I've noticed that there are two basic camps of hobby roboticists. PC controlled robots builders and builders of completely autonomous robots (brain-on-board). I'm in the PC controlled camp.
The last time I worked with a robotics kit was in the late 1980's. I used two PC's (one MS-DOS and the other Windows 3.1) to control a robotic arm I assembled from the Robix kit series.
In other words, I am completely out of touch. :)
I want a reasonably priced easy to assemble or pre-assembled mobile robot platform that, through a wireless link, can transmit sensor data and receive motor commands. The brains will be almost entirely on the PC. I'd like the platform to be flexible and easy to modify when it comes to adding and removing sensors. I also would like to be able to attach a small robotic arm (at most a few pounds in weight) to the platform. In other words, I am not looking to build an industrial strength robot (or a miniature robot either), but a small fun mobile robot that can do a few tricks and maybe pick up a small item or two.
I'd like it to be "friendly" to the Open Source robot control "Player" package:
Thanks.