New ‘Digit’ Robot Comes With Head, Hands To Better Partner Humans At Work

Agility Robotics recently unveiled the latest iteration of its ‘Digit’ robot, a bipedal assistant designed to help human workers with logistics operations such as in warehouses or distribution centers.

This time, the updated android comes with a significant change: a head. According to the company, the robot was equipped with a noggin and eyes to “improve human-robot interaction.”

Unlike regular human heads, Digit 2.0 sports a white oblong skull, complete with large LED eyes that blink intermittently to convey subtle hints about the robot’s direction and intention.

For example, as a company spokesperson explained to TechCrunch, the android will display “straightforward body language” and move its eyes to indicate the direction in which it is about to move in.

In addition, Digit now boasts “end efforts,” or hands. The firm said the newly-designed part is optimized for grabbing and moving the plastic bins commonly found in e-commerce and shipping facilities.

As IEEE Spectrum pointed out, with a head, hands, and legs, Digit now offers greater potential, taking up the same footprint as a human while being able to take over mundane, repetitive tasks that not many people are keen on doing.

“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,” said co-founder Jonathan Hurst.

“When people and robots work together in logistics operations, working conditions improve for people, warehouse efficiency improves overall, and the supply chain moves more smoothly—everyone wins.”

[via TechCrunch and IEEE Spectrum, images via various sources]