It's Christmas eve. I'm sick. Why, GDC, do you have such pinpoint timing?
Well, frankly I wouldn't rule out it being a game-piece. If it doesn't seem sturdy enough, remember last year's orbit balls? Yeah, not the sturdiest of tools.
In any case, I like the idea of this being the goal somehow, vertically standing, and changing height. Perhaps this has something to do with human player interaction? Because I don't think that we could really design an effective robot to press those damned side-buttons in! Those things are DEATH.
Inevitably, I have no idea.
Happy Christmas.
EDIT: Oh, and I forgot to mention. What if a bunch of these little buggers attach to each other via the pipes?