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E-pubs are cool too but I understand the joy of dead tree reading. A few that I get (aside from the ACM/IEEE/Make mentioned above) are:
Nuts & Volts : electronics hacking of all sorts
Servo : - sister pub to N&V focus on robotics
Home Shop Machinist
Machinist's Workshop
http://www.digitalmachinist.net/"> Digital Machinist :
three print mags directed at makers in metal. Latter focuses on CNC. Lots of projects of various levels

Two magazines that are great fun for anyone who likes electronics related things:

Nuts & Volts

Servo Magazine

Also take a look at its sister magazine Servo http://www.servomagazine.com/ .

More on the PC side but Linux based is Linux Format http://linuxformat.co.uk/ . It's about the only decent computer magazine that I have found that still has coding articles in it. I wish there was a Windows base magazine similar to Linux Format but unfortunately it seems publishers think only lusers use Windows and not coders.

Its not a replacement for Byte by any means, but if you are into automation or robotics then Servo Magazine is not a bad choice. http://www.servomagazine.com/ It caters to the robotics competition crowd, but there is still lots to learn both electronically, mechanically, or programatically. Its great if you need to create sensors, control 'things', or just like making things that go whizz and move around the room. ;)

The article references the Sparkfun site as the location where he got the hardware. Sparkfun is a company started by 2 guys when they were still in college and it's a pretty good site for digital electronics beginners. Take a look at it sometime.

I'm not affiliated, but I did just buy a Bluetooth interface from them so I could turn a serial-based computer interface I sell to a few people into a wireless-enabled one.

Anyway, if you want to learn more about beginning electronics or have questions, come on over to http://forum.servomagazine.com/ and head for the General section. Plenty of people from beginning to experienced and happy to help out.

We actually discussed this topic quite extensively recently here: http://www.servomagazine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t =4949 Originally, my boss Pete suggested that we use saliva - that would make entering the building a matter of simply licking the sensor. Later on (in the discussion linked above) we thought it might be even better to try and grab some DNA from urine. That way, you could kill two birds with one stone - gain entrance to the building and relieve your bladder all at once. If your company does periodic drug screening then you could just integrate that into the process too. Still, nothing beats the simplicity of just licking the sensor.

If you haven't found it yet, check out Nuts and Volts Magazine and their spinoff Servo Magazine (which is dedicated to robotics - hobbyist and professional) - both are great magazines. I have been a subscriber to Nuts and Volts since around 1992 or so, and a subscriber to Servo since it started (a year or two ago). I highly reccommend both (if for nothing else, as a resource for supplier listings!)...

I would be willing to bet that you could easily build either one of these robots off-the-shelf using parts from LynxMotion, for half the cost or less. They aren't the only supplier, either - Pick up an issue of Servo Magazine and you will find several suppliers of similar kits and parts. Most use standard RC servos. Several companies have also introduced special robotics digital servos with 2-way communications buses. Also, I know of at least one company which produced an "Aibo-like" styrene shell into which standard servos could be fitted. Hobby robotics (and robotics in general) have come a long way in a very short time (I credit much of the kick-up in interest to the culture of combat robotics, as well as Lego Mindstorms).

So, where is the problem? Ah - that is issue - the problem lies not in hardware availability, but in control software. The solutions to solving dynamic walking, on a quadrupedal or bipedal frame, are far from completely solved. When you build your own system, you are lucky if you get some form of pattern playback software. Such software works well for stable multi-leg systems (octo or hexapod), on relatively flat surfaces, but when you move to lesser number of legs, balance becomes key, even on flat surfaces. Add in directional control and a dynamic terrain environment, and the software quickly becomes a hairy problem.

Sony had an OK solution to this with both the Aibo and Qrio, and people were using both platforms to explore other methods and algorithms (mostly in RoboCup Soccer). I would bet that Sony, while they may be stopping the manufacture of the robots, will continue to develop this software, as it is a valuable piece of the puzzle to developing useful humanoid "helper robots" for the elderly (which is an area a lot of robotics research is being done for in Japan). Whether they use this software for their own products or license it is anyone's guess.

As far as hobby robotics for quad and bipedal platforms are concerned: I wouldn't worry. The hardware is there, the software is too (to a lesser extent - it will only grow). Other options exist, so don't mourn Sony's decision. Instead, focus on those other options...

Any idea if the parts are still there in NY? If you think that maybe they are, you need to send an email to David Geer c/o Servo Magazine. Several issues ago, I approached him with a suggestion about reviewing these machines (the Hardiman suit, especially) and Ralph Mosser (probably mangled the spelling there), as well as the Odetics ODEX-1 robot, which he then wrote articles about. Very informative, but I don't remember if he mentioned anything about a junkyard with the stuff...

http://www.servomagazine.com/ - mainly robotics

and their sister (parent?) magazine:

http://www.nutsvolts.com/ - mainly electronics but covers robotic stuff quite often.

These magazines also have Lego Mindstorms articles in them quite often.

Server has advertising for several companies carrying various kits. In my opinion the kits would be the way to go...even if you can only purchase a few and run you class in groups. As one poster mentioned, the problem with building from the ground up is that you spend most of your time building the hardware and very little of your time programming and running.

Once you have the class going with kits then add some simple "build from scratch" projects like BEAM robotics. Even with these various PIC or ATOM kits will come in handy.

Disclaimer: I am not associated with the Servo or Nuts&Volts but I am a long time satified customer (Servo: since its first issue two years ago or so; Nuts&Volts: several years since when another electronics magazine died and switched the remainder of my subscription to N&V).

Merlin.

This looks like a great addition to www.servomagazine.com

Anyone ever hear anbout the Tetsujin contest? "Teams build powered exoskeletons to augment the strength of one human in a weight lifting competition." Sounds like fun! I can't wait until more people build these things. Then, as the natural progression of robotic projects seem to always head to, the next generation of robot combat can take place! Think 'RobotJocks'... :/ http://www.servomagazine.com/tetsujin2004/

Servo Magazine had a feature last month on the Robosapien. Apparently, the designer felt very strongly about letting users hack the device, so he left plenty of space to add capabilities. The current issue of the magazine has a hacking contest for the toy. See Hack-a-Sapien contest.

Servo Magazine (an offshoot of Nuts and Volts - dedicated to robotics) is sponsoring a competition called "Tetsujin 2004" - aka "Iron Man" - a powered exoskeleton competition, October 21-23, in Santa Clara, CA.

From what I can gather, I imagine it to be basically what happens when you take powered exoskeletons, and combine them with allure of battle robotics (aka, BattleBots, Robot Wars, BotBash, etc). Essentially, let's see what "garage-level" robotics engineers can come up with in the spare time.

I think its going to be interesting - seeing how battle robotics have almost single-handedly brought back hobby robotics from the brink...

Check it out - deadline for registration is in June...

http://www.servomagazine.com/tetsujin2004/