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ReachyMini Getting Started

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The Reachy Mini is the first open-source desktop robot designed to explore human-robot interaction and creative custom applications. Developed collaboratively by Pollen Robotics and Hugging Face, this compact humanoid robot brings professional-grade robotics capabilities to your desk at an affordable price point.

Optimized and manufactured by Seeed Studio, Reachy Mini combines expressive physical interaction with modern AI capabilities. Whether you're building voice assistants, computer vision applications, or educational tools, Reachy Mini provides a complete platform for real-world AI experimentation.

What You'll Learn
  • The key features and architecture of Reachy Mini
  • Hardware specifications and differences between Lite and Full versions
  • How to assemble and configure your Reachy Mini
  • How to control the robot using the Python SDK
  • How to integrate with Hugging Face models and applications
  • Where to find community resources and support

Key Features & Specifications​

Reachy Mini packs impressive capabilities into a compact, desktop-sized package.

FeatureReachy Mini LiteReachy Mini (Full)
Price$299 + shipping$449 + shipping
ComputeExternal (Mac/Linux compatible)Raspberry Pi 4 onboard
ConnectivityWired onlyWiFi + Ethernet (via USB-C adapter)
PowerWired powerBattery + wired operation
Microphones44
Speaker5W5W
CameraWide-angleWide-angle
AccelerometerNoYes
Head Movement6-DOF6-DOF
Body RotationYesYes
Animated Antennas22
Height28 cm (11")28 cm (11")
Weight1.5 kg (3.3 lbs)1.5 kg (3.3 lbs)

Physical Dimensions​

  • Height: 28 cm / 11 inches (approximately 23 cm / 9 inches in sleep mode)
  • Width: 16 cm / 6.3 inches
  • Weight: 1.5 kg / 3.3 lbs
Reachy Mini Dimensions

Physical Dimensions

Degrees of Freedom Table

DOF Specifications

Degrees of Freedom Diagram

Motion Range

Designed for Human-Robot Interaction​

Reachy Mini is specifically engineered for expressive, engaging human-robot interaction:

Expressive Movement​

  • 6 Degrees of Freedom Head: Natural-looking pan, tilt, and roll movements
  • Full Body Rotation: 360-degree rotation for dynamic positioning
  • Animated Antennas: Two expressive antennas that add personality and feedback

Multimodal Sensing​

  • 4-Microphone Array: Advanced audio capture for voice recognition and sound localization
  • Wide-Angle Camera: Computer vision capabilities for face detection, object recognition, and more
  • 5W Speaker: Clear audio output for speech synthesis and sound effects

Open & Extensible​

  • Fully Open-Source: Hardware design, software SDK, and simulation environment
  • Python SDK: Intuitive programming interface with JavaScript and Scratch support coming soon
  • Hugging Face Integration: Direct access to state-of-the-art AI models for speech, vision, and more

Hardware Versions​

Reachy Mini Plumber

Reachy Mini Lite ($299)​

The Lite version is ideal for developers who prefer external compute or already have a preferred development environment.

Best for:

  • Developers with Mac/Linux systems
  • Users who want maximum control over compute resources
  • Educational settings with existing computer labs
  • Projects requiring integration with existing infrastructure

Limitations:

  • Requires wired connection to host computer
  • No WiFi capability
  • No accelerometer
  • Must be powered via wall outlet

Reachy Mini Full ($449)​

The Full version includes onboard computing for complete autonomy and wireless operation.

Best for:

  • Standalone robot applications
  • Wireless research and development
  • Projects requiring accelerometer data
  • Portable demonstrations and deployments

Additional Features:

  • Raspberry Pi 4 onboard computer
  • WiFi connectivity
  • Battery for wireless operation
  • Built-in accelerometer

Assembly Guide​

Reachy Mini is sold as a kit that takes approximately 2-3 hours to assemble. The assembly process is designed to be approachable for builders of all experience levels.

Assembly Resources​

Assembly Tips
  • Set aside 2-3 hours in a clean, well-lit workspace
  • A set of small screwdrivers is required (included in kit)
  • Follow the online guide step-by-step for best results
  • Test each subsystem as you assemble (camera, microphones, servos)

Getting Started with Software​

Prerequisites​

Depending on your version, you'll need:

Reachy Mini Lite:

  • Mac or Linux computer (Windows support coming soon)
  • Python 3.8 or higher
  • USB connection

Reachy Mini Full:

  • WiFi network or Ethernet connection
  • Web browser for dashboard access

Quick Start Installation​

Reachy Mini Cowboy

Install the Reachy Mini SDK with the following command:

pip install reachy-mini

Pro tip: Install uv for 10-100x faster app installations (auto-detected, falls back to pip).

