Agility’s Digit 5 Crouches Near Humans as Safety Design

Agility Robotics has introduced Digit 5, the latest generation of its humanoid robot, with a focus on safe collaboration in shared human spaces. Unlike conventional industrial robots that operate behind cages, Digit 5 is designed to work near people without traditional safety fencing.

When its sensors detect a person nearby, the robot can autonomously move aside, stop, or even crouch down and cut power to its motors. Agility describes this as a safety-driven response rather than a sign of hesitation, allowing the machine to reduce risk while remaining in the same workspace. Agility Robotics says the behavior is intended to make close human-robot work practical.

The robot can repeatedly lift 50-pound loads, runs for 90 minutes per charge, and recharges in nine minutes. That combination supports more than 20 hours of work in a single day, according to the company. The design points to a broader shift: humanoid robots are moving from isolated cells toward roles that require close, reliable interaction with human workers.