The FIRST Devil's Dictionary

[Billfred]

The Verge published a new edition (http://www.theverge.com/a/new-devils-dictionary) of The Devil's Dictionary, after Ambrose Bierce's original of over a century ago. (A little strong language in there.)

I'm sure you've got some definitions of your own...

Blue banner (n.) An indisputable symbol of excellence in competition or onetime possession of $300.

Championship (n.) A systematic means of determining that you may or may not be the best in the world.

Cheesecake (v.) To run circles around an alliance partner to run circles around the opponent.

Corn dog (n.) Verification that one was paying attention in 2014.

OP (adj.) 1. Overpowered. 2. A captain who only idiots decline at alliance selection.

Scorched earth (adj.) Ensuring you will win your division by ensuring you will never win Einstein.

Let's hear them.

[ghostmachine360]

Gracious Professionalism (n.): The crutch for so many people when they hear something they don't like or agree with in the FIRST world.

Rap music (n.): A mythical genre of music, generally frowned upon by FIRST at competitions when played.

Deodorant (n.): A hygiene item most well-adjusted human beings use to allow for breathable air in their general vicinity for other people.

Dance music (n.): A method of torture so heinous that the CIA outlawed its use in interrogation.

Scouting (v.): 1. Distraction for underclassmen and slackers on the teams that don't give a flip about winning. 2. Figuring out who's full of it.

Alliance selection (n.): A comedy show. See also schadenfreude (n.).

[James1902]

Graciously Accepting (v.): Pointing out one's graciousness by ignoring rules of grammar and proper usage.

ROBOT! (n.): Exclamation designed to annoy others into safe practices. Highly ineffective.

[Taylor]

chiefdelphi (n): An internet bulletin board site where users can insult others' creations, or complain how things aren't how they used to be.

GDC (n): A collaboration of socially powerful people specifically created to not comment on individual designs.

Mentor (n): An adult who likes to play with children's toys, with children.

[Christopher149]

mDNS (n.) - The reason it takes you minutes to connect to your 2015 bot but only seconds to connect to your 2014 bot.

[Chris is me]

Mentor-built (adj.): A term describing a robot that is better than your own, and / or a robot with paint on it.

[Richard Wallace]

Stall Torque (n): quantitative measure of a motor's capability to twist things until they break

Stall Current (n): quantitative measure of a motor's potential to release magic smoke, either from itself or from other electrically connected things

[S.P.A.M.er 17]

Golden Skrew (n.): The award given to the highest seeded team who does not get picked for eliminations.

[Billfred]

Mecanum wheel (n.) A wheel for going in every direction if your programmers had just one more week with the drivetrain.

Duct tape (n.) A previously-banned substance so fatal to a robot's chances of getting picked it might as well still be.

Minibot (n.) A way to spend thousands of dollars on Tetrix motors for the least impressive demo feature ever.

[efoote868]

OPR (n.) Objectively Preferred Rating.
We seeded low but our OPR was the highest of all teams.

CCWM (n.) Consequently Calculated for a Worthier Metric.
We seeded low and the OPR put us in the middle of the pack, so we used CCWM instead to include our defensive prowess

[Karthik]

Average (n.) - In FRC scouting, the greatest element within a data set. Typically only occurs once in the data set. Often only on a practice field with no other robots.

[marshall]

Noodle Agreement (n.) The backroom deal made over a bowl of ramen to strategically remove any possible strategic thinking from an FRC game through rule updates and FAQ responses.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Average (n.) - In FRC scouting, the greatest element within a data set. Typically only occurs once in the data set. Often only on a practice field with no other robots.

Always (adj.) - Happened once... if you squint your eyes and ignore the programmer kicking it a little. See also Average.

[efoote868]

chute door (n.) Yes, Chute Door. See 2015 Q163

[BigJ]

Finished (adj.) - the state of a robot, system, or component that appears to be mechanically complete, before any software is tested.

[Billfred]

Unprocessed litter (n.) All portions of pool noodles thrown on the field in the last match that haven't been put in the trash can yet.

[Kevin Leonard]

Picklist (n.) -Hastily written scribblings from 4 AM that are incomprehensible when it matters most,
or something the 5th-8th alliance captains never seem to have

Reveal Video (n.) -A series of thoroughly edited clips showing video of features your robot never actually had, and set to one of 5 different popular pop songs of the year, or alternatively, a screamo cover of a Justin Bieber song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpmbDQwS8mY)

[The_ShamWOW88]

Nationals (n.) - a term that us old timers use when we've forgotten what year it is, See World Championship (n.), Worlds (n.)

Ship day (n.) - The day a completed robot was hastily packed into a large wooden box with a random assortment of graphics and numbers painted on the side, then shipped off to a faraway place, See Nationals (n.)

[MikLast]

2015 Q163 (n.) - Yes, Chute door. See Chute Door.

[lucas.alvarez96]

Week 5 (n.): A magical land where programmers get to code the robot and drivers get their practice. Only certain teams know of its whereabouts.

[Munchskull]

FRC (verb); an acronym standing for Forceful Robot Collisions. Note: Many consider this synonymous with the 2014 game Ariel Assist.

[MechEng83]

Theory (n.) - A mythical place where all robot designs work.

[efoote868]

Ether (n) or aether; quintessence - the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class, has been known to help those computing OPR, CCWM or correct misinterpretations of mecanum wheels.

[omalleyj]

Coopertition (n.) The concept that a team that cannot figure out how to help its alliance by working with teams on its own alliance, will somehow figure out how to help its alliance by working with teams on the other alliance.

[Nemo]

Stop Build Day (n): A day that is 45 days after teams start building their robots and 63 days before all teams have stopped.

[GeeTwo]

Game Hint (n): A device of mass torture, esp. one which functions best with the consent of the torturees.

[techhelpbb]

Watched pot - the period between placing all the robots on an FRC field and the robots actually obtaining sufficient field connectivity to run a match.

Implied threat - the action of field volunteer walking toward a robot or driver's station that is in 'watched pot' mode. Extra points if the robot or driver's station does this: :eek:

Knife switch semaphore - turn on or plug in your robot. They are more interesting like that.

[dodar]

Pit (n) - A volume of space that will expand or contract depending on on who is looking at it. Normally fluctuates around 10'x10'x10'.

[Dan Petrovic]

Autonomous Mode (n): A moment of silence observed prior to every Week 1 or Week 2 match.

[Billfred]

Week 1 (n.) The opening weekend of regional and district tournament play...if not for those rebels in South Carolina.

[Kevin Leonard]

Swerve Drive (n.) - a set of mechanisms to ensure the robot will sit dead on the field for half of that robot's first event

[TheBoulderite]

Sandstorm (n) A song played by the DJ to torture the crowd. Closely associated with the Chicken Dance.

Waterloo Regional (n) A contest to determine which lucky team gets to hitch a ride with OP and Simbotics.

[Christopher149]

Chicken Dance (n.) The official dance of team 217 ThunderChickens.

[Insanity000]

YMCA (n.) A song frequently played at FIRST events, especially in the common occurrence of a FMS crash.

[Lil' Lavery]

Autonomous Mode (n): A moment of silence observed prior to every Week 1 or Week 2 match.

Bravo

[rsisk]

Andy Baker (n.) > Chuck Norris

Mecanum Wheel (n.) Meh' can um A type of wheel rejected by most. Revised 2015 1. Must have wheel for Recycle Rush 2. Key component of Andy Baker's retirement plan

[tindleroot]

Beattie (n.) - (Almost) every team's excuse for why they did not win in the early '00s. See Also: BEAST

[Insanity000]

Defense (n.) A role typically given to robots who can't do much more than drive. 2015 Revision Defense? What defense?

[BenGuy]

Finished (adj.) - the state of a robot, system, or component that appears to be mechanically complete, before any software is tested.

But not actually finished :D :D

[dodar]

Simbot SS (n) - The standard of yearly robot success

[BenGuy]

pro·gram·mer
ˈprōˌɡramər/
noun

A person who inputs pizza, pop, and electronic music and outputs computer programs.

[dodar]

pro·gram·mer
ˈprōˌɡramər/
noun

A person who inputs pizza, pop, and electronic music and outputs computer programs.

pro·gram·mer
ˈprōˌɡramər/
noun

A person who inputs pizza, soda, and electronic music and outputs computer programs.


The Southern version.

[techhelpbb]

pro·gram·mers


The people on a FIRST team responsible for all robot dysfunction:

unplugged - programming problem
falling apart - programming problem
smoking - programming problem

See also T800 (http://www.ew.com/sites/default/files/i/2012/10/29/Behind-The-Scenes.jpg) - the eventual solution from the programming team for all the other parts of the team - which eventually results in the programmers being responsible for our new robot overlords :p. Let's blame it on the pizza and soda.

