A recent Freshmeat.net release announcement describes the Remote Controlled PIC of Doom (rcpod). Rcpod is a collection of code developed by Micah Dowty for accessing Microchip PIC16C745 and PIC16C765 microcontrollers via USB. The code allows control of various I/O functions including GPIO, PWM, sync/async serial, and RS-485. The package also inlcudes related PCB layouts. The software has obvious uses for robotics, or you could use it to monitor the temperature in your bedroom. Rcpod includes firmware for the PICs as well as libraries designed for Linux and other POSIX systems. All the source is Free Software licensed under the GNU LGPL.