Agility Robotics has introduced Digit, a remarkable humanoid robot created to work in factories and warehouses. This step marks a turning point in how robots are brought into workplaces—not to take jobs from people, but to help them and make work safer and more productive.
Digit: Built for People and Industry
Digit is designed to move and act like a human. It walks on two legs, so it can easily move through doors, around corners, and between shelves just as a person would. This makes Digit well-suited for spaces built for humans, such as warehouses, distribution centers, and factories.
The robot handles tasks that are repetitive or physically demanding—jobs like lifting heavy boxes, carrying packages, and moving materials from one spot to another. These tasks are not only tiring for people, but sometimes dangerous. Robots like Digit can take over these jobs, allowing workers to focus on work that requires skill and judgment. As a result, Digit can help address the millions of unfilled positions in logistics and reduce workplace injuries.
What sets Digit apart is its flexibility. Its arms, legs, and hands can adapt to different objects and environments. The goal is for Digit to work side-by-side with humans, not in place of them. By filling in where extra help is needed, Digit supports a more balanced and efficient workplace.
RoboFab: The First Humanoid Robot Factory
To keep up with demand, Agility Robotics opened RoboFab, the first large-scale factory in the world devoted entirely to making humanoid robots. Located in Oregon, RoboFab covers 70,000 square feet—about the size of a city block.
This factory is built for high-speed production. At full capacity, it can make up to 10,000 Digit robots every year. The assembly line is divided into special work stations for key robot parts: arms, legs, torsos, and the mechanisms that control movement. By organizing production in this way, the factory can build many robots at the same time.
Much of RoboFab’s efficiency comes from its Agility Robot Manufacturing System (ARMS). This lets the factory add more work stations as needed, without stopping or slowing down production. If demand increases, RoboFab can quickly produce more robots, ensuring that companies get the help they need, exactly when they need it.
Real-World Testing in Logistics
Digit is already at work in the real world. Major companies, including Amazon and GXO Logistics, are putting the robot through its paces in warehouses. Here, Digit takes on tasks like moving goods, stacking boxes, and transporting items across long distances within the building. These roles are often risky or physically challenging for workers, so Digit helps keep people safe and relieves staff shortages at the same time.
As Digit proves itself in these tough environments, Agility Robotics plans to expand sales and bring more robots into the industrial world. Digit is one of the first humanoid robots designed specifically for commercial warehouse and factory use.
A New Era in Automation
The creation of Digit and the RoboFab factory signals the start of a new era for industry. Unlike older industrial robots, which usually stay in one place and perform a single task, Digit is adaptable and mobile. Its human-like form means it can lend a hand wherever it’s needed, providing flexible support on the factory floor or in the warehouse.
Agility Robotics believes this is just the beginning. As technology advances, they hope to see Digit and robots like it performing more complex tasks, not only in logistics but across many types of industries. The focus remains clear: robots should support people, making work safer, more efficient, and more fulfilling for humans everywhere.
Key Points
- Digit is a humanoid robot designed to help with physical and repetitive tasks in factories and warehouses.
- RoboFab, the first plant of its kind, enables Agility Robotics to build thousands of Digit robots each year.
- Testing is underway in real warehouses, where robots like Digit help solve labor shortages and improve safety.
- This technology marks a new chapter in industry, where robots and humans work together for greater productivity and safety.
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