The idea of quadruped robots isn’t new, but it surely’s as cool and engaging as we speak because it was just a few many years in the past when four-legged robots first surfaced. Whereas there have been nice developments within the subject of robotics since, it’s essential to proceed to push ahead and encourage the following technology of engineers. Petoi carries on this mission by growing merchandise like Bittle that teaches younger robotic fans the mechanics of constructing and programming their innovations.
Bittle is a programmable robotic canine focused at robotic newbies ages 14 years and up, or anybody who needs to have enjoyable studying and taking part in with robots. Priced at $339 (assembled), Bittle comes programmed with just a few starter methods like stroll and trot that learners can check out to familiarize them with what the robotic can do, after which later increase to extra advanced kinds of conduct. This will likely seem to be an costly STEM equipment, particularly in as we speak’s financial system, but it surely’s pretty inexpensive in comparison with related quadruped merchandise in the marketplace proper now. In reality, some servo-based quadruped robots just like the Xgo Mini or the PuppyPi (opens in new tab) retail for nearer to a thousand {dollars}. Petoi can maintain its manufacturing prices down due to its open {hardware} framework and open-source software program platform.
Bittle’s open-source platform additionally means that you can add a Raspberry Pi or connect Grove sensors to increase its capabilities, discover AI machine studying initiatives, or check out numerous STEM experiments. These add-ons, nevertheless, should not included within the primary bundle, so that you’ll have to buy them individually. Sadly, Raspberry Pis stays briefly provide, so that you could be hard-pressed to discover a whole lot on it, a lot much less discover one in inventory.
Cyber Monday Particular Pricing
Set Up and The way it Works
Bittle ships in two fashions, a pre-assembled equipment and a DIY development equipment. It comes with three shade choices: black and yellow, blue and yellow or crimson and yellow.
| Pre-assembled Equipment | Foremost Part | Comes With | Value |
| Row 1 – Cell 0 | Pre-assembled Bittle | Attachable Head | $339 |
| Tail | |||
| Micro-USB Cable | |||
| IR Distant Management | |||
| USB Adaptor | |||
| WiFi Adaptor | |||
| Bluetooth Adaptor | |||
| Lithium battery | |||
| Joint Tuner | |||
| Screwdriver | |||
| 1x Spare Servo | |||
| Spare Screws | |||
| Spare servo connectors | |||
| Building Equipment | Foremost Parts | Comes With | Value |
| Interlocking components for primary physique body | Attachable Head | $329 | |
| NyBoard (custom-made Arduino board) | Tail | ||
| 10x PS1 custom-built servos (consists of spare) | Micro-USB Cable | ||
| 4x higher and 4x decrease leg components | IR Distant Management | ||
| Springs | USB Adaptor | ||
| Screws | WiFi Adaptor | ||
| Servo connectors | Bluetooth Adaptor | ||
| Lithium battery | |||
| Joint Tuner | |||
| Screwdriver | |||
| Spare Servo | |||
| Spare Screws | |||
| Add-on (non-obligatory) | Additonal Parts | Description | Value |
| Grove modules | Clever Imaginative and prescient Sensor, Speech Recognizer, Sound Sensor | $89 at Seeed | |
| Further battery | Lithium-ion battery | $39 at Amazon |
Bittle Primary Equipment
Our Bittle pattern unit got here pre-assembled with the black and yellow shade combo. It required minimal setup for the reason that primary physique and legs had been already put collectively. All that was wanted was to snap the pinnacle in (which additionally got here pre-assembled), add the tail, cost the batteries and Bittle was good to exit of the field. Nearly everybody may take pleasure in this mannequin, even youthful makers (children beneath 14), who simply need to play with Bittle as an everyday pet toy and get some hands-on expertise on motion manipulation or including on to its built-in routines.
There are 3 ways you possibly can management your Bittle: utilizing the IR distant management that comes with the equipment, downloading the cellular app in your cellphone, or putting in the desktop app in your laptop.
The pre-assembled robotic additionally got here pre-calibrated and preloaded with a set of primary methods like stroll, sit, stand and trot, which you’ll be able to management to hurry up or decelerate utilizing the controller of your alternative. It additionally had some extra enjoyable methods that my 9-year-old was excited to strive instantly, like “Say Hello,” “Pee,” “Do pushups” and “Play Lifeless.”
I may see my daughter’s eyes gentle up with how naturally Bittle may transfer and trot round. It was very agile and maintained good stability whilst she modified the course of its actions from left to proper and forwards and backwards on our lounge flooring. Nonetheless, Bittle wasn’t as swish transferring on the carpet because it was on hardwood or different clean surfaces.
