Petoi Bittle

Overview

The Petoi Bittle is an open-source palm-sized robot dog kit priced at $289, standing 110 mm tall with a 1-hour runtime and Arduino and Raspberry Pi compatibility. It is one of the most affordable quadruped robots available and has been designed specifically for accessibility, with a kit assembly process that teaches students about robot construction before they begin programming. The open-source NyBoard controller and BiBoard are supported by an active community of developers and educators.

Bittle uses servo motors and an onboard IMU for basic gait stability and supports a range of gaits including walk, trot, and various tricks programmed through the Arduino IDE and Python. It is widely used in UK secondary schools, FE colleges, and robotics clubs as an accessible introduction to legged robot programming.

Key Specifications

• Height: 110 mm
• Runtime: 1 hour
• Price: $289
• Programming: Arduino IDE, Python, block-based coding via Petoi Scratch extension
• Age range: Secondary school (age 11+), hobbyists

Use Cases

Bittle is well suited to GCSE and A-Level computer science enrichment projects, school robotics clubs, and FE engineering programmes. The assembly process makes it effective for project-based learning where students build the robot before programming it, giving them an understanding of the physical system they are controlling.

In the UK, Bittle appears frequently in school robotics competitions and STEM showcase events, where its low cost allows multiple teams to participate without significant budget impact.

Buying Used

A secondary market exists through eBay and Petoi community forums. Servo motor wear (particularly in the hip and knee joints) and battery condition are the primary concerns. Given the low original price, buying new is often preferable unless a used unit is available at significant discount.

Alternatives to Consider

Petoi Nybble is the cat-themed version of the same platform with similar specifications and programming environment. Mini Pupper is a step up in capability with ROS2 support at a higher price. LEGO Mindstorms (discontinued) and Makeblock mBot are alternative entry-level robotics platforms for younger age groups.