Hugging Face, the popular open-source AI platform, has entered the robotics arena in a bigger way. This week, Hugging Face Launches SO-101the SO-101, a 3D-printed, programmable robotic arm that starts at just $100 and is designed to be trained using AI.
Following up on last year’s SO-100 model, the SO-101 is faster to assemble, more robust, and comes equipped with upgraded motors that reduce friction while supporting the arm’s full weight. With a mounted camera and support for reinforcement learning, the SO-101 can “learn” tasks such as picking up Lego bricks and sorting them into bins—an ideal use case for educational and hobbyist robotics.
Open-Source Meets Robotics
Hugging Face teamed up with several partners to bring the SO-101 to life:
- The Robot Studio (France-based robotics partner)
- WowRobo (robotics hardware distributor)
- Seeed Studio (IoT and electronics supplier)
- PartaBot (robotics parts marketplace)
Like many of Hugging Face’s initiatives, the SO-101 promotes openness and accessibility. Users can 3D print the parts, program the robotic arm, and train it using AI techniques, making it a budget-friendly entry point into real-world machine learning applications.
Pricing and Availability
- Base kit price: Starts at $100
- Fully assembled version: Up to $500, depending on supplier, location, and tariffs
- Available via WowRobo, Seeed Studio, and other distributors
Due to U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports and supplier premiums, actual costs can vary. But even at the higher end, the SO-101 remains one of the most affordable and customizable AI-powered robotic arms on the market.
The Bigger Play: Hugging Face + Pollen Robotics
This announcement follows Hugging Face’s acquisition of Pollen Robotics, a French company known for its humanoid robot, Reachy 2. The robotics division, now led by Remi Cadene, a former engineer on Tesla’s Optimus robot project, plans to release Reachy 2 for broader developer use. The team will also open-source Reachy 2’s codebase and allow developers to suggest improvements.
Why It Matters
Hugging Face’s foray into robotics signals a broader trend: democratizing access to physical AI. The SO-101 is not just another arm—it’s a stepping stone toward AI-augmented DIY robotics, accessible to educators, researchers, and hobbyists around the world.
Whether you want to experiment with reinforcement learning or teach a classroom full of students how AI can interact with the physical world, the SO-101 offers an affordable and extensible platform to start.
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