Extending the sides to fit the scoop could be done, though weight is always a factor. The arm is the way it is to actually have enough length so that it can be pulled back, essentially the entire bot was designed around it. At the moment, all the angles make a perfect octagon, the sides could be brought out, though it would need two extra wall pieces to go next to the bracket. Might have a solution to that, though I'll announce that later.

I had wanted to build a spring flipper for a while now, but it was Tantrum from Battlebots that gave me the missing key. I saw their announcement post, saw the words "choo choo spring flipper", did some digging, and so the beetle was conceived. Sometimes it's really that simple!