August 23, 2025 • 10 min read

Getting Started with Reachy Mini Robot

Welcome to the world of desktop robotics! The Reachy Mini, born from the collaboration between Hugging Face and Pollen Robotics, represents a revolutionary step in making AI robotics accessible to everyone. Whether you're a researcher, educator, developer, or robotics enthusiast, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get your Reachy Mini up and running.

                What you'll learn: This comprehensive guide covers unboxing, assembly, initial setup, and running your first Python program on the Reachy Mini robot.
            

Understanding Your Reachy Mini

Before diving into the setup process, let's understand what makes the Reachy Mini special. This open-source desktop robot measures just 11 inches (28cm) in height and weighs 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg), making it perfect for home and office environments. With its 6 degrees of freedom head movement, full body rotation, and animated antennas, Reachy Mini can express emotions and interact in surprisingly lifelike ways.

Key Features at a Glance

Fully programmable in Python with open-source SDK
Access to over 1.7 million AI models from Hugging Face Hub
Integrated camera, microphones, and speakers for multimodal interaction
15+ pre-installed robot behaviors ready to use
Available in two versions: Reachy Mini Lite ($299) and full Reachy Mini ($449)

Unboxing Your Reachy Mini

When your Reachy Mini arrives, you'll find it comes as a buildable kit – perfect for hands-on learning with friends and family. The unboxing experience has been carefully designed to make assembly enjoyable and educational.

What's in the Box

1Main robot body components
2Motorized head assembly with 6 DoF mechanism
3Two animated antennas for expression
4Integrated camera module
5Microphone array (4 microphones arranged in tetrahedron formation)
6Speaker for audio output
7Power adapter and cables
8Assembly tools and detailed instruction manual

                Pro Tip: Take photos during unboxing to document all components. This helps if you need to reference the original packaging later or share your build experience with the community.
            

Assembly Process

Assembling your Reachy Mini is designed to be an engaging experience that takes approximately 1-2 hours, depending on your experience level. The process is suitable for ages 12 and up, making it an excellent educational activity.

Step-by-Step Assembly Guide

Prepare Your Workspace: Clear a well-lit area with enough space to lay out all components. Having a soft surface like a desk mat can prevent scratching.
Identify Components: Use the visual guide in the manual to identify each part. The components are labeled with letters and numbers for easy reference.
Assemble the Base: Start with the base unit, which houses the main electronics. Connect the power board and ensure all connections are secure.
Install the Motors: The 6 DoF head system requires careful installation of each motor. Follow the color-coded wiring diagram to ensure correct connections.
Mount the Head Assembly: Attach the head mechanism to the base, ensuring smooth rotation in all directions. Test each axis of movement manually before powering on.
Position the Microphones: This is crucial – arrange the four microphones in a tetrahedral formation, not in a plane. This 3D arrangement enables accurate sound localization.
Attach the Antennas: The animated antennas add personality to your robot. Connect them to their designated ports and ensure they move freely.
Final Checks: Before powering on, double-check all connections, ensure no loose wires, and verify that moving parts have clearance.

Initial Software Setup

Once your Reachy Mini is assembled, it's time to bring it to life with software. The setup process varies slightly depending on whether you have the Lite or full version.

For Reachy Mini Lite (Tethered Version)

The Lite version is designed to work with your computer running Mac, Linux, or Windows (coming soon). Here's how to get started:

# Install the Reachy SDK
pip install reachy-sdk

# Install additional dependencies
pip install numpy opencv-python
            

For Full Reachy Mini (Raspberry Pi 5 Version)

The full version comes with a Raspberry Pi 5, offering wireless connectivity and battery support for untethered operation:

Initial Boot: Power on your Reachy Mini. The Raspberry Pi 5 will boot automatically with the pre-installed Reachy OS.
Connect to WiFi: Use the configuration utility to connect to your wireless network. Access the setup interface at http://reachy-mini.local
Update the System: Run the following commands to ensure you have the latest software:

# SSH into your Reachy Mini ssh [email protected] # Update the system sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y # Update Reachy SDK pip install --upgrade reachy-sdk