[DonRotolo]

Victor (n): An electronic device used sacrificially to prevent damage to a Fuse. Often also used to collect metal swarf. See also Jaguar.

[kristinweiss]

Bumper (n.)- An assembly of wood, fabric, and pool noodles that is more challenging to build than a 120 pound robot

Pizza (n.)- the energy source that fuels engineers

[techhelpbb]

Stack Overflow:
See "Recycle Rush"

[BL0X3R]

broken (n): 1. The state of a robot after programmers, drivers, or aerial assist have had their way with it.

[DohertyBilly]

Offseason (n) - See build season.

[thatprogrammer]

Dave Lavery (n.): A male individual, known for carrying red herrings, wearing shirts reminiscent of the 50th state, eating large amounts of fried plastic, and having vastly superior body-supporting limbs to Amanda Morrison.

[Henrique Schmit]

Aerial Assist (n.) The 2014 game. It's objective is to push the enemy alliance

Pedestal (n.) A container to permanently hold game objects. See Aerial Assist

[Aidan Cox]

Pit Scouting (v.): The act of being deceived by a team's member about their robot's capabilities.

[hectorcastillo]

Next year (n.) - the theoretical point at which your team will achieve a goal which you have thus far fallen short of.

Dean Kamen (n.) - our fearless, denim-clad leader and an inspiration to us all.

[techhelpbb]

Segue:
The source of balanced confusion when Dean Kamen presents during the transition of any competition and people keep looking for the Segway

[TheBoulderite]

Echo Effect (n.) A type of modification to sound of any kind that creates a repeat of any sound entering the microphone. See 2015 Einstein Quarterfinals.

Bass (n.) An anomaly that causes speakers to vibrate the entire room they are in. See Closing Ceremonies.

[pmangels17]

Robot Manual: (n.) 1. A book we all say we've read, but few actually have. 2. A glass house which some people claim is too opaque, and so throw stones in an attempt to bend.

See also: RTFM (n.)

[Billfred]

VEXpro (n.) Innovation First's method to make building FRC robots simple after losing the contract on their method to make controlling FRC robots simple.

[artK]

West Coast Drive (n.): Something every new CAD student will try to design without understanding the advantages of one, simply because powerhouse teams use them.

Swerve Drive (n.): Another thing every new CAD student will design, making the "lightest, strongest modules ever" and subsequently forgetting to include the weight of the motors powering it as well as pocketing way too aggressively.

Endgame (n.): A component of the game that isn't worth very much until powerhouse teams start completing them in faster and faster times. See also: Canburglaring (n.).

Powdercoated (adj.): An 100% accurate way identify the robots that the mentors clearly built all by themselves.

[Jalerre]

Debugging (v.) when programmers bang their heads on the table because the code is correct but the robots not working properly

Deploying (v.) what programmers are doing when they aren't coding; see Break, Free Time

Semifinals (n.) the time at which the team packs up the pit

PID (n.) something that programmers waste hours of time on

LEDs (n.) the thing that distinguishes the good teams from the bad teams in the eyes of scouters

[Ginger Bread]

Pool Noodle(n) 1. That thing Human Players throw (see Recycle Rush) to gain extra points 2. That thing I used to carry my team when the robot was not present on the field during competition

[carpedav000]

Wall (N.) An inanimate object commonly used to stop robots with faulty autonomous code

2002 (N.) see Team Hammond

[techhelpbb]

Powdercoated (adj.): An 100% accurate way identify the robots that the mentors clearly built all by themselves.

Powdercoated plastic:
What happens when students learn a new trick...

[Ginger Power]

Teh Chezy Pofs(n.) An FRC team known to set the blue (banner) standard year in and year out. See also Simbotics

OP(n.) 1. An FRC team rumored to have never lost a Regional. 2. A dominant robot creating force that makes you smack your forehead at the end of each build season and ask yourself why you didn't just do what they did.

[Jalerre]

Vision Processing (n.) the thing programmers say they're going to do every year but never have time for

Software Problem (n.) when the robot doesn't work properly

Robot (n.) a mythical object that programmers are always hearing about but never get to see or touch

[Caleb Sykes]

Lunacy (n.): 1. A benchmark used when talking about how bad the current year's game is. 2. The game that must not be named. See Lord Voldemort

Ariel Assist (n.): Let's go save the mermaid before Ursula gets her!

Mechanum (n.): An imaginary word used by individuals to prove their lack of knowledge of omni-directional drive systems.

[Beaker]

BBQ Statistics (n.) - A fun (and questionable) way to see the strength of a regional event.

Full Field (n.) - A magical environment which very few teams have, but many want.

Mountain Dew (n.) - Fuel that powers the programmers. See Pizza.

Magic Smoke (n.) - Powers motors and other electronic devices. Teams try their best to not release it. See Stall Current.

[Caleb Sykes]

Gregor (n.): A magical elf summoned by the forbidden word nationals.
See also Nationals

[EricH]

Freshman (n.) Team go-fer and filer of all sharp corners.
Sophomore (n.) A freshman who came back and is now in charge of making said sharp corners.
Junior (n.) A sophomore who came back to lead the current crop of sophomores.
Senior (n.) A student team member (and possibly leader) who will not be a student team member for very long. Usually found by grabbing last year's juniors.
Rookie (n.) A person or team who doesn't know what they're getting into in FRC because it's their first time.
2nd-Year Veteran (n.) See Rookie, but with a little more experience.
Veteran (n.) A person or team who has been around a little while, knows what they're getting into, and still comes back. Also see lunatic.

[Billfred]

Match winner (n.) A breed that had a startling near-extinction event in the year 2015. Only the strongest survived.

[TheBoulderite]

Powerhouse (adj.) An adjective assigned with any team that is better than yours.

[BL0X3R]

Primary Driver (n): Student driver that typically controls the movement of the robot. May or may not actually know what the buttons do.

Secondary Driver (n): Student driver that typically controls the movement of a manipulator or non-drive subsystem. Claims to know the buttons better than the primary driver, but most likely doesn't.

Human Player (n): The student on the drive team who typically introduces game pieces into the field. Usually decided by selecting the one student who earns the least amount of foul points for touching the wrong thing at the wrong time. Doesn't have to know any buttons.

Drive Coach (n): The only student/mentor on the drive team who actually knows all the buttons, but cannot, by the rules, use them, therefore resorting to yelling directions towards the primary and secondary drivers between communications with other teams during the match. See Conductor, Commander, or Dictator.

Match Strategy (n): The result of three drive coaches or other appointed strategists arguing in the queue about who is going to do what and how during the upcoming match.

Queue (n): Somewhere teams should be on time but are always late to.

[Aaron.Graeve]

FMS (n.): An almost incomprehensible collection of computers, wires, and network switches designed to never connect your robot and Driver Station on the first attempt. See mDNS.

Field Fault (n.): One of the many FMS standard operating procedures and the one you pray for when a mach is going poorly. Usually appears once in every 15 matches for no reason.

Christmas Tree (n.): The only festive phrase that will make FTAs universally frustrated. See Field Fault.

[CaptainKirby]

Average Match Score (n): something that people only talked about during Recycle Rush

Harpoons (n): A beautiful idea.

[TheBoulderite]

Indiana Robotics Invitational (n.) A competitive event and the bane of world champions. See OP Robotics.

[Abhishek R]

Drive Practice (n.): Time used for testing the autonomous functions of a robot every night the mechanical team is not modifying the robot.

[orangelight]

Robot Troubleshooting(v.): A time when everyone blames the programmers for the robot not working but in reality it's electrical's/build's fault.

[jajabinx124]

Aerial Assault(n.): Nothing but assaulting in this game, which led to police inquiry (refs.) about charges (fouls).

Picklist(n.): Horribly organized sheet of paper that is barely readable, and is only understandable by one person. No proper sense of rankings based on robot performance or role, just an assortment of random numbers on paper.

Match Strategy(n.): A rock paper scissors show off between 3 teams to chose which strategy to go with.

Alliance Selections(n.): A session where alliance captains pick random numbers.

Heat Gun(n.): Your build season replacement for a microwave.

[EmileH]

Referee Panel (n.): A device used to score an alliance or robot. In 2014 also used to enrage human players waiting for the pedestal to light up signaling the OK to start a new cycle after a goal was scored. See Aerial Assist

[ratdude747]

Bumper(n.): a soft protective device that usually (2010-2014) has a team's number hastily scrawled on with a sharpie marker. They tend to be very unique, often in defiance of attempts to standardize such.

