[JesseK]

If there's ever a game where we want to control the roll/pitch, or 2-/3-dimensional planar position of a manipulator, I believe it's easier done with something similar to the wiiremote than by using the traditional accelerometer. Traditionally, robots I've seen use the accelerometer to determine robot position relative to its origin -- but what if we could instead provide enough feedback to control a manipulator that's on the robot? Perhaps there's too much shaking on the end of a manipulator, but I've seen some creative dampening methods used this year.

Cost-wise it could perhaps save you the cost of potentiometers, limit switches (though they're still a good safety mechanism), and/or range finders if you use those such things to position your manipulators. Another example (not related to robotics) is that the cheapest 120mW+ lasers come from DVD burners rather than buying them non-bulk from a supplier (behold my new mini maglite!).

Time-wise if we grew to understand the interface I believe the time-cost savings could become exponential so long as we nail down the proper assumptions about the wii-remote or any other 3-axis accelerometer. While our current accelerometer is already mapped out & coded with our current RC, it could simply be a matter of time before the Wii could be interfaced as well.