Now the nine-pound Cye doesn't have a mind of its own. It must learn, or map out, a space before it can navigate efficiently through it. Simply drag the Cye icon in whichever direction you like and Cye the robot will mimic the icon, both responsively and accurately. The robot doesn't have any sensors. Rather, it measures the resistance say, of a wall, in its sensitive wheels (Cye keeps track of how many wheel revolutions it makes). To ensure the robot doesn't slip off course, its patented wheels have jagged cogs that grip all types of carpet. Predictably, Cye has a more difficult time with hardwood and concrete floors. The orange robot (it comes in a variety of colors, including yellow and black) can reach a maximum speed of three feet per second.

Inside Cye's brain is a 16 bit, 16-MHz microcontroller that handles serial communication to your PC, motion control, dead-reckoning (keeps track of X, Y, and heading info), obstacle detection, and sundry other tasks like beeping the beeper and charging the battery properly.