Hugging Face's Pollen Robotics unveils the Microduck, a tiny roller-skating AI companion
Pollen Robotics, a unit of Hugging Face, began taking pre-orders for the $399 Microduck, a sub-10-inch biped that rolls on miniature skates and can sing with a unique AI-generated voice.
Hugging Face’s robotics division, Pollen Robotics, announced the Microduck, a playful AI robot standing just under 10 inches tall and priced at $399. Buyers can choose from four color options—cream, graphite, lavender, and sky blue—and the company aims to begin deliveries before Christmas 2026. Video previews display the Microduck picking up everyday items, kicking a ball, and zipping around on tiny rollerskates, while also following a laser pointer or responding to a handheld controller.
Each robot generates its own singular voice when it first powers up, creating a lifelong audio identity, and it can also sing. Built on a Rockchip RK3566 processor, the device incorporates a camera, motion sensors, LiDAR, and movable legs, head, and neck, with its software released as open source for user-driven customization.
Why it matters
The Microduck brings affordable, open-source AI robotics to consumers, expanding personal interaction with machine learning.
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