[Rick TYler]

If you go up the ramp "sideways" you are more likely to tip. Sideways robots are more likely to drive out from under their game systems, if they are tall (we almost did this at Bellevue, and we are aligned along the long axis). You give up fore-and-aft stability in favor of your wider ball collector. It's not a bad choice, but I'm guessing -- based on last year -- that nine out of ten bots are aligned the other way.