Hobby robotics are starting to experience large growth. The reason for this growth is the development of a small, easily programmed computer called the Basic Stamp Computer. This little bugger is relatively inexpensive, retailing for around $50. The microcontroller onboard this chip has a builtin BASIC interpreter. So, you can program complex decision logic and hardware interface management in BASIC. A large number of kits and inexpensive development tools are growing up around this little microprocessor. Perhaps the most interesting kits are those offered by Lego in its MindStorm series. These kits are inexpenisive, ranging in the $200 -- $300 area, include the microprocessor, and are programmable from your PC!