Key facts
- Agility's Digit 5 robot can autonomously detect people and take safety precautions, such as stopping, moving away, or squatting.
- The robot uses AI algorithms and multimodal sensors, including vision-based sensors, to monitor its surroundings.
- Digit 5 is powered by NVIDIA's Thor IGX hardware and integrates the NVIDIA Halos for Robotics system.
- The robot can repeatedly lift up to 50-pound loads and has a battery life of 90 minutes, rechargeable in nine minutes.
- Digit 5 stands 5 feet 11 inches tall and can reach heights of up to 7.2 feet.
- Early access to Digit 5 is expected in the first half of 2027, with general availability by the end of the year.
Agility Robotics has introduced its latest humanoid robot, the Digit 5, which is engineered with advanced safety features to operate alongside human coworkers without the need for physical cages or separation barriers. This development aims to broaden the application of humanoid robots in environments like warehouses and automotive factories.
The Digit 5 robot is equipped with a complex safe motion system that allows it to autonomously detect human presence and take various precautions. These include stopping, moving to avoid a person, or even squatting to assume a seated position when a person comes into close proximity. According to Pras Velagapudi, chief technology officer at Agility, the robot uses AI algorithms and a suite of multimodal sensors, including vision-based sensors, to monitor its environment.
Agility plans to offer early access to the Digit 5 in the first half of 2027, with general availability expected by the end of that year. The company is retooling its RoboFab facility in Salem, Oregon, to scale production of the new robot. Safety has been a consistent focus for Agility, which was the first company to deploy humanoid robots in full-time commercial operations at a GXO warehouse in 2024. Earlier versions of the Digit robot have accumulated over 65,000 hours of work experience with clients such as GXO, Schaeffler, Amazon, and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada.
The Digit 5 robot incorporates NVIDIA's Thor IGX hardware for AI compute and the NVIDIA Halos for Robotics system for safety applications. Agility has also participated in developing an international safety standard for industrial mobile robots through the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Beyond its safety enhancements, the Digit 5 features an upgraded leg design capable of repeatedly lifting up to 50-pound loads, aligning with US Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations for single-person lift tasks. It boasts a 90-minute battery life that can be recharged in just nine minutes, enabling over 20 hours of operation within a 24-hour period. The robot stands 5 feet 11 inches tall and can reach up to 7.2 feet, allowing it to access shelves at heights comparable to average-size human adults. Additionally, Digit 5 features a swappable gripper design for quick attachment of different end-effectors, enhancing its versatility for various manipulation tasks.