- Changes
- 1
- Tracking since
- Aug 2026
- Latest
- Aug 27, 2026
- Net movement
- Classification stable
- 2026
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Hugging Face opens pre-orders for $399 Microduck open-source robot
Hugging Face and Pollen Robotics unveiled Microduck on August 27, 2026, a small duck-shaped biped meant for training robot behaviors in simulation and running them on real hardware.
Full assessment
AutonomyL2 unchangedReadinessReadiness unchangedScoreScores unchangedPre-orders opened at $399 before taxes and shipping.
WatchingFor delivery, which TechCrunch reported as before Christmas.
Impact on autonomy
- Behaviors are trained in simulation with reinforcement learning, then run on the robot.
- It walks, crouches, gets up from common falls and can roller skate.
- An articulated beak picks up small objects, per Pollen Robotics.
Impact on readiness
- Pre-order price is $399 before taxes and shipping.
- TechCrunch reported shipping before Christmas 2026.
- It is a developer and learning platform, not a household helper.
Claim check3 claims reviewed
An open-source robot you can teach new tricks with reinforcement learningPollen describes an open-source stack covering control, simulation, RL training and sim-to-real deployment; results depend on what owners trainThe era of open-source affordable robots to democratize physical AIA statement from Hugging Face CEO Clem Delangue; The Register notes it is a testbed, not a home helperReady for action out of the boxAnnounced as a pre-order; TechCrunch reported shipping before Christmas, with no fixed dateBottom lineA priced pre-order for a small open-source research robot; capability in owners' hands is unproven.
Technical notes3 sections
- Announcement and pre-order
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Pollen Robotics announced Microduck on August 27, 2026, saying it was available for pre-order that day for $399 before taxes and shipping. TechCrunch reported the same day that Hugging Face had unveiled the robot at $399 and that it ships before Christmas. The Register also covered the announcement on August 27.
- Hardware
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Pollen describes Microduck as a 25 cm tall biped with 15 motors, a camera, a small depth sensor, two IMUs and an articulated beak that can pick up objects, weighing less than 800 g. It can walk, sit, crouch, get back up from many common falls and roller skate. TechCrunch lists the sensors as a camera, lidar sensors and two IMUs.
- Software
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According to Pollen, Microduck ships with behaviors out of the box and an open-source stack for robot control, simulation, reinforcement learning training and sim-to-real deployment, so skills trained in simulation can be transferred to the robot. TechCrunch notes that Hugging Face acquired Pollen Robotics in April 2025 and also sells the Reachy Mini desktop robot.