[Kevin Kolodziej]

While I'm still bothered by the fact that they are defining rolling as throwing, I'll get over it. This did cause us to change our design, but a new solution was reached within 30-45 minutes. It helps that we are behind and have not begun to install any of this mechanism yet, but the parts that are made can be adapted.

Everyone has now been in FIRST for a minimum of 4 weeks. Everyone has been given an interesting challenge that requires interesting and innovative solutions. This little problem should be viewed no differently. Think of it as a microcosm of the entire FIRST build season. If you have a finished robot, do not view this problem as a reason to have to start all over. It affects ONE area of your robot and while it will likely require at least some parts to be remade, there is plenty of time to do so.

The hopper/dumper issue is a tricky one...while the ball is relying on gravity to get to the goal, gravity is not allowed to act unless the hopper is tilted or a door is open. Therefore, IMHO, if you have a door that opens UP and never touches the ball on its way out, you'd be fine...but if you have a door that opens down and the ball rolls over the door on its way out or the hopper itself tips (like in the animation), it would be deemed illegal.

Kev