Described as being small but agile, it’s a little robot that can be programmed to walk, do tricks and roll around almost like a real dog. Think of it as a more endearing version of the headless robot dog, Spot.
Obviously designed to be a bit of fun for coding, it’s actually operated via OpenCat (yes, there was a cat version), which is an open source Arduino and Raspberry Pi-compatible quadruped robotic pet framework developed by Petoi themselves. Basically, you can start with block-based Scratch-like programming and move on to advanced coding with the Arduino IDE and C++/Python.
In terms of the electronics involved, Bittle is driven by NyBoard V1, a customised Arduino Uno board extra peripherals. This can drive up to 12 PWM servos, and an IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) is used for balancing.
You assemble the dog yourself, without the need for screws.
The makers write:
“Evolving with an open-source gene, Bittle is built on Petoi’s OpenCat open-source platform specifically for quadrupled robots. Bittle’s dynamic manoeuvrability and behaviours are features typically seen on luxury robots but Petoi’s technology is now making it accessible to more consumers.”
“With a customised Arduino board coordinating all instinctive and sophisticated movements, users are able to clip various smart sensors onto Bittle or mount a Raspberry Pi or other AI chips through wired/wireless connections to inject perception and artificial intelligence capabilities. Bittle can be configured and controlled using Petoi’s official mobile app.”
It’s priced at £299.99 from Amazon.co.uk, with an additional battery pack – for longer walkies – costing £39.99 and a camera module costing another £59.99. A pre-built version of the dog will cost £309.
You can see the Petoi FAQs for more info.
We’re hoping, by the way, to setup a compo with a Petoi Bittle as the prize, so stay tuned.
Kickstarter
We first wrote about the Petoi Bittle back in 2020, when it’s KickStarter campaign was highlighted.
It smashed its funding targets, if you didn’t guess. The project raised $567,218 from 2,052 backers.
