A personal robot called Topo, the mole, is about to burrow into the UK.

Prism is expected to launch Topo here this week. The robot is built in the US by Androbot of California, a company set up by none other than Nolan Bushnell, the founder of Atari.

For the moment Topo only runs off an Apple IIe or II+ with an RS232 interface; but Androbot says that versions to interface with IBM. Commodore and Atari machines will be ready by the spring.

Driven by three 8031 micro-processors, the robot is capable of moving around, talking (in different languages), and pulling the optional Androwagon. You communicate with the robot through a two-way infra-red link in a language based on Forth; there is an option to make Logo available as the language of instruction and another to give the device complex series of commands.

In the US Topo costs $1,595 and deliveries are running between four and six weeks behind orders. Mr. Bushnell, a showman of many years' experience, is offering a special edition robot with his signature engraved on a plaque to the first 500 buyers.

We'll give full details of Prism's plans for the personal robot in the UK next week.