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Robotics

Hugging Face opens preorders for its $399 open-source 'Microduck' robot

Hugging Face opens preorders for Microduck, a $399 open-source duck robot that ships before Christmas 2026.

AI News Feed · 2026-08-28 00:12

The tiny biped robot is aimed at developers and robotics enthusiasts. It has 15 motors spread across its legs, head and neck, allowing it to walk, sit, crouch, get back up from common falls, and even roller-skate, according to Pollen Robotics. It can also pick up small items with its articulated beak, with a lift capacity of up to 800 grams.

Microduck perceives its surroundings with a camera, a LiDAR sensor and two inertial measurement units. It can react to its environment, follow a laser pointer, or be controlled with a game controller. Its software is open-source, including an SDK, simulation tools and a full reinforcement-learning training stack available on GitHub, allowing users to retrain it for new behaviors.

Hugging Face CEO Clem Delangue described the robot as an “open-source robot you can teach new tricks with reinforcement learning” and said the launch welcomes “the era of open-source affordable robots to democratize physical AI and world models,” according to TechCrunch. The company acquired French startup Pollen Robotics in April 2025 and previously released the Reachy Mini desktop robot.

Microduck communicates through generated sounds rather than words. According to Pollen Robotics, each unit develops its own permanent “audio identity” when first powered on, making it feel more like a creature than an assistant. It runs on a Rockchip RK3566 processor with 1GB RAM and 32GB storage, supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and its 2,600mAh battery lasts about one hour. Preorders are available in cream, graphite, lavender and sky blue.

The launch comes as Hugging Face is reportedly in talks to be acquired by Nvidia at a $13 billion valuation, according to TechCrunch. The two companies have long been partners on open-source AI infrastructure. TechCrunch also noted that while open-source designs make the robot auditable, third-party applications could still access its camera and microphone and send data to external services. Engadget reported that the duck branding was chosen because of the robot’s proportions, beak and waddling gait, and that a group of Microducks can play soccer together.