[Daniel_LaFleur]

Well, I don't think you are screwed as you state you are, but you do have some valid concerns.

First off, I'd get the programmers to pull the sissor lift down as soon as it hits it's max height, thus avoiding the ball coming down on the sissor.

I would also put some sort of protection on the end of that sissor as those corners look sharp and I do not believe you will pass inspection with those sharp corners.

Wood is not a bad choice for your gripper as long as you work with the grain. Wood has plenty of give before it breaks so the ball should not bother your gripper too much. I would be very cautious about interaction with the playing field or other robots though as they can generate far higher forces. You may want to consider creating a replacement set, or possibly redesigning them to be made out of Aluminum surrounded by PVC.

Your drivetrain looks decent enough so you should be able to score points running laps.

One more thing ... the robot looks like it has very little guarding. I'd suggest some Lexan sheeting around the robot to protect it's innerds from wandering robot arms.

This is all a learning experience, especially for rookie teams. good luck and remember to have fun.