GoKawiilHugging Face launches $399 open-source Microduck robot, shipping before Christmas
Hugging Face and Pollen Robotics released Microduck, a 25-centimeter open-source robot shaped like a duck that costs $399 and can walk, grip objects up to 800 grams, right itself after falling, and even roller skate. The robot uses a camera, lidar, and dual IMUs to sense its surroundings, and its behaviors are trained in simulation before being deployed and fine-tuned on the physical device.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
This launch extends Hugging Face's push beyond software into affordable, open-source physical AI hardware, following its Reachy Mini robots. It also reignites the debate over privacy in camera-equipped consumer robots, with open weights offering transparency but no guarantee against data exposure once third-party apps are layered on top.
- Microduck costs $399, ships before Christmas, and is fully open-source with SDK and RL training stack on GitHub.
- It builds on Hugging Face's 2025 acquisition of Pollen Robotics and its Reachy Mini robot line.
- Open-source hardware offers auditability but doesn't fully solve privacy risks once apps run atop the models.
Raspberry Pi 5 (8GB) Single Board Computer — The same tiny computer that powers Hugging Face's Reachy Mini is a great starting point if the Microduck news has you itching to build your own open-source robot. With GPIO pins, camera connectors and plenty of horsepower for Python and AI tinkering, the Pi 5 is the go-to brain for hobby robotics projects.
See Raspberry Pi 5 (8GB) Single Board Computer on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: techcrunch.com — Rebecca Bellan, 2026-08-27
Published there as: “Hugging Face is selling a cute $399 open-source duck robot, Microduck”
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