Hugging Face Unveils Microduck Robot
On 27 August 2026, Hugging Face Inc announced the launch of a new bipedal robot named Microduck. The company described the device as a $400 robot, with a retail price set at $399. The duck‑inspired robot features a single eye and is capable of walking, picking up objects, recovering from falls, and even roller‑skating.
CEO Clement Delangue posted the announcement on X, characterising the Microduck as "a tiny $399 open‑source robot you can teach new tricks with reinforcement learning" and stating that it marks "the era of open‑source affordable robots to democratize physical AI and world models".
The robot is designed for both beginner and advanced developers. Users can teach it new physical skills through reinforcement learning, simulation, and open‑source software, and can program new behaviours using Python or JavaScript.
Development of the Microduck was carried out in part by Pollen Robotics, a Bordeaux‑based company that Hugging Face acquired in the previous year.
The product launch was reported shortly after multiple media outlets indicated that Nvidia Corp is nearing a deal to acquire Hugging Face for roughly $13 billion.
The article was generated with AI assistance and reviewed by an editor, with the original publication appearing on Investing.com and attributed to Reuters.