Hugging Face Launches Reachy Mini: Your New Desktop Robot Buddy

Hugging Face Launches Reachy Mini: Your New Desktop Robot Buddy

So, picture this: you’re sitting at your desk, maybe sipping on some coffee, and suddenly, a little robot catches your eye. It’s not just any robot; it’s the Reachy Mini from Hugging Face, and it’s ready to bring some serious fun and learning to your workspace. This isn’t just a toy; it’s a step into the future of robotics, and it’s all about making this tech accessible to everyone—from developers to educators to curious hobbyists.

What’s the Deal with Reachy Mini?

Hugging Face, known for its open-source AI tools, just opened pre-orders for this pint-sized marvel. Standing at about 11 inches tall and weighing around 3.3 pounds, the Reachy Mini is designed to be both cute and functional. It’s got these expressive eyes on two screens and a pair of animated antennas that kinda make it feel alive. You can’t help but smile when you see it move around, right?

Now, here’s the kicker: there are two versions of the Reachy Mini. The Lite version is priced at $299 and needs to be connected to a host computer to work. But if you’re feeling a bit fancy, you can go for the Wireless version at $449, which comes with its own Raspberry Pi 5. This means it can operate untethered, giving you a lot more freedom to play around with it.

A Robot with Personality

What really makes the Reachy Mini stand out is its ability to interact. Imagine having a little buddy that can recognize your voice, respond to your commands, and even make facial expressions. It’s equipped with a wide-angle camera, microphones, and a speaker, creating a rich audio-visual experience. You can have it perform simple gestures or even engage in more complex interactions like basic object detection. It’s like having a mini assistant that’s eager to learn and grow with you.

And here’s the best part: both versions come as do-it-yourself kits. This means you’ll get to dive into the mechanics of the robot and really understand how it works. It’s like building your own Lego set, but way cooler because you’re creating something that can move and interact.

Tapping into the Hugging Face Ecosystem

Now, let’s talk about the brains behind this operation. The Reachy Mini is deeply integrated with the Hugging Face Hub, which is home to over 1.7 million AI models and 400,000 datasets. This means you can tap into a treasure trove of open-source models for everything from speech recognition to computer vision. If you’ve ever wanted to create a robot with its own personality, this is your chance.

You’ll be programming the Reachy Mini in Python, but don’t worry if you’re not a coding whiz. Hugging Face plans to support JavaScript and Scratch in the future, making it easier for everyone to get involved. Plus, it’ll come with over 15 pre-installed behaviors right out of the box. You can see it wave hello, blink its eyes, or even detect objects around it. It’s like having a mini robot that’s ready to entertain and educate.

A Community-Driven Future

But wait, there’s more! Hugging Face isn’t just about selling robots; they’re on a mission to democratize robotics. The CEO, Clém Delangue, has been vocal about the need for open-source solutions in a world where big corporations control most tech. By providing open-source hardware and software, they’re fostering a community where users can modify, extend, and share their creations. It’s all about collaboration and innovation.

This philosophy is reminiscent of the Robot Operating System (ROS), which became an industry standard by creating a shared infrastructure that eliminated redundant coding and sparked creativity. Imagine a future where millions of applications and features are developed and shared by a vibrant community of creators. That’s what Hugging Face is aiming for with the Reachy Mini.

When Can You Get Your Hands on One?

If you’re itching to get your own Reachy Mini, the Lite version is expected to start shipping in late summer 2025, while the Wireless model will roll out in batches from fall 2025 into 2026. So, mark your calendars and get ready to welcome your new robot buddy into your life!