Microduck Robot Available for Preorder at $399, but Only the Software Will Be Open
Pollen Robotics has opened preorders for the 25-centimeter bipedal Microduck robot. For $399, it will offer a platform for experiments with motion control, but only the software stack is expected to be open.
Microduck from Pollen Robotics has been available for preorder since August 27, 2026, at an introductory price of $399 before taxes and shipping. The 25-centimeter-tall bipedal robot is intended to serve as a more affordable platform for experiments with motion, simulation, and machine learning in robotics.
The manufacturer is targeting initial deliveries before Christmas 2026. However, this plan does not represent a guaranteed shipping date. Pollen Robotics has been part of Hugging Face since April 2025, when Hugging Face announced its acquisition.
The Microduck Robot Has an Open Software Stack
Its key feature is expected to be an open software stack, including an SDK, simulation, and reinforcement-learning tools. Developers should be able to train control policies in a simulated environment and then transfer them to the physical robot.
When describing its openness, however, it is important to distinguish between software and hardware. Pollen Robotics explicitly states that the mechanical and electronic design files will not be open. Microduck therefore cannot be described as a fully open-source robot or as open-source hardware.
The specific source-code license has also not been confirmed. In its verified materials, the manufacturer does not state that the software uses the Apache-2.0 license. The scope of the available code, documentation, and licensing terms will be particularly important before shipping begins.
15 Motors, Sensors, and Local Control
According to the manufacturer, the robot has 15 motors, a camera, LiDAR, and two inertial measurement units (IMUs). The local control loop is expected to operate at a frequency of 50 Hz. The basic package is also expected to include seven pretrained movements.
This combination is intended to enable practical experiments with learning movement without requiring users to design an entire robotic platform themselves. Simulation is especially important because it allows training scenarios to be repeated without the risk of immediately damaging the physical device. Actual usability, however, will be determined by the quality of the SDK, simulator, documentation, and the transfer of learned policies from simulation to the real machine.
Some Specifications Are Not Yet Final
Microduck is currently a preorder product, and the manufacturer is still finalizing some of its specifications. The camera specifications, LiDAR range, wireless-interface versions, programming languages supported by the SDK, and age recommendation remain unspecified.
The stated movement capabilities, stability, and approximately one-hour battery life on the production model have also not been independently verified. The preorder price makes Microduck an unusually accessible physical platform for robotics experiments, but prospective buyers should bear in mind that deliveries and final features have not yet been confirmed in practice.
Other important steps will include releasing the code and documentation, specifying the exact license, and conducting the first independent tests. These will show whether the Microduck robot meets its delivery target before Christmas and how usable its development environment will be outside the manufacturer’s demonstrations.
Sources
- Pollen Robotics — Microduck press kit – Confirms the price, preorders, delivery target, specifications, the provisional nature of some specifications, and that only the software stack—not the hardware—is open.
- Pollen Robotics — Microduck – Confirms the basic features, 15 motors, 25 cm height, sensors, 50 Hz local control, and policy-training tools.
- Hugging Face — Pollen Robotics acquisition – Confirms that Pollen Robotics became part of Hugging Face in April 2025.
- The Verge — Hugging Face’s new robot is an adorable rollerskating duck – Independently corroborates the preorder announcement, price, and planned shipping date.
Verified and updated: 08/27/2026 17:19