Christmas Tree(n.): A bright and colorful cue from FMS for the DJ to play the chicken dance, YMCA, cupid shuffle, or the hokey pokey. Also a cue for the FTA(s), FTAA(s), and Scorekeeper(s) to suddenly appear as if they really, really, REALLY dislike said music, usually in form of a scowl.

Corn(n.): Indiana's universal fuel that powers everything. Considered a viable alternative to batteries for the 2016 game (Indiana district teams only :D ).

[Monochron]

Victor (n): An electronic device used sacrificially to prevent damage to a Fuse. Often also used to collect metal swarf. See also Jaguar.

*sensible clapping*

[EricH]

Corn Indiana's universal fuel that powers everything. Considered a viable alternative to batteries for the 2016 game (Indiana district teams only :D ).

Also considered by some (see: GDC) to be a viable alternative to carpet.



Referee (n.) Person responsible for making the right call regarding interaction on the field, which invariably offends someone else who, not having read the rules, thinks it should have gone the other way.

Question Box (n.) Obscure square of tape on the floor, often but not always near the scoring table. Used to yell atdiscuss a call with the Head Referee.

[ratdude747]

Ariel Assist (n.): Let's go save the mermaid before Ursula gets her!


Arial Assist (n.): A game where times new roman (among other infractions) results in a 50 point Technical Foul.

Technical Foul(n.): A soul-crushing 50 point penalty. Second only to a Red Card. In 2014, these were assigned by a lottery, of unknown explainable algorithm.

Red Card(n.): The mother of all punishments on the field. The nightmare of drive teams, and in 2015, a form of execution in playoffs. See Stack Attack

Stack Attack(n.): 1. The 2003 FRC game that is among the top three worst games according to most. 2. In 2015, a large scale game of dominoes. A common cause of death in playoffs. See also Darwin Awards.

[Mitchell1714]

2015(n.)- a game based off of opr
2014(n.)- a game based off of crashing, six sided bumpers and 254 winning
2013-2011(n.)- the good old days
2009(n.)- the bad old days
Simbotics(n.)- the best team in the world, FRC 1114, trades this spot every other year to The Cheesy Poofs
The Cheesy Poofs(n.)- also the best team in the world, FRC 254, trades this spot every other year to Simbotics
HOT(n.)- Heroes Of Tomorrow, the team even 1114 and 254 are scared of, FRC 67, inventors of the utility arm
Bobcats(n.)- The team that has gone to Einstein 435 years in a row*, FRC 177
OP(n.)- FRC 2056, a regional win that ways 120 lbs
High Rollers(n.)- the only team to have a turret in 2013, FRC 987
Scorch and burn(v.)- Official strategy of 1678, very effective
Intake(n.)- spinning wheels on the front of your robot
Six Wheel Drive(n.)- the best drive train in FRC
Sleep(n.)- an illusion from the first Sunday of January to mid February
Reveal Video(n.)- a video in which your robot always looks really good
First Day of Build Season(n.)- a combination of Christmas, Thanksgiving, Birthday, Easter and Halloween
Friends(n.)- people your age that will tolerate you showing them 118's reveal video from Aerial Assist for the 15th time
Real Friends(n.)-people your age that will tolerate you showing them 118's reveal video from Aerial Assist, then argue 1986's was better
The Best Team in FRC(n.)- the team you are on

*FRC 177 has only gone 7 times in a row, 435 is a slight exaggeration

[GeeTwo]

Arena (n): A structure in which every dimension that matters is constructed outside the tolerances specified in the field drawings (see Bistromathics, recipriversexclusion)
Water Game (n): The universal solvent solution for game hints according to a variety of CD posters.
Offseason (n): A fairy tale told to help keep rookies going for a few more hours.
Game Reveal Day (n): FIRST's answer to Mardi Gras / Carnival / Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Day. That is, it is the last, greatest celebration which precedes a six-week season of penitence and self-denial.
Stop Build Day (n), also known as Bag and Tag: Another fairy tale told to help keep rookies going for a few more hours when "Offseason" seems too far away.
masochist (n): within the FIRST context, a null descriptive term for a person.
Working Sensor Software (n): A product delivered by the program team which ensures that the sensor will be mechanically damaged beyond repair, and possibly replacement, in the immediate future.
CIM (n), also called CIM motor: the most robust container for blue smoke allowed in FRC.
RoboRIO brownout (v, n): The GDC's alternative to limiting the number of motors allowed on a robot.
Team Q&A (n): The GDC's means of injecting requirements drift into even the most disciplined development processes.
Practice Field (n): A facility at an FIRST competition which is only available when your team is scheduled to be in the queue or a match.
Game Reveal Video (n): The earliest and most reliable information as to how each season's game will not actually be played.

[GaryVoshol]

Break the game (adj.): Describes a rule modification made just prior to competition beginning, because the GDC didn't see it coming. Also see He Made Me Do It.

Raul Rule (n.): A rule modification made after competition begins, because the GDC didn't see it coming. See Stacking Robots.

He Made Me Do It (adj.): Describes a Get Out Of Jail Free rule, usually invoked to avoid a Red Card, but sometimes just a foul. Not always present in all rule sets.

Referee (n.): A volunteer who is expected to start at perfection, and steadily improve thereafter.

[Taylor]

Plowie (n): A mythical, cartoonish creation resembling a Reveal Video favorite, Dozer, whose mere mention raises an enraged Dave Lavery from his slumber for a brief episode of spittle-flying and general humbuggery.

Cotton Eyed Joe (n): A series of unintelligible noises that gives me the irresistible urge to go to the bathroom.

Game Announcer (n): A human with a microphone that is ignored by everybody. Only intelligible on unmuted webcasts, which do not actually exist.

[Joseph Smith]

Inspection (v.) 1. The first time that many rookie teams learn the robot rules. 2. A process during which teams are asked to put electrical tape over sharp edges of their robot, which will fall off shortly into the first match. 3. Something your alliance partner has not passed.
Opening Ceremonies (n.) Something that allegedly takes place while you're in the pits getting your drive code working.

[evanperryg]

Jaguar (n): see Satan

Pool Noodle (n): how to make your low-seed alliance competitive

Robot Troubleshooting(n.): A time when everyone blames the programmers for the robot not working but in reality it's electrical's/build's fault.

Also, a time when everyone blames the electrical team for the robot not working but in reality it's programming/build's fault. Also, a time when everyone blames the mechanical team for the robot not working but in reality it's electrcal/programming's fault, although this never happens.

[Kevin Leonard]

#2Champs (n.) - The end of days, see also Championsplit

Mentor (n.) - What builds robots that are better than yours

NASA (n.) - The group that probably built the world champions

Chairmans Award (n.) - The award your team totally deserved to win and don't the judges know anything gosh

[techhelpbb]

Fault testing:
The process, allegedly, by which issues in a project are identified and repairs are scoped. In actuality it is the more mature version of 'The Musical Chairs of Blame'. See also fatalism

Fatalism:
I accept your criticism because I simply am tired of pretending the musical chairs fix the problem and the time between matches, seasons and life is insufficient to play 'The Musical Chairs of Blame'.

Musical Chairs of Blame:
Usually done to the mimed version of "Clair De Loon".

Clair De Loon:
The homophone of "Clair De Lune" with deepest condolences to Clause Debussy for his unwitting contribution to this humor. See also homophone

Homophone:
Segway meets segue and America English is reduced to the common denominator of greater usage versus grammatical correctness ;)


NASA (n.) - The group that probably built the world champions


Canada:
Better 'armed' than NASA.

[BenGuy]

DPR (Defensive Power Rating) (n.)

(1) 2015: Every team had the number but shouldn't have it. :D

(2) <=2014: Every team had the number but it was never looked at or known how it was calculated. :D

[BenGuy]

Also considered by some (see: GDC) to be a viable alternative to carpet.



Referee (n.) Person responsible for making the right call regarding interaction on the field, which invariably offends someone else who, not having read the rules, thinks it should have gone the other way.

Question Box (n.) Obscure square of tape on the floor, often but not always near the scoring table. Used to yell atdiscuss a call with the Head Referee.

Question Box (n.) [REVISION]

Obscure square of tape on the floor, often but not always near the scoring table. Used to yell atdiscuss a call with the Head Referee. Only used every once in a while, usually referee is questioned / yelled at from anywhere.

[FlamingSpork]

C++ (n.) An arcane language devised by wizards hundreds of years ago.
Also the lightest language officially supported by NI/WPI. (Very helpful if your robot is close to the weight limit.)

Programming Mentor (n.) One of the above-mentioned wizards.

Camera (n.) A mythical object that the Electrical subteam promises to put on the robot. See also Vision Processing.

[SeanFitz]

Weight Limit (n.) A mythical number that, invariably, your team will end up slightly above.

