[gixxy]

Hey Mrs. Wendy:

I also suggest the Arduino platform. Its fairly inexpensive and simple. I never really liked the OpenRobot Platform and prefer to use the Tinkerkit Senor Shield.

Arduino Uno Rev3: $29.96
http://store.arduino.cc/ww/index.php...du cts_id=195
TinkerKit Sensor Shield V.2: $16.33
http://store.arduino.cc/ww/index.php...odu cts_id=89

Arduino Mega2560 Rev3: $58.42
http://store.arduino.cc/ww/index.php...du cts_id=196
TinkerKit Mega Sensor Shield V.2: $29.81
http://store.arduino.cc/ww/index.php...du cts_id=147

And There is also the Wireless Shield: $22.32
http://store.arduino.cc/ww/index.php...duc ts_id=145
Which you can purchase a couple of XBees (one for the Arduino, one for a Controller) and I believe you can make a controller that sends the digital and analog signals directly over to the Bot wirelessly.

This is what my Dad and I are using for a small robot (testing a drive train system that will have the traction of traditional wheels and move-ability of mechanum), as well as what the Team is using for a T-shirt Launcher.

a few downsides however: 1) You program in Arduino (and C++ for the Libraries) 2) Stacking Shields can be annoying