The experimentation with Digit, crafted by Agility Robotics, is underway at Amazon's Seattle-based research and development hub. The 175-centimeter-tall robot is capable of lifting and transporting packages weighing up to 16 kilograms. However, in this initial phase, the e-commerce giant plans to use it for moving empty containers within the warehouse. Opting for a humanoid machine with two legs, as opposed to an autonomous vehicle, makes sense for operation in tight spaces or on uneven floors, particularly in older facilities not designed for Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) passage. Moreover, these robots can perform tasks similar to humans, such as lifting packages and placing them on shelves or into containers.
Amazon states that Digit will work alongside human operators and will only be introduced in situations where an anthropomorphic robot is truly needed. These clarifications aim to dispel concerns about machines completely replacing humans. It's also worth noting that currently, anthropomorphic robots are very expensive.
Agility Robotics has not disclosed Digit's price, as it is not yet available for commercial use. However, the American portal IEEE Spectrum estimates it to be around $250,000 per unit. The goal is to achieve at least 20,000 working hours, equivalent to five years of labor in two daily shifts. According to the source, this translates to an amortization cost of just $12.5 per hour, to which the service contract (including maintenance) and energy costs must be added.
Agility Robotics plans to launch Digit onto the market by 2025. To achieve this, it is developing a 6,500 square meter RoboFab in Salem, Oregon. The company anticipates producing "several hundred" robots in the first year, with an annual production capacity of 10,000 units. Digit itself will be employed in this facility to load and unload containers. Amazon has invested in Agility Robotics through its Industrial Innovation Fund.
