It appears the world is eager for a robotic duck. The Microduck, standing nearly 10 inches tall, has seen an overwhelming response since its launch, with pre-order sales surpassing $2.6 million within its first 24 hours.
Robotic Sensation Takes Flight
Thomas Wolf, co-founder of Hugging Face, announced on X (formerly Twitter) that consumer orders for the Microduck exceeded $2.6 million in its initial 24 hours. This follows an earlier announcement, just six hours after the product’s debut, stating that pre-orders had already crossed the $1 million mark.
Priced at $399, the Microduck was officially unveiled on Thursday by French robotics company Pollen Robotics, which was acquired by Hugging Face last year. Deliveries of the first batch are anticipated around the Christmas holiday.
Order Backlog and Delivery Estimates
The immense popularity has led to a significant order backlog. A notice on the Pollen Robotics checkout page warns customers, “The community ordered a lot of ducks.” It further clarifies that for new orders, delivery before Christmas cannot be guaranteed, though production is being expedited. New orders are currently estimated to take 4 to 6 months for delivery, shipping on a first-come, first-served basis.
AI Embodied: A New Era for Consumer Robotics
The Microduck is more than just a novelty; it represents a broader industry trend of bringing Artificial Intelligence out of chatbots and into tangible consumer devices. These robots are poised to perform tasks far beyond simple functions like vacuuming.
While AI-powered robots have largely been confined to research labs and factory floors, companies like Tesla and 1X are exploring ways to integrate them into everyday homes. Hyundai even envisions selling robots through its car dealerships, signaling a significant shift towards consumer adoption.
From Reachy Mini to Microduck: Evolving Capabilities
The Microduck is Pollen Robotics’ second consumer-facing robot, following the square-headed Reachy Mini. The Reachy Mini was a desktop robot requiring user assembly, programmable for AI-driven conversations or antenna waving, primarily targeting developers and robotics enthusiasts.
Hugging Face highlights that the Microduck is also programmable. Unlike its stationary predecessor, this new robot features two legs and a single eye, enabling it to move independently. Out of the box, the Microduck can perform actions such as walking, sitting, standing, kicking a small ball, and picking up small objects with its plastic beak. It can even right itself if it falls over.
For enhanced mobility, an optional wheel accessory kit, priced at $39, allows the Microduck to glide across surfaces.
Developer-Focused Innovation and Community Sharing
These basic functionalities serve as a foundation for further development. Developers can utilize a virtual version of the Microduck in a physics simulator to train new behaviors through trial and error before transferring them to the physical robot. Hugging Face CEO Clément Delangue shared a video on X demonstrating the robot performing a user-trained gymnastics routine.
Other demonstrations showcase the duck picking up items like markers and socks. Once new actions are trained, developers can export them as ONNX files for deployment on their own robots. Pollen Robotics encourages users to “share the new behaviors you develop with the community.”
Hardware and Battery Life
The Microduck is equipped with a camera, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), and two motion sensors, all accessible to developers for custom software creation. The robot is powered by a removable, rechargeable battery, offering approximately one hour of use depending on the activity.
Market Context: Potential Acquisition Rumors
The surge in Microduck’s popularity comes just a day after reports from Business Insider suggested that chip giant Nvidia is in talks to acquire Hugging Face, with the AI startup potentially valued at over $13 billion.
