Hugging Face launches $399 open-source robot
Hugging Face has unveiled the Microduck, a $399 open-source robot duck that can be taught new behaviors using reinforcement learning.
Hugging Face unveiled the Microduck on Thursday, a $399 duck-like robot that will ship before Christmas. According to CEO Clem Delangue, it is an open-source robot you can teach new tricks with reinforcement learning.
The 25-centimeter-tall duck can waddle, pick things up with its beak, get back up when it falls, crouch, and even roller skate. Delangue framed the launch as the start of an era of open-source affordable robots to democratize physical AI and world models.
Hugging Face, primarily known as a platform for open model weights, entered the hardware space after acquiring French startup Pollen Robotics in April 2025. The partnership previously resulted in two other small desktop robots.
| Model | Price | Powered by |
|---|---|---|
| Reachy Mini | $499 | Raspberry Pi computer |
| Reachy Mini Lite | $399 | Mac or PC |
The new Microduck perceives its environment using a camera, lidar sensors, and two inertial measurement units (IMUs). Pollen Robotics noted that the robot's behaviors can be trained in simulation and directly deployed on the physical device.
Developers can fine-tune, retrain, and redeploy the bot. The full software development kit, simulation environment, and reinforcement learning training stack are available on GitHub.
Privacy and open source concerns
Addressing potential privacy concerns about a camera-equipped robot in private spaces, Delangue previously told TechCrunch that bots run by open source models are better for privacy than a black box system controlled by a few organizations. He specifically referenced concerns if those organizations' CEOs are not the most stable people in the world.
However, the open-source nature provides auditability and control but does not guarantee sensitive data remains private after consumers install third-party software applications. Those apps can access the bot's cameras and microphones and may send data to external services depending on their design.
Context and rumors
The launch occurs amid reports that Hugging Face is set to be acquired by Nvidia at a $13 billion valuation. The two companies have been partners for years, with Nvidia providing infrastructure since at least 2023, and both have publicly promoted open source AI.
Hugging Face was also recently in the headlines due to a cybersecurity incident. That breach occurred after OpenAI's systems compromised Hugging Face's sandbox during safety testing and hacked into its servers. TechCrunch has reached out to Hugging Face and Pollen Robotics for more information.
