Agility Robotics’ humanoid robot, Digit, has begun its first official job at a Spanx factory in Connecticut.
This deployment follows a multi-year agreement with GXO Logistics Inc., the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider, to use Digit in various logistics operations. This marks the first formal commercial deployment of humanoids and the first robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) model for such robots.
The Unique Design of Digit
Digit, designed with backward-bending knees for better efficiency in picking up and placing items, was showcased at the Fortune Brainstorm Tech event in Park City, Utah.
CEO Peggy Johnson explained that this unique knee design, resembling bird legs, helps in performing warehouse tasks more effectively. This design has been developed over ten years to address the repetitive and injury-prone tasks often found in warehouses.
At the Spanx facility, Digit’s primary task is to pick up totes from 6 River Systems’ Chuck autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and place them onto conveyors. The robot handles both empty and full totes of women’s shapewear products. Standing 5 ft. 9 in. tall and weighing 140 lb., Digit can lift up to 35 lb. These operations are managed through Agility Arc, Agility Robotics’ cloud automation platform.
Funding and Production Plans
Agility Robotics, which spun out from research at Oregon State University, raised $150 million in a Series B funding round in April 2024 to support Digit’s deployment in logistics and warehouse settings.
The company plans to roll out the next generation of Digit robots this fall, with production ramping up at their new factory in Salem, Oregon. Initially, hundreds of robots will be produced, with thousands more expected next year to meet growing demand.
CEO Peggy Johnson, who joined Agility Robotics four months ago after leading Magic Leap, highlighted the significant number of unfilled warehouse jobs in the US, estimated at 1.1 million.
She noted that Digit could help alleviate the burden of these repetitive tasks, which often result in injuries and high turnover rates among workers. Johnson also mentioned that warehouse workers are being upskilled to manage these robots, transitioning from physical labor to supervisory roles.
Partnership with GXO Logistics
GXO Logistics’ chief automation officer, Adrian Stoch, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, noting that Digit is an excellent addition to their fulfillment centers. He emphasized a collaborative research and development approach, partnering with developers worldwide to build and validate practical use cases that improve the working environment for employees while optimizing operations for customers.
Despite recent layoffs aimed at restructuring for success, Agility Robotics is raising capital for further expansion. The company continues to explore additional use cases for Digit under the RaaS agreement, planning to scale usage to meet demand throughout the deployment.
The Future of Humanoid Robots
The competition in the humanoid robot market is intense, with companies like Boston Dynamics, Figure, Fourier Intelligence, Sanctuary, Tesla, and Unitree also developing commercial humanoids.
There are currently no safety standards specifically for humanoids. Manufacturers and integrators are using existing industrial robot standards as a baseline.
ASTM has launched its F45.06 Legged Robot Systems to develop test and performance standards, and IEEE’s Robotics & Automation Society has formed a new study group to develop a roadmap for future standards. Digit is not working with or near humans at the Spanx facility, ensuring safety by following these standards.
Featured Image courtesy of Agility Robotics
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