The doc seems to refer to Bittle and Bittle X interchangeably. Why is that?
Bittle and Bittle X are from the same family and share a lot of common things, except for the microcontroller difference where Bittle X uses BiBoard and Bittle uses NyBoard. So we just refer to Bittle most of the time without specifically mentioning Bittle X.
The difference of mainboards
The differences in specifications of different mainboards are shown in the figure below:
The error that occurs when uploading the sketch is shown below:
[1]. Do the simple checks as follows:
Make sure there's no other program using the serial port, If you have opened the Arduino IDE and its serial monitor, it may occupy the serial port.
Make sure the uploader is connected to the NyBoard in the right way.
Make sure you're using the USB cable that comes with the kit, some USB cables may only have two wires for powering, but no data wires.
[2]. For this operation, you can use a simple test sketch for convenience.
With the Petoi Desktop App, select the microcontroller type: NyBoard_V1_*, then you can upgrade the Standard firmware.
With Arduino IDE, select the microcontroller type: Board-> Arduino AVR Boards-> Arduino Uno, then you can upload the sketch: File-> Examples->04.Communication->ASCIITable.
There are two calibration steps for different components.
Because the controller board has limited resources, we divide the program into two stages.
In the first stage, we upload the program and large data to the onboard EEPROM (hard disk) and use the remaining programming space to calibrate the IMU, a sensor that measures the body orientation. The board should be leveled and untouched during the (IMU) calibration.
In the second stage, we upload the standard functional code. For the first-time configuration, we need to enter the (joint) calibration state and attach the legs in the right direction.
If you use the Arduino IDE to set up the board, you will handle those stages explicitly. The Petoi Desktop App can finish the two-stage uploading in the background. The mobile app can work only with an already configured board. Its (joint) calibration is only for attaching the legs.
If I buy the pre-assembled Bittle, does it still need to be calibrated?
Yes, you still need to use the desktop app/mobile app/Arduino IDE to fine-tune the joints if your robot doesn't walk very stable.
If I buy a microcontroller such as NyBoard or BiBoard alone, do I have to buy a separate software program to make it work?
Our microcontrollers are specifically designed for our robots. The open source code is free to use and can be downloaded on GitHub.
Can your robot (Bittle / Nybble) function on its own? Or does it only work with the commands I give it? Also, can it learn?
It follows your instructions via the infrared remote, mobile app, or desktop app. It can also do random behaviors if you enable the random mode. Best of all, the program is open source on GitHub, and you can refer to the relevant technical documents to create new skills for your robot.
When running the Petoi Desktop App in MacOS14.1 (Sonoma), the buttons are not responsive. How to solve this problem?
This is due to the incompatibility of the Python Tk library with MacOS. The temporary solution is that you can press the button and drag the mouse slightly at the same time.
How to set up Arduino IDE on ChromeOS (for Chromebook)
I'm on Windows 11 and cannot find the robot in the Bluetooth device list
Try to set "Bluetooth devices discovery" to "Advanced" as follows:
How to install the CP210x driver on Windows
In the Device Manager, if you open the Other devices list, you may see a CP210X device with a triangle exclamation sign. Right-click it to find the "update driver" option, then select the enclosing folder of your downloaded driver to install.
When use mobile App connects to the robot, it indicates "The device doesn't seem to be a Petoi robot."
When connecting, the app will send handshake signals to the robot, and the robot should be running the firmware in standard mode to respond correctly. If the app returns a "not Petoi robot" error, it's probably due to a firmware issue. Please follow this debugging process:
[1]. Please check the version of the app as follows:
App Store
Google Play
[2]. For the startup melody in normal mode, please refer to the 00:13 in the video below:
For how to open the serial monitor and input the serial command, please refer to the instructions in the Petoi Doc Center.
How can I easily install the springs into the upper legs of Bittle?
Please check out the forum post discussing installing springs with various tools. Or you can request Bittle upper legs with pre-installed springs
I can't find the toe covers. What are the toe covers for?
The toe covers are for special experiments that require more friction. They are not required for regular walking and performance. We have removed them from the standard kit recently, and you may order them as optional accessories.
Some frame structures are broken. Where can I get replacement parts?
You may contact us. Show the picture of the broken pieces and explain how they broke. You may find the 3D-printable files or get a replacement directly from us.
Bittle's neck is loose and may fall accidentally. How can I reinforce the connection?
In some cases, the motor's output gear may disengage with the following gear. It will result in an abnormal buzzing sound inside the servo. You can take off the bottom of the servo and push the motor inward very hard until you hear a clicking sound.
The camera module can't work after being connected to the BiBoard extension hat.
For the BiBoard V0 mainboard, power on the robot via battery, and the servos can not move.
After powering on the robot via battery, if you speak a voice command to the robot, there is only a voice response, but no action response. Or you send the skill command to the robot, and the servos can not move. Maybe the fuse(marked X30 or X70) is damaged, it has a lower capability to handle current, which causes the LED light to blink and lowers power stability.
If you have a soldering iron, you can directly connect the two ends of the fuse as following:
