Digit Robot Is Ready to Handle ‘Dull, Dirty, and Dangerous’ Work at Warehouses

Agility Robotics this week unveiled the next generation of Digit, its bipedal, multi-purpose android built for logistics work.

Since the bot’s introduction three years ago, Agility has worked closely with logistics companies to understand how they want to use the cyborg to improve warehouse and supply chain operations. “We designed the next generation of Digit with those customer use cases in mind,” Agility Robotics CEO Damion Shelton said in a statement(Opens in a new window).

This iteration comes with a rectangular head and bright eyes for better human-robot interaction, and features new “end effectors” (i.e. hands) that are optimized for grabbing and moving plastic crates like those commonly found in distribution centers.

The robot—which can carry up to 40 pounds of weight while negotiating uneven terrain and avoiding obstacles—executes various tasks and adapts to workflows, taking over the repetitive tasks that often lead to injury and high turnover among human workers.

“We believe Digit to be the future of work,” Shelton explained, adding that by augmenting workforces and taking on “dull, dirty, and dangerous” tasks, it allows people to focus on creative work. “We like to think of Digit as enabling humans to be more human,” he said.

Agility in 2019 teamed up with Ford to use its self-driving vehicle as a guide for Digit. The bot, equipped with LiDAR and cameras to help it navigate its surroundings, can call for help from the vehicle to wirelessly aid it in navigating an unexpected or difficult scenario. By sharing the load, Digit can function longer between charges.

“We’ve learned so much about how robots can partner with the human workforce and work naturally in human environments, and we can’t wait to see the positive impact that the new Digit will have in the world,” said Jonathan Hurst, CTO of Agility Robotics. “When people and robots work together in logistics operations, working conditions improve for people, warehouse efficiency improves overall, the supply chain moves more smoothly—everybody wins.”

The robotics firm, which is currently showing off its new bot at ProMat 2023 in Chicago, opened applications for limited entries into its Agility Partner Program (APP)—an exclusive opportunity to “shape the development of Digit’s skills and abilities.” It’s also, at least initially, the only way to purchase the latest-gen device.