Agility Robotics' humanoid lineage: from ostrich-like Cassie to industrial Digit 5
Agility Robotics has developed five versions of its Digit humanoid since its founding, building on the earlier Cassie biped. The company has grown to over 400 employees and a factory capable of producing 10,000 robots annually. The latest versions are designed for real-world industrial tasks, according to co-founder Jonathan Hurst.
Agility's lineage began with Cassie, a biped designed for speed, whose ostrich-like legs emerged from a pursuit of endurance and velocity. Cassie set a Guinness record in 2022 by running 100 meters in 24.73 seconds. The first Digit, released in 2017, targeted researchers, marking the start of a proof-of-concept phase.
Commercialization arrived with Digit 3 in 2019, capable of lifting 40-pound boxes, with Ford acquiring the first two units. Digit 4, released in 2023, dropped the bird-like legs and focused on warehouse tasks, leading to deployments with Toyota, GXO, Schaeffler, and Amazon. The latest Digit 5 is designed around real-world industrial work, reflecting growth to 400 employees and a 10,000-unit annual factory capacity.
The progression of humanoid robots like Digit may significantly reshape industrial labor. Warehouses and factories could see increased automation of repetitive tasks, potentially altering job roles for workers—shifting from manual handling to supervision and maintenance. This could improve safety and efficiency, but may also create pressure on lower-skilled positions. Society may need to adapt training and education to prepare for a workforce that collaborates with robots, though the pace of adoption remains uncertain.