27 August 2026

Hugging Face releases $399 duck robot that learns new behaviors from code

First reported

TechCrunch, TechRadar and 1 other ran this on 27 August, all on the same day.

Hugging Face, a platform where developers share AI models, launched Microduck through its robotics division Pollen Robotics. The 10-inch tall robot costs $399, preorders start today, and it ships before Christmas 2026.
Microduck has a camera, motion sensors, and articulated legs and head. It can pick up objects, rollerskate, stand back up after falling, and be controlled with a game controller or programmed to act autonomously.
The robot's software is open-source, meaning developers can retrain it to perform new tasks using simulation tools and deploy those changes directly onto the hardware without sending data to external servers.
Each Microduck generates a unique voice when it first powers on and keeps that voice permanently, creating individual personality. Optional accessories include roller skates, a charger pack, and developer kits with spare parts.
This is Hugging Face's second educational robot after the Reachy Mini, which the company claims sold 10,000 units since launch in 2025.