3 tote auto probability poll

[Chris is me]

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:

1. The robot needs to be able to acquire a tote, from an off-center orientation, reliably and consistently in less than two seconds.
2. The robot needs to be able to move those totes in stacking position while driving to the next tote.
3. 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).
4. 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.