping design elements; testing decorative materials; and sheeting, foaming and painting all before the students can begin adding final design elements.
“Our team is extremely excited to share our parade float!” said Aubrey Goings, president of the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo team and fourth-year architecture student. “It is more than just a story, it is a mirror of us, as Cal Poly University students who combine innovation, creativity and problem solving in the classroom, the lab and in our day to day lives.”
“I am proud of the leadership team’s willingness to take on such an ambitious design,” said Amelia Atwell, president of the Cal Poly Pomona team and senior in architecture. “From a technicolor macaw that will be lifted 25-feet in the air to a 40-foot-long robot in a lush jungle environment, this float poses unique challenges for each of our departments. I’m looking forward to seeing the innovations will come through that problem solving."
This year’s float will use a wide range of materials that capture the mystery of the rainforest. Carnivorous plants will be among the elements providing splashes of vivid tropical colors, as will Alstroemeria and Liatris. The robot will decorated with a blend of Blue Corn Grits and Dusty Miller accented with patches of High Magic Roses that echo the jungle’s lush palette of greens, reds, and yellows.
“I think this is going to be the most thematically beautiful float that we have done within the last four years,” said RJ Pollock, assistant design chair and journalism major. “From the story we are trying to tell, to the elements, to the passion, the creativity, and colors, I think this will be one of the most visibly stunning floats in our program.”
“Jungle Jumpstart” illustrates the beautiful outcomes that can be achieved when technology and nature work together in harmony. Since the two universities began their collaboration on entries for the Rose Parade float in 1949, the students have garnered 63 awards, including the Leishman Public Spirit Award at the 2025 Rose Parade for their “Nessie’s Lakeside Laughs” float. They have also been lauded for their pioneering innovations such as hydraulic- and computer-controlled animation.