How about an open source robotics platform?

Like Linux, but for the robotics world.  Volunteer engineers/programmers
can create software that controls the robot's movements/AI/actions, etc..  
And this software can be customizable to the owner's desires/specs.  A
person could thereotically then buy some sheetmetal, some electric motors,
rechargeable batteries, gears, wheels, etc. from Radio Shack and build
their robot.  The brains of the robot can simply be a $50 Biostar
motherboard/a hard drive/RAM, etc. (essentially simply a CISC PC that could
also be used as a PC by the robot's owner).  The controller that switches
on/off the robot's various motors can simply be a PCI card in one of the
mobo's slots.  The robotics software can then control the
motors/gears/arms, etc. via this PCI controller card.  What would make it
non-proprietory and open source is that a person, when building their
robot, can specify what electric motors they're using by changing values
int he software, so the software can accurately make the robot go a certain
speed/distance.  It'd be a great learning tool.  Students studying various
disciplines could come together and build a robot -- metal shop students
can show the engineering students how to bend/weld the metal to form the
body.  And the engineering students can teach the trades students about
programming and electronics.  The robots can be outfitted with almost an
endless array of attachments -- a vacuum cleaner, a security  patrol robot,
can be an MP3 player by the pool and fetch your towel, a communications
device for the family, etc..  

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