1" Drill Bit (n.) The tool that only comes into use once a year when the weight limit is breached

[Ari423]

Custom Dashboard (n.) a method of determining how much free time your programmers have

[Billfred]

John V-Neun (n.) Someone that at some point everyone was.

[marshall]

John V-Neun (n.) Someone that at some point everyone was.

No no no, everyone knows that he wrote the first version of Excel. ;)

[Kevin Leonard]

Einstein (n) - Straight madness

[KosmicKhaos]

Driver Meeting (n.) A meeting betweeen the drive teams and the head ref. Typically this is the period of time to ask questions that were clearly stated in the rule book, and learn how to play the game.

Lead Quer (n.) The person you apoligize to, and promise to be on time next time to when you are late to queing.

[CaptainKirby]

DPR (n): The stat your team points to when neither its OPR nor its CCWM are impressive.

CAD Software (n): 1) Your greatest enemy. 2) Your greatest ally.

Safety Glasses (n): The catch-all piece of safety equipment.

[Jalerre]

Mechanical Monkeys (n.) a group of people on an FRC team with low intelligence that are usually wielding a wrench; a phrase commonly used by programmers

Hard Stop (n.) a device used to break parts of a robot when a sensor should be used but isn't; see Mechanical Monkeys

CRio (n.) an antiquated device no longer used in FRC; another name for RoboRio when members forget that there is a new control system

[TheBoulderite]

FRC (n.) 1. The greatest thing since sliced bread.
2. An addiction.

[Kevin Leonard]

Match Schedule (n.) - The only thing that kept you from winning World Championships

[Christopher149]

Pick Me Maybe (n.) The only song by Carly Rae Jepsen team 399.

[Joseph Smith]

1/8" Drill Bit (n.) 1. The label on the perpetually vacant slot in the drill bit set. 2.The bit that you use for everything. 3. You bought ten at the start of the season, but they have all mysteriously disappeared by the week before bag.

3/16" Drill Bit (n.) see 1/8" Drill Bit

5/32" Drill Bit (n.) see 1/8" Drill Bit

10-32 Tap (n.) A ceremonial tool that every freshman must break at least once as a rite of passage.

Hammer (n.) A percussive maintenance tool used to forcefully repair all mechanical problems on the robot.

3/4" Wrench (n.) see Hammer

[Michael Hill]

Safety Captain (n.) - The role given to a non-drive team member in the pit. Usually given to someone thrown under the bus, but gets to wear a badge of honor. Generally has no authority or knowledge of safety. See Safety.

[markmcgary]

Plowie (n): A mythical, cartoonish creation resembling a Reveal Video favorite, Dozer, whose mere mention raises an enraged Dave Lavery from his slumber for a brief episode of spittle-flying and general humbuggery.

Perfect.

[TheBoulderite]

Team Overdrive (n.) The role model and hero of every rookie team.

[Matt C]

Bill of Materials (n.) - A random list of parts, most of which are on the robot, assembled the night before or morning of inspection.

[lark95]

Hard reset (n) A common device used to manipulate mechanical machinery to revert to the original designed purpose, often found in the form of a large wrench or screwdriver.

[Mrcope9]

Qualification pairings(n): A system of "random" selections that determine what rollerskates a team plays qualification matches with. Also The reason quality teams have a lower ranking at a regional.
Rollerskate (n): A competition robot that consists of a drivetrain and at most 1 mechanism that works 15% of the time. Mostly done by rookie teams. Also see Defense
Defense(n/v): A stategy used by robots that contribute nothing to the actual game being played. Rendered useless in 2015
Lone Star Regional (n): Who are The Robonauts taking to Worlds?
Dallas Regional (n): Who are The Robowranglers taking to Worlds?
Silicon Valley Regional (n): Who are The Cheesy Poofs taking to Worlds?
Awards (n): A series of achievements given at each event that showcase overall aesthetic appeal of robots and the marketing of teams with under-performing robots.
Drivers meeting (n): A collection of teenagers who lead others to believe that they may not even know which FRC game is being played as they know so few rules the first day of a competition.
The Blue Alliance (n): A website containing much of the resources necessary for scouting, watching, and record keeping. Most often visited more than traditional social media from January-April.
Declining (v): The reason various teams develop the reputation of being a jerk.
LEDs(n): Often times the reason your team is noticed by other teams.
Buttons (n): Items produced by underclassmen team members with little or developing technical skills. They are then traded with underclassmen members from other teams.
Power Couple (n): Two established and powerful teams from the same geographic area that often team up and win events together. Sometimes includes traveling as one. Ex: 1114 and 2056, 624 and 1477, 254 and 971/1678, 118 and 148, etc.
Cleaning the shop (v): hazing

[Michael Hill]

Inspection - Activity that occurs at the latest time possible on Thursday. Sometimes leads to cutting the robot in half to either cut weight or size.

[Jalerre]

Looks like someone from the FRC subreddit assembled all the definitions in alphabetical order here (http://orangelight.gitbooks.io/the-first-devil-s-dictionary/content/dictionary.html).

[TheBoulderite]

OP Robotics (n.) 1. A team from Canada that has never lost a regional and capable of holding its own against Simbotics.

2. The bane of world champions at IRI.

[aspiece]

Truck Town Funk adj. - A form of funky behavior that may be often confused for the funk of another team with a slightly lower number. This funk has been known to have a bit of a Turkey Leg Aroma in the fall. ::ouch::

[TheBoulderite]

Nebraska (n.) A mysterious and uncharted land.

[orangelight]

Looks like someone from the FRC subreddit assembled all the definitions in alphabetical order here (http://orangelight.gitbooks.io/the-first-devil-s-dictionary/content/dictionary.html).

That would be me, it's mostly up to date.

[The other Gabe]

Defense (n): Something people complain there is too much of until there is a game without it.

Offense (n): Something people always want more of, until a game is played with only it.

[Ginger Bread]

Pick Me Maybe (n.) The only song by Carly Rae Jepsen team 399.
I was actually going to make my own version of this for the FIRST parody competition for my team but then i read this and was like, O, I'll think of something else.

[Christopher149]

Robot (n.) Something that FRC teams may or may not build. See RC car.

[Abhishek R]

Safety Captain (n.) - The role given to a non-drive team member in the pit. Usually given to someone thrown under the bus, but gets to wear a badge of honor. Generally has no authority or knowledge of safety. See Safety.

Wait, I can't find Safety in the book.

Arms race (n.): the era from 1947 to 2015 in which FRC was in a state of tension as teams began to stockpile nuclear weapons, in fear that the other alliance may declare a "can war" on them. See 1678.

[GeeTwo]

Wait, I can't find Safety in the book.

How about:

Safety (n):

Conditions and/or procedures which reduce the likelihood of injuring personnel or damaging equipment.
An award at FRC events which some teams think will go to teams who put up posters with lots of yellow and orange, have mascots wearing hard hats and orange vests, and yell Robot! a lot. Sometimes the judges think so, too.
A means of scoring defensive points in the mythical upcoming American football-based game.
A robot assigned a defensive role in the aforementioned game.

[pabeekm]

I apologize for any excess snark below.

RI3D (n): Robot In 3 Days. An annual reminder that we are all just slackers. See cheat sheet.

Spirit award (n): When FIRST congratulates the team who most enthusiastically blocks everyone’s view in the stands. See participation ribbon.

Kit of parts drivetrain (n): Antithesis to mecanum; A simple, sensible drivetrain configuration that you can actually win with.

LabVIEW (n): That language you always thought was too geeky for you until you realized how great it looked without those braces and big ugly classes.

[EricH]

Free time (n.) _______________________ Read as: "Undefined"

[randantor]

RoboRIO (n.) A device used to store metal shavings from elsewhere on the robot.

Drive Practice (n.) A time set aside for the drive team to watch the programmers debug code.

Tether (n.) An Ethernet cable noted for its ability to tangle itself when left unsupervised.

Zip tie (n.) The standard fastener used on FRC robots.

[EDesbiens]

LabVIEW (n): That language you always thought was too geeky for you until you realized how great it looked without those braces and big ugly classes.

But then you realized it compiled way to slowly and could easily overload the CPU...

[Caleb Sykes]

12V solenoid (n.): An expensive paperweight because the PCM is always set for 24V.

24V solenoid (n.): An expensive paperweight because the PCM is always set for 12V.

Robot Inspector (n.): A nice man who takes care of Curious George.

Serpentine Draft (n.): A systematic procedure used to encourage teams to be the 24th best team at the event.

SmartDashbord (n.): A convenient place to put a lot of information that the drivers will never look at.

[EricH]

Safety Adviser (n.) Person in a green polo shirt whose job often appears to be to force teams to use the LEAST safe way of doing any given work in the pits.

