GXO Logistics, one of many world’s largest pure-play contract logistics supplier, and Agility Robotics, creator of the bipedal Cellular Manipulation Robotic (MMR) Digit, have signed a multi-year settlement to start deploying Digit in GXO’s logistics operations.
This settlement, which follows a proof-of-concept pilot in late 2023, is each the {industry}’s first formal industrial deployment of humanoid robots and first Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) deployment of humanoid robots.
Adrian Stoch, Chief Automation Officer, GXO, says: “We’re constructing on the success of final 12 months’s groundbreaking pilot with Agility by deploying totally operational Digit humanoids right into a reside warehouse surroundings.
“Our R&D strategy is to associate with builders everywhere in the world to assist them construct and validate sensible use instances that enhance the working surroundings for our workers whereas optimizing operations for our prospects.
“Agility shares this philosophy, and Digit is the proper addition to work alongside our folks in our achievement heart. We’re delighted to progress our partnership by this essential milestone.”
As a part of the RaaS settlement, GXO is deploying Digit robots and Agility Arc, Agility’s cloud automation platform for deploying and managing Digit fleets.
Digit is a multi-purpose, human-centric robotic made for logistics work, and designed to work safely in human areas and assist with quite a lot of repetitive duties.
Agility Arc is designed to simplify the deployment lifecycle, from facility mapping and workflow definition to operational administration and troubleshooting.
Within the SPANX facility, Agility’s options combine with current automation, together with Autonomous Cellular Robots (AMRs).
Increasing on final 12 months’s pilot, Digit robots are aiding with repetitive duties resembling transferring totes from cobots and inserting them onto conveyors, all orchestrated by Agility Arc.
Underneath the RaaS settlement, the businesses will proceed to discover extra use instances and scale Digit utilization to satisfy demand all through the deployment.
Peggy Johnson, CEO, Agility Robotics, says: “There shall be many firsts within the humanoid robotic market within the years to return, however I’m extraordinarily happy with the truth that Agility is the primary with precise humanoid robots deployed at a buyer website, producing income, and fixing real-world enterprise issues.
“Agility has at all times been centered on the one metric that issues – delivering worth to our prospects by placing Digit to work – and this milestone deployment raises the bar for all the {industry}.”