In 1991 Panasonic first introduced the Creative Design Challenge (CDC), a premier science and technology competition where engineering and technical skills are put to the test for teams of New Jersey high school students. In recognition of their hard work, winning teams are awarded special category prizes, as well as scholarships to be used exclusively for college expenses.

Panasonic's long-term partner in this program is the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). While the majority of program funding comes from Panasonic, NJIT makes significant contributions to this outreach event. Three NJIT student interns develop the Challenge, while NJIT staff score the written reports, as well as provide judges for the performance and oral presentations of the Challenge. In addition, NJIT lends its prestige as one of the top engineering universities in New Jersey. The 2008 Final Challenge will take place at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) who will debut this year, by providing their premier space allowing the community and local schools to observe the event first hand.

To win the Challenge, a team of 3 students must work together not only to design a winning robotics device, but also to document their work in a professional engineering logbook, write a detailed report and make an oral presentation. This program is much more than a science competition aimed at building a mechanical device. The Creative Design Challenge format has been structured to encourage group problem solving and teamwork; to help students apply critical thinking; to understand the impact of trade-offs on design and development; to encourage students to demonstrate effective communication and presentation skills, and most importantly demonstrate that science can be fun!

Past Challenges

2008 - Murky Waters
Design and construct a device that can pick up LEGO^® people, descend into the "Murky Waters," traverse different terrains and surface areas, and climb various ramps.

2004 - The Great Divide
Design and construct a device or devices that can pick up various balls, climb a ramp, cross the Great Divide and place the balls in a specified area.

2003 - BotSketBall
Robotic basketball players will demonstrate their ability to quickly and accurately obtain and shoot ping-pong balls into the baskets of the Panasonic miniature BOTSKETBALL court. Strategy and design are key issues because shots from different parts of the court and into different baskets will earn different point values!

2002 - Basic Training
Build a device capable of maneuvering through a basic training obstacle course representing "Boot Camp" type events.

2001 - Winter Triathlon
Construct three (3) devices capable of conveying a standard ping-pong ball through a course representing three Winter Olympic events.

2000 - The Great Paneverest Challenge
Construct a device capable of scaling a height and negotiating various types of surfaces to plant a flag at the top of "Mt. Paneverest".

1999 - R. A. T. S. - Robotics for the Advancement of Trooper Safety
Construct a device that can negotiate the various surfaces found in a typical house, retrieve a disposal canister, place it over an stash of illegal fireworks, and exit the house.

1998 - The Bermuda Triangle Rescue
Construct a device capable of rescuing "Agent Bob" and portions of his damaged spy plane from an island in the Bermuda Triangle in the shortest possible time and with the fewest errors.

1997 - Span the Gap
Constuct a device capable of moving an object across a six-foot gap in the shortest amount of time.

1996 - Dante II
Recover the stranded space capsule.

1995 - Dante I
Descend into a volcano to get an ore sample.

1994 - Solar-powered vehicle
Reach the target height and intersect the laser beam.

1993 - Egg-a-naut
Build a device to carry an egg up a 30-foot rope and return unharmed.

1992 - Recycling machine
Separate a cubic foot of mixed materials into individual bins.

1991 - Wheel-less vehicle
Achieve maximum distance in a fixed time.