[ColleenShaver]

I think autonomous mode was an innovative addition to the games the last few years and is worth keeping in some regard (beginning, middle, end of match, whatever).

However, I think the auto options, like the entire game itself, gets caught up in trying to force teams down a specific path of what they should do rather than keeping options open to do lots of things. For instance, this year there was a huge focus on the vision tetras and have many have said, the payoff wasn't worth the effort. Some of the coolest, most unique auto modes came from teams that didn't even worry about the vision tetras (ala using freebies to knock and cap, etc.).

I actually don't think there needs to be any auto function worth specific points per say. The 2k4 game I think is a good example of this. Although the push seemed to be for teams to knock the 10pt ball in auto, it wasn't as popular as one would expect. However, there were tons teams could do: Knock the 10 pt ball, go for a yellow ball, grab a mobile goal, jockey for position, hang, etc. More advanced teams could go bigger, while less advanced teams could just drive a try and push a mobile goal or get in a better position for the match.

My point is... include whatever technology FIRST can get donated, and then make sure teams have the accessibility and the budget allowances to get better or different sensors if they like. Then stress to teams that autonomous isn't necessarily about achieving the biggest, hardest task possible, but maybe about having a lot of options to make yourself a better alliance partner. Too much technology can be overwhelming and teams give up rather than just trying it simply (some great auto mode have been done with dead reckoning and a lot of fine tuning).