The Microduck robot, developed by Hugging Face's subsidiary Pollen Robotics, features a chip from Rockchip, which utilizes technology from ARM. This collaboration underscores the interconnectedness of global technology supply chains. The Microduck, priced at $399, has seen rapid sales since its launch, leading to delays in delivery times beyond the initially promised Christmas 2026.
Rockchip, a key player in AI hardware, reported a 40% increase in operating revenue to 2.88 billion yuan ($428 million) in the first half of the year, with net profits rising over 60%. The Microduck serves as both a consumer toy and a development platform, capable of learning through open-source software.
This product follows the success of Pollen Robotics' first robot, which also sold over 10,000 units. Additionally, Nvidia's recent agreement to acquire Hugging Face for $12.9 billion indicates strong investor interest in AI and robotics.
Other companies are entering the personal robot market, with products like Zeroth's humanoid robot and Mondo Robotics' cameraman robot, suggesting a growing trend in consumer robotics