[JesseK]

Ok, let's calculate something practical.

Your CMU Cam is mounted 48" off the ground for your 5' robot. Your overall robot weight 105lbs with an estimated 20% of the weight above 36" (i.e. fairly low CoG). Your robot attempts to drive up the ramps of another robot but behold, upon reaching the top you've misaligned it with half of your robot hanging off. With the slightest correction-intended jiggle of the joystick, your beautiful metalic creation falls sideways and crashes into the floor, with the CMU Cam hitting first.

Calculate how many G's you just put your CMU Cam through upon impact and propose to me whether or not it survived. I'd say the carpet gives (maybe) 1/4" of stopping distance.