Photos: Robots as toys, tools and teachers

In addition to the Brown students' Wii-controlled iRobot (right), the display included a machine that iSun Microsystems created from the iRobot Create platform. The Sun iRobot (left) is a proof-of-concept robot controlled by a Java-embedded device on the robot and a Java-scripted controller.

"We build the brains, they build the bodies," said Sun staff engineer Derek White as he joked with iRobot's Ethan Bagley. "Oh, yeah. They also have brains."