Pit Admin (n.) That voice in your head telling you to report to queuing, you are in the next match.

Queuing Team (n., plural) Cat herders, traffic directors, and "that's the exit gate" group.

[Owen Busler]

Anodizing Black (v.) A process which instantly gives a product superior performance.

[orangelight]

We have 4 OP robotics "definitions" (http://orangelight.gitbooks.io/the-first-devil-s-dictionary/content/GLOSSARY.html#op) and counting

[ratdude747]

Acrylic (n.): A cheaper "replacement" for lexan. Can be identified by a lack of a blue sheen, or more commonly by it's tendency to crack/shatter when actually used on the robot, especially after last minute pit repairs using materials given by neighboring pit. See lexan.

Lexan (n.): A very strong, clear material. Despite it's high costs, it is claimed to be in many pits at competitions; if needed a neighboring pit will have a scrap of "such" for you to use. See acrylic.

Sick day (n.): A day during build season when one takes off due to illness. On this day, any major project that they had been working on for at least a week will be tested by somebody, often a mentor, who has no idea how you intended it to be used. May result in cracked welds, ruined precision machined surfaces/bores, and/or lost magic smoke.


--------

The first one actually happened to me in 2010, due to a dead (shattered) ball intake, we needed to cover a hole to prevent the 3" ball intrusion rule from applying. That fix with what was supposedly "lexan" lasted, um, one match before getting cracked clean in half.

The last one also is a true story, my freshman year (2008) while I had the flu a mentor incorrectly connected my IR interface board to the KOP IR receiver board (for hybrid period) and fried the receiver, after stocks of said board were no longer available! No hybrid for us that year. :(

[Aidan Cox]

Snow Day (n.): The reason the New England District can't have nice things.

[Koko Ed]

Safety Captain (n.) - The role given to a non-drive team member in the pit. Usually given to someone thrown under the bus, but gets to wear a badge of honor. Generally has no authority or knowledge of safety. See Safety.

and for some reason mistakenly believes their badge earns them access to the field.

[MysterE]

Media Team (n): 1) The reason the slogan "More than Robots" was invented; 2) Those who blind with flashes; 3) Land of punishment for bad builders (IE. If you don't stop stripping those screws, I'm going to put you on the Media Team.)

[George1902]

Human Player (n.): The most important/useless member of the drive team.

[efoote868]

Wait, I can't find Safety in the book.


Safety - (verb) 1. To shout ROBOT! ROBOT! ROBOT! when transporting a carted robot through the pits regardless of the noise or number of pedestrians around.
Did he really have to safety in my ear? I'm going to go deaf.
2. To create litter by plastering homemade signs on every surface that fits an 8.5x11 sheet of paper.
They really safety'd all over this place. I doubt we'll be able to clean up these Wear your glasses signs in less than a day.
3. To remind people to wear Personal Protective Equipment correctly.
I had to safety those freshmen when I saw their forehead protectors.

[Taylor]

Battery (n): An energy storing device that features black and red wire handles.

Butterfly Drive (n): A clever way of combining the scrub of treads with the sloppiness of omniwheels.

Masking Tape (n): The preferred method of displaying a rookie team's number on its bumpers.

Master of Ceremonies (n): An individual whose prime objective is to determine different ways to create feedback using a wireless microphone.

Red Dots (n): A method of ensuring a rookie will never again post on www.chiefdelphi.com

Red 2 (n): The drive station that never connects properly at IRI.

Seventh Alliance Captain (n): The individual who announces the numbers of teams who (1)have already been selected, (2)are not at the current event, or (3)do not actually exist. Not necessarily in that order.

Stand Scouting (v): The action of taking copious notes about the bottom half of an event's teams before covering the papers with a spilled beverage, pizza sauce, and/or chocolate.

[TheBoulderite]

Coopertition (n.) A concept that you should work with the opposing alliance to score extra points. Generally is thrown out the window when elimination rounds begin.

[MysterE]

Bayou Regional (n): The regional in which a random Texas team will lead penitent Louisiana or Mississippi teams to World Championship.

[EmileH]

LabVIEW (n.): A programming environment designed to give rookie programmers the illusion of an easy method to program the robot. In reality is highly illogical. See Java

Java (n.): The programming environment that seems daunting at first, and takes 3 years to learn to full potential. See Seniors

C++ (n.): An older, less logical, more confusing relative of Java.

UNH District Event (n.): 1. Home to elimination ronds that never goes off smoothly. 2. In 2015 a human players button falls off getting lodged inside a stack in Finals 2, plus the lights go out halfway through Finals 1. 3. In 2014 was home to the most replays due to one failure (exit gate lexan entering the field).

[TheBoulderite]

Utah Regional (n.) A regional that some random out-of-state team decides to attend and wins.

[Jalerre]

Water Game (n.) next year's FRC game

[GeeTwo]

Bayou Regional (n): The regional in which a random Texas team will lead penitent Louisiana or Mississippi teams to World Championship.

Actually, this year it was an Arkansas team that picked two Louisiana teams.

[triumph69]

Water Game (n.) next year's FRC game
Was just waiting for someone to go there...

[triumph69]

Battle Bots (n.) What everyone first thinks their joining when getting into FRC for the first time.

[RoboChair]

Butterfly Drive (n): A clever way of combining the scrub of a 4wd with the sloppiness of mecanums.


The proper term is Octocanum.
Butterfly is the one with onmi wheels.

[cjl2625]

Mechanical (n.): A wrench-swinging monkey who will never be as cool as a programmer.
"Can't those mechanicals work any faster? I wanna test the code already!"

[Joseph Smith]

Michigan (n.) 1. Land of a thousand districts. 2. Home of a thousand rookie teams.

Michigan State Championship (n.) 1.From 2009-2014, the highest concentration of competitive robots outside of IRI. 2. In 2015, a brief detour on the way to the World Championship.

[Jalerre]

Mechanical (n.): A wrench-swinging monkey who will never be as cool as a programmer.
"Can't those mechanicals work any faster? I wanna test the code already!"

See Mechanical Monkeys (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1492658&postcount=100)

[tr6scott]

1” Open End Wrench (n) - Tool used by Drive team, (see Mechanical) to disassemble (see Magic Smoke) Classmate Driver Station during field set up. Sometimes preceded by, “Show us how you shake your thing” and immediately followed by “It must be a programming issue?”

[marshall]

Adjustable Wrench (n) - Tool used by students to make hexagonal or square shapes into circles.

[RoboChair]

Adjustable Wrench (n) - Tool used by students to make hexagonal or square shapes into circles.

See Right Handed Nut Rounder

[MikLast]

PNW District (n.): The district that has the best video quality in FRC.

[Basel A]

Chokehold Strategy (n.): Oh man, I have no idea. Although I'll probably never need to know. Ask Karthik.

[BenGuy]

Snow Day (n.): The reason the New England District can't have nice things.

Adding on...

Snow Day (n.): The reason the New England District can't have nice things. The Texas teams have no such record of problems with losing a day of work, for the Michigan and New England Districts, it is great because of no school, however detrimental to the robot building effort... Especially when snow falls too much on bag and tag day... :confused: :mad: :D

[lark95]

Head Mentor (n): The only form of rational judgment found on most teams.

[BenGuy]

Next Year's Game (n.): Always a water game until the first hint comes out (for the smart ones) or the game announcement (for the true believers) where a logical game is announced, and the water game is postponed until next year's game. see: Next Year's Game

[lark95]

Practice Matches (n): A magical time at a regional, before the real competition starts, that many have heard of, but few have actually experienced.

[RoboMom]

The Macy's Day Parade, aka, the Horror Show, aka, Load in (n). The 45 minute parade on Day 1 of an event where teams with no sightlines rush to try to wheel/carry all manner of dangerous, precariously balanced & protruding objects into the pits. See Safety.

Deadheading (v). The practice of catching a one-day volunteer trying to enter the volunteer eating area using their badge on days they are not volunteering.

The "Packed in the Pit" Defense (n). The most common excuse used by teams on Day 1 for not wearing safety glasses while entering the pits.

Volunteer Coordinator (n) The person at an event who is expected to solve most problems which don't involve objects that light up or plug in. The time commitment for this volunteer position starts 6 months before the event and involves too many hours of "training" calls, meetings, begging and making wild guesses for inventory.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Judge Advisor (n.) - Cat herder. See also Cindy and Allen

Cindy and Allen (n.) - Awesome.

Judge's Assistant (n.) - The person who really runs the judge's room.

