Infared in Next Year's Game

[Paradox1350]

This is somewhat speculation, but I was looking at some footage form this year's kickoff (I'm making somewhat of a short documentary on FIRST, and there are quite a few good sound bites from the kickoff (though Dean's are all too long to really be 'soud bites' except for the line "Everybody, likes, Robots."))

ANYway, at one point, Dean, Dave, and Woodie were discussing the IR sensors. Dave said "Do you have to use IR sensors? No. But we supply all the software and the servos and we make it as easy as possible, so why wouldn't you. But do you need to use them? No. That doesn't say anything about next year, however."

Now, this is pure speculation, obviously, but from what he said, it sounded that next year teams would HAVE to use IR for some aspect of the game. More than just autonomous. Now, I have no idea how far ahead they plan out the games, so it could have been only an off the cuff statement. But to me, it sounded that next year, IR would be a necessity in one form or another.

Thoughts?