Agility Robotics Launches Digit 5 Humanoid for Cooperatively Safe Work at Scale

Agility Robotics unveiled Digit 5, the fifth generation of its general-purpose humanoid robot, engineered specifically for cooperatively safe work alongside human operators without traditional physical safety barriers.

Built on feedback from three years of production-floor operations with Digit 4, the new model transitions away from backwards-facing knees to a traditional forward-bending leg design powered by cycloidal actuators. This redesign enables Digit 5 to handle repetitive squats, kneeling, and single-person lifting tasks up to 50 lbs (22.7 kg)—a 40 percent increase in payload capacity. The robot stands 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighs 284 lbs, and can reach shelf heights of up to 7.2 feet.

Peggy Johnson, CEO of Agility Robotics, stated:

"Digit 5 is removing a major barrier to scaling humanoid robots in industrial environments. We built it to the exact requirements our customers gave us after three years of Digit 4 working on their production floors."

To eliminate caged enclosures, Digit 5 introduces a multi-layered safety architecture developed in partnership with NVIDIA, utilizing NVIDIA IGX Thor and the Halos for Robotics framework. The system uses 360-degree sensor arrays and AI algorithms to detect approaching workers, dynamically slowing down, altering trajectory, or assuming a safe seated stance before physical contact can occur. An independent hardware safety controller oversees proximity responses, while visual and auditory cues signal the robot's motion intent to nearby personnel.

Operational upgrades include a 90-minute battery runtime paired with a 9-minute rapid charge system, achieving a 10:1 run-to-charge ratio for continuous multi-shift workflows. Digit 5 also features swappable end-effectors with ISO-standard mounting flanges, expanding its capabilities beyond tote handling into depalletizing, kitting, machine tending, and quality inspection.

Agility Robotics reported more than $300 million in multi-year customer orders for Digit 5 alongside a proposed $2.5 billion SPAC merger with Churchill Capital Corp. XI to fund international expansion across Europe and the UK. Early access deployments are scheduled for early 2027, followed by general commercial availability by late 2027.