The maker page captured on 27 October 2026 advertised a $399 preorder before taxes and shipping. Its base box lists the robot, battery, USB-C cable and game controller; current regional offers are unverified.
Source 1○ Not tested by ROBODROMO yetLearning kits
Pollen Robotics Microduck
A small walking robot for learners exploring movement and code. It is a preorder, so delivery and finished software remain open questions.
Size and mass25 cm tall; manufacturer-listed mass 800 g.Manufacturer source
Actuators and sensing15 motors; camera, LiDAR and two IMUs.Manufacturer source
Policy control50 Hz onboard policy loop; seven published, retrainable behaviours are described.Manufacturer source
Standard packMaker lists robot, battery, USB-C cable and game controller.Manufacturer source
Recorded specifications, with their source limits. These are not our measurements. See all specifications and configurations
Price and availability
The maker page captured on 27 October 2026 advertised a $399 preorder before taxes and shipping. Its base box lists the robot, battery, USB-C cable and game controller; current regional offers are unverified.
A recorded offer can change. Check its source date below and confirm the exact package, delivery region and total cost with the seller.
Check the original sources
Image and credit
Manufacturer image and sourceTest track0 attempts run
We have not physically tested this robot. The task plan below is a starting point, subject to the exact unit and supported functions.
See the proposed test trackOn the ROBODROMO
test track
Three proposed tasks. Ten attempts at each suitable task, with the outcome, time and human help recorded. Confirm the exact robot, software and safe setup first. These tasks are not evidence that this robot can do them.
Perform one documented movement
Proposed task. 0 of 10 attempts run.
Return to the starting pose on command
Proposed task. 0 of 10 attempts run.
Repeat the movement on a permitted surface
Proposed task. 0 of 10 attempts run.
Pick a square to see what each attempt will record.
We will record the outcome, time, control mode, human help, safety stops, exact hardware and software, conditions and full video.
Proposed attempt; not run Only proceed if the exact unit supports the task and the setup is suitable. Keep remote control, scripted operation and autonomous operation separate. A completed attempt alone does not prove autonomy.What each square will show
Finished without extra helpNeeded a person’s helpFailedNot run yet
Keep the conditions visible
Name the control mode, surface, object or prompt and every intervention. Ten attempts are an initial result, not proof of long-term reliability.
Read our proposed test methodHow much do we really
know?
Separate our own tests from published claims and the limits of the evidence. The counts below describe records, not performance or confidence scores.
Tested by ROBODROMO
We have not physically tested this robot. No performance score or measured attempt is available.
See the proposed test track01 / The assessment
What the evidence supports.
Capability and readiness are separate. These written findings are not a numerical rating or a physical test.
Capability
What can it actually do?
The specific maker claims and any independent observations are listed below. We have not run our own task tests on this robot.
Read the source-based assessmentReadiness
Could you use it in real life?
Intended use: Gamepad-directed biped movement. Dependable everyday use has not been established by the evidence reviewed. Separate learned balance control from independent goal selection. Preorder status does not prove delivered reliability.
Read the source-based assessmentA clear limit
This is a research profile based on the sources below, not a hands-on test. Maker claims remain attributed to the maker; they do not prove repeatable performance in your home or workplace.
02 / Can it actually do it?
The claims, with their context.
The wording below keeps each source’s limits. A demonstration, a maker’s claim and a repeatable real-world result are different things.
The maker lists a 25 cm body, fifteen motors, camera, LiDAR and two IMUs. It advertises trained movements including walking, grabbing with the beak and returning to standing from flat on its back; no recovery test was observed.
Source 1The maker repository describes gamepad-driven walking and separate policies for actions. Its software architecture includes a 50 Hz control loop. These descriptions do not establish autonomous navigation.
Source 2Check the original sources
Every source keeps its original check date. Manufacturer information, research configurations and independent observations have different limits.
Open the source listKnow the exact robot
The name alone may not tell you which hardware, software or support you get. Keep editions and optional equipment separate.
Specifications and configuration
Technical reference
Specifications and configuration
The figures and features below come from the named sources. They are not independent measurements. Optional hardware and conflicting revisions are kept separate.
| Item | Documented detail | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Size, motors and sensors | The maker lists a 25 cm body, fifteen motors, camera, LiDAR and two IMUs. It advertises trained movements including walking, grabbing with the beak and returning to standing from flat on its back; no recovery test was observed. | Source 1 |
| Control loop and movement | The maker repository describes gamepad-driven walking and separate policies for actions. Its software architecture includes a 50 Hz control loop. These descriptions do not establish autonomous navigation. | Source 2 |
An omitted measurement is unknown in this review, not zero or unsupported. Check the exact hardware edition and documentation before ordering or designing around it.
25 cm tall; manufacturer-listed mass 800 g.
Manufacturer source15 motors; camera, LiDAR and two IMUs.
Manufacturer source50 Hz onboard policy loop; seven published, retrainable behaviours are described.
Manufacturer sourceApache-2.0 software stack; SDK, simulation and reinforcement-learning training code on GitHub; MuJoCo simulation.
Manufacturer sourceMaker lists robot, battery, USB-C cable and game controller.
Manufacturer sourceThe exact model and configuration
The exact model
Meet Pollen Robotics Microduck
This entry covers the Microduck biped advertised by Pollen Robotics, not Reachy Mini. Colour choices are described as the same underlying robot. Roller attachments and the developer and charger packs are extras, not separate robot models.
Further assessment notes
Setup, support and daily use
04 / Living with it
Right robot, right expectations.
What ownership could involve
A future owner should choose whether the aim is playing with supplied movements or training new ones. Those are different levels of commitment. Before recommending it to beginners, run the documented setup on a stated computer and record the time, errors and help required. For movement tests, specify the surface and record falls, interventions and damage as well as successful recovery. A policy that works in simulation may need different conditions on the physical robot. Check delivery timing, warranty, replacement parts and return arrangements for the destination before treating the preorder as an available retail product.
Support, software and repairs
The maker lists a separate developer pack with three spare motors, five motor cables, two batteries, a dual charger and tools. That is evidence of an advertised spares route, not verified stock or delivery. Community help is offered through Discord. The page still describes pre-orders; confirm shipment, warranty, battery runtime and regional service before ordering.
Questions still open
What needs checking before you decide.
- No delivered-unit or independent task assessment reviewed.
- Gamepad direction and learned joint control must be recorded separately; neither proves independent goal selection.
- Battery runtime and practical training-compute requirements remain unverified.
See it in action
Our filmed attempts will appear after testing. Existing footage below keeps its original description and limitations.
See the robot
Pollen Robotics Microduck — manufacturer presentation
Manufacturer-linked presentation for this model. The footage is illustrative; it is not an independent test of reliability, autonomy or the equipment included in your chosen configuration.
Before you buy
Get these answered in writing by the seller. Tick them off as you go.
0 of 6 answered
Your checklist records your progress. A tick is not verification by ROBODROMO.
Sources and checks
A check date tells you when a source was read. It does not mean every claim, price or offer is unchanged today.
Sources and checks
03 / Recorded evidence
The latest checks on file.
Dates below describe the recorded checks. They do not mean the manufacturer’s page was checked today.
- pollen-robotics.com Source checked 2026-10-27
- github.com Source checked 2026-10-27
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Manufacturer specifications and support
Official product-page specification and support text; source checked 71f61eaf57a97dad46
Source checked 2026-10-31 -
Official page linking this video
Video association checked against the maker page; not a complete playback or performance assessment.
Source checked 2026-10-31
No recorded sources in this filter.
How sure are we?
4 linked sources. Read the claims and their limits below. A source count is not a confidence score.
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