Hugging Face LeKiwi price & specs

Hugging Face LeRobot + SIGRobotics UIUC (open source) LeKiwi (1)

Hugging Face LeRobot + SIGRobotics UIUC (open source) LeKiwi (2)

Hugging Face LeRobot + SIGRobotics UIUC (open source) LeKiwi (3)

~$450 – $870 complete

AvailablePython from a laptopOmni driveSO-101 armLeRobot nativeKit

Possibly ≤ 1 weekShipping: ~1–2 wks.

Remote control: Run lekiwi_host on the Pi, then LeKiwiClient in Python on a laptop (macOS/Linux/Windows): numpy frames in, action dicts out, over ZMQ/Wi-Fi. LeRobot officially supports Apple Silicon (MPS).

LEARN MORE (Seeed full kit) ↗

Overview

Top pick for an arm and LeRobot's learn-by-demonstration tools. Add an LD06 lidar (~$80) or the depth cam for mapping.

The most developer-friendly option here. The laptop really is the brain, so adding voice, vision or AI models is just more Python. It can also learn arm tasks by demonstration. The downsides are that it's a kit (printed parts, assembly), there's no depth, lidar or odometry, and small omni rollers dislike thick carpet and door thresholds, so it works best on hard floors or low rugs.

Type: Wheeled robot · Laptop is the brain
Maker: Hugging Face LeRobot + SIGRobotics UIUC (open source)
Released: 2025
Price: ~$450 – $870 complete
Status: Available
Best for: Ages 14+
Programming: Open source (hardware + software)

Price and shipping

DIY BOM $482 with arms, Pi 5, 2 cams. Base-only kits $179 (Seeed) to $326 (OpenELAB US). PartaBot full kit $699, or $849 assembled

Shipping: ~1–2 wks. OpenELAB ships the WowRobo base from a US warehouse in 3–7 business days, and Seeed's Full Kit lists a US warehouse. WowRobo direct is 1–3 days prep + 2–5 days UPS (duties prepaid). The arm often ships separately. OpenELAB (US) ↗

Specifications

Category	Wheeled rovers · Laptop is the brain
Released	2025
Country	France, USA
Availability	Available
DIY build plans	LeKiwi · parts $480 (estimate) · difficulty 2/5
Programmability	Open source (hardware + software)
Built-in autonomy	None / scripted · Moves only when controlled, or plays preset motions
LLM support	Official LLM tools · LeRobot provides training and deployment of language-conditioned VLA policies such as SmolVLA and pi0 for LeKiwi. LeRobot docs ↗
MuJoCo simulation	Maker URDF only · Official URDF in the LeKiwi repo. Ekumen's third-party MuJoCo model also exists (github.com/Ekumen-OS/lekiwi). LeKiwi URDF ↗
NVIDIA Isaac simulation	Maker URDF only · Official URDF in the LeKiwi repo. Lightwheel's third-party LeIsaac adds LeKiwi teleop in Isaac Lab. LeKiwi URDF ↗
Gazebo simulation	Maker URDF only · Official URDF in the LeKiwi repo, no Gazebo package. LeKiwi URDF ↗
Best for	Ages 14+ (estimated)
Vision sensors	Camera, Depth camera
Actuators	Smart servos (Dynamixel, Feetech…)
Audio	No audio
Compute type	Raspberry Pi, Laptop / PC as the brain
Remote control	Python from a laptop
Size	Base ~33×33×12 cm, 2.4 kg, taller with the arm
Drive	3-wheel omni (holonomic), Feetech STS3215 wheel servos
Compute	Raspberry Pi 5 as a thin host, the heavy work runs on the host computer
Vision	2 USB RGB cams (front + wrist), ~2 MP/30 fps, optional Orbbec Gemini 2 depth (+$240)
Lidar	None
Sensors	Servo position/load/current feedback, no IMU or bumpers
Runtime	Not published (12 V 5–5.6 Ah pack)
Speed	0.4 m/s, 90°/s turn
SDK	LeRobot (Python, Apache-2.0): teleop, dataset recording, ACT / SmolVLA / pi0 policy training

Common questions

How much does LeKiwi cost?

LeKiwi is listed at ~$450 – $870 complete. DIY BOM $482 with arms, Pi 5, 2 cams. Base-only kits $179 (Seeed) to $326 (OpenELAB US). PartaBot full kit $699, or $849 assembled.

Can LeKiwi be bought today?

Yes, it is on sale. Typical shipping time is ~1–2 wks. OpenELAB ships the WowRobo base from a US warehouse in 3–7 business days, and Seeed's Full Kit lists a US warehouse. WowRobo direct is 1–3 days prep + 2–5 days UPS (duties prepaid). The arm often ships separately.