Agility Robotics has introduced Digit 5, a humanoid robot designed to address three challenges that have slowed the deployment of humanoids in real workplaces: useful strength, human safety, and sufficient battery life. The 1.8-meter-tall, 129-kilogram robot can lift 23 kilograms to a height of 2.1 meters and operate for more than 20 hours per day, tells IEEE Spectrum.
Safety is a central part of Digit 5’s design. Humanoid robots present a particular risk because their two-legged form can become unstable and fall near people. Agility’s approach is to prevent Digit from falling onto anyone. When a person approaches, the robot can stop working, put down its load, and, when necessary, move into a stable seated position before the person comes close. This allows Digit to operate near workers without physical safety barriers.
Digit 5 also abandons the bird-like leg configuration used by earlier Agility robots. Those legs were optimized for dynamic locomotion, but the new humanlike configuration is better suited to industrial activities involving squatting, lifting, and handling loads.
Cost remains another hurdle. Agility estimates Digit 5’s initial bill of materials at $150,000 to $200,000. At annual production of 10,000 units, the company expects that figure to fall below $50,000. It is also considering offering the robot as a service for about $8,500 per month, although these figures remain estimates.
As of May 2026, Agility reported more than $300 million in multiyear Digit 5 customer orders, with prospective customers across manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics. The next challenge is scaling production and proving that Digit can deliver reliable, economically practical work alongside people.
