PIC18F27J53
    PIC18F27J53 is a 28 pin microchip that is used in the one cubic inch and bipedal circuit boards.  The pic is usb v2.0 compliant and compatible with several transfer conditions.  On the one cubic inch and bipedal circuit boards, this usb v2.0 will function as the primary means of information transfer for  robot.  The usb v2.0 mini replaces the five pin programming port in terms of primary data transfer.  The pic features an automatic detect for powered (on) and low power "sleep mode" settings.  This allows the pic to accept a low power hibernation modes and also features quick wake up for the pic.  The pic can also set priority levels for the interrupt pins.  The power supply for the pic core is 2.5 v but an incorporated voltage regulator maintains a 2.5 voltage from an input range of 2.0 to 3.6 volts.  This built in regulator is fed from a 3.7V **mah lithium polymer battery whose current can drain to below 3.0V.  The pic under normal circumstances can retain any memory stored for at least an expected 20 years which easily fulfills its annual (yearly) task for micro bots.  The pic also supports two high current pins which can supply 25mah which is enough to directly power leds (light emitting diode).  The pic also supports capacitance sensors and capacitors which are regulated by a charge time measure which checks the charge for the capacitors.  These capacitance sensors have worked in the past (pre-2011) but are not in use with current one cubic inch robots.  PIC18F27J53 is implemented on all one cubic inch and bipedal circuit boards this year as well as previous years.  On this years circuit boards, the PIC can be identified in the schematic as "IC5" and location wise usually located in the center of the board.  The PIC can be considered the hub or core of the circuit boards and a key component in the microbot and bipedal designs.
    Below is a diagram of the 28 pin PIC microcontroller.  There is a center pad on the pic which serves as ground.