"The compact version of Reachy The Robot is now available as a DIY kit"
In the ever-evolving world of technology, a new player has emerged in the realm of robotics: Reachy Mini. This open-source robot, now available from Hugging Face, was initially a project by Pollen Robotics before it was acquired by Hugging Face in April 2025.
Reachy Mini is designed with a focus on human interaction, prioritising communication over mobility or object manipulation capabilities. With its distinctive head and face design, the robot is designed primarily for experimenting with expressive human communication through cameras and audio.
A video showcasing Reachy Mini's capabilities can be found embedded in this news article, offering a glimpse into its impressive communication abilities. The movement of the robot's head is likely controlled by a Stewart Platform, a parallel robot mechanism that allows movement in six degrees of freedom, enabling precise 6-DOF positioning and orientation.
While specific technical details about the Reachy Mini Stewart Platform are not readily available, it is known that this compact platform is designed for research and development, enabling developers to experiment with control algorithms and human-robot interaction. The platform is often used in research contexts to validate models of robot control, motion, and feedback.
For those interested in a more affordable option, a tethered version of Reachy Mini is available for just $299 USD. Meanwhile, the full version of the robot comes equipped with a Raspberry Pi. Hugging Face has integrated Reachy Mini as a development platform for creating and sharing models for different behaviours, marking a significant step for the company as it branches out from its pure software roots.
A simulator is planned for Reachy Mini to allow development and testing without a physical robot. This will further facilitate experimentation and research in the field of human-robot interaction.
For more information about Reachy Mini, you can visit Pollen's site or explore the robot directly from Hugging Face. A video demonstrating the robot's movement can be found in this news article, offering a visual representation of its communication capabilities.
Reachy Mini, now under Hugging Face, utilizes a Raspberry Pi for its functioning, making it a unique gadget in the realm of artificial-intelligence-driven robotics. The open-source robot, designed for human interaction, is primarily used for research and development in robotics, particularly in human-robot communication and expressive human communication through cameras and audio.
