Jonathan Hurst, co-founder of Agility Robotics, discusses the Digit 5 humanoid robot, its workplace uses and safety approach with Greg Nibler on FOX 12 Now in Oregon.
Hurst says his work began with studying animal movement at Oregon State, then turned into building machines that could work in places designed for people. Agility Robotics spun out in 2015, after years of research and development. The company is now moving robots from controlled industrial settings into human work environments.
Hurst expects adoption to take time as robots must be designed, manufactured and introduced task by task. Digit currently moves bins and totes; future work could include picking items, handling cardboard and eventually working in stores, hospitals, hotels and construction sites. He estimates household robots may still be about 20 years away.
Hurst describes a safety system that detects approaching people and estimates the space a robot might occupy if it fell. As someone gets close, Digit slows, stops, sets down its load and sits in a stable position where its motors can be turned off. AI and multiple sensors help identify people, while balance controls help the robot recover from disturbances.
Digit has already been used to move bins from mobile robots to conveyor belts. Digit 5 is intended for additional tasks such as stacking bins, handling steel parts, palletizing, kitting, light assembly and loading or unloading CNC machines. Hurst frames these as tasks that can be difficult to staff, rather than entire careers, and says automation could help companies expand their services.
Hurst says Agility’s Oregon roots can help the state take part in the next generation of automation. He points to Oregon’s quality of life and the opportunity to build high-tech robotics careers outside the Bay Area. He describes Digit 5’s move beyond physical barriers as a significant step in developing robots that can work near people.
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