Microduck: The Tiny Open-Source Robot That Learns to Walk, Kick and Roll

September 1, 2026 2 Min Read

Microduck robot

Robots are getting smaller, more affordable and increasingly accessible to enthusiasts. One of the latest examples is Microduck, a tiny bipedal robot developed by Pollen Robotics and Hugging Face that combines reinforcement learning, open-source software and an unusually adorable duck-shaped design.

At around 25cm tall and 800g, Microduck is designed to be more than a robotic toy. It is an open platform that developers and robotics enthusiasts can experiment with, train and reprogram.

What Is Microduck?

Microduck is a two-legged robot that uses reinforcement-learning policies to control its movements. Its onboard system runs on a Rockchip RK3566 processor and controls 15 servos through a 50Hz control loop.

The robot comes with capabilities such as walking, sitting, standing back up after falling, kicking a ball and picking up small objects with its beak-like gripper.

It can also be fitted with small wheels, allowing it to roller-skate rather than simply walk.

Built for Experimentation

The biggest attraction for developers is Microduck’s open-source software. Pollen Robotics has published the robot’s software stack on GitHub under an Apache-2.0 licence, giving users access to the code that controls many of its core functions.

The robot’s movement policies are trained using reinforcement learning in simulation and then exported for use on the physical robot. This gives developers an opportunity to experiment with new behaviours rather than being limited to the capabilities included out of the box.

However, it’s worth noting that open-source software does not mean the entire robot is open-source hardware. The publicly available project focuses heavily on the software and training stack.

What Hardware Does It Have?

Despite its small size, Microduck includes several sensors and components designed to help it interact with its surroundings.

The robot features a camera, depth sensing, motion sensors, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other onboard electronics. Its small size also makes it considerably less intimidating than full-size humanoid robots.

That makes it potentially useful for education, robotics experimentation and AI research.

How Much Does Microduck Cost?

Pollen Robotics lists Microduck for $399 before taxes and shipping, with pre-orders having opened on August 27, 2026.

The company positions it as an accessible robot that people can play with while also giving developers a platform for experimenting with robotics and reinforcement learning.

Why Microduck Is Interesting

Microduck’s appeal isn’t simply its unusual duck design. It represents a different approach to consumer robotics: small, programmable and open rather than expensive and closed-off.

As AI moves from software into physical machines, robots like Microduck could give more people an opportunity to experiment with embodied AI without needing a large humanoid robot.

For robotics enthusiasts, developers and AI researchers, Microduck could be one of the more interesting small robots to watch in 2026.

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