She totally loved manipulating the pace for every motion as properly, which led to discovering a cool function — Bittle may truly flip itself again to a standing place if it tripped up or in some way fell resulting from an impediment in its path. She was amazed at this fail-safe maneuver as a result of it was autonomous and seemed like one thing an actual pet would do.
Standing six inches tall and weighing lower than two kilos, Bittle is the proper measurement for her to select up and place in numerous play settings. Nonetheless, she wasn’t a fan of its head continuously falling off. Although it was simple sufficient to snap again in place every time it fell, after some time, she discovered herself avoiding sure actions as a result of she didn’t need to ‘damage’ Bittle. Oddly sufficient, it turned out to be an precise function of the robotic fairly than a product defect. The top additionally acts as a clip that may maintain onto tiny objects and can also be the place the add-on sensors are positioned for exploring enjoyable STEM initiatives.
Bittle’s brief battery life shortly turned a problem. Because it seems, an hour isn’t sufficient time for play and exploration in any respect. 😊 As soon as the warning gentle turned on and Bittle slowed down or stopped, my daughter knew it was time to plug him again in for charging. It could be a good suggestion to buy further batteries (offered individually or as an add-on) so you possibly can simply swap them out and restrict the disruption to the stream of enjoyable and studying.
Bittle Building Equipment
Bittle additionally is available in a do-it-yourself development equipment mannequin, which ships unassembled so you possibly can have the expertise of placing collectively the whole robotic your self — a worthy and most gratifying exercise for anybody interested by robotics. You’ll additionally study circuitry and cable administration. It is even $10 cheaper than the one which comes prebuilt.
The primary physique body and legs are made from laborious, sturdy plastic materials. It’s cleverly designed with an interlocking mechanism, so components simply snap in place. Meeting movies and tutorials can be found on-line for those who want instruction or assist. There are additionally diagrams which you could consult with within the on-line handbook. If you assemble Bittle your self, you’ll have to add code to the NyBoard and ensure your connectors are linked to the best circuit.
After calibration, then you possibly can connect the flat-end screws. The equipment comes with a mini screwdriver, however to hurry up the construct course of, you should use an electrical screwdriver you probably have one useful. It ought to take about 40 minutes to assemble, calibrate and add the software program.
I might say that though our assessment unit didn’t initially require meeting, we received the expertise of disassembling Bittle’s legs and placing them again collectively in an effort to troubleshoot some calibration points that got here up after prolonged time testing Bittle’s maneuvering capabilities.
One factor we appreciated was the time and help we acquired from Petoi on this course of. They had been fast to reply and really useful after we reached out with points. First, we wanted to interrupt down and unscrew all of the legs, take away the servos from their sockets after which put every little thing again in place. After that we needed to undergo handbook calibration of every servo motor. The calibration joint tuner included within the equipment got here in useful, however the supplied screwdriver was laborious to make use of. We advocate utilizing a distinct one you probably have one in your toolbox, and even utilizing an electrical screwdriver you probably have one. Truthfully, it took a while to get Bittle calibrated correctly. There was lots of trial and error concerned, and we needed to redo the method just a few instances earlier than we received Bittle again to an appropriate workable state.
Joint Calibration Tip: Attempt to middle the holes when aligning the corresponding holes on the calibration tuner device.
Bittle {Hardware}
Servos
Bittle makes use of 9 custom-made PS1 servos: two on every leg that act as joints and one for the pinnacle. The kits ship with an additional servo as a spare.
Be aware: When constructing the robotic, it’s essential to be sure to place the servos appropriately to make sure the legs will work correctly. The course of the motors is essential, and the cables have to be correctly linked to the NyBoard to make sure robotic operations run easily.
NyBoard
Bittle is predicated on a custom-made Arduino board that comes pre-programmed with a dozen neat methods or routines that the robotic can execute (for the assembled mannequin). Our assessment mannequin got here with the primary model of the board, although Petoi has come out with model 2 already.
Bittle Adapters / Connectors
Bittle comes with three adaptors that you should use to cost, code, calibrate or load new firmware to the robotic.
Bittle Controllers / Apps
There are 3 ways you possibly can management Bittle:
IR Distant Management
Bittle kits ship with an IR distant management (battery not included). Every button exhibits an icon that corresponds to a pre-programmed maneuver which you could check out. Our distant management stopped working after a while, even after we added a brand new battery.
Cell App
You’ll be able to set up the Petoi Robotic Controller App on iOS or Android and hook up with Bittle through Bluetooth. From right here, you possibly can calibrate every servo, use the primary management pad to have interaction with Bittle, or add new capabilities.
