How Agility Robotics is Expanding Digit's Capabilities
Agility Robotics has unveiled a series of technical enhancements to Digit, its humanoid robot currently deployed in commercial warehouse environments. The improvements focus on operational efficiency, safety compliance and integration with existing automation systems, the company announced at the ProMat supply chain event.
The developments include extended battery life of up to four hours, autonomous docking capabilities, and manufacturing refinements to support fleet deployment. Safety upgrades feature Category 1 stop functionality, Safety PLC implementation, on-robot emergency stop controls, wireless teach pendant and Functional Safety over EtherCAT protocols.
"These upgrades allow Agility to expand Digit's capabilities to meet our expanding commercial and customer needs," said Melonee Wise, Chief Product Officer at Agility Robotics. "Together, they reinforce our commitment to cooperative safety, and demonstrate a path for Digit and human colleagues to one day work side by side."
The company maintains that its position as provider of the first commercially-deployed humanoid robots in warehouses provides unique insights from operational testing in real-world applications.
About Agility Robotics and Digit
Agility Robotics, founded in 2015, has established itself as a frontrunner in commercial humanoid robotics with Digit as its flagship product. The bipedal robot stands approximately 1.7 metres tall and weighs 42 kilograms, designed specifically for logistics and warehouse operations where mobility in human-built environments is essential.
Digit features arms with advanced grasping capabilities, a sensor suite for navigation and object recognition, and a balanced bipedal locomotion system that enables it to traverse uneven terrain and navigate tight spaces. The robot's development journey began with earlier research platforms before evolving into the current commercially viable form.
The company secured $150 million in Series B funding in 2022, led by DCVC and Playground Global, which accelerated its manufacturing capabilities and commercial deployments. Agility maintains production facilities in the United States where Digit robots are assembled, tested and refined based on operational feedback from customers.
Digit has progressed from controlled demonstrations to active deployment in warehouses, including facilities operated by logistics provider GXO, where the robots perform repetitive material handling tasks originally designed for human workers. These deployments represent the leading edge of commercial humanoid robotics, moving beyond research laboratories into practical industrial applications.
Autonomous Mobile Robot Integration Connects Digit to Existing Warehouse Systems
Agility emphasises complementary relationships between humanoid robots and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) rather than competition between the technologies. Digit can now autonomously dispatch AMRs to transport items to subsequent locations such as packout stations, addressing what the company describes as "islands of automation" that have emerged as warehouse technology evolved.
The Arc cloud robotic platform developed by Agility now communicates with AMR systems to coordinate task allocation. This integration has been implemented at Digit's deployment for GXO near Atlanta, Georgia, with demonstrations of compatibility with MiR and Zebra Technologies AMRs showcased at ProMat in Chicago.
Safety standards specifically for Dynamically Stable Industrial Mobile Robots remain under development, with Agility working toward OSHA-compliant environments. The company has enhanced Digit's user interface with front and back displays that monitor Wi-Fi status, connectivity, battery levels and maintenance requirements.
Technical safety additions include the Category 1 stop, which maintains power to actuators during deceleration for controlled halting; Safety PLC systems meeting performance level d requirements; emergency stop buttons; and FailSafe over EtherCAT protocol implementation for secure communication across EtherCAT networks.
The Agility Arc platform serves as a fleet management system for humanoid robot deployment in commercial settings, with new features supporting Digit operation, charger management, workcell EMS functionality, webhook integration, remote monitoring, and expanded Enterprise Systems Integration capabilities.
Demonstrations at ProMat showcased applications including tote stacking and unstacking, unit sorting, AMR loading and unloading, palletizing and depalletizing, nesting, flowrack and cart handling, and automated putwall operations.
"Humanoids and AMRs have complementary strengths. Humanoids excel at complex manipulation, grasping, and navigating human-centric spaces, while AMRs are masters of efficient transportation over longer distances," Melonee said.
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