The New York times is featuring an article on a robot not much more expensive than the average middling-high end computer.[1] For a little under $2000, its basically a computer case on wheels, from the sounds of it, with some fancy optical gear built in. The company selling these is White Box Robotics[2]. Ederlyn might be interested in this sort of thing, she has a fascination with robots.
[1]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/12/technology/circuits/12white.html?ex=1273550400&en=e966db94684d1aa6&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
[2] http://www.whiteboxrobotics.com/2005/