AI platform Hugging Face Inc. has launched a $400 bipedal robot capable of singing and learning various movements through training. This marks the company's latest effort to bring artificial intelligence and robotics closer to everyday consumers.
The adorable robot, named Microduck, is clearly inspired by a duck in its design, though it features only a single eye. Hugging Face announced on Thursday that Microduck will hit the market later this year, becoming the company's second robot offering.
Hugging Face co-founder Thomas Wolf stated that the Microduck robot's design draws inspiration from a nostalgia for 1990s aesthetics, even borrowing design elements from Sony's Walkman portable music players. Both beginners and more experienced developers can teach the robot new physical skills using reinforcement learning, simulation technology, and open-source software, as well as program new behaviors through coding languages like Python and JavaScript.
The robot was developed in part with participation from Pollen Robotics, a company headquartered in Bordeaux, France, which was acquired by Hugging Face last year. Hugging Face reports that this new robot has already received an enthusiastic response from consumers.
Thomas Wolf, co-founder and chief science officer at Hugging Face, said in an interview on Bloomberg Tech that since reservations opened on Thursday, a Microduck has been sold every 4 seconds on average, translating to approximately $500,000 in sales already achieved.
Standing nearly 10 inches (about 25 centimeters) tall and weighing roughly 1.7 pounds (about 0.77 kilograms), the Microduck robot can perform a series of complex actions. In a demonstration video, it can glide on roller skates, carry small objects like socks, and sing together with other Microducks.
The Microduck is equipped with a variety of integrated sensors and features, including a camera, microphone, speaker, LiDAR, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi connectivity, and two NFC readers, enabling it to interact with external accessories. Hugging Face also plans to release an expansion kit aimed at more advanced developers.