Hugging Face Introduces Affordable Open-Source Humanoid Robots: HopeJR and Reachy Mini

Hugging Face Unveils Two New Humanoid Robots On Thursday, AI development platform Hugging Face continued its expansion into the robotics field by unveiling two new humanoid robots: HopeJR and Reachy Mini. These additions aim to democratize access to advanced robotic technology and encourage innovation in the community. HopeJR is a full-size humanoid robot designed with 66 actuated degrees of freedom, allowing it to perform a wide range of motions such as walking and arm movements. This level of mobility and flexibility makes it a powerful tool for researchers and developers working on complex AI applications. In contrast, Reachy Mini is a compact desktop robot that can move its head, speak, and listen, serving as an ideal platform for testing and developing AI applications in a more controlled environment. While Hugging Face has not set an exact timeline for shipping these robots, co-founder and CEO Clem Delangue stated via email that the company anticipates delivering the first units by the end of the year. Interested buyers can already sign up on the waitlist. The estimated cost for HopeJR is around $3,000 per unit, while Reachy Mini is expected to range from $250 to $300, depending on tariffs. Delangue emphasized the significance of the robots being open-source. "The important aspect is that these robots are open source, so anyone can assemble, rebuild, and understand how they work. Additionally, their affordability ensures that the robotics industry doesn’t become monopolized by a few large players with opaque, potentially dangerous systems." The development of these robots was facilitated by Hugging Face's acquisition of Pollen Robotics, a startup focused on humanoid robotics, which was announced in April. According to Delangue, the Pollen team provided crucial capabilities that enabled Hugging Face to design and produce these innovative bots. Hugging Face's entry into the robotics industry began a few years ago and has seen several significant milestones. In 2024, the company launched LeRobot, a suite of open AI models, datasets, and tools tailored for building robotics systems. This year, Hugging Face has already released an updated version of its 3D-printed and programmable robotic arm, the SO-101, developed in collaboration with The Robot Studio, a French robotics firm. The company has also expanded the training data on its LeRobot platform through a partnership with AI startup Yaak, incorporating data for self-driving machines. These initiatives reflect Hugging Face's commitment to advancing the field of robotics and ensuring that it remains accessible and transparent. By providing open-source, affordable, and highly functional robots, Hugging Face is fostering a community-driven approach to AI and robotics innovation, one that could lead to groundbreaking advancements and broader participation from diverse groups of developers and researchers.