Question on availablity in marketplace

[Just Another Dude]

All,

I want to teach programming to my preschooler, and am interested in getting a robot that can be controlled via simple code.

I am looking for the following features:

1) Humanoid (preferably, does not matter)
2) Something that will interface with a laptop via IR or bluetooth
3) Something that will have a simple programming interface to take commands such as: Go, Back, Left, Right; and some basic looping functionality.
4) Compiler/interpreter does not matter

The goal is to teach the kid to write a series of steps which can drive the robot.

Is there anything that is readily available in the marketplace to do this?

At a minimum, if there is something with a bluetooth interface and clear API, I can write a simple interpreter or compiler which will invoke that API to control the robot.

Your suggestions are highly appreciated.

Thanks.

Just another dude.

[Soeren]

Hi,

1) Humanoid (preferably, does not matter)
2) Something that will interface with a laptop via IR or bluetooth
3) Something that will have a simple programming interface to take commands such as: Go, Back, Left, Right; and some basic looping functionality.
4) Compiler/interpreter does not matter

The goal is to teach the kid to write a series of steps which can drive the robot.

Is there anything that is readily available in the marketplace to do this?

At a minimum, if there is something with a bluetooth interface and clear API, I can write a simple interpreter or compiler which will invoke that API to control the robot.

First off, forget about a humanoid - at least if you want easy programming.

While I'm not sure if there's a ready made bluetooth and what not turtle for it, you should look into Turtle Logo (Google it), as it sounds like it's exactly what you want.
Turtle Logo dates back into the ancient mists, but for teaching simple commands it's great (it won't teach real programming though, but it doesn't sound like you want that anyway).

From the top of my head, one of the "toy" controllers like Basic Stamp and similar have similar "Turtle commands" IIRC, so it shouldn't be hard to make a simple turtle for this (look at the $50 robot to see how simple it can be).