A system includes digital servo modules and building blocks that are assemblable in several permutations to construct robotic figures. A central controller communicates with the modules via communication channels, each subdivided into subchannels. The system utilizes a discovery process wherein the central controller periodically transmits a discovery signal in each sub-channel until a newly attached module transmits a reply to the discovery signal. The central controller transmits position commands to the recognized servo modules and receives position feedback from the recognized modules. The system enables someone to easily program a robotic figure via: a learned motion mode, wherein joints are manipulated and the central controller records a trajectory for each servo module; a user motion capture mode, wherein user motions are captured via camera to generate servo trajectories; and an animation builder mode, wherein a virtual representation of the robotic figure can be manipulated on screen to generate servo trajectories.