"Money from the three companies has enabled researchers at Carnegie Mellon University to create a series of Internet-connected robots that almost anyone can build using off-the-shelf parts."

The Telepresence Robot Kit or TeRK, is a piece of hardware and recipes that allow anyone to build their own robot. This is not a complete ready to build kit. You will have to buy additional parts to build your robot. But the parts you will need are general off-the-shelf parts.

What kinds of things could an internet connected robot do?

Information Week Article:
http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=199201449

Carnegie Mellon University Robotics site:
http://www.terk.ri.cmu.edu/media/

> What kinds of things could an internet connected robot do?

Just too many.
At lease, internet provide an extreme portable interface.

Think about recon bots, people are not necessary controlling
the bug through internet, but let the bug broadcast its odyssey.

Think about bot-net (Hmm...), internet is a good media to
hide and diversify control.

I always thought a robot-controlled olympics betting website would be fun. You throw in some cash, navigate a bot through via the website, then if you score a goal you collect the jackpot. If not, your money goes to the pot, and it's the next player's chance. All streamed to the website with a live webcam. And of course, the website owner will keep a share of the pot to make revenues.

Philipp, sounds like your already thinking about your next project there. :)