Hugging Face Unveils SO-101: An Affordable, Open-Source 3D-Printable Robotic Arm for AI Developers

Hugging Face releases a 3D-printed robotic arm starting at $100 | TechCrunch

Hugging Face, the startup best known for the AI developer platform of the same name, is selling a programmable, 3D-printable robotic arm that can pick up and place objects and perform a few other basic chores. Called the SO-101, the arm is the follow-up to Hugging Face's previous robotic arm, the SO-100, released last year. The company's robotics division, LeRobot, partnered with French robotics firm The Robot Studio to debut the SO-100 for around $100 in October. Hugging Face teamed up with The Robot Studio once again for the SO-101, as well as with robotics store Wowrobo, IoT hardware supplier Seeedstudio, and robotics part seller Partabot. Compared to the SO-100, the SO-101, which also starts at $100, is faster to assemble and features improved motors that reduce friction while allowing the arm to sustain its own weight. The camera-equipped arm can be trained via an AI technique called reinforcement learning, which allows it to "learn" to perform tasks like picking up a Lego block and placing it in a bin. $100 is the base price for the SO-101, to be clear. Thanks to premiums on fully assembled units and U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports, prices range from $100 to around $500, depending on the supplier. Hugging Face is greatly expanding its robotics efforts, recently acquiring Pollen Robotics, a robotics startup based in France, for an undisclosed amount. Led by former Tesla Optimus engineer Remi Cadene, Hugging Face's robotics wing plans to sell Pollen's humanoid robot, Reachy 2, and let developers download and suggest improvements to its code.

Hugging Face releases a robotic arm you can 3D print for $100

Summary Hugging Face's SO-101 robotic arm can be 3D printed for as little as $100. (98 characters) Compatibility with various ecosystems makes the SO-101 a convenient option for AI builders. (98 characters) Project details and bill of materials are available on the GitHub page, but be cautious of tariffs if ordering from China. (116 characters) As 3D printing develops over the years, we're seeing more and more amazing hardware getting printed on our platters. However, what if I told you that you could 3D print a robotic arm? Okay, so you don't print all of it; there are still some components you need to acquire before you can get it working. But still, you can 3D print the body. This is what Hugging Face has achieved with its brand-new SO-101 arm. A sequel to the SO-100, Hugging Face claims you can build one for as little as $100. And with a full GitHub page detailing everything you need to make it, this can easily become your new project. Related The Elegoo Centauri Carbon is the king of budget-friendly enclosed FDM 3D printers The Elegoo Centauri Carbon is an enclosed XY 3D printer that can deliver high-quality prints without taxing your wallet Posts 3 The SO-101 is a robotic arm you can 3D print As spotted by TechCrunch, the co-founder and CEO of Hugging Face, Clem, posted about the company's new project on X. They claim that the arm will cost anywhere between $100 and $500, depending on how much of the arm you want pre-built and the country you're receiving the goods from. It's also fully compatible with the Hugging Face, LeRobot, and Pollen Robotics ecosystems, which is beneficial if you already have a system built on top of them. If you want to check out the project for yourself, head over to its GitHub page for all the details. You can also scout out the full bill of materials in the Readme, and by the looks of it, you're going to need quite a few STS3215 Servo 7.4V units from Alibaba to get the job done. Just remember that if you're in the US, anything you purchase from China is going to get hit with a pretty nasty tariff, so be wary before you buy. If this got you in the mood for more 3D-printable robotics, you're in good company. How about starting with this 3D-printed robot that can walk around without any electronics? All you need to do is add a gas canister and it can do its thing, with a setup cost of around $20. Or, if you need more setpieces around your home, check out this cute DIY robot that glares at you if your room's air quality is poor or this adorable Raspberry Pi-powered Pomodoro bot to stay on track.

Hugging Face Launches Open-Source SO-101 Robot Arm for AI Builders | AIM

The SO-101, designed for AI developers, is now available globally at a price ranging from $100 to $500, depending on assembly level and shipping country. The new model builds on the success of the earlier SO-100 and aims to make affordable, open-source robotics accessible to a broader community. The SO-101 targets AI builders seeking affordable and flexible robotic tools. Hugging Face expects the model to continue the popularity of the SO-100, which Delangue described as "the most popular robot arms ever?" The company highlighted the project as part of its ongoing commitment to open-source innovation in AI robotics. Community members are encouraged to experiment and contribute to the SO-101 project through the available resources. Delangue expressed anticipation for how developers will use the new arm, stating, "Can't wait to see what you all build with it."