LEGO Mindstorms NXT brick is Back in Black

Finally your NXT-based bot can look cool, not like some dork stuffed an first-generation iPod or Gameboy into his chest. LEGO Mindstorms Black NXT Brick

Vex Robotics

For the more serious robot hobbiest, Vex makes two kits, the Vexplorer (partnered with Revell) and the full-blown Vex kits. The Vexplorer is a great introductory kit because it has all the parts to build a radio-controlled bot with a wireless color camera and a gripping arm. At the moment, the $300 kit is selling for under $125. This is an awesome deal. The same robotic kits are starting to be used for a lot of engineering school challenges. The more full-blown Vex kits start at $300 to $500.