Forget Disney’s BDX Droid — the $399 Hugging Face Microduck robot is even more adorable and versatile thanks to Lidar, NFC and, yes, roller skates

Pollen Robotics has unveiled its latest programmable robot, Microduck, which resembles a cute robo-duck and is priced at $399 for a pre-order. The 25-centimeter-tall robot is set to ship in time for Christmas and comes with several adorable features, including a mouth that serves as a gripper, a voice that utters duck calls, 15 degrees of freedom for movement, and the ability to walk, waddle, move its head, and stay upright using two IMUs (inertial movement units).

The robot is equipped with a single-eye camera paired with a Lidar system for environmental navigation and onboard Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and a 2,600mAh battery that promises roughly one hour of operation. Microduck can be programmed using an SDK that includes virtual training environments, training scripts, tools, and a sim-to-real workflow, allowing users to create their own interactions.

The robot's pre-programmed interactions, coupled with its open-source platform, may contribute to its cuteness and appeal. Microduck competes with Disney's BDX Droid, a larger and more expensive semi-autonomous/remote-controlled robot featured at Disney World. However, Microduck's base package is more affordable and likely to be available for consumer purchase, unlike the BDX Droid, which remains exclusive to Disney.