Robots for $3000
Hugging Face Unveils $3,000 Humanoid Robot
Hugging Face Unveils $3,000 Humanoid Robot That Can Walk and Pick Up Objects: A Bold Step Toward Open-Source Robotics for All
The artificial intelligence frontier just made a surprising leap—this time, not in code but on two legs. Hugging Face, the AI powerhouse known for democratizing access to transformer models and natural language tools, has now entered the world of physical intelligence. With the unveiling of HopeJR, a fully functional, open-source humanoid robot priced at just $3,000, Hugging Face has redefined what’s possible in the robotics ecosystem.
Capable of walking, grasping, and interacting with physical environments, HopeJR is not a proof of concept locked away in a lab. Instead, it is a publicly available robot—designed for tinkerers, researchers, students, and independent inventors. Hugging Face also introduced a smaller, desktop companion robot called Reachy Mini, priced at just $300.
But what makes this announcement revolutionary isn't just the price tag—it's the vision behind it: open-source, privacy-first robotics that anyone can build, program, or improve upon.
The Big Reveal at Humanoid Summit
The debut of HopeJR and Reachy Mini took place at the Humanoid Summit in London, a high-profile event where cutting-edge robotics from around the world are showcased. Until recently, the field of advanced robotics has been dominated by major players like Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, Tesla, and Agility Robotics, each pushing the boundaries of bipedal locomotion, dexterous manipulation, and real-time navigation. However, most of these efforts are either closed source, prohibitively expensive, or both.
Hugging Face's approach couldn’t be more different.
HopeJR: Specs and Capabilities
- Height: 120–140 cm (4–4.5 ft)
- Degrees of Freedom: 66 active joints
- Arms & Hands: Fully actuated with realistic grippers
- Vision: Stereo cameras for basic depth perception
- Control: Open APIs, ROS compatibility, transformer-model integration
- Power: Rechargeable lithium battery (2–3 hrs runtime)
- Functions: Walk, turn, pick up objects, perform gestures, voice & vision tasks
Reachy Mini: Desktop Robot for All
For those not quite ready to manage a full humanoid, Reachy Mini is a scaled-down robotic platform designed for desktop use. Developed from technology inherited via Hugging Face’s acquisition of Pollen Robotics, the mini robot is perfect for:
- AI/ML education
- Home assistance
- Low-risk prototyping
Features include Python APIs, visual programming tools for young learners, USB-C & Wi-Fi connectivity, and Hugging Face Spaces compatibility—all at an accessible price point.
“The dream of AI should not stop at chatbots. It should be physical. It should walk, carry, help, learn — and above all, be open.”
— Thomas Wolf, Co-founder & Chief Scientist, Hugging Face
Why It Matters
Traditional humanoid robots like Boston Dynamics’ Atlas or Tesla Optimus can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars—and remain closed-source. By contrast, HopeJR offers developers complete freedom—code, schematics, APIs, and community—all for $3,000.
Hugging Face emphasizes privacy and ownership. While Alexa, Google Assistant, and even ChatGPT require constant internet connectivity, HopeJR and Reachy Mini can operate offline or locally, respecting user control and autonomy.
Market Comparison
- Boston Dynamics Atlas: Research-only, very high cost
- Unitree H1: ≈ $90,000, limited openness
- Tesla Optimus: In development, est. $20k–$40k
- HopeJR: $3,000, fully open-source, real-world mobility & manipulation