Microduck Video Highlights Small Robot Capabilities

Single-source brief: IEEE Spectrum’s weekly video roundup lists Microduck claims, but independent confirmation was not supplied.

What Changed

IEEE Spectrum included Microduck in its latest Video Friday roundup.

The 25-centimeter robot weighs 780 grams, according to Microduck’s video material.

The maker says it has 15 degrees of freedom. It also lists a front camera and 8x8 LiDAR.

Other listed hardware includes two IMUs, microphones, a speaker, NFC, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.

Claimed Capabilities

Microduck is shown waddling, falling, and standing back up.

Its maker says it can walk, sit, crouch, roller skate, and pick up objects.

The robot uses an articulated beak for object pickup, according to the material.

The company also claims autonomous behaviors and fall recovery.

Users can drive it with a game controller. They can also add accessories and NFC-tagged objects.

The software is described as fully open source.

Deployment Reality

Microduck is on preorder for $399, according to the listing.

The maker says it will ship before Christmas. The supplied evidence does not confirm deliveries.

This is a small consumer-style robot, not an industrial humanoid deployment.

Its listed sensors and motion features suggest a compact learning platform. They do not prove reliable work in homes or factories.

Runtime, payload, battery design, repair needs, and safety limits were not provided.

The material also does not state how often it recovers from falls.