Agility Robotics, the developer of the bipedal robot known as Digit, is establishing a manufacturing facility in Salem, Oregon, named “RoboFab.” This 70,000-square-foot plant, scheduled to launch later this year, will have the capacity to produce over 10,000 humanoid robots annually and will employ around 500 workers.
Agility Robotics plans to deploy its iconic Digits, humanoid robots, within the new factory to assist with warehouse tasks like moving, loading, and unloading goods.
The company expects to deliver the first Digits to certain customers by 2024, with general market availability anticipated in 2025. Agility Robotics’ CEO, Damion Shelton, stated that the primary aim of creating Digits is to address current workforce challenges such as injuries, burnout, high turnover, and labor shortages.
While competitors like Boston Dynamics’ Atlas and Tesla’s Optimus robot prototype have teased the manufacturing of bipedal robots, none have advanced to the stage of mass-producing thousands of robots, as Agility Robotics aims to do. The true competitive edge in this emerging market will become clear once these robots enter production.
