Near-death experiences or injuries during build season?

[mrnoble]

In 2013, our team couldn't decide between a driving robot that scored frisbees, or a non-driver that climbed to the top of the pyramid. We split into two teams that built competing bots. The climber was to be made of springs and levers, and was sort of shaped like a monkey. Unfortunately the springs couldn't get enough force without being tremendously strong. We finally quit building when I realized that, as I was pre-tensioning the arm, I would die of my injuries were I to slip and let the arm go.