FF Nova humanoid robot launches in the US at $2,490 for developers and schools

FF Nova: a humanoid aimed at developers and schools

The companies describe FF Nova as an entry-level embodied AI (EAI) humanoid robot and a "Physical AI lab in a backpack". It targets developers, technology enthusiasts, educational institutions, education research centers, training providers and students interested in Physical AI. The robot costs $2,490, and a Developer Skills Package is priced at $390.

According to the companies, Nova has 20 degrees of freedom and is a true bipedal humanoid that can walk, turn, wave and get back on its feet after being knocked over. It can move in two ways: walking on two feet to interact with people, or riding on a detachable base for autonomous navigation.

For perception, the robot combines an edge computing platform with a multimodal sensor array that includes LiDAR, wide-angle vision, depth sensing and a circular microphone array. Nova connects to a large voice AI model for natural conversation and voiceprint recognition. It also supports AI Agent integration, so a cloud-based intelligent agent can have a physical body in the real world.

Developer tools, rollout and the Nova Mini

On the software side, Nova offers native support for a developer platform with a fully open SDK, a ROS 2 development workflow and ongoing over-the-air updates. The companies say Nova will connect the full Sim2Real reinforcement learning pipeline and provide a Skills Store and developer community, so that capabilities built by developers can be shared, reused and potentially monetized in the future.

FFR and FFAI also introduced the Physical AI Reinforcement Learning Developer Program for FF Nova, which supports reinforcement learning through the NVIDIA Isaac platform. Recruitment for the Nova Developer Community is limited and invitation-only. Developers can apply for an invitation code through the platform or receive one from an existing developer. Outstanding projects may qualify for support through the Developer Support Program.

Nova will launch in three phases:

• Phase One: by invitation only, limited to 100 units, with the first 20 delivered immediately.
• Phase Two: open to all developers and educational institutions.
• Phase Three: the full consumer launch.

FF Nova Mini is described as a foundational Physical AI education platform built around a true bipedal humanoid. It is designed for children and teenagers and costs $299, with an accompanying curriculum at $499. The companies also launched the "Physical AI Spark Program Curriculum", which they say supports institutions and families with learning and hands-on practice at different stages and levels.

Products will be sold online through FF.com, FF Mall and the official Amazon store, as well as through offline channels. FF's direct sales team and partners will serve business and consumer customers with demos, pilot programs and institutional purchasing services.

Acquisition of FFAI's robotics business

Alongside the product launch, the companies announced that they signed definitive agreements on October 12, 2026, for FFR to acquire FFAI's robotics assets and business in an all-stock transaction. The parties agreed on a valuation of approximately $200 million for FFAI's robotics business and approximately $60 million for FFR on a fully diluted basis.

FFR will issue shares to FFAI at $2.246 per share, a premium of approximately 50% to FFR's closing price of $1.50 on the signing date. Upon closing, FFAI is expected to hold approximately 65.7% of FFR, with newly issued shares subject to an 18-month lockup. Management and employees would hold approximately 18.2%, PIPE investors approximately 5.5% and other FFR stockholders approximately 10.7%. FFR also said it has secured up to $10 million in its first round of PIPE financing, priced at market with no discount or warrants.

FFR says it expects almost no debt after closing and aims to become the first U.S.-listed pure-play "Four-Core Full-Stack AI" humanoid and bionic EAI robotics ecosystem company. It targets a top-three ranking in the EAI robotics industry over the next five years.

What it means for developers and education

The pricing positions FF Nova as a low-cost entry point to humanoid robotics for developers and education buyers, while the $299 Nova Mini extends that to younger learners. The small first phase of 100 units suggests a gradual rollout, with broader availability planned in later phases. The companies have not given dates for Phases Two and Three in the announcement. Claims about capabilities and market position come from the companies themselves.