Hugging Face launches Microduck, a $399 open-source robot

Hugging Face and its subsidiary Pollen Robotics have announced the launch of Microduck, a compact, duck-shaped bipedal robot priced at $399. Designed as an open-source platform for physical AI research, the 25-centimeter robot is intended to democratize access to reinforcement learning and robotics experimentation.

Microduck features 15 motors and is equipped with a camera, LiDAR sensors, and two inertial measurement units (IMU) to perceive its environment. Out of the box, it can perform seven pre-trained behaviors, including walking, sitting, standing up after a fall, kicking a ball, and using its articulated beak to pick up objects weighing up to 800 grams. With optional accessories, the robot can also roller-skate.

The platform emphasizes a “Sim-to-Real” workflow, allowing developers to train new behaviors in a physics simulation environment before deploying them directly to the physical hardware. The software development kit (SDK), simulation tools, and reinforcement learning stack are all available under an Apache 2.0 license on GitHub. Pre-orders are currently open, with shipping expected to begin before the 2026 Christmas season.