Hugging Face Launches Affordable Open-Source Robots Hope JR and Reachy Mini
In a strategic expansion into the robotics sector, AI development platform Hugging Face has introduced two open-source robots — Hope JR and Reachy Mini. These new offerings reflect the company’s growing commitment to accessible and transparent robotics development.
Hope JR: The Full-Size Humanoid Robot
Hope JR is a full-size humanoid robot equipped with 66 actuated degrees of freedom, allowing for a wide range of independent movements, including walking and arm gestures. Designed to be modular and hackable, Hope JR is positioned as a powerful platform for research, development, and experimentation in humanoid robotics. The unit is expected to retail for around $3,000.
Meet Hope JR, a full humanoid robot lowering the barrier to entry! Capable of walking, manipulating many objects, open-source, and costs under $3,000. Designed by @therobotstudio and @huggingface.
Reachy Mini: The Desktop-Sized Robot
Alongside Hope JR, Hugging Face also unveiled Reachy Mini, a desktop-sized robot that can move its head, listen, speak, and serve as a testing platform for AI applications. With an estimated price tag of $250 to $300, Reachy Mini is tailored for students, developers, and hobbyists who want to explore robotics without the high cost.
“The important aspect is that these robots are open source, so anyone can assemble, rebuild, and understand how they work — and affordable so that robotics does not get dominated by just a few big players with dangerous black-box systems,” said Hugging Face’s CEO. This philosophy underscores the company’s mission to keep AI and robotics development democratic, transparent, and inclusive.
Robotic Expansion and Acquisition
The robot launch follows Hugging Face’s recent acquisition of Pollen Robotics, a startup known for its expertise in humanoid robotics. This move played a key role in accelerating the development and release of the new hardware offerings.
Hugging Face has been gradually laying the groundwork for its robotics push. In 2024, the company introduced LeRobot, a suite of open AI models, datasets, and development tools for building robotics systems. With Hope JR and Reachy Mini, Hugging Face is now extending that ecosystem into physical platforms that anyone can use, modify, and build upon.
For more updates on AI and robotics, you can read India's AI Startups to Take Paris by Storm: A Global Leap Forward.
