How much does it cost to build Open Duck Mini?

Under $400, per the Open_Duck_Mini README BOM.

Build Open Duck Mini, a Disney BDX-style walking droid under $400

Humanoid, Hard, $400

Open Duck Mini v2 is a ~42 cm open-source miniature of Disney's BDX droid, with an RL walking policy and a full BOM under $400.

Cost $400: Open_Duck_Mini README BOM (under).

View build on GitHub ↗Share on X

The repo is the hub for CAD, BOM, and the RL training and runtime code. It's the viral 'cute walking duck' you've seen on X, and a microduck variant is showing up in Reachy Mini sims.

Hardware & cost: Feetech servos, a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W, IMU, battery and printed parts. Under $400 per the README.

Difficulty: Hard.

Agent install prompt (paste into Claude Code, Cursor or Codex): "Read https://github.com/apirrone/Open_Duck_Mini, list the BOM with links, and set up the runtime repo it points to so I can test the walking policy."

Source: apirrone/Open_Duck_Mini on GitHub — https://github.com/apirrone/Open_Duck_Mini (facts checked against the project README, Oct 2026; prices vary by region).

Quick answers

How much does it cost to build Open Duck Mini?: Under $400, per the Open_Duck_Mini README BOM.
What do you need to build Open Duck Mini?: Feetech servos, a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W, IMU, battery and printed parts. Under $400 per the README.
How hard is it to build Open Duck Mini?: Hard.

Ideas to try with it

Our ideas, not the builder's claims.

Build a desk-sized BDX droid that waddles to greet guests
Retrain the walking policy for a smoother indoor gait
Add head animations that play when someone says its name

1 more idea

Film a short clip of it crossing the kitchen and post it

Source: apirrone/Open_Duck_Mini on GitHub
Last commit: 2026-01-31
Builder: apirrone
Repo: apirrone/Open_Duck_Mini, 4,631 stars
Built with: Open Duck Mini

Parts notes for this device are in the Hermes Workshop catalog.

What to build next

Builds that share a board, robot or agent with this one.