Amazon Tests Agility’s Digit Robot for Enhanced Warehouse Operations

At today’s "Delivering the Future" event, Amazon revealed plans to test Agility’s bipedal robot, Digit, within its facilities. Tye Brady, Amazon Robotics Chief Technologist, emphasized that the testing is still in its “very, very early stages.” He added, “We’re taking extensive care to understand it better and assess its suitability for our processes.”

It's important to note that there’s no guarantee Amazon will actually implement Digit across its warehouses, which currently operate with over 750,000 robotic systems.

This exploration isn't entirely unexpected. Last April, Amazon announced a $1 billion “Industrial Innovation” fund, with Agility among the first five companies to receive a share of that investment. Other recipients included Mantis Robotics, Modjoul, and Vimaan.

While Amazon has consistently maintained that its investments in these startups do not indicate any imminent integration of their technologies, the company often leverages such funds to investigate potential partnerships and acquisitions.

Agility stands out among startups developing bipedal or humanoid robots for warehouse operations. The rationale is that workplaces are designed around human movement—so why not create robots capable of navigating those spaces effectively? Agility is notably ahead of its competitors in terms of both development and production capabilities.

According to Amazon, “Digit can move, grasp, and handle items uniquely in tight spaces and corners of warehouses.” The robot's design is optimized for human-centric environments, presenting a significant opportunity to scale mobile manipulator solutions like Digit that can work alongside human employees. Initially, this technology will assist staff with tote recycling—a repetitive task involving the lifting and relocation of empty totes once their contents have been picked.

In September, Amazon announced plans to significantly ramp up production with the establishment of RoboFab, a factory in Salem, Oregon. Once fully operational, RoboFab is projected to produce over 10,000 humanoid robots annually, enhancing Amazon’s capabilities in warehouse automation.