Your First Python Program

Now for the exciting part – let's write your first program to control Reachy Mini! We'll start with a simple "Hello World" that makes your robot wave and speak.

from reachy_sdk import ReachySDK

# Connect to your Reachy Mini
reachy = ReachySDK(host='reachy-mini.local')  # For WiFi connection
# reachy = ReachySDK(host='localhost')  # For USB connection

# Make Reachy wave hello
def wave_hello():
    # Move head to look at user
    reachy.head.look_at(x=0, y=0, z=50, duration=1.0)
    
    # Animate antennas
    reachy.antennas.happy()
    
    # Speak greeting
    reachy.voice.say("Hello! I'm Reachy Mini. Nice to meet you!")
    
    # Perform a head nod
    for _ in range(2):
        reachy.head.rotate_to(pitch=20, duration=0.5)
        reachy.head.rotate_to(pitch=-20, duration=0.5)
    
    # Return to neutral position
    reachy.head.rotate_to(pitch=0, yaw=0, roll=0, duration=1.0)

# Run the hello world program
if __name__ == "__main__":
    print("Starting Reachy Mini Hello World...")
    wave_hello()
    print("Program complete!")
            

Exploring Pre-installed Behaviors

Your Reachy Mini comes with 15+ pre-installed behaviors available on the Hugging Face Hub. These behaviors demonstrate various capabilities and serve as excellent learning examples.

Popular Pre-installed Behaviors

Follow Face: Uses computer vision to track and follow faces
Voice Assistant: Responds to voice commands using speech recognition
Emotion Mirror: Detects and mirrors human emotions
Dance Mode: Performs choreographed movements to music
Story Teller: Narrates stories with expressive movements

To run a pre-installed behavior:

from reachy_sdk import ReachySDK
from reachy_sdk.behaviors import load_behavior

# Load and run a behavior
reachy = ReachySDK(host='reachy-mini.local')
behavior = load_behavior('follow_face')
behavior.start()
            

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While setting up your Reachy Mini is generally straightforward, here are solutions to common issues you might encounter:

Connection Issues

Cannot connect via WiFi: Ensure your robot and computer are on the same network. Try using the IP address instead of hostname.
USB connection not recognized: Check that drivers are installed (Windows) and the USB cable is data-capable, not charge-only.

Movement Problems

Jerky movements: This often indicates loose connections. Power off and check all motor connections.
Limited range of motion: Verify that no cables are restricting movement and that assembly clearances are correct.

Audio Issues

No sound output: Check speaker connections and system volume settings.
Poor voice recognition: Ensure microphones are positioned correctly in tetrahedral formation.

Next Steps in Your Robotics Journey

Congratulations! You've successfully set up your Reachy Mini and run your first program. This is just the beginning of your robotics journey. Here are some exciting next steps to explore:

Explore the SDK Documentation: Dive deeper into the Reachy SDK to understand all available functions and capabilities.
Join the Community: Connect with other Reachy Mini owners on the Hugging Face community forums to share projects and get inspiration.
Experiment with AI Models: Start integrating models from the Hugging Face Hub to add advanced AI capabilities to your robot.
Create Custom Behaviors: Design your own robot behaviors and share them with the community on Hugging Face Spaces.
Build Real-World Applications: Consider practical applications like a desktop assistant, educational tool, or interactive companion.

Conclusion

Setting up your Reachy Mini is more than just assembling a robot – it's the beginning of an exciting journey into the world of embodied AI. With its open-source nature, extensive AI model integration, and supportive community, Reachy Mini provides an unparalleled platform for learning, experimentation, and innovation in robotics.

Remember, the beauty of Reachy Mini lies not just in what it can do out of the box, but in what you can make it do. Whether you're interested in computer vision, natural language processing, or creative robotics applications, your Reachy Mini is ready to bring your ideas to life.

Ready for more? Check out our next tutorial on Programming Your First AI Robot with Python to dive deeper into the Reachy SDK and create more complex behaviors.