We will never see a multiple robot three tote stacking autonomous. Quite frankly, I don't think there is an event in FRC where three teams have such consistent, precise, customizable autonomy.
I believe that it is possible for a single robot to do this task. However, the requirements to complete this task are quite the tall order:
- The robot needs to be able to acquire a tote, from an off-center orientation, reliably and consistently in less than two seconds.
- The robot needs to be able to move those totes in stacking position while driving to the next tote.
- While I don't think a holonomic drivetrain is REQUIRED to complete the autonomous mode, it is a very big advantage for completing this specific task in order to avoid the bins if partners cannot move them (which they won't, most of the time).
- The robot needs to be able to accurately track its own position through multiple twists and turns.
However, the value of this 3 tote auto is if anything understated. It is worth far more than just 20 points, for one simple reason - a completed three tote auto is a nearly completed coopertition stack. A team who has completed, or nearly completed, the tote autonomous can place the coopertition stack in just a few seconds, rather than taking 20-30 seconds to stack their own set of three. All that is needed of the other alliance is for a single alliance member to place a single tote on the step and that's essentially 60 points in autonomous + 10 seconds of teleop.
The task is very difficult, but I believe it has enough of an impact on qualification matches that teams will design their entire robots around completing this task, and that we will see on average 1-2 teams per event complete it. Not every event will have a completed three stack autonomous, not even close, but it won't be unheard of. A little less common than the 2012 triple balance.