What is the role of mentors in preparing for FRC Crescendo?

Mentors play a crucial role in preparing for FRC Crescendo by providing guidance, technical expertise, and strategic advice. Their experience and knowledge are invaluable, helping teams navigate the complexities of robot design, programming, and competition strategy. Mentors often have backgrounds in engineering, technology, or project management, which allows them to assist students in understanding both the technical aspects of building a robot and the collaborative processes involved in a team environment.

By imparting strategic advice, mentors help teams identify strengths and weaknesses, make informed decisions about design choices, and develop competitive strategies tailored to their needs. This involves not just technical skill development but also teaching important soft skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving—all of which are essential for success in FRC competitions.

The other options represent roles that are not primarily the responsibility of mentors. Funding is typically handled through school resources, sponsorships, or fundraising efforts rather than directly by mentors. Operating the robot during matches is the team's responsibility to promote learning and engagement, while scouted data about other teams is generally collected by team members themselves to prepare for upcoming matches and strategy formulation.