AI software company Hugging Face is entering the desktop robotics space in the most charming way possible. Its latest creation, the Reachy Mini, is an 11-inch-tall desktop robot that arrives with a minimal setup. Out of the box, it comes with 15 preloaded behaviors—including facial tracking, hand tracking, and dancing—but expanding its abilities requires user programming or downloading code from others.
That’s exactly the point: Reachy Mini is built to empower makers and creatives. With an affordable price tag, it’s free from costly proprietary licenses or complex development pipelines. Instead, it offers flexibility and openness—programmable in Python from the start, with future support for JavaScript and Scratch, according to TechSpot.
A Playful Companion with Modular Flexibility
Reachy is built as a kind of robotic companion, already capable of expressive gestures. While it doesn’t walk, it can wobble, rotate, wiggle its antennas, and tilt its head endearingly. The robot will be offered in two versions: one that needs to be connected to an external computer, and another powered by a built-in Raspberry Pi 5 for standalone use. Initially, both versions will ship as partially assembled kits, as Hugging Face navigates this new venture into robotics.
Hugging Face is also emphasizing Reachy’s creative potential, presenting it as the robot equivalent of a kit car. The goal is to foster a community where users not only build and customize their own features but also share and download enhancements created by others.
Open-Source Design with a Focus on Privacy
Hugging Face is keeping the project fully open and customizable, releasing both the hardware schematics and software as open source. This gives users the freedom to build on early designs and adapt them as they wish. Reachy is also capable of running various AI models locally, opening the door to advanced on-device LLM applications. With the product seemingly aimed at kids, as shown in the launch video, this local processing could be a major plus for those concerned about privacy.
Reachy Mini is now open for pre-orders, with initial shipments expected by late summer. The base version, which needs to be connected to a computer, starts at $299—excluding local taxes and shipping. The standalone model is priced at $449 before additional fees.
This higher-priced option includes extra features like a built-in battery, four microphones (instead of two), an accelerometer, and Wi-Fi connectivity. Due to its increased complexity, however, Hugging Face notes that some standalone units may not ship until 2026.
Read the original article on: Extremetech
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