So over beers for quite some time, a group of us have been discussing how nice it would be to have all the cones equiped with GPS, an arm, and some wheels. This would allow one to set up the course programatically, then send the cones out down a ramp from the bus to set themselves up. If hit during the event, they could right themselves using their arm, then roll back into the box...
Looks like someone else thought it was a good idea too... sans the arm at least...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3666989.stm