[JesseK]

It would seem that this IR jamming problem could become irrelevant if you adjust your designs and strategies. For teams attempting to complete a full lap and/or knock their trackball off of the opposing alliance's overpass, things will be extremely complex to avoid interference.

However, for your own side/alliance, there's a pretty easy solution: coordination. If you can "point" your cardboard tube back at your own alliance station as you're driving away, then simply coordinate a system of yelling out to your alliance partners when you're signalling. Especially if you discern a sequence of who goes first after the trackballs are placed, you'll be ok. For elims I can see this being a common practice with much synergy, but for normal matches probably not unless you have a very understanding alliance.

As the ultimate symbol of GP, to come back on the opposite side, you can have your robocoach who's on the opposite side of the field coordinating with the opposing alliance. This WILL come full circle if you do, as they will probably very graciously have their robocoaches on your side return the favor.

Actually, after thinking about how the field and robocoach stations are setup, you can really design this to where interference with/from your opponents is ALL a moot point since IR is directional with some refraction. I'll have to post a drawing later some time.