The GDC has to fulfill the requirements of the Triad: spectator friendly, rookies can succeed, successful veteran teams are challenged. They also have costs, investments and physical constraints to consider. Therefore:
- It won't be a water game. Or an ice game, or any other field that requires crazy capital to create or maintain, or which could damage a rookie robot.
- The field really can't grow or change shape too radically. The AndyMark field and space constraints dictate this.
- The motors won't change, though they may cut back on the power (number of motors).
- Robots won't grow. They could shrink, though; especially considering the shrinking electronic footprints. They will never shrink back to 1992 size, though, as FTC has that form factor well in hand.
I'll predict a few things.
- Slightly smaller form factor.
- Bumper cloth, or even whole bumpers, in the KOP. If there are required bumpers, it would dictate a specific footprint, and be the end of a major headache for most teams (those struggling to build bumpers, and those who have suffered on the field from non-regulation robots colliding with them or leaving debris on the field)
- vertically larger bumpers (i.e., three pool noodles tall).
- A manipulator task, rather than a projectile. Minimal game pieces, though, so probably not stacking.
- A change to the field surface; Astroturf? Polycarbonate? Probably ramps or steps.