Agility Robotics said Thursday that Amazon will be testing its Digit robot for use in the mega-retailers operations.
Amazon will test Digit at its robotics research and development facility, Agility said. Digit is a human-centric, multi-purpose robot made for logistics work, the company said. It can move, grasp and handle items in spaces and corners of a warehouse. Agility said the robot’s size and shape are well-suited for buildings designed for humans. Both companies said they believe there is opportunity to use Digit to work collaboratively with employees and support workplace safety.
“Amazon is a company that is committed to making the work experience of their employees safer, easier, and less repetitive,” said Damion Shelton, co-founder and CEO of Agility Robotics. “When we announced our most recent version of Digit earlier this year, this is exactly the type of repetitive material handling deployment we had in mind; one that enables humans to be more human.”
Initially, Amazon will use Digit to help employees with tote recycling. The robot will be able to perform the repetitive process of picking up and moving empty totes once inventory has been taken out of them, saving employees from repetitive motion injuries.
Designed from the ground up to maneuver in places where people do work, Digit is designed to have multi-purpose utility, including applications like bulk material handling within warehouses and distribution centers. Other customers in the Agility Partner Program can expect delivery of their own Digit devices in 2024, with general market availability in 2025.
Agility recently announced it will open RoboFab, a 70,000-square foot robot manufacturing facility in Salem, Ore. where it anticipates producing hundreds of Digits in the first year. The facility has the capability of scaling up to make more than 10,000 robots per year.