Petoi Nybble

Overview

The Petoi Nybble is an open-source programmable robot cat priced at $299, standing 140 mm tall with approximately 60 minutes of runtime. Like Bittle, it is an Arduino and Raspberry Pi compatible kit designed for secondary school, FE, and hobbyist use. The cat form factor and slightly larger size compared to Bittle make it a popular choice in classroom settings where the animal aesthetic is an engagement tool for younger secondary students.

Nybble was Petoi's original platform and was the first product in what became the company's educational robotics line. It shares the same NyBoard controller and BiBoard options as Bittle, and the community resources, curriculum materials, and programming libraries developed for one platform apply to both.

Key Specifications

• Height: 140 mm
• Runtime: Approximately 60 minutes
• Price: $299
• Programming: Arduino IDE, Python, Petoi Scratch extension
• Age range: Secondary school (age 11+), hobbyists

Use Cases

Nybble is used in UK secondary school robotics clubs, STEM enrichment programmes, and creative technology courses where the quadruped form factor provides engagement value. It supports projects covering servo motor control, sensor integration, gait programming, and basic machine learning-based posture adaptation using the optional camera module.

The open-source nature of the platform means that enthusiastic students and teachers can extend the software substantially beyond the official curriculum materials, making it a platform that grows with student capability.

Buying Used

A secondary market exists through eBay and Petoi community forums. Nybble is one of the older Petoi products, so used units at various stages of wear are more commonly available than for Bittle. Servo condition across all eight joints should be checked, and the custom NyBoard should be tested for full functionality.

Alternatives to Consider

Petoi Bittle is the dog-themed equivalent with comparable specifications. Mini Pupper provides ROS2 and more advanced computer vision capability at a higher price. For schools preferring a non-animal mobile robot form factor, ROBOTIS TurtleBot 3 Burger is the most widely supported wheeled ROS education robot.