[Ginger Bread]

Money (n): 1. The paper substance that is vital to any teams success 2. usually following the word get (get money) 3. The reason there are sponsors (see sponsors) 4. something we all need more of

[RoboMom]

Brave Little Toaster Sandwich (n) Stories about hapless teams/robots where the bad news is buffered by the less bad news. Also see "Good News/Bad News."
Team Smarty Pants' robot finally passed inspection and could play their last match!
But the robot caught fire on the field.
Luckily we had that really big fire extinguisher nearby.

Zamboni(ed) (v) An especially entertaining entry to the field by an emcee or VIP. Also see Blair, Woodie, Boston Regional.

[GaryVoshol]

Bag n Tag (n): We used to shut up the robots in a dark box and ship them away from home. Now we just suffocate them.

[rsisk]

Loop (n.) See Loop

[Ginger Bread]

Loop (n.) See Loop

i see what you did there.

[Koko Ed]

Adding on...

Snow Day (n.): The reason the New England District can't have nice things. The Texas teams have no such record of problems with losing a day of work, for the Michigan and New England Districts, it is great because of no school, however detrimental to the robot building effort... Especially when snow falls too much on bag and tag day... :confused: :mad: :D

and then came the 2015 Dallas Regional.....

[nate12345678]

Mechanical (N.) People who blame programming for things they broke

Programming (N.) The universal scapegoat

[orangelight]

Mechanical (N.) People who blame programming for things they broke

Programming (N.) The universal scapegoat

I second this

[John Retkowski]

Mechanical (N.) People who blame programming for things they broke

Programming (N.) The universal scapegoat

It's a lie!

[BJT]

Inspector Training (n)
1: A service provided by the first team inspected at a regional.
2: Punishment for daring to be the first team inspected at a regional.
3: Situation easily remedied by finding Al

[EricH]

Mechanical (N.) People who blame programming for things they broke

Programming (N.) The universal scapegoat

Electrical (n.) Programming's scapegoat. Often also programming.

Scapegoat (n.) Team member or group that is blamed for whatever failed this time, regardless of 1) presence anywhere near failure, 2) actual culpability. Sometimes referred to as escapegoat if everybody else is too busy getting out of there.

"I didn't do it!" (phrase) Statement shouted by everybody NOT involved in breaking something this time, and sometimes by whoever did it.

[Citrus Dad]

Wait, I can't find Safety in the book.
Arms race (n.): the era from 1947 to 2015 in which FRC was in a state of tension as teams began to stockpile nuclear weapons, in fear that the other alliance may declare a "can war" on them. See 1678.

Test Ban Treaty (n.): A negotiated end to the can war after the consumption of large quantities of cheesecake, that saved the lives of many freshmen. See IRI Rules

[Newo]

Vortex (n.): A large circle of desks assembled on day one of build season to house the CAD and code teams. Synonymous with "black hole", both in inward attractive force and in relativistic time dilation; "Thou who enter the vortex shall not emerge from its depths until the temporal substance which fuels it has evaporated after 6-9 weeks."

Mating (v.): A term used to describe a relationship I will add between the frontal flat planar surface of my palm with your curved facial face when you make this joke for the hundredth time while I'm stuck in the vortex with you. See Vortex.

[TedG]

Bumper (n.) - A component (sometimes) required on a robot to pass inspection; covered with special fabric and team numbers to a specification that many teams have a hard time following.

[Marcow]

Scouting Meeting (n.): gathering of team mates with the purpose to trash talk other teams with no regard to actual data. If a team is considered a "powerhouse", these discussions take place out of the venue behind closed doors or over Google hangouts.

[The other Gabe]

Scouting Meeting (n.): gathering of team mates with the purpose to trash talk other teams with no regard to actual data. If a team is considered a "powerhouse", these discussions take place out of the venue behind closed doors or over Google hangouts.

Related:

Scouting Data entry (n.):
1) something still done by technologically backwards teams
2)literally social hour
3)Accidentally falling asleep while your minions really nice friends enter the data for you

[Kevin Leonard]

Scouting Meeting (n.): gathering of team mates with the purpose to trash talk other teams with no regard to actual data. If a team is considered a "powerhouse", these discussions take place out of the venue behind closed doors or over Google hangouts.

We all know the "powerhouse" teams find powerhouse restaurants (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1472642&postcount=2)to discuss strategy.

Related:

Scouting Data entry (n.):
1) something still done by technologically backwards teams
2)literally social hour
3)Accidentally falling asleep while your minions really nice friends enter the data for you

Or it's still done by teams that value data and use paper scouting systems because other methods are either unreliable or costly

I'll counter with my own:
Scouting Data Entry (n.)- The process by which accurate scouting data is inputted into a database, never to be seen again

[George1902]

I'll counter with my own:
Scouting Data Entry (n.)- The process by which accurate scouting data is inputted into a database, never to be seen again
I'll see you and raise you:

Data analysis (n.): Carefully crafted conclusions drawn from carelessly collected data.

[jajabinx124]

I'll see you and raise you:

Data analysis (n.): Carefully crafted conclusions drawn from carelessly collected data.

The reality of this statement though... So true.

[piersklein]

District Points System (n.) 1. The system by which teams are picked from a hat and invited to district championship 2. The reason we should really design to win awards not matches

[Kevin Leonard]

The District System (n.)- A universally better system for qualifying teams for the championship event that will never reach the states that need it most
Wildcards (n.) - A conspiracy to get more Canadian and Californian teams to qualify for Championships each year

[Citrus Dad]

The District System (n.)- A universally better system for qualifying teams for the championship event that will never reach the states that need it most
Wildcards (n.) - A conspiracy to get more Canadian and Californian teams to qualify for Championships each year

Wildcards.... (See The District System)

[Citrus Dad]

I'll see you and raise you:

Data analysis (n.): Carefully crafted conclusions drawn from carelessly collected data.

:yikes:

[Citrus Dad]

I'll counter with my own:
Scouting Data Entry (n.)- The process by which accurate scouting data is inputted into a database, never to be seen again

And I counter/counter:

Scouting Data Entry (n.)- The process in which random values are entered in to a database to disguise homework, eating, gabbing and napping while traveling on someone else's nickel.

Data Analysis (n.) - the process of applying mystical values and incantations to randomly entered values to divine an ethereal ranking of potential mates.

[dodar]

And I counter/counter:

Scouting Data Entry (n.)- The process in which random values are entered in to a database to disguise homework, eating, gabbing and napping while traveling on someone else's nickel.

Data Analysis (n.) - the process of applying mystical values and incantations to randomly entered values to divine an ethereal ranking of potential mates.

RNGesus gets many prayers Friday night.

[DaRealSlimShady]

RNGesus gets many prayers Friday night.

And forgive us our respectful declines as we forgive our respectful decliners.

[STreese]

Crazy Ivan (n): When your robot, operating in autonomous, suddenly deviates radically from its programmed course for no apparent reason - often crashing into something (I'm sure it's not the code!). See also "Hunt for Red October".

[tealmini]

safety glasses (n.) eye protection that fogs up constantly
water (n.) something necessary to stay hydrated at competitions and prevent medical emergencies which no one drinks
SWAG drive (n.) Slide With A Grip (center wheel not omni) (term created during the 2015 season by 303)
"working" (adj.) (during competitions) the component was just put together and may or may not function properly
honeyscouting (v.) a method of pit scouting used by some teams that utilizes pretty girls to distract a strategy team or member, usually male, from the fact that the advertized robot doesn't actually work.
driver practice (n.) a chance for the drive team to mess up the robot before competitions. See melting pneumatics
curie division (n.) a division in worlds from which no team has ever won completely. See Curie's Curse
scouting (v.) something that either saves your team during alliance or puts the nail in the coffin. See pick list
meCANTum (n.) insult to mecanum wheels that was funny until 2015. See Recycle Rush

[ratdude747]

curie division (n.) a division in worlds from which no team has ever won completely. See Curie's Curse

2014 begs to differ...

[jman4747]

CIM: Completely Indestructible Motor - Used in place of engineering to make sure that appendage lifts what it needs to and doesn't need a brake/clutch.

Vex Pro: Anodized, Teflon coated, or plastic

Andy Mark: Silver

"OP" Robotics: A very appropriate name. See OP

[Taylor]

China (n): 1. A new and exciting frontier for the FIRST Robotics Competition. 2. Why suppliers don't have any useful stock from the day after kickoff until two days after BagnTag Day.

Coopertate (v): What FRC teams do in every aspect of their lives except for on the competition field.

[GDG 2337]

FABRICATED ITEMS (n): An eclectic combination of ingredients commonly used to make Cheese Cake

[efoote868]

Magic Smoke (noun) - A stored amount of matter in all electrical devices which provides fuel for mad hamsters responsible for providing the correct output. Once the Magic Smoke is released (accidentally or intentionally) the mad hamsters will die, and the electrical device ceases to work.

