Robotics competitions serve as a fantastic platform for the practical use of robotics theory. They provide the perfect space for students and enthusiasts to showcase their competitive side through the conceptual application of programming and intelligent robot mechanics.

In this article, we will share some quadruped robot competition ideas for Petoi Bittle robot dog & Petoi Nybble robot cat that will transform the classroom into an engaging and interactive learning environment. From obstacle courses, and dance challenges to battles, these competitions are designed to spark curiosity and inspire learning and innovation among students.
We've made a special effort to list competitions that are easy to design and simple to implement and deploy.
For all the competitions mentioned below, four-legged Petoi Pets can be controlled through 2 modes:

• Easy Mode -  controlled through the Petoi Mobile app
• Programming mode - controlled by programming the Petoi educational robot robots using languages like Python, C++, or simple Scratch-like block-based coding.  More advanced students can also employ AI to make Petoi robots smarter with IoT(Internet of Things) sensors or use Rapsberry Pi on top of Petoi robots to run more sophisticated AI algorithms.

Competition Ideas 

1. Racing/ Obstacle Courses

When it comes to structuring a competition on the fly, the easiest individual or team competition idea is to create an obstacle course. An obstacle course is easy to design anywhere and can be created using objects as obstacles like books, boxes, bags, small rocks, or anything readily available. Here are some further examples:

• Ball control

  The ball control course is one of the easiest to create. All you need is a little bit of space and a small ball. This game can be played individually or with teams. The objective of the game is to push the ball with the robot from the start to the finish line. The team to cross the finish line first wins the game! You can make this an AI robotics competition by requiring robot pets to autonomously locate and push the ball without human interventions.

• Navigation through obstacles

  You can split the class into two teams, hand each team one Bittle smart robot dog or  Nybble smart robot cat, and ask them to complete an obstacle course with barriers like rocks and slope. The team that completes the course faster wins!   Or you can set up multiple areas with the same course for all the teams to compete together. Another navigation course form is Maze: Design identical courses on either side of the room to create a maze navigation course. With both the courses converging at the center, both teams start navigating the course with their Petoi pet at the same time and whichever team crosses the maze and reaches the center first, wins!

• Line course

  You can use tape to create shapes like circles, triangles, and rectangles on the floor. The goal is for the robot to travel right on top of the line and reach the end of the course in the fastest time possible.

Designed as a robot for AI projects, students can also have the Bittle autonomously navigate the course with AI!

Guaranteed to create a buzz of excitement and roar from the competing teams, the racing/obstacle course is an affordable competition idea that will test knowledge of robot control, quadruped movement, and spatial awareness.

Here's a robot obstacle course with a Bittle robot dog equiped with a distance sensor in action:

2. Singing & Dancing Competitions

Did you know that Bittle coding robot dogs & Nybble coding robot cats can be programmed to sing and dance? Suitable for elementary students and younger demographics, Petoi Bittle is a perfect option for singing and dancing competitions. 

Setting up such competitions for kids requires minimal setup but provides maximum engagement. Unlike more advanced STEM competitions that can be intimidating and require extensive preparation, singing and dancing contests are accessible and fun, encouraging creativity and teamwork. Students can quickly program their robot pets to perform simple routines to DIY new dance moves, making the learning process enjoyable and less daunting!

On Petoi's learning center, you can find a step-by-step breakdown of how to program and code Petoi Bittle or Petoi Nybble for singing and dancing. Click here to learn how.
Singing and Dancing competitions will enable students to gain an understanding of Block-Based robot coding which will further help them lay the foundation for complex Python and C++ robot projects in the future!

3. Game Competitions

a) Soccer Games

Robotics soccer games are competitive and encompass advanced robotics knowledge and understanding. K12 and college educators can set up robot soccer games and competitions by creating a simple playing field using tape to mark boundaries and small goals at each end. They can then guide students through the process of programming their Petoi robotics pets to move, kick a small ball, and navigate around obstacles. By participating in these soccer games, students will gain a deeper understanding of how the robots' sensors, motors, and codes work together to perform tasks in a physical world. This hands-on experience allows them to see the immediate impact of their programming efforts, reinforcing their learning and helping them grasp complex robotics concepts in a fun and practical way. Here is an example of a soccer game in action:

b) Robot Battles
If you would like to take the thrill of competition to the next level, there's nothing better than an all-out Petoi Bittle Battle! Suitable for elenmentary, middle, school, igh school and university students, Robot battles and competitions are a fantastic way to encourage learning and growth through collaboration and teamwork.

Educators can set up simple arenas where students program their robots to engage in friendly battles, focusing on tasks like pushing opponents out of a designated area or avoiding obstacles while maneuvering strategically. These competitions not only make learning robotics fun but also foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills through game strategy design, planning and coding implementation.  By experimenting with different strategies and refining their code to improve performance, students gain a deeper understanding of robotics concepts and learn to adapt and innovate, preparing them for more advanced challenges in the future. As seen in the video below, we would attach 3D printed horns or some equivalent to Bittle's head to battle each other. 

Robotics learning can be fun and accessible through such robotics competitions. As always the greater idea is to spark lifelong student interest in STEM fields through such competitions and hands-on learning.

Still thinking of which competition idea to implement? 
Take inspiration from the Petoi Spring 2024 Robotics Challenge. As part of the Spring Robotics challenge, students and enthusiasts worldwide recorded & submitted their unique interactions with Petoi Pets (based on contest themes) and won exciting prizes!

Take a look at the winners of the challenge:

If you have any suggestions or are interested in running a robotics competition for your robotics camp or institution, please feel free to contact us.