[sanddrag]

A servo (at least the ones in the kit) is far to small for any task like that. 980 has been the masters of telescoping arms since 2003. In 2003 it was a series of probably 6 or so metal tubes that all slid inside each other. OD of one is the same (slightly smaller actually) as the ID as the next one up. It was mounted at the top of the robot and tilted down stowed. Then when you lift it up byt the time it reaches level, gravity has fed it all the way out. Check out some videos on this page http://www.team980.com/Team980_2003.html

Their telescoping arm this year is a serpentine driven uinit powered by a window motor. They milled a slot through one side of round tube and then they attach a timing belt to one end of the tube, pass it over a large toothed pulley on the motor, and then run it to the other end of the tube and attach it there so it is powered both ways. This tube with the belt inside slides inside of a tube just larger than it. There are a couple idler pullies to keep the whole system running tight.