Log in if you already have an account. If you would like to become an editor for the wiki, request an account.
Drive Team
The Drive Team is the team that accompanies the robot to the game field.
Formerly known as the Field Crew, the Drive Team consists of the driver, manipulator driver, coach, and if it applies, human player. The media person is not included in the drive team as they have no interaction with the robot other than photons.
Driver
The driver controls the locomotion of the robot. Drivers require very quick thinking in order to make on-the-spot decisions that will affect the possibility of the team scoring a point or whether or not the team wins the match.
Drivers are notoriously known for being avid computer or game system players.
Manipulator Driver
The manipulator driver controls the manipulator of the robot. Whether this involves kicking balls or grabbing a pool tube, the manipulator driver needs to be able to listen to the driver and know when the moment is right to make a move with the manipulator.
Often times the manipulator driver is the sole person who the final match results may depend upon.
Coach
The coach assists the drivers during a match by pointing our important tasks that need attention or by pointing out events on the field that the drivers may not be focusing on at a specific moment. The exact role of a coach though really depends on the drivers.
The coach should be able, to a point, control what the drivers do as well as the other alliance partners. A coach needs to be someone who can give precise commands to the drivers, while not being dominating when the drivers do not require the assistance. The amount of control needed various driver to driver.
It also important of the coach to communicate with the other alliance member's drivers or coach. This is important when the team needs to have a robot be moved out of the way so a goal can be scored or when something crucial happens to the team's robot and the team needs help. Examples of this could be when:
- Robot is tipped on it's side
- Chain is broken
- Robot is stuck
When communicating with other alliance partners, the coach needs to be quick, specific, and influential. The coach can not be like "[monotone] hey guys our robot needs help". The coach should be like "[slight yell or yelling] guys come push us". It may not be needed to be very specific (i.e. - "team 1261" or "in the left corner of the goal on the blue alliance side behind 1262"). Often times, the alliance drivers can figure out exactly what is meant.
Human Player
The human player manipulates game elements or field elements depending on whether or not the game requires a human player.
Often times, coordination is a needed skill for the human player as game elements may be moving quickly. Game elements may also need to be placed on the robot or onto the field at a swift pace. Communication with the coach and the drivers is essential to making sure the human player's tasks is put to its best use.
Some of the tasks carried out by the human player include:
- Checking stats about the robot while in queue (like pressure), and making sure the robot is ready to go
- Loading the robot onto the field and positioning it correctly
- Help the drivers know what was happening on the side of the robot they could not see
- Keeping an eye on the clock
History of FRC Field Crew
Field crew members are listed by the years that the team participated in FIRST Robotics Competition.