Help! What title would you give this role?
 

Each year mentors of 1318 choose roles for competition (drive team, pit leads) in the latter half of build season. This year, a new role was created and I was assigned to it. No official name was given for this role, but a temporary name of "team inspector" was given. Here's the outline:

• systems checks
• check to make sure the correct battery is in the robot, charged and connected
• make the final (Go / No-Go) decision on whether or not the robot is ready – and be the last person in the pits to touch the robot before it leaves for a match
• robot triage after the match to determine if something is wrong, and then coming up with a response that can be executed in the time available
• keeping an eye on potential problems that might come up, and being ready when they do

I was told that I could come up with a better title, or keep "team inspector". I'd like to find a title that encompasses the entire role, two titles could also work ("team _____ and robot inspector", or something along those lines). "Pit lead" doesn't work, since that responsibility falls under our mechanical and electrical leads.

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

On my team, we refer that person as the Pit boss. Hope this helps!

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

I'd call your position "Pit Coordinator" or "Maintenance Coordinator".

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

I would call this crucial role Quality Control.

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

This is one of the most important roles on the team, especially this year. I'm happy to hear that your team has created a dedicated position for it. Good luck this season!

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

Given some of the footage from Palmetto thus far... Could I suggest "Flight Director"? :D

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

I would use the term Quality Control and Maintenance Officer.

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

That is the best title by far. I now desire to be called that.

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

Ditto

We use this term. They are also regulatory compliance during the inspection process.

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

Pit monkey.

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

On our team we would call a person like that the "Crew Chief."

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

Flight Director....yeah, that's the part of Mission Control that you now have. Probably the most important job on the team.

Take it seriously! :cool:

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

In honor of the game I suggest it be called the "Siege Engineer".

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

I really like this one!

On our team, we have historically called this role the "Pit Boss" or "Pit Manager".

Would be cool if you put one of those remove before flight ribbons on the bot. As soon as it came of the game floor and it doesn't leave the pit till you remove it

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00900OHDC

Ordered. ::safety::

Glad I could help.

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! "Flight Director" is the one we all liked.

This is a great idea, I love it! We actually have a real one from an airplane that a mentor who works at Boeing brought in. This non-verbal communication between the pit crew and the drive team is perfect.

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

I would call that: Maintenance Director or Maintenance Lead


Thomas J
Operations Director
DB Cyber Tribe
Team 4020
www.DBCyberTribe.com

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

If you want to draw a parallel to Auto Racing. That position would be called the Car Chief.

So maybe a title would be "Robot Chief" ?

In the Natural Gas Control Room where I work we have a Chief System Operator who has final say on any of the major operational issues.

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

and wear a white vest :-)

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

I don't recall Chris Kraft wearing a white vest. ;)

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

Unfortunately most people here probably don't recall Chris Kraft. :(

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

I was a very small child in his day.

Gene Kranz is the guy in the white vest. Or at least that's how he is portrayed in the movie, by Ed Harris.

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

I remember seeing quite a few pictures of him in vests sitting in Mission Control over the years. A quick stroll thru Google Images shows many pictures of him in vests (not always white) when sitting at console.

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

Chris Craft --- Boat Manufacturer

Chris Kraft --- NASA Mission Control Flight Directofor Mercury

Gene Kranz --- NASA Mission Control Flight Director for Gemini & Apollo


You can tell the difference even without the vest and the crew cut. :)

Below is a link to a redone version of one of his more famous talks that was done shortly after the Apollo 1 tragedy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zjAteaK9lM

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

On 1073, we call that the 'Inspection' taskgroup. They do a quick check of the robot once it gets back from a match, and then they pull in more people if necessary. They also help the robot leaving the pit, completing some of the tasks you specified, and other tasks relevant to the robot's setting on the field.

Re: Help! What title would you give this role?
 

Gene Kranz tells the story of the vests in Failure is not an Option. His wife made him a new one for each mission. Most, if not all, were white or primarily white in reference to his crew being the "white" team. Mercury just had one mission control team, led by Craft. With the longer missions of Gemini onward, multiple teams were established. The first three were designated red, white, and blue.