Agility Robotics unveils Digit 5 humanoid robot with new safety moves

In short: Agility Robotics introduced Digit 5, a humanoid robot designed to work near people by slowing down, stopping, or even squatting to avoid contact.

What happened

Agility Robotics announced a new version of its humanoid robot, called Digit 5. The company says it is built to operate safely around human coworkers in places like warehouses and car factories.

When Digit 5 notices a person nearby, it can take different actions on its own. It might move out of the way, stand still to let someone pass, or if someone gets very close, squat down into a seated position. Think of it like a polite coworker who steps aside in a narrow hallway.

Agility says customers can get early access in the first half of 2027, and broader availability is planned by the end of 2027. The company is also updating its RoboFab facility in Salem, Oregon, to produce the new model.

Digit 5 uses cameras and other vision-based sensors to spot people. It also uses Nvidia Thor IGX hardware, which is the onboard computer that helps it process sensor data and make decisions quickly. Agility is also involved in work on an international safety standard for industrial mobile robots, known as ISO 25785-1.

Why it matters

Most industrial robots are kept behind fences or in separate areas so they do not hit people. If humanoid robots can safely share the same workspace, companies may not need as many physical barriers. That could make it easier to use robots for tasks like moving boxes, stacking goods on pallets, and working in busy aisles where people are walking around.

Source: Arstechnica