Workers in Shenzhen began hand-assembling Microduck units as of September 3, moving the $399 bipedal robot from its August 27 preorder launch into active production.
First deliveries remain targeted before Christmas 2026.
Concluded·Day 6·first covered 29 Aug 2026·6 sources·updated 3 Sep 2026
Hugging Face's Microduck open-source robot
The gist
Microduck Moves to Production; Workers Hand-Assembling in Shenzhen
Production beginning in Shenzhen confirms the project is moving toward its Christmas 2026 delivery target. One report notes the $399 price point could help US robot makers compete with Chinese manufacturers who hold a cost advantage on larger humanoid robots.
The full picture
Hand-assembly of Microduck robots is underway in Shenzhen, China, moving the project from demo to production floor. Hugging Face unveiled the $399, 9.8-inch bipedal robot on August 27, 2026, developed by its Pollen Robotics subsidiary, which Hugging Face acquired in April 2025. Preorders are open through Pollen Robotics, with first deliveries targeted before Christmas 2026 in North America, Europe, and the UK. The robot can waddle, sit, kick a ball, pick up objects with its articulated beak, recover from falls, and roller-skate with an optional attachment. It ships with 7 pre-learned moves; users can train additional behaviors in simulation and deploy them to the physical device. The SDK, simulator, and reinforcement-learning stack are available, with the full tested software workflow set to release before units ship. Microduck is part of Hugging Face's broader open-source robotics effort that includes the LeRobot platform, the SO-101 robotic arm, and the HopeJR and Reachy Mini humanoids.
How it developed
Pollen Robotics, Hugging Face's French robotics subsidiary, opened preorders August 27 for Microduck, a $399 bipedal robot 9.8 inches tall that waddles, kicks a ball, picks up objects with its articulated beak, self-rights after falls, and roller-skates with an optional wheels attachment, with first deliveries targeted before Christmas 2026 in North America, Europe, and the UK.
The robot ships with 7 pre-learned moves, and its SDK, simulator, and reinforcement-learning stack are already available. Hugging Face acquired Pollen Robotics in April 2025 as part of its LeRobot open-source robotics initiative.
Additional coverage details robot capabilities including walking, grasping, wheeled movement, and reinforcement learning
Sources
Rohan Paul Twitter
Semafor Technology
- Hugging Face Unveils $399 Open-Source Microduck Robot
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