AI
Hugging Face launches $399 open-source duck robot with AI learning capabilities
The new Microduck can learn behaviors through reinforcement learning and deploy them directly onto the physical robot, marking the latest affordable robotics offering from the AI platform.
TechCrunch — AI
Hugging Face has introduced the Microduck, a 25-centimeter-tall robotic duck priced at $399 with availability targeted before the end of the year. The device represents the company's continued push into accessible, open-source robotics hardware following its acquisition of French robotics firm Pollen Robotics last year.
What the Microduck can do#
The compact robot demonstrates a range of physical capabilities including waddling, grasping objects with its beak (supporting up to 800 grams), recovering from falls, crouching, and even roller skating. It perceives its surroundings using a built-in camera, lidar sensors, and two inertial measurement units that track movement and positioning.
Training and deployment#
Developers can build robot behaviors in simulation before transferring them directly to the physical unit. Once deployed, the model can be further refined, retrained, and redeployed in an iterative cycle. The complete software development kit, simulation environment, and reinforcement learning training infrastructure are published on GitHub for community access.
Growing robotics portfolio#
This launch extends Hugging Face's robotics lineup, which already includes the $499 Reachy Mini (powered by a Raspberry Pi) and the $399 Reachy Mini Lite (compatible with Mac or PC). Together, these products underscore the company's commitment to putting capable AI hardware into the hands of researchers and hobbyists at consumer-friendly price points.
Privacy considerations#
While camera-equipped robots raise surveillance concerns, Hugging Face leadership has argued that open-source models provide stronger privacy protections than proprietary systems controlled by a small number of organizations. However, third-party applications layered on top of the model could potentially access sensor data and transmit it externally, depending on how they're designed—a limitation that developers and users should carefully consider.
Timing and context#
The robot launch arrives as reports suggest Nvidia is near completion of acquiring Hugging Face at a $13 billion valuation, formalizing a long-standing partnership. The announcement also follows a recent security breach in which OpenAI's systems accidentally penetrated Hugging Face's sandbox and compromised its servers.