Magic Noise (noun) - A vibration resistant glue contained in a finite amount of all mechanical devices. Once the mechanical device releases too much of its magic noise it often fails.

[ProgrammerMatt]

Programmer- A biologically engineered person who converts caffeine into strange assortments of 1's and 0's

CSA- WHERES THE ORANGE HAT PERSON!

Code- The one thing that is always blamed when something goes wrong

[hectorcastillo]

Infinite Loop (n): see Infinite Loop

[GeeTwo]

These were prompted by a highlighted quote (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1141320&postcount=100) by Ike from a couple of years back:

minion (n): a nominally autonomous entity who obeys your commands through emotional loyalty, deep conditioning, or stupidity. Not to be trusted with any tasking that involves actual thinking.

henchman (n): an autonomous entity who obeys your every command out of enlightened self interest. Not to be entrusted with enough information to lead a hostile takeover.

[Team34Guy]

as a programming/controls mentor, I have yet to see a "finished" bot......I have heard of other teams actually having one....but as for me I've never seen this mythical beast

[M3rcuriel]

Numbers don't lie! - Phrase usually uttered by the same people who entered incorrect numbers

[logank013]

Numbers don't lie! - Phrase usually uttered by the same people who entered incorrect numbers

Haha. So true. We had some people this year say in the data that a team pulled 8 bins of the step in autonomous... it was so odd ;)

[efoote868]

Haha. So true. We had some people this year say in the data that a team pulled 8 bins of the step in autonomous... it was so odd ;)

"Yes, but why would I write 8 if I didn't mean it. I have no reason to lie."

[M3rcuriel]

"Yes, but why would I write 8 if I didn't mean it. I have no reason to lie."

"Oh that wasn't me I traded my form with someone else for that match"

[Alicia V]

honeyscouting (v.) a method of pit scouting used by some teams that utilizes pretty girls to distract a strategy team or member, usually male, from the fact that the advertized robot doesn't actually work.


My team calls it "Chick Scouting" :)

[carpedav000]

My team calls it "Chick Scouting" :)

I call it a working strategy :yikes:

[ShotgunNinja]

Water Game (n.) - An event exhibiting sheer improbability by impracticality (like flying cars).
Team Queuing (n.) - Those folks who keep dropping screws and zip ties off of your cart.
Programming Mentor (n.) - A masochist whose particular form of self-inflicted torture involves watching inexperienced programmers write code and being unable to do it over by him- or herself.

[artK]

I call it a working strategy :yikes:

Unless they scout keeps coming back to the pit to talk to said pretty girl, and seeing more and more of the robot and it's problems. Or if the scouts are aware of the concept, and therefore look at the robot even more critically than they would otherwise.

[carpedav000]

Unless they scout keeps coming back to the pit to talk to said pretty girl, and seeing more and more of the robot and it's problems. Or if the scouts are aware of the concept, and therefore look at the robot even more critically than they would otherwise.

Im assuming thats why you were head scout?

[Taylor]

Chuck Norris (n): The name of the worst robot at any given event

[marcusbernstein]

Pool noodles (n) the only way your team can outscore an opposing alliance with 3 more robots than yours (33-4)

West coast drivetrain (n) what freshman tell pit scouters that your drivetrain is just because you are a west coast team and they dont know what a west coast drive is

Freshman (n) see also: manual labor subteam. See also monwell laboro

Totes (n) the only way to take your tools to champs if you're not driving a truck.

1114/900's harpoons the most effective way of lowering your volunteer team out of fear.

[Taylor]

Class C Defenses: They make better doors than windows. Although their functionality as doors are largely ignored.

High Goal: A task that is ridiculously easy in every season and at every event except for where your team currently is.

Judge: The person who gets blamed when it's really the referee's fault

[Chris is me]

Goal Chains: Sadistic, twisted little devils intended to help shots stay in the goal, but consistently do the opposite year after year.

(no but seriously, why does the GDC keep thinking these things help teams?)

[logank013]

Low Bar Curtains: Break away for awesome reveal videos

Boulders: The real 10th defense. Draws fouls left and right for running over them.

[carpedav000]

Driver Station (noun) A piece of technology used to control robots. Lack of Velcro may result in falling.

[rsisk]

Stronghold (v): an action that destroys field elements, robots, and field reset volunteers.

[Billfred]

Driver Station (noun) A piece of technology used to control robots. Lack of Velcro may result in falling.

Velcro (noun): Better foot protection for drive teams than closed-toe shoes.

[efoote868]

Tortuga (n): An award that recognizes the culmination of 6 weeks of preparation in strategy, design, and build of an FRC robot to play the 2016 game, only to fail in execution. Where design theory meets the real world.

[GreyingJay]

Where design theory meets the real world.

Design Theory (n): knowledge that doesn't work.

Real World (n): things work, but you don't have the knowledge as to why.

FRC (n): Combining design theory with the real world. Things don't work, and you don't know why.

[Anthony Galea]

Goal Chains: Sadistic, twisted little devils intended to help shots stay in the goal, but consistently do the opposite year after year.

(no but seriously, why does the GDC keep thinking these things help teams?)

To be fair for 2016, the goal chains, from what I saw from the driver station, helped our shots stay in the goal by redirecting them into the top of the goal rather than the back of the goal and back out. I will say that they did not help at all in 2013.

Loch Ness Monster: Triple balancing in 2012, 2 ball auto in 2016.

[logank013]

To be fair for 2016, the goal chains, from what I saw from the driver station, helped our shots stay in the goal by redirecting them into the top of the goal rather than the back of the goal and back out

At our week one event, 1501 shot a high goal from the left high goal and it exited the center high goal. Go chains!

[Bentorino]

Loch Ness Monster: Triple balancing in 2012, 2 ball auto in 2016.

I've seen one, but unfortunately, it's a bench grinder :/

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOSpto9_UAyGWzx8QSJFSkDiLXG4uBrn1mzlMWVaQDoqr EKW5JWnePH1TyaLNKdkQ/photo/AF1QipOMzpy0o4mKuAhaHWLim8CeILj1j2KhLN6ygptt?key=U zBzWmJ1aGpqS3NscEk0dFhBUjBOU0N2blZWSDZ3

[Andrew Schreiber]

Judge: The person who gets blamed when it's really the referee's fault

Alt defintion for Judge: Cat in a blue polo. Seriously, STAY WHERE I PUT YOU GOSH DANGIT! It's opening ceremonies, I just need you to behave for 30 minutes. Please? I'll give you candy!


This is the number one cause of judges hopped up on sugar after opening ceremonies. If you see any of them enter a sugar coma please contact your local JA. Do not attempt to feed the Judges.

[efoote868]

Bench Grinder (n): Known to autonomously score 2 boulders on a practice field.

[Maria S]

Rough Terrain (n.) The defense that mysteriously vanished after Week 1.

Scouting (v.) (2016) An excuse to ask the opposing alliance what defenses they can't do right before choosing said defenses.

Field Connectivity Problem (n.) A unexplainable issue resulting in a drive team standing around looking confused for a few minutes. The FRC rule book states that the field crew must blame said problem on the team and the team must blame it on the field crew. Even powerhouse teams are not immune.

[Maria S]

CAD model (n.) A pretty looking file that gets updated after you've built your robot.

[EricH]

Referee: The fall guy (or gal) for teams not making it obvious to themselves--and possibly others--that they did not, in fact, meet the conditions to score points.

Referee (alt): Member of the strange two-legged zebra herd. Generally found in the near vicinity of the FRC field. May be surprised elsewhere on occasion.

[LFrisk]

Minnesota (n) A place that everybody wants to move to districts except the people actually living there.

[EmileH]

Low Bar Curtains: Break away for awesome reveal videos

Low Bar Fabric (n): During Weeks 0, 0.5, 1, and some 2, were designed to break apart when robots attempt to go through them, commonly when at speeds above 5 feet per second. See Bumper Fabric

Referee (n): 1) The person always blamed for denying video evidence, thus the bane of all teams existence. See Video Review Needs To Happen Now
2) The 2016 scapegoat, previously Programmer.

[Christopher149]

Minnesota (n) A place that everybody wants to move to districts except the people actually living there.

Minnesota? I want Wisconsin to move to districts (or just have more teams). Having WI teams be able to play in the UP would let us host in our home town (cutting travel costs) and we'd be able to have out-of-district third plays within about 3 hours driving.

And if Ewen and Paradise and Mackinac Island and Beaver Island can have FRC teams, I continue to be dumbfounded as to why there are none in Superior and Ashland and Rhinelander.

