Agility Robotics’ 5-foot-9 Robot Digit Starts Work in GXO Logistics Warehouse

GXO Logistics, Inc. is testing Agility Robotics’ human-centric robot, “Digit,” on logistics tasks at a SPANX facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, where GXO manages warehouse operations for the global womenswear brand’s direct-to-consumer and in-store orders.

“Digit is the first bipedal robot to be piloted in a live warehouse environment, assisting our associates to ship our customers’ products over the holiday season,” explained Adrian Stoch, chief automation officer at GXO.

Digit, which is 5-feet, 9-inches tall, weighs 140 pounds and can lift up to 35 pounds, is designed to work in human spaces and can be easily adapted to various warehouse tasks through software updates. Designed to pick goods, GXO said the robot will increase safety while freeing employees to perform more value-added work.

Watch: Digit Prepares Orders

“Agility shares GXO’s philosophy of robotics in the warehouse by putting people and safety at the center of automation,” said Stoch. “Digit achieves this by performing some of the more strenuous, repetitive work our associates are doing, while freeing them up to take on higher-value-add processes.”

Some of those repetitive tasks include moving totes from autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and placing them onto conveyors. Reduction of such repetition reduces strain, increases safety for team members and frees them to do more value-added work in the warehouse.

“This pilot program marks another major milestone in our journey to continuously improve the work environment for our employees while optimizing our operations through innovative tech solutions,” said Kuralamudhan Arutselvan, director, automation and innovation, GXO.

A recent survey conducted by GXO confirms better engagement and higher job satisfaction among team members when working with technology. If this initial phase proves successful, GXO said it will pave the way for piloting Digit in a wider variety of roles in 2024.

“This type of innovation is the foundation for the future of logistics and opens up opportunities for upskilling and development for our operators,” said Stoch. “We’re thrilled to be the first mover in this space.”