Robotics
Sep 1, 2026
Hugging Face's Microduck Robot Achieves Rapid Sales with Chinese Chip Technology
Sep 1, 2026
AI Summary
Hugging Face's new Microduck robot has sold over 10,000 units since its launch, generating more than $4 million in revenue. The robot is powered by a chip from Rockchip, highlighting the interconnectedness of global tech supply chains.
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- The Microduck robot, developed by Hugging Face's subsidiary Pollen Robotics, launched recently and quickly sold over 10,000 units, leading to delivery delays beyond the initial Christmas 2026 promise.
- The robot is powered by Rockchip's RK3566 chip, which utilizes technology licensed from ARM, emphasizing the global nature of tech supply chains.
- Rockchip is recognized as a key vendor for AI applications on devices, although its chips are not designed for complex edge AI tasks due to limited computing resources.
- Rockchip reported a 40% increase in operating revenue in the first half of the year, amounting to 2.88 billion yuan ($428 million), with a net profit increase of over 60%.
- The Microduck weighs 1.76 pounds (800g) and serves as both a consumer toy and a development platform, capable of learning through open-source software.
- This is the second robot from Pollen Robotics, which was acquired by Hugging Face last year; the first robot also sold over 10,000 units.
- Prior to the Microduck's release, Nvidia was reported to be acquiring Hugging Face for $12.9 billion.
- Other companies are entering the personal robot market with similar products, including a child-sized humanoid robot and a Wall-E-type cameraman robot, indicating growing competition in this sector.
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