Fundamental skill sets for FTC / FRC

[SoftwareBug2.0]

Originally Posted by BSV

I am guessing that these skills are the basic requirements for those two programs (some more in FRC than FTC) if you want to have a successful team:

I think that first you have to define what success means. For some teams it's having a working robot. For some it's making the eliminations at their local event. For some it's winning events. And for some it's winning the culture awards.

• Understanding of the engineering process <--Helpful, but not actually required.
• CAD design <--Also helpful, but also not required. People underestimate the value of quick sketches and manual drafting.
• Electrical / wiring
• Engineering (chassis / manipulator)
• Programming, including sensor feedback <--I suspect that a majority of robots do not use sensor feedback in a beneficial way. If anyone has actual data to the contrary I would love to hear it.
• rapid prototyping ability
• machine shop / general tool skills
• media / social media <--May help recruitment or fundraising but not required.
• marketing / fundraising
• web site design <--May help recruitment or fundraising but not required.
• scouting / strategy
• awards preparation <--Applying for awards is optional unless you have a specific grant that says otherwise.