US-based Agility Robotics has launched the next generation of Digit, the first human-centric, multi-purpose robot made for logistics work, and started a partner programme for companies that want to deploy Digit in their warehouses.
Multiplying the productivity of the human workforce, Digit is designed from the ground up to go where people go and do useful work safely in spaces designed for people, starting with bulk material handling within warehouses and distribution centres.
The next generation Digit was presented this week at ProMat 2023, a leading trade show for manufacturing and supply chain industry in Chicago, with autonomous live demonstrations in a replica warehouse work cell, for an audience of 45,000 attendees.
Multi-purpose robot
Agility explained that many process-automated, repetitive tasks in warehouse work often lead to injury and high turnover leaving costly gaps in the workforce. While automation can help fill those gaps, existing automation solutions are typically single purpose. This means that companies need dozens of different solutions for different tasks, or they require expensive customisation to the workspace.
In contrast, 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. Digit can 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 optimised 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.
“Because Digit is 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 stressed.
Digit helps tackle labour issues
“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 labour issues such as high turnover, burnout, and injury continuing to rise, we believe Digit to be the future of work,” Damion Shelton, co-founder and CEO of Agility Robotics, said.
“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.”
Agility Partner Program (APPTM)
Meanwhile, Agility has opened up applications for a limited number of spots in the Agility Partner Program (APPTM) for 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. Additionally, the participants will get exclusive early access to the new Digit before it is commercially available.
“Three years ago, we introduced the first commercially available bi-pedal robot with a human form factor made for work. Since then, we have seen enormous interest in Digit from multinational logistics companies and have worked closely with them to understand how they want to use Digit to improve warehouse and supply chain operations. We designed the next generation of Digit with those customer use cases in mind,” Damion Shelton, co-founder and CEO of Agility Robotics, said.
Digit incorporates decades of research, development, and scientific breakthroughs. “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,” Jonathan Hurst, co-founder and CTO of Agility Robotics, added. “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.”