Desktop App
Use the Petoi Desktop App for brand new firmware uploads, joint calibration and composing new abilities. It’s appropriate with Home windows PC or Mac. You’ll need the Micro-USB dongle to connect with Bittle via the USB adapter. We discovered that this isn’t essentially the most dependable technique as a result of there are occasions when the app couldn’t discover a port and would present errors. We most well-liked connecting to Bittle through Bluetooth.
Programming Bittle
To start out coding Bittle, there are two purposes obtainable: utilizing Codecraft (Petoi’s {custom} Scratch-based app) and the Petoi Desktop App.
Codecraft
To make use of Codecraft to program Bittle, you could be sure to have OpenCat 1.0, as model 2.0 shouldn’t be but appropriate with Codecraft. First, you could hook up with your Bittle to verify what model of OpenCat is presently put in. Use the USB adapter and dongle, WiFi or Bluetooth to attach, then run the Petoi Desktop App. In the primary menu window, click on on Firmware Uploader. The following window will present you what model of OpenCat you might have. You’ll be able to simply change between variations utilizing the pulldown menu possibility obtainable. Simply select the model you want, click on the Add button, and observe the prompts supplied.
You’ll be able to obtain the Codecraft app in your laptop or log on to https://ide.tinkergen.com/ and choose Bittle to begin experimenting and programming totally different routines for Bittle. When finished, click on the Add button on the left facet menu. It takes just a few seconds earlier than Bittle executes your script. My daughter, who’s already conversant in Scratch from use in class, dove proper into Codecraft. She significantly loved seeing Bittle trot to the tune of Jingle Bells and mixing a number of abilities and looping them. Sadly, we didn’t have any of the Grove modules obtainable, however she expressed the will to make use of these sooner or later.
Along with needing to downgrade your OpenCat model to make use of Codecraft and use the USB adapter to connect with Bittle, chances are you’ll expertise points with port detection. We frequently needed to shut and re-open the app as a result of the software program stored throwing connection errors. Thank goodness for the Bluetooth possibility!
Ability Composer
To program new abilities for Bittle utilizing the Desktop App, hook up with Bittle, run the Desktop App, and Click on Ability Composer. If you happen to downgraded to the 1.0 model of OpenCat for Codecraft, we advocate that you just now improve or return to model 2.0 or the most recent model of OpenCat obtainable earlier than you employ the Ability Editor. We had points when utilizing the older model for the Desktop App.
Beneath Ability Editor, click on on the Add button so as to add one other line and select one of many Preset Postures. You need to use the Preset Postures as-is or regulate the movable sliders (in yellow) on the left-hand facet to customise its actions. Save and hit Play to run the script. You’ll be able to add a loop or program the variety of instances you need the script to repeat.
We skilled the identical port detection errors when utilizing the USB connection to make use of Ability Composer and needed to re-try just a few instances earlier than the software program discovered the obtainable port.
There are 16 on-line programs obtainable for newbies and superior learners. Bittle additionally helps Python and C programming languages.
Backside Line
Who wouldn’t need a pet robotic like Bittle? It’s cool, it’s enjoyable and it’s entertaining. Furthermore, it’s an incredible piece of tech that may maintain younger fans and hobbyists engaged whereas introducing them to the fundamental ideas of robotics. Granted, Bittle isn’t the friendliest trying pet robotic on the market — my daughter talked about Bittle reminded her of a guard canine, and it jogged my memory of Alpha, the Doberman Pinscher from the film Up. However even that may very well be an ideal problem for younger makers as a result of they will dig into their very own creativity to give you recent methods to imitate real-life canine interactions. One thought we had was to mess around with its head actions to inject extra character and persona into Bittle — there are many prospects to discover via the Ability Composer.
When it comes to its worth, in comparison with Xgo Mini ($799) or PuppyPi ($423-$940), Bittle at $339 (opens in new tab) is within the lower cost vary and is presently the extra inexpensive possibility. Whereas that is a steep value to pay if you or your baby are solely interested by utilizing Bittle as a toy for leisure, the true worth of Bittle comes within the schooling it brings. The hands-on coding expertise from the apps, free on-line coding programs, and additional growth initiatives and experiments undoubtedly make Bittle a worthwhile funding. To not point out the help of the open-source on-line group.
Whereas Bittle’s out-of-the-box agility was extremely spectacular, it’s essential to reiterate the calibration course of was not simple and Bittle’s brief battery life would possibly go away younger learners hanging. Nonetheless, like many STEM robotic kits, Petoi’s Bittle is designed to offer an entryway to robotics and AI, which was definitely achieved throughout our time with this robotic. General, the technical hiccups are outweighed by the tutorial expertise and the enjoyable Bittle supplies when working easily. Maybe the following mannequin will supply upgrades to appropriate the problems we present in our testing.