The FRC A to Z
Every acronym and bit of jargon you'll hear in the pit, decoded. Search a term, jump to a letter, or filter by department — and learn the language of build season.
Jump to a letter
70 terms
Alliance
Competition & GameA group of three teams that play together on the red or blue side of a match.
Learn moreAlliance Selection
Competition & GameThe pre-playoff process where the top-seeded teams take turns inviting other teams to form playoff alliances.
Learn moreAnderson SB Connector
ElectricalThe standard genderless quick-connect (often SB50) used between the battery and the robot.
Learn moreAprilTag
Sensors & ControlsA fiducial marker (like a simple QR code) placed on the field that cameras use to estimate the robot's pose.
Learn moreAutonomous
Competition & GameThe opening segment of a match where the robot operates entirely on pre-programmed code with no driver input.
Learn moreBuild Season
GeneralThe intense period after Kickoff (historically ~6 weeks) when teams design and build their robot before competitions.
Learn moreBumpers
Competition & GameThe mandatory padded protective bumpers around a robot's frame, colored red or blue to match the alliance.
Learn moreCAN bus
ElectricalController Area Network — the wiring/protocol that lets motor controllers, sensors, and the roboRIO communicate on one daisy-chained bus.
Learn moreChief Delphi
CommunityThe largest FRC community forum, where teams share technical knowledge, designs, and code.
Learn moreChoreo
SoftwareA trajectory-optimization tool that generates time-optimal autonomous paths, often paired with WPILib.
Learn moreCommand-Based Programming
SoftwareWPILib's recommended structure that organizes robot code into Subsystems and Commands for clean, reusable behavior.
Learn moreCoopertition
GeneralA FIRST value blending cooperation and competition — helping others even while competing against them; some games reward it directly.
Learn moreCOTS
MechanicalCommercial Off-The-Shelf — pre-made parts teams can buy rather than fabricate, within the rules.
Learn moreDean's List Award
AwardsHonors exceptional student leaders for their contributions and leadership within their team and community.
Learn moreDistrict
Competition & GameA regional model where teams earn points across multiple events to qualify for their District Championship.
Learn moreDriver Station
SoftwareThe NI software (and the physical station) that connects driver inputs to the robot and reports status during matches.
Learn moreEncoder
Sensors & ControlsA sensor that measures rotation/position of a shaft, essential for closed-loop control and odometry.
Learn moreEndgame
Competition & GameThe final phase of teleop, usually with a special scoring objective such as climbing or parking.
Learn moreEPA
Data & ScoutingExpected Points Added — Statbotics' rating model estimating a team's contribution to match score.
Learn moreFalcon 500
Sensors & ControlsA brushless motor with an integrated Talon FX controller and encoder, controlled over the CAN bus.
Learn moreFeedforward
SoftwareControl that predicts the output needed (e.g., to overcome gravity or reach a velocity) and is combined with PID for accuracy.
Learn moreFIRST
GeneralFor Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology — the non-profit founded by Dean Kamen in 1989 that runs FRC and its sister programs.
Learn moreFIRST Championship
Competition & GameThe season-ending world championship (held in Houston) for teams that qualify through events and awards.
Learn moreFIRST Choice
MechanicalA program giving teams credits to select specific Kit of Parts components from partner vendors.
Learn moreFIRST LEGO League
GeneralThe entry-level FIRST program for younger students, using LEGO-based robots and research projects.
Learn moreFIRST Robotics Competition
GeneralThe flagship high-school program where teams have a few weeks to design, build, and program an industrial-size robot to play that season's game.
Learn moreFIRST Tech Challenge
GeneralThe middle/high-school FIRST program using smaller robots — a common stepping stone to FRC.
Learn moreGear Ratio
MechanicalThe ratio between input and output rotation in a gearbox, trading speed for torque (or vice-versa).
Learn moreGracious Professionalism
GeneralA core FIRST value: competing hard while treating everyone with respect, kindness, and integrity.
Learn moreGyroscope / IMU
Sensors & ControlsA sensor that measures the robot's heading and rotation; common units are the NavX and CTRE Pigeon 2.0.
Learn moreImpact Award
AwardsFRC's most prestigious award (formerly the Chairman's Award), honoring the team that best embodies FIRST's mission and impact.
Learn moreInspection
Competition & GameThe required check that a robot meets size, weight, safety, and rules before it can compete.
Learn moreKickoff
GeneralThe event in early January that opens the season: the new game is revealed and the build period begins.
Learn moreKit of Parts
MechanicalThe components FIRST provides to every team each season as a starting point for the robot.
