I'm pretty sure auto modes going to stick around. Especially since the new controller still has an autonomous user mode in the default code. I am leaning more toward what's been said before, that it will be closer to the end. Or, if it's at the beginning, the time may be shortened. most robots completed theirs or messed up within the first 10 seconds. Yes, having it closer to the end of the match would be very challenging, but it's not impossible. I think if the game is set up in a way that you could play it well autonomously at the end then it would be fine. Also, FIRST may
require that robots return to their starting positions to run the automode, just like the pressure mats...
If so, you may see robots that attempt to hold off other robots from competing in their automode. That would be a bit annoying if everyone just got in a big pushing match to keep each other away from starting, and nothing happened for the last 15 seconds
Or, maybe they'll be 2 "hotspots" on the field where robots must compete to get to them so their auto is activated. That would also cause a few problems. I think the biggest issue with an automode at the end is positioning. Deadreckoning robots would be useless unless they could be lined up in the proper position. Sensory-driven automodes will more than likely be too slow to accomplish anything in 15 seconds. That's the biggest block. Come up with a system in the game where robots will want to let the other team get into automode, and be lined up.
Or, it may just trigger and you can start anywhere in the field.
But the more I think about it, more things just keep "adding" up negatively in my mind. They may just keep it at the beggining like last year. I mean, that was the point of automode. Just about every "strategist" knows that gaining the upper hand first in a match can win it, and to do that you had to function autonomously. They'll probably keep it at the beginning. Human-Player mode, however, may shift back to the in-game style. That would give a little chunk back to user drive time.