Digit: Solving Labor Shortages, One Tote at a Time

Purpose-Driven Design: Finding the Sweet Spot Between Function and Form

Meet Digit - a humanoid robot standing at 1.75 meters and weighing 63.5 kilograms. At first glance, it might seem like just another humanoid robot, but Digit's creators at Agility Robotics had a different idea in mind. They weren't aiming for a robotic copy of a person. Instead, they wanted a robot that could integrate seamlessly into environments designed for humans, without requiring any modifications.

Leg Innovation: A Unique Approach to Movement

One of the first things you'll notice about Digit is its "backward" legs. They look a bit like a bird’s, and that’s not just a quirky design choice. This leg structure lets Digit get up close to things like shelves and machinery, a handy feature since most warehouses are designed with human movement in mind. Digit’s humanoid shape is a natural fit here. Its legs also help it squeeze through tight spots and lift objects from the ground up to 1.67 meters. And when it’s time to move it or tuck it away, those legs can fold up neatly, making it more portable.

From Machine to Instinct: How Digit Navigates the Unpredictable

Digit isn't just a static, automation robot. It's an evolution, building on Agility's earlier bipedal bot, Cassie. This one has a torso, arms, and a suite of advanced sensors. Its arms are like multi-tools, capable of using different attachments, making it adept at doing tasks like lifting and moving totes in warehouses.

Behind the scenes, machine learning and neural networks are hard at work, helping Digit perceive and navigate through unpredictable environments. Think of it as the Agility Robotics team giving Digit a bit of an animal’s instinct in its software. It can react and adapt to changes in its surroundings, much like how animals do in the wild.

User-Friendly Controls: Simplifying Robot Operations

Digit has automated and manual operation options with an intuitive control system, so you don’t have to be a robotics expert to operate it. The real magic happens with Agility Arc, a cloud-based platform that helps get Digit's workflows up and running. But now imagine managing an entire fleet of Digits; this platform lets you do that in just a matter of days.

Prefer more hands-on control? No problem. They’ve got a custom gamepad and an emergency stop remote. The gamepad even gives you a live map of Digit's surroundings, showing obstacles in its path. You can set waypoints or take direct control and be confident in Digit’s ability to autonomously navigate around obstacles using its sensors.

Custom-Engineered Feet for Solid Grip

To give Digit the best footing possible, Agility Robotics teamed up with Vibram to create custom "feet" designed for grip, traction, and durability on all sorts of surfaces. Made from anti-slip materials, these feet help Digit stay steady, even on those slick concrete floors you find in many industrial and commercial settings.

An Automated Future: Digit at Work

Digit is already rolling up its sleeves in the real world. Over at a GXO Logistics facility, Digit has taken on repetitive tasks like moving totes and placing them on conveyors. This marks one of the first times a humanoid robot has been deployed for actual, on-the-ground work. And it’s not just a novelty; GXO is seeing tangible benefits like increased job satisfaction and improved safety as human workers no longer have to handle these repetitive, physically taxing tasks.