Upper Michigan (n): The really rural part of the juggernaut (pun intended) district with a team per capita ratio 10 times greater than Wisconsin.

[orangemoore]

Minnesota (n) A place that everybody wants to move to districts except the people actually living there.

Wow.

[Anthony Galea]

Minnesota (n) A place that everybody wants to move to districts except the people actually living there.

If you could tell us, why? I mean, districts are great! You get up to 3x as many plays (24 vs 8) in qualifications for the same initial cost! Also, if you want a third event play, it only costs $500. You also save money by having closer events due to the lowered cost of having an event meaning that more venues host them. Another thing is that it makes it easier for good teams to qualify for champs with the points system, which admittedly has its flaws, but its better than "if you don't win an event or are finalist at an event where the winners have X amount of teams that have already qualified, you better win CA or EI".

But that's just me. I'm interested in hearing why you wouldn't like districts.

[EricH]

But that's just me. I'm interested in hearing why you wouldn't like districts.
Some areas just aren't ready.

Or some people may have a misguided view of what teams want in their areas.

BTW, file CA under MN's definition as well, with a slight rewrite to "SOME people living there".

[LFrisk]

If you could tell us, why? I mean, districts are great! You get up to 3x as many plays (24 vs 8) in qualifications for the same initial cost! Also, if you want a third event play, it only costs $500. You also save money by having closer events due to the lowered cost of having an event meaning that more venues host them. Another thing is that it makes it easier for good teams to qualify for champs with the points system, which admittedly has its flaws, but its better than "if you don't win an event or are finalist at an event where the winners have X amount of teams that have already qualified, you better win CA or EI".

But that's just me. I'm interested in hearing why you wouldn't like districts.

This isn't really the point of this thread so I won't get into it here.

[EmileH]

This isn't really the point of this thread so I won't get into it here.

Thank you! +30 thread re-railment points

[Caleb Sykes]

BTW, file CA under MN's definition as well, with a slight rewrite to "SOME people living there".

I think that rewrite applies to MN as well. Let's get this thread back on track though.

Derail a CD thread (v): To mention one or all of the topics: districts vs regionals, 2 champs, student vs mentor drive coaches, student vs mentor-built robots, robot in 3 days or equivalents, proliferation of COTS parts, bag day, east-coast bias, cheesecake, corndogs, mecanum wheels vs any other drive train, validitiy of OPR, referees, sandbagging into #1 pick, validity of CD polls, meaning of gracious professionalism, shouting robot, importance of safety glasses, strategic breaking of rules, referee/judge/inspector/MC bias, java/c++ versus labview, 2 champs, rivets vs bolts, field fault, low bar flaps, minibots, Lunacy, canburglars, robots tipping over, add ones I am missing here, video replay, lying in Chairman's submissions, powerhouse teams, coopertition, FMS, field connection issues, dangerous auto modes, swerve vs tank drive, etc...

[EricH]

I think that rewrite applies to MN as well. Let's get this thread back on track though.

Derail a CD thread (v): To mention one or all of the topics: districts vs regionals, 2 champs, student vs mentor drive coaches, student vs mentor-built robots, robot in 3 days or equivalents, proliferation of COTS parts, bag day, east-coast bias, cheesecake, corndogs, mecanum wheels vs any other drive train, validitiy of OPR, referees, sandbagging into #1 pick, validity of CD polls, meaning of gracious professionalism, shouting robot, importance of safety glasses, strategic breaking of rules, referee/judge/inspector/MC bias, java/c++ versus labview, 2 champs, rivets vs bolts, field fault, low bar flaps, minibots, Lunacy, canburglars, robots tipping over, add ones I am missing here, video replay, lying in Chairman's submissions, powerhouse teams, coopertition, FMS, field connection issues, dangerous auto modes, swerve vs tank drive, etc...
...In any thread that is NOT already about the item that is mentioned. If a thread is created specifically to address that mentioned item, the definition becomes Derail CD (v).

[seg9585]

Sledgehammer (n.): A precision tool used to meticulously coax your robot hardware back into proper working form

[pabeekm]

Sledgehammer (n.): A precision tool used to meticulously coax your students back into proper working form

Fixed that for you.

... I should never be allowed to mentor. :o

[seg9585]

Fixed that for you.

... I should never be allowed to mentor. :o

:ahh:


Code Deletion (n.): A method by which freshmen programmers debug or upgrade robot software

Half link (n.): A mandatory robot chain component for which failing to use one results in utter drivetrain destruction

Vision System (n.): A complex array of cameras, raspberry pis, and blinding LED lights that serve no purpose other than to tell judges that a robot has one but doesn't work

[Billfred]

Half link (n.): A mandatory robot chain component whose use results in utter drivetrain destruction

Fixed that for you.

Even number of links (n.): A design philosophy for chain drive systems that sorts out who is thinking "not an odd number" from the half-wits who think "an integer number" by condemning these half-successful designs half the time to half-links.

[Sperkowsky]

Successfully programming the radio at a competition the first time(V.): A rare occurrence I have never personally seen.

[Alan Anderson]

Successfully flashing a robot radio with the competition firmware the first time(V.): A rare occurrence I have never personally seen.

There is no such thing as "competition firmware".

[GeeTwo]

Successfully programming the radio at a competition the first time(V.): A rare occurrence I have never personally seen.

There is no such thing as "competition firmware".

...then I guess you haven't seen it either :p. Edit/Addition: "Programming" does not necessarily mean "flashing firmware".

FIRST STRONGHOLD (n):

The most effective detector of loose connections in several years.
A three way competition in which two alliances of three robots, and a 27x54' arena all violently attack each other.
The first FIRST competition featuring hundreds of flying robots.
A game in which the engineering challenges of creating something to simulate the defenses exceed those required to build the robot.

[tjf]

Mid-Atlantic District (n.) -


A FIRST District where defense is played as crazily as possible.


Radio (n.) -


The main cause of ROBOTS not moving in the 2016 season.
The device that takes a long time to boot in recent years.
That box with the loose power jack.


Pit (n.) -


That place to put as many banners and pins as possible. Occasionally holds a robot.

[EricH]

Pit (n.) -

That place to put as many banners and pins and tools as possible. Occasionally holds a robot.
Fixed that for you, and way too true.

Practice field (n.): Where the robot is usually found when it's not on the competition field.

Competition field (n.): The place queuing is trying to get you to go to with your robot five minutes ago!

[messer5740]

practice day (n.) the day before the qualification matches which most teams test their robots and prepare for the qual rounds, while other teams take a chassis and a little bit of GP Magic to turn their robot into a competitive machine.

[bdaroz]

rookie (n.) See: Chicken with it's head cut off, running

[frcguy]

Fixed that for you, and way too true.


Playoff pit (n.): A test by Championship organizers to see how many people, robots, and tools each alliance can cram into a 10'x20' space.

[The other Gabe]

Fixed that for you, and way too true.

Practice field (n.): Where the robot is usually found when it's not on the competition field.

Competition field (n.): The place queuing is trying to get you to go to with your robot five minutes ago!

Queuing team member (n.): see: Rookie


(or at least that's how the job feels to me :P )

[EricH]

Queuing team member (n.): see: Rookie
Uh, no. See: Koko Ed. Also see: Cat herder. Also also see: gopher.

Gopher (n.): designated retriever of just about anything. Gets name from the typical holler of "Hey, you! Go fer ____!"

Koko Ed (n.): Highly experienced queuer and lead queuer who is known to plan his vacation time around FRC competitions.

[dmelcer9]

Pneumatic Programming Wrench (n)- A method for keeping freshmen busy.

Left-Handed Metric Ratcheting Adjustable Pneumatic Programming Wrench (n)- A method for keeping pit admin busy.

Day 1 of a Regional (n)- The time that you are supposed to be practicing. See also Debugging.

Schrödinger's Cat (n)- The method for determining whether the NavX will return values between -180 and 180 or between 0 and 360.

PID Tuning (v)- The period of time in which the robot spins around until the Space Bar is pressed. This mythical creature has driven many sailors programmers insane.

Space Bar (n)- 1. The button that requires the robot to be turned off and on again. Seriously? You couldn't have just disabled it? 2. The result of programming on the same computer that runs the driver station.

[EDesbiens]

Space Bar (n)- 1. The button that requires the robot to be turned off and on again. Seriously? You couldn't have just disabled it? 2. The result of programming on the same computer that runs the driver station.

Enter (n)- 1. A button that only disables the robot. Not known by all but praised by a lot. Good replacement for Spacebar
2. A good way to stop the robot during a demonstration. Especially if children are driving and you wan't to make them believe the battery is dead.

[Zebra_Fact_Man]

...who is known to plan his vacation time around FRC competitions.

Don't we all do that???