Technology
Hugging Face Subsidiary Pollen Robotics Sells 10,000 Microduck Robots Powered by Chinese Chips
Strong demand for the $399 programmable robot has pushed delivery estimates past late 2026 as the device relies on Rockchip components.
The short version
- Pollen Robotics, a subsidiary of Hugging Face, sold over 10,000 units of its new $399 "Microduck" personal robot following its launch.
- The high order volume has pushed delivery dates for new orders beyond the company's initial target of Christmas 2026.
- The robot relies on an RK3566 processor designed by Chinese firm Rockchip using licensed ARM technology, highlighting ongoing global hardware dependencies.
- Neither Hugging Face nor Nvidia commented on a report by The Information claiming Nvidia agreed to acquire Hugging Face for $12.9 billion.
Key facts
- Pollen Robotics, a French subsidiary of Hugging Face, launched the $399 Microduck robot and generated over $4 million by selling more than 10,000 units.[CNBC]
- The initial delivery timeline of Christmas 2026 has been delayed for new orders due to the high volume of purchases.[CNBC]
- The Microduck weighs 1.76 pounds and serves as both an interactive consumer product and an open-source development platform.[CNBC]
- The device's on-board computing is powered by an RK3566 chip from Shanghai-listed Rockchip, which utilizes technology licensed from the British firm ARM.[CNBC]
- Rockchip reported a 40% year-on-year increase in operating revenue for the first half of the year, reaching 2.88 billion yuan ($428 million).[CNBC]
What remains uncertain
- The Information reported that Nvidia agreed to acquire Hugging Face for $12.9 billion, but neither company has confirmed or commented on the report.[CNBC]