The Butter Bot from Rick and Morty, the tiny robot whose only job is passing the butter, now exists as a product you can buy. CircuitMess, working with Geek Club, built an officially licensed desk robot that rolls on treads, recognizes faces and talks back. The retail bundle costs $349.
From a two-second gag to a shipping product
The robot started as a joke in the intro of an episode, lasting about two seconds. In 2024, CircuitMess launched a Kickstarter to turn that gag into hardware, and 2,715 backers pledged $441,349. Creative Bloq reports that the team spent two years on the project, went through three electronics revisions and cast custom steel moulds.
The timeline shifted during the campaign. Backers paid $139 for the basic package during the campaign. Gadgeteer later reported that every backer unit had shipped, and that the public retail bundle was now available from CircuitMess’s store.
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What the robot can do
The robot is palm-sized, according to Creative Bloq,. Inside, it has a dual-core processor, a camera, a small speaker, a microphone and electric motors that drive its treads. A built-in battery powers the unit, which charges through a USB-C cable included in the box.
Creative Bloq says the robot has two microphones and edge sensors that help it avoid falling off tables. Its face, voice and object recognition run on the device, which means the robot does not need to send that work to a server.
Owners can control the robot in three ways, according to the bundle page. They can give voice commands, drive it with the included remote, or switch on autonomous mode and let it explore. The remote has a joystick, action buttons and a small screen that shows a live first-person view, meaning the camera feed from the robot’s own perspective. Pressing the remote’s “Poke” button makes the robot react with irritation, Creative Bloq notes.
Phone pairing, modules and coding
Butter Bot pairs with iOS and Android phones over Bluetooth. Once connected, it reads push notifications aloud, reports the phone’s battery level and controls music playback, including play, pause and skip, through voice commands.
The bundle includes six snap-on expansion modules: a gas sensor for air quality and CO2, a motion sensor for intruder alerts, an LED module for light effects, a temperature and humidity sensor, an infrared blaster and a perfboard. A perfboard is a plain circuit board that builders use to prototype their own electronics. The infrared blaster can learn the signals from a TV remote, so a voice command can switch on a TV or air conditioner.
Beginners can program the robot in CircuitBlocks, a visual editor that uses drag-and-drop blocks to define behaviors, voice lines and reactions. The bundle page says the environment can generate Arduino-compatible code. Experienced programmers can write C++ to change the firmware, which is the software that runs directly on the robot’s hardware. CircuitMess describes both the hardware and software as open source.
If the open-source coding side appeals to you, Petoi’s Six-Ounce Quaddle Robot Dog offers a smaller servo-driven robot with LEGO compatibility worth comparing.
The character gags remain part of the package. The robot can roll a digital 20-sided die for tabletop games, act as a Magic 8-Ball and tell jokes on request. When asked to pass the butter, it answers with excuses, which Gadgeteer describes as delivered with total confidence.
What it costs and who should buy it
The retail bundle sells for $349 through CircuitMess’s store. Backers paid $139 for the basic package during the Kickstarter, according to Gadgeteer. The remote runs on three AA alkaline batteries, which are not included in the box.
Licensing also matters for buyers. The robot is officially licensed, so it is an official Rick and Morty item rather than a fan build. Creative Bloq calls the price a serious commitment for a desk gadget, aimed at ultra-fans.
The gag is now a product with a price, a licensing agreement and a set of working features. Whether that justifies $349 depends on whether the buyer wants a shelf joke that also teaches basic robotics. For anyone who wants the bit and the coding projects, the robot delivers both.
H/T creativebloq.com
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Butter Bot robot cost to buy?
The retail bundle sells for $349 through CircuitMess’s store. During the Kickstarter, backers paid $139 for the basic package.
How can you program the Butter Bot robot?
Beginners can use CircuitBlocks, a drag-and-drop visual editor that can generate Arduino-compatible code. Experienced programmers can write C++ to change the firmware, and CircuitMess describes both the hardware and software as open source.
Does the Butter Bot work with a smartphone?
Yes, it pairs with iOS and Android phones over Bluetooth. Once connected, it can read push notifications aloud, report the phone’s battery level, and control music playback.
Is the Butter Bot an official Rick and Morty product?
Yes, the robot is officially licensed, so it is an official Rick and Morty item rather than a fan build.
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