Hugging Face debuts $100 3D-printed robotic arm
Hugging Face, the AI startup known for its developer platform, is expanding deeper into robotics with the launch of the SO-101 — a programmable, 3D-printable robotic arm designed to perform basic tasks like picking up and placing objects.
The SO-101 is the successor to Hugging Face’s earlier model, the SO-100, which debuted last year for around $100. Once again, Hugging Face’s robotics division, LeRobot, partnered with French robotics firm The Robot Studio, along with Wowrobo, Seeedstudio, and Partabot, to bring the new model to market.
Starting at $100, the SO-101 features major improvements over its predecessor:
- Faster assembly
- Enhanced motors that reduce friction and allow the arm to support its own weight
- Built-in camera to enable AI-based training
The SO-101 can be trained using reinforcement learning, an AI method where the arm "learns" tasks over time — for example, picking up Lego blocks and sorting them into bins.
While $100 is the base price, fully assembled units and tariffs on Chinese imports can push prices up to around $500, depending on the supplier.
The launch of the SO-101 reflects Hugging Face’s broader ambitions in robotics. Recently, the company acquired Pollen Robotics, a French startup behind the humanoid robot Reachy 2. Led by former Tesla Optimus engineer Remi Cadene, Hugging Face’s robotics team plans to sell Reachy 2 and make its software available for developers to download, customize, and improve.
With the SO-101 and the acquisition of Pollen Robotics, Hugging Face is positioning itself at the intersection of AI development and accessible robotics — aiming to empower both hobbyists and researchers with low-cost, customizable machines.
