Glossary
FRC and Team 2180 terminology used across the engineering hub. Bookmark this page and reference it during design, build, code, and strategy work.
FIRST & FRC Terms
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)
Non-profit organization that runs FRC, a robotics competition for high school students.
FRC
FIRST Robotics Competition. Annual competition with game-specific rules and challenges.
FIRST AGE
The 2026+ game format featuring alternating hub active/inactive states and climbing challenges.
Kickoff
January event where game rules and field specifications are revealed; marks start of build season.
Build Season
Typically 6 weeks from Kickoff to ship deadline where teams design and fabricate robots.
Competition / Event
Regional or District competitions where teams compete in qualifying matches and playoffs.
FMA (Finger Lakes Robotics Alliance)
FIRST Mid-Atlantic district covering New York and surrounding regions; includes multiple regional and district competitions.
The Blue Alliance
Community-driven website tracking match results, team statistics, and competition data.
Statbotics
Analytics platform that predicts match outcomes using historical data (OPR, ELO ratings).
Chief Delphi
Community forum for FRC discussions, Q&A, and technical advice.
Game & Match Terms
AUTO (Autonomous Period)
First 20 seconds of a match where robots operate without driver input. Goals: earn points, prepare for teleop, secure a safe robot state.
TELEOP (Teleoperated Period)
Main match period (2 min 20 sec in 2026) where drivers control robots. Divided into TRANSITION and SHIFTS with alternating hub active/inactive states.
HUB (Active/Inactive)
2026 game target structure that alternates between active (scoring) and inactive (no points) states. Teams must adjust strategy accordingly.
Climb / Hang
End-game mechanism allowing robots to hang from a tower. Levels: L1 (15 pts), L2 (20 pts), L3 (30 pts) in 2026.
RP (Ranking Point)
Bonus point award for meeting specific criteria (e.g., Energized 100 fuel, Traversal 50 tower pts). Affects team standings.
OPR (Offensive Power Rating)
Statistic showing average points a team contributes to their alliance per match.
Mechanical Terms
COTS
Commercial-Off-The-Shelf. Any part that can be purchased by any team without modification. Examples: motors, brackets, gearboxes.
BOM
Bill of Materials. Final list of components for a subsystem or robot assembly. Used for ordering, budgeting, and troubleshooting.
ECN
Engineering Change Notice. A documented change in design, manufacturing, or wiring. Tracks ownership and revision.
C-C Distance
Center-to-Center distance between pivot points or mounting holes. Critical for drivetrain geometry and linkage design.
Gear Ratio
Ratio of input teeth to output teeth (e.g., 12:60 = 5:1 reduction). Determines speed vs torque tradeoff.
Loctite Colors
- Blue: Removable thread locker
- Red: Permanent thread locker
- Green: Wicking/penetrating oil
Used to prevent vibration failures in critical fasteners.
Tolerances
Allowable variation in dimensions (e.g., ±0.005 in). Tighter tolerances = higher cost and precision; looser = easier manufacturing.
DFM (Design for Manufacturability)
Design philosophy prioritizing ease and cost of fabrication over theoretical perfection.
MCC (Minimum Competitive Concept)
Strategy of building only the minimum mechanisms needed to score, avoiding over-engineering and complexity.
Electrical Terms
CAN Bus
Network-based control bus (1 Mbps) supporting feedback, telemetry, and daisy-chaining. Used for motor controllers, PDH, and sensors.
PWM (Pulse Width Modulation)
Simple servo-style signal with no telemetry or feedback. Simpler but less robust than CAN.
PDP / PDH
Power Distribution Panel/Hub. Central point distributing power from battery to motors and components.
Breaker
Circuit protection device. Main breaker shuts down robot; individual breakers protect subsystems from shorts.
Crimp Types
Anderson Powerpole, ferrules, ring terminals, spade connectors. Types must match application and wire gauge.
Lug
Crimped terminal for connecting wire to battery or breaker terminals. Requires proper crimp tool and wire gauge matching.
Setpoint
The desired value for control systems (speed, position, angle, etc.)
Deadband
Zone where small input changes are ignored to reduce noise or motor jitter.
Slew Rate
Rate of change limit for voltage or control output to prevent brownouts, current spikes, or command jumps.
Brownout
Battery voltage dropping below threshold (typically 6.5–7.0V), causing controller shutdown or power limiting. Prevents match failures.
FIR (Firmware Image Release)
Official software update for roboRIO and radio. Must match current season; checked during inspection.
Software Terms
Command-Based Architecture
WPILib pattern organizing code into Commands (actions) and Subsystems (robot parts). Provides structure, reusability, and safety interlocks.
Subsystem
Encapsulation of a robot mechanism (drivetrain, shooter, intake). Manages internal state and prevents resource conflicts.
Command
Action that operates on one or more subsystems (move forward, shoot, climb). Declares requirements to prevent conflicts.
Requirement
Explicit claim by a command on a subsystem. Prevents multiple commands from fighting for the same mechanism.
NetworkTables
Shared data structure between robot code and dashboard (Glass, Shuffleboard). Used for telemetry, debugging, and driver input.
PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative)
Control algorithm tuning motor output based on error (desired vs actual). Widely used for drive and positioning control.
Sim (Simulation)
WPILib Sim GUI allows testing code without hardware. Essential for catching bugs early in season.
Vendordeps
Third-party libraries (CTRE, REV, NavX) added via WPILib. Must be committed to source control; versions must be pinned.
Logging / Replay
Recording sensor data and motor outputs during matches for post-match analysis. Tools: AdvantageKit, WPILib DataLog.
Strategy & Operations
Scout / Scouting
Gathering data on opposing teams (capabilities, weaknesses) to inform match strategy and alliance selections.
Playbook
Documented autonomous scripts and teleop strategies for the current game (offensive, defensive, hoard-burst patterns).
Drive Coach
Lead mentor responsible for match strategy, driver commands, and pit adjustments between matches.
Drive Team
Driver + Operator + Coach responsible for robot control during competition.
Pit Crew
Team members supporting the robot at events (repairs, battery swaps, part replacement).
Inspector
Official FIRST representative who verifies robot compliance with rules before competition.
See also: