Humanoid robots face a major test with Amazon’s Digit pilots – By Brian Heater (Techcrunch) / Oct 21, 2023
The new bipedal robot pilots could be a watershed moment for the industry
Announced amid a deluge of news at this week’s Delivering the Future event in Seattle was word that Amazon will begin testing Agility’s Digit in a move that could bring the bipedal robot to its nationwide fulfillment centers. It’s baby steps as these things go, and such early-stage deals don’t necessary mean something bigger down the road.
Take, for instance Agility’s Ford pilot, when the startup was exploring last-mile delivery as a potential way forward. Not too long after, the firm began focusing Digit’s output exclusively on warehouse and factory work.
In April of last year, Amazon named Agility one of the first five recipients of the company’s $1 billion Industrial Innovation Fund. While being included in the fund doesn’t guarantee that Amazon will utilize your technology down the road, it’s a pretty clear indicator that the retail giant is — at the very least — interested in its potential.
