In order to make intelligent use of the robot's sensors, we must understand what a sensor's readings really tell us, so we will spend some time characterizing these sensors and tuning them in order to get good information. The computer is the soul of a robot. There are many different choices, each with its advantages and disadvantages. Computational speed is not the only issue in question here. Which operating system will run on it, how much power it takes, and how sensors, actuators, and communication devices can be interfaced to it are all factors that influence the choice of computing hardware.
Power is another key issue in mobile robotics.
Robots are limited by how much power they can carry with them. Also, since there are a variety of different devices in a robot, the power system must be carefully designed in order to avoid problems. There are a variety of battery technologies available and many different batteries of each kind. We will need to select one which is fits our constraints and design specs.