Good strategy?

[Doug Traster]

It involves making a net or basket about 8 feet wide that you can unfold and position under the ball dump in the autonomous mode.

Personally, I think this is a wonderful idea!! Interestingly, my team had a similar reaction to your team's when I suggested it. I can't feature wanting to chase balls all over the field when you can just catch them and then funnel them into the ball chute all at once. It might be interesting to consider a telescoping arm or tethered minibot to go out and trigger the ball dump while your robot waited patiently under the dumper. This would seem to overcome their primary objection. In the simple case, however, it makes autonomous almost fool proof -- move 3 feet, unfurl net. I'm still trying to convince my team of its merits. Good luck with yours.