NVIDIA brought robot ducks on stage. And you can pre-order one for $399. On October 21 at a conference in Berlin Jensen Huang showed Microduck. These little ones were created by the French Pollen Robotics, which is part of Hugging Face.
What Microduck can do
- only 25 cm tall, weighs less than 800 grams;
- inside are 15 motors, a camera and a depth sensor;
- the beak works as a gripper: the robot picks up small objects with it;
- it can walk, squat, sit and get up after many falls, and with additional attachments even roller-skate.
How it is taught
The most interesting part: it can be taught new movements. First the robot trains in a virtual world, and then the acquired skills are transferred to the real machine. It was exactly the training of Microduck with its own technologies that NVIDIA showed.
Open code
The code is open: you can change the behavior and share your own developments. So Microduck is also a small robotics laboratory for universities, makers and anyone who wants to try robot learning without expensive equipment.
Price and caveats
$399 is the starting pre-order price, excluding taxes and shipping. Microduck should not be confused with Disney BDX: this is a separate development by Pollen Robotics that NVIDIA showed in a demonstration. Shipping times and conditions for Russia must be clarified separately.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Microduck cost?
Pre-orders start at $399, excluding taxes and shipping.
Who made Microduck?
The French Pollen Robotics, part of Hugging Face. NVIDIA showed it at the conference in Berlin on October 21.
Can Microduck be programmed?
Yes, the code is open: you can change the behavior and train new movements in simulation.
