Your first movement in five steps
Use the official simulator button above and check that the Hugging Face publisher is pollen-robotics. This walkthrough was reproduced in a desktop browser on September 8, 2026; it does not establish mobile or touch-control support.
- Open the official Microduck Simulator Space on Hugging Face and let its start screen load.
- Select WADDLE IN to enter. The start screen also offers Cream, Graphite, Lavender and Sky colors, plus FEET and ROLLERS options; leave the current selection in place for your first try.
- Wait until the 3D scene, duck and on-screen controls are visible. Initial loading time depends on the Space and your browser; do not assume a still-loading screen is ready for keyboard input.
- Click inside the 3D scene (canvas) to give it keyboard focus. Keep the simulator tab active, rather than typing into the address bar or another control.
- Hold the Up arrow for about 3 seconds, then release it. W also moved the duck forward in our test. Watch the duck, speed display and ODO distance counter to check that the scene is responding.
What we actually observed
After focusing the scene and holding the Up arrow, the speed display changed from 0.00 to 0.12 m/s. Across the movement checks, ODO increased from 0.5 to 0.8 and then 1.0 m. Holding W also moved the duck forward.
These are observations from one browser session, not a speed benchmark or a distance you must reproduce exactly. Scene state and timing can differ. The visible control labels below were recorded separately from the actions we tested.
Current keyboard labels and tested controls
The current UI lists WASD and arrow keys for movement. Use the labels shown in your live session if a later update changes them; older launch articles may describe a different keyboard layout.
| Keys shown | UI label | What was checked |
|---|---|---|
| WASD / arrow keys | MOVE | Up arrow and W moved forward; other directions were not verified. |
| R | SIT | Label only; action not verified. |
| Space | RESET | Label recorded; reset behavior not verified. Pressing Space did not clear ODO in our session. |
| Q / E | KICK | Label only; action not verified. |
| G | PICK | Label only; action not verified. |
| C | CAMERA | Label only; action not verified. |
If the simulator does not respond
Start with the check that matches what you see. These are browser troubleshooting steps, not confirmed fixes for every Space or graphics problem.
| What you see | What to try |
|---|---|
| The page scrolls or the duck ignores keys | Click the 3D scene again, keep the tab active and hold the Up arrow. Make sure the address bar or another input does not have focus. |
| The start screen is still visible | Select WADDLE IN, then wait for the scene and controls to appear before testing movement. |
| The Space is loading or unavailable | Check the Space's visible status and allow it time to start. Reload once or return later if it remains unavailable; this guide cannot restart the hosted app. |
| A blank scene or a WebGL warning | Try an up-to-date desktop browser with WebGL and hardware acceleration available. A graphics warning can be a browser or device limitation; it does not prove the Space is down. |
| Movement is slow or stutters | Close other graphics-heavy tabs and apps, then retry the short movement check. The browser demo is not a benchmark for the physical robot. |
What the simulator can and cannot answer
The simulator is useful for seeing the motion concept and exploring the software direction before buying hardware. Moving this virtual duck is different from training a new policy or deploying one to the real robot; those workflows belong in the official development repositories.
- Useful: virtual movement, interaction concept and early workflow familiarity.
- Not proof: battery duration, camera quality, radio range or manufacturing quality.
- Not a promise: every virtual behavior will transfer perfectly to final production hardware.
Plain answers
Frequently asked questions
Is the Microduck simulator official?
Yes. The linked Hugging Face Space is published under Pollen Robotics.
Do I need to buy the robot first?
No. The browser experience is available without owning Microduck.
Why do the arrow keys not move Microduck?
Wait for the 3D scene after WADDLE IN, click inside it to focus the keyboard and keep the tab active. Hold the Up arrow rather than only tapping it. If the scene is blank, check the Space status and browser graphics support.
Does the simulator prove how the final robot will perform?
No. It demonstrates a virtual experience, not final production battery, sensors or real-world reliability.
Evidence
Sources
Checked September 8, 2026
- officialMicroduck Simulator ↗
Official interactive Space. Desktop check on September 8, 2026 reproduced Up-arrow and W movement and recorded the current control labels; other listed actions were not verified.
- independentCNX Software Microduck overview ↗
Independent launch-period description of the browser simulator. Historical keyboard-layout notes do not override the current Space labels.