Work Completed
"Prototyped" and tested various materials, angles, and compositions for the backboard, and added a small design modification to the complete backboard.
Details:
We decided to not tilt the backboard back any greater than at a 15 degree angle, since it has too much kick and danger of bouncing things out.
We did testing for drop accuracy and found cardboard that was in a inverted vee shape that would revert when hit with a ball and loose string were the most effective catchers.
Straight cardboard was decent straight up, pvc pipes were decent when tilted back, and surgical tubing just failed.
we also decided on a rigid upper edge and flexible supports for our backboard.
Pictures are in our notebook, courtesy of me.