Pollen Robotics Unveils Open-Source Microduck AI Robot for $399

Industry Pulse News Desk · 2026-08-27

Pollen Robotics has launched preorders for the Microduck, a 10-inch bipedal AI robot scheduled to ship before late 2026.

Artificial intelligence developer Hugging Face, through its robotics unit Pollen Robotics, has unveiled a compact bipedal robot named the Microduck. The single-eyed device stands under 10 inches tall and is designed to execute small physical tasks using open-source machine learning models.

Preorders for the Microduck opened at a retail price of $399. The company stated that initial customer shipments are projected to begin prior to the end of 2026. The robot will be available in four distinct color options: cream, graphite, lavender, and sky blue.

According to technical demonstrations released alongside the announcement, the Microduck is capable of picking up small objects such as socks and markers, kicking miniature balls, and navigating terrain on built-in rollerskates. The unit utilizes computer vision to react to its immediate environment and can autonomously track laser pointer movement.

In addition to its autonomous functions, the robot can be manually controlled using a standard gaming controller. Its open-source software framework allows developers and hobbyists to inspect, modify, and build custom applications directly on the platform's codebase.

The Microduck represents the second physical robot release from Pollen Robotics as parent firm Hugging Face continues to expand its footprint in open-hardware artificial intelligence development. The initiative aims to lower the barrier to entry for robotics research and home automation testing.