Hello World Example​

Control your robot in just a few lines of code:

from reachy_mini import ReachyMini
from reachy_mini.utils import create_head_pose

with ReachyMini() as mini:
    # Look up and tilt head
    mini.goto_target(
        head=create_head_pose(z=10, roll=15, degrees=True, mm=True),
        duration=1.0
    )

Dashboard Control​

A web-based dashboard provides an intuitive interface for testing and controlling Reachy Mini without writing code.

Features:

  • Real-time motor control
  • Camera feed display
  • Microphone testing
  • App management
  • System diagnostics

Download the dashboard from the official repository or access it directly from your Reachy Mini Full's local network.

Hugging Face Apps Ecosystem​

Reachy Mini features a growing ecosystem of ready-to-use applications powered by Hugging Face Spaces. Install these apps directly from your robot's dashboard with one click.

Conversation App

  • Natural language interaction powered by Large Language Models
  • Voice recognition and speech synthesis
  • Customizable personality and knowledge base
Reachy Mini Hand Tracking

Hand Tracker

  • Real-time hand tracking using computer vision
  • The robot follows your hand movements
  • Great for demonstrations and interaction experiments

Radio

  • Voice-controlled radio streaming
  • Natural language requests for songs and stations
  • Demonstrates audio processing capabilities

And Many More: Browse the complete app collection on Hugging Face Spaces

Reachy Mini Apps Ecosystem

Building Custom Applications​

Python SDK​

Reachy Mini Conversation

The Python SDK provides comprehensive control over all Reachy Mini systems:

from reachy_mini import ReachyMini

with ReachyMini() as mini:
    # Motor control
    mini.goto_target(head=pose, duration=1.0)

    # Camera access
    frame = mini.camera.get_frame()

    # Audio I/O
    mini.speaker.play_audio(audio_data)
    audio = mini.microphones.record(duration=5.0)

    # Accelerometer (Full version only)
    orientation = mini.imu.get_orientation()

AI Integration​

Reachy Mini seamlessly integrates with Hugging Face's extensive model ecosystem:

  • Speech Recognition: Whisper, Wav2Vec2
  • Speech Synthesis: Bark, SpeechT5
  • Vision: ViT, CLIP, YOLO
  • Language: LLaMA, Mistral, GPT models
  • Multimodal: GPT-4V, LLaVA

Publishing Apps​

Share your creations with the global Reachy Mini community:

  1. Build your app using the SDK
  2. Create a Hugging Face Space
  3. Add the reachy-mini tag
  4. Publish and share with millions of Hugging Face users

Simulation Development​

Prototype and develop Reachy Mini applications without hardware using the MuJoCo simulation environment:

pip install reachy-mini[simulation]

Test your code, iterate quickly, and deploy to hardware when ready.

Technical Specifications Deep Dive​

Motor System​

  • Degrees of Freedom: 6-DOF head movement
  • Control: High-precision servo motors
  • Safety: Current limiting and position feedback
  • Smooth Motion: Interpolated trajectories for natural movement

Audio System​

  • Microphone Array: 4 microphones arranged for optimal sound localization
  • Beamforming: Hardware-level audio processing
  • SNR: High signal-to-noise ratio for clear voice capture
  • Speaker: 5W output with clear frequency response

Vision System​

  • Sensor: Wide-angle camera
  • Resolution: HD video capture
  • FPS: 30 frames per second
  • Field of View: Optimized for desktop interaction

Power Requirements​

Lite Version:

  • Powered via USB from host computer or wall adapter
  • Typical consumption: 5V @ 2A

Full Version:

  • Internal battery for wireless operation
  • USB-C charging
  • Battery life: 2-4 hours depending on usage

Privacy & Security​

Reachy Mini Astronaut

Reachy Mini is designed with privacy in mind:

  • No Data Collection: The robot does not store, transmit, or process personal data by default
  • Local Processing: All AI processing can be done locally
  • User Control: Camera and microphone functions are fully under user control
  • Open Source: Full transparency in software and hardware

Reachy Mini does not send any data to Pollen Robotics or Hugging Face. All processing happens locally unless you explicitly configure cloud services.

Community & Support​

Join the Community​

Documentation & Learning Resources​

What's Next?​

Roadmap​

The Reachy Mini platform is continuously evolving:

  • JavaScript Support: Coming soon for web-based development
  • Scratch Integration: Block-based programming for beginners
  • Additional Apps: Growing ecosystem of community applications
  • Hardware Expansions: Modular accessories and upgrades
  • Enhanced AI Models: Optimized models for onboard processing

Tech Support & Product Discussion​

Thank you for choosing our products! We are here to provide you with different support to ensure that your experience with our products is as smooth as possible. We offer several communication channels to cater to different preferences and needs.

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