Agility Robotics has unveiled Digit 5, a new humanoid robot engineered to perform heavy warehouse tasks safely and economically at a commercial scale. Weighing more than 120 kg (about 264 lbs), this latest model represents a shift from the company's early focus on graceful locomotion toward strict functional utility. It is specifically built to repeatedly lift 23-kilogram (about 50 lbs) bins and operate for up to 20 hours a day, addressing the labor shortage in physically demanding jobs.
To support near-continuous operation, Digit 5 features a large battery and cooling system that occupies approximately 75 percent of its torso. This robust setup enables the robot to run for 90 minutes and fully recharge during a 9-minute break at a specialized dock. In addition, the robot's leg design has been updated from a backward, ostrich-like configuration to human-like joints, which allows for better squatting when lifting heavy items from the floor.
A primary design goal for Digit 5 was ensuring safe coexistence with human workers without the need for physical barriers. The robot is equipped with safety-rated sensors that detect approaching people. When a human gets close, Digit 5 automatically stops its task, lowers its payload, sits on the ground, and cuts power to its motors. While these commercial and safety requirements have made the robot bulkier and less agile than its predecessors, the company views this model as a crucial step toward deploying general-purpose humanoid workers in large numbers.