Humanoid Robot Creator To Open Its First Factory This Year

Agility Robotics, a company specializing in the realm of legged robots, has been at the forefront of creating machines that mirror human-like motion and interaction with the physical world.

Agility Robotics is now erecting a 70,000-square-foot facility in Salem, Oregon, dedicated to crafting its ambitious ‘Digit’ humanoid robot.

Named RoboFab, this facility is slated for a later year debut, promising customer deliveries commencing in 2024 and full market accessibility in 2025.

Agility has big plans for its first year, aiming to produce “hundreds” of droids standing at five feet 8.9 inches and weighing 143.3 pounds. These robots, called Digit, have bipedal legs similar to its previous Cassie model. They can carry loads up to 35.7 pounds and have a self-charging function that allows them to work autonomously for 16 hours out of a 24-hour day.

Guided by camera vision and LiDAR technology, Digit can nimbly navigate its surroundings and adapt to different scenarios, even crouching to grasp objects when needed. Control is facilitated through a tablet with a gamepad-style interface, open to diverse programming for tasks such as object manipulation.

Agility is also exploring the integration of large language model AIs to empower Digit with the capability to comprehend and act upon verbal instructions.

Initially, Digit will find its niche in transporting boxes and containers within Agility’s own production facilities and those of early adopters. The roadmap, however, extends to tasks as intricate as loading and unloading trucks.

The surge in humanoid robot manufacturing facilities heralds a significant shift in the employment landscape, with numerous enterprises envisioning a future where humanoid robotic workers become commonplace, foretelling a seismic transformation in the workforce.

[via New Atlas and Interesting Engineering, screenshot via Agility Robotics]