Hugging Face unveils Microduck, an open-source robot for $399

The device features 15 motors, a camera, LiDAR, and two motion sensors, allowing it to navigate physical spaces and manipulate objects with its beak. While it ships with seven pre-programmed moves and a game controller, the core intention is for owners to train their own behaviors. Developers can refine movements in a physics simulation before deploying them to the hardware, sparing the machine from repeated tumbles during the learning process.

Microduck is available for preorder at $399, with initial shipments to North America, Europe, and the UK scheduled for late 2026. The company has released the software development kit and simulation tools on GitHub under an open-source license. However, this openness does not extend to the mechanical and electronic design files, which remain proprietary. Inside the shell, the robot runs on 1GB of RAM with 32GB of storage, powered by a battery that provides roughly one hour of operation. Each unit is assigned a unique, permanent audio identity upon first boot, ensuring that while the robot communicates through creature-like noises, it maintains a consistent personality throughout its lifespan.