The National Robotics Challenge is an open-platform robotics competition founded in 1986 that welcomes students from 6th grade through graduate school, with a strong emphasis on high school participation. Unlike many robotics competitions, the NRC does not require teams to purchase a specific kit, allowing students to design and build robots using materials and equipment of their own choosing to solve real engineering problems. This approach keeps participation costs low while fostering genuine creativity and problem-solving skills. The National Robotics Challenge is an excellent opportunity for aspiring engineers and builders to test their abilities against peers from across the country.
Designing and building physical machines that sense, move, or respond to the world.
Breaking down a challenge and working through it methodically to a solution.
Evaluating information carefully before drawing a conclusion or making a decision.
Guiding a group toward a shared goal and keeping everyone moving together.
Planning tasks, timelines, and resources to get a project done on schedule.
Modeling parts and products in 3D software before they're built for real.
Direct match—students design, build, and compete with robots using open-platform engineering principles.
Students select materials and equipment to solve engineering problems, core to mechanical design work.
Robot programming and logic design are essential components of most robotics competition entries.
Circuit and power system design for robots is a key technical challenge in the competition.
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