Driver Practice and Quality Assurance

A good robot with untrained drivers loses to an average robot with practiced drivers. And a robot that breaks in the second match helps no one. This lesson covers two habits that strong teams build: deliberate driver practice and quality assurance, which means checking the robot so problems are found in the workshop, not on the field.

Driver practice

Choose your drive team early and keep it stable, so the same people build experience together. A drive team usually has a driver, an operator and a drive coach who watches the field, tracks time and calls out strategy. Practice is most useful when it is timed and measured, not just driving around for fun.

1. 1
   Warm-up course

   Set up a short course with tape or cones and time a lap. Repeat until drivers are smooth and do not bump the walls.
2. 2
   Cycle drill

   Practice one full scoring cycle: collect a game element, drive, score, return. Count how many cycles you complete in 2 minutes.
3. 3
   Full match simulation

   Run 30 seconds of Autonomous, an 8-second transition, then 2 minutes of Driver-Controlled, with the drive coach calling the time and the endgame.
4. 4
   Practice with traffic

   If you can, practice with another robot on the field so drivers learn to avoid collisions. Play fair and stay gracious.

Pre-match inspection checklist

• Battery charged, voltage checked, and securely strapped in place
• Battery connector and main power switch firmly connected
• All wires plugged in fully and nothing loose near moving parts
• Screws and nuts tight on wheels, mechanisms and mounts
• Mechanisms move freely through their full range by hand
• Driver Station connected to the robot, correct OpModes selected
• Gamepads charged or connected, and assigned to the right drivers
• Robot set up in its starting configuration, inside the size limit

Spare parts and tools

Battery management and charging safety

• Number every battery and keep a log of when each one was charged and used.
• Rotate batteries so they wear evenly, and put a freshly charged one in before every match.
• Check the battery voltage on the Driver Station before each match.
• Keep charged and uncharged batteries in separate, clearly marked places.
• Inspect wires and connectors for damage every time you change a battery.

Robot inspection

At an event, every robot is inspected before it can play matches. Inspectors check that the robot follows the rules in the current Competition Manual. In general terms, they look at the robot's size in its starting configuration, whether its parts and materials are allowed, the electrical system (battery, main power switch, wiring and control hardware), safety (no sharp edges or dangerous parts) and the software setup on the Control Hub and Driver Station. The exact rules change between seasons, so download the current inspection checklist from FIRST and do a full self-inspection before you travel.