The “Digit” robot of Agility Robotics can replicate typical human tasks.

Image Credit: IEEE Spectrum The next-generation bipedal robot from Agility Robotics has been unveiled. It features two animated LED "eyes" and a cylindrical head, among other notable improvements. The company claims in a press release that Digit, a warehouse-friendly robot, underwent the changes to enhance "human-robot interaction.” The once-headless Digit was first introduced by Agility Robotics in 2020, and the company marketed it as useful in a variety of sectors, including telepresence, industrial inspection, and logistics. The robot is five feet, and nine inches tall and stands on two legs because it was designed to work in the same conditions and occupy the same amount of space as humans. It weighs around 140 lbs. "Warehouse work includes many automated, repetitive tasks that all too often lead to injury and high turnover, leaving costly gaps in the workforce that snarl supply chains," the company claims in a press release. "Although automation can help close those gaps, most existing automation solutions are single-purpose, necessitating either expensive workspace customization or the onboarding and maintenance of dozens of different solutions for various tasks.” The theory goes that humanoid robots are best suited to mimic human actions. Image Credit: Business Wire But for now, Digit's capabilities are still constrained. Its primary job is to pick up and place different kinds of objects weighing up to 35 pounds, though it can also walk, step up on curbs, crouch, and carry out other straightforward actions. Read More: At SXSW on Friday, Disney unveiled its newest robots Agility Robotics is launching its Agility Partner Program, which will "give partners an exclusive opportunity to shape the development of Digit's skills, and abilities and is initially the only way to purchase the latest generation of Digit.” It is unclear how much this program will cost the businesses looking to access the bot. This week (March 20–23), Agility Robotics will demonstrate Digits fully autonomously live at ProMat Chicago. As part of its Agility Partner Program (APP), which will be the only place to initially buy them, the business is also accepting applications. The first units are anticipated to ship to APP participants in early 2024; pricing has not yet been disclosed. The general availability of Digit robots is what the company is looking for in 2025.