[Paul Copioli]

All,

Forget about 2 appendages below. We can barely put 1 below. Here is the Q&A response that clears it up:

Game - The Robot » General Robot Design » R01-2
Q. Can a robot extend an appendage below the starting configuration height of the robot? If so, would the added length of the appendage actively change the height of the bumper in relation of the robot, thus violating the Bumper Zone rule?
A. The Bumper Zone rules must be met throughout the Match and the Bumper Zone is in reference to a Robot flat on the floor. At every point in the Match, no matter what configuration, orientation, or Court position the Robot is in, if the Robot were to be placed flat on the floor, Bumper Zone requirements must be met.

Translation: If you have your bumper at the bottom of the bumper zone you get a maximum 3" to drop something below. If you have your bumper at the top of the bumper zone, then you get to extend 0" below your robot. This is a pretty big blow to some very good balancing strategies. First it was the no suction cups .. now this. FIRST 2 - Innovative Teams 0.