The First Human-Centric Robot is Here

Abiligity Robotics has announced the launch of Digit, the first human-centric robot.

V4 Studio
Agility Robotics

Agility Robotics has announced the next generation of Digi. This is the first human-centric and multi-purpose robot made for logistics work. Digit is designed to go wherever real people can go and for useful work in spaces designed for people. Digit is starting with bulk material handling inside of warehouse and distribution centers.

“Supply chains are still feeling the aftereffects of the pandemic, and the demand for warehouse labor far exceeds available talent. Companies are turning to automation now more than ever to help mitigate future disruptions. With logistics labor issues such as high turnover, burnout, and injury continuing to rise, we believe Digit to be the future of work,” said Damion Shelton who is the co-founder and CEO of Agility Robotics. “We look forward to Digit augmenting workforces, taking on the ‘dull, dirty, and dangerous’ tasks, and allowing people to focus on more creative and complex work. We like to think of Digit as enabling humans to be more human.”

From Agility Robotics:

  • The next generation Digit will be at ProMat 2023 in Chicago from March 20-23, doing fully autonomous live demonstrations in a replica warehouse work cell, for an audience of 45,000 attendees. At the same time, Agility is opening up applications for a limited number of spots in the Agility Partner Program. The APP will provide partners with an exclusive opportunity to shape the development of Digit’s skills and abilities and will initially be the only way to purchase the latest generation Digit.
  • Warehouse work includes many process-automated, repetitive tasks that all too often lead to injury and high turnover, leaving costly gaps in the workforce that snarl supply chains. While automation can help fill those gaps existing automation solutions are typically single purpose, meaning companies have to onboard and maintain dozens of different solutions for different tasks or they require expensive customization to the workspace.
  • Digit is multi-purpose, so it can execute a variety of tasks and adapt to many different workflows.
  • A fleet of Digits will be able to switch between applications depending on current warehouse needs and seasonal shifts. Because Digit is also human-centric, meaning it is the size and shape of a human and is built to work in spaces designed for people, it is easy to deploy into existing warehouse operations and as-built infrastructure without costly retrofitting.
  • Agility is opening up a limited number of spots in the Agility Partner Program (APP) for forward-thinking companies that want to deploy Digit in their warehouse and supply chain operations. Through on-site visits and dedicated engineering resources, Agility will work closely with APP partners to understand their warehouse workflows and pain points, and demonstrate how Digit can alleviate those issues beginning with tote movement and manipulation. APP participants will have the opportunity to influence the development of new skills and capabilities for Digit based on their real-world use cases.
  • Digit incorporates decades of research, development, and scientific breakthroughs in dynamic mobility and manipulation from Agility’s team, allowing it to navigate obstacles with ease and walk on uneven surfaces in different human environments, all while handling and moving objects.
  • Among the most exciting updates in the next generation of Digit are newly designed end effectors, or hands, that are optimized for grabbing and moving plastic totes commonly found in e-commerce and shipping warehouses, as well as a head and eyes to improve human robot interaction. 
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