Robotics Design Challenge

16th Annual Robotics Design Challenge

DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 15, 2023, from 9:00 am – 1 pm; Teams to be checked in by 8:30 am!

LOCATION: 204 Neff Hall, 309 S 9th Street, University of Missouri, Columbia MO 65201 (on map)

More information about the Robotics Design Challenge:  INFORMATION  

REGISTRATION: Teachers and team leaders, please use THIS LINK to register your teams

Note: The course for the challenge will be similar but not the same as that at this site!

2017 Robotics Design Challenge participants


The Robotics Design Challenge is an event for K-8 youth, where they build LEGO-robots with a variety of sensors, and program them to accomplish a given task. The Challenge has been hosted annually since 2006 by the Center staff, in collaboration with K-12 teachers, 4-H and other community organizations. The goal is to introduce STEM skills at a an early age, and to motivate them to pursue science and engineering careers.

Youth from different schools and organizations throughout Missouri participate in the Challenge. In addition to building and programming LEGO robots, they also learn about different sensors (e.g., light sensor used to track the black line). This gives them an exposure to how such sensors are used in real world devices (for example: light sensor used in the cars), and how they can be integrated and programmed into systems to accomplish useful tasks.

Impact since 2006: 2,081 students from grades 2-7.