Learn moreKitBot
MechanicalThe FIRST-provided everybot/starter robot design teams can build as a reliable, competition-ready baseline.
Learn moreKraken X60
Sensors & ControlsA high-performance brushless motor (with integrated Talon FX electronics) controlled over CAN via Phoenix.
Learn moreLimelight
Sensors & ControlsA plug-and-play smart camera widely used for FRC vision targeting and AprilTag-based localization.
Learn moreMain Breaker
ElectricalThe 120A circuit breaker that protects the entire robot's main power circuit between the battery and PDH/PDP.
Learn moreMecanum Drive
MechanicalA drivetrain using rollered wheels that lets the robot strafe sideways without turning.
Learn moreNEO / NEO 550
Sensors & ControlsREV Robotics brushless motors with built-in encoders, paired with SPARK MAX/Flex controllers.
Learn moreOdometry
SoftwareTracking the robot's position on the field over time using encoder and gyro data (often fused with vision).
Learn moreOnshape
CommunityA free, cloud-based CAD platform popular in FRC for collaborative robot design.
Learn moreOpen Alliance
CommunityA group of teams that publicly document their build season in real time to share knowledge with the community.
Learn moreOPR
Data & ScoutingOffensive Power Rating — a calculated estimate of a team's average scoring contribution, derived from match results.
Learn morePathPlanner
SoftwareA popular tool for designing and following autonomous paths/trajectories for FRC drivetrains.
Learn morePhotonVision
Sensors & ControlsFree, open-source vision software that runs on a coprocessor or Limelight for targeting and pose estimation.
Learn morePicklist
Data & ScoutingA ranked list of teams an alliance captain uses to decide whom to invite during alliance selection.
Learn morePID Controller
SoftwareA feedback control loop (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) that drives a mechanism to a target by reacting to error.
Learn morePlayoffs
Competition & GameThe elimination bracket after qualifications; FRC uses a double-elimination format among the alliance captains' picks.
Learn morePower Distribution Hub
ElectricalREV's power distribution board that feeds and protects the robot's circuits; the successor to the CTRE PDP.
Learn morePower Distribution Panel
ElectricalCTRE's power distribution board that splits battery power into protected branch circuits.
Learn moreQualification Match
Competition & GameRandomly-scheduled matches that determine each team's seeding/ranking at an event.
Learn moreRanking Points
Competition & GamePoints earned from match outcomes and bonus objectives that determine a team's qualification ranking.
Learn moreRegional
Competition & GameA stand-alone event (used outside district areas) where winning advances a team toward the FIRST Championship.
Learn moreroboRIO
ElectricalThe National Instruments controller that is the 'brain' of the robot, running team code and coordinating all devices.
Learn moreRobot Signal Light
ElectricalThe required orange light that indicates robot state (solid = enabled, blinking = disabled).
Learn moreRobotPy
SoftwareThe Python implementation of WPILib, letting teams program their robot in Python.
Learn moreRookie All-Star Award
AwardsThe top award for a first-year team, recognizing a strong start that embodies FIRST's values.
Learn moreRookie Team
GeneralA team in its first year of FRC competition; rookies have access to special grants and awards.
Learn moreScouting
Data & ScoutingSystematically collecting data on robots' performance to inform strategy and alliance-selection decisions.
Learn moreSPARK MAX
Sensors & ControlsA REV Robotics motor controller for brushed and brushless (NEO) motors, configured via REV Hardware Client.
Learn moreStatbotics
Data & ScoutingAn analytics site providing EPA ratings, predictions, and historical FRC data.
Learn moreSwerve Drive
MechanicalA drivetrain where each wheel module can independently steer and drive, giving full omnidirectional movement.
Learn moreTalon FX / SRX
Sensors & ControlsCTR Electronics motor controllers (Talon FX is integrated in Falcon/Kraken; SRX is a standalone CAN controller).
Learn moreTeleoperated
Competition & GameThe main portion of a match where drivers control the robot from the alliance station.
Learn moreThe Blue Alliance
Data & ScoutingThe community database of teams, events, matches, and results — with a public API used by many scouting tools.
Learn moreVoltage Regulator Module
ElectricalProvides clean, regulated low-current power (e.g., 5V/12V) for sensors, the radio, and other accessories.
Learn moreWest Coast Drive
MechanicalA rugged tank-style drivetrain with wheels mounted on one side ('cantilevered'), popular for its simplicity and durability.
Learn moreWoodie Flowers Award
AwardsRecognizes an outstanding mentor who exemplifies excellence in communication and teaching within FRC.
Learn moreWPILib
SoftwareThe official, free software library for programming FRC robots in Java, C++, or Python (RobotPy).
Learn more