Hugging Face Robotic Arm: 3D-Printed & Affordable

Hugging Face's New Robotic Arm: The SO-101

Hugging Face, primarily recognized for its AI developer platform, is now offering a 3D-printable robotic arm for sale. This programmable device is designed for object manipulation and simple task execution.

SO-101: An Evolution of Robotics

The SO-101 represents a progression from Hugging Face’s earlier model, the SO-100, which was launched last year. The company’s robotics division, LeRobot, collaborated with The Robot Studio, a French robotics company, to initially introduce the SO-100 at a price point of approximately $100.

Collaborative Development

For the development of the SO-101, Hugging Face again partnered with The Robot Studio. Additional collaboration included WowRobo, a robotics retailer, Seeed Studio, an IoT hardware provider, and PartaBot, a supplier of robotics components.

Improvements Over the SO-100

The SO-101, also starting at $100, offers enhancements over its predecessor. Assembly is now quicker, and upgraded motors have been implemented to minimize friction. These motors also enable the arm to effectively support its own weight.

This camera-equipped arm can be trained using reinforcement learning, an AI methodology. This allows the arm to autonomously learn to complete tasks, such as grasping a Lego brick and depositing it into a container.

Pricing Variations

It’s important to note that $100 represents the starting price for the SO-101. Fully assembled units and the application of U.S. tariffs on goods imported from China result in a price range extending up to around $500, contingent upon the supplier.

Expanding Robotics Initiatives

Hugging Face is significantly increasing its investment in robotics. Recently, the company acquired Pollen Robotics, a French robotics startup, for an undisclosed sum.

Under the leadership of Remi Cadene, a former engineer with Tesla Optimus, Hugging Face’s robotics division intends to market Pollen’s humanoid robot, Reachy 2. Developers will also have the opportunity to access and contribute improvements to its underlying code.