Agility Robotics
Overview
Agility Robotics is a prominent robotics company known for developing bipedal humanoid robots aimed at enhancing productivity in various industries. It was founded in 2015 as a spin-off from Oregon State University by Damion Shelton, Jonathan Hurst, and Mikhail Jones. Headquartered in Corvallis, Oregon, Agility Robotics has raised substantial funding over the years, including a notable $150 million Series B round in 2022. The company specializes in producing humanoid robots like Digit, which are designed to work in environments typically suited for human labor.
Recent Developments
-
2024: Agility Robotics has been aggressive in enhancing its product reach and collaborations.
- In September, the company announced the opening of RoboFab, touted as the world's first factory dedicated to manufacturing humanoid robots, in Salem, Oregon. This facility aims to produce up to 10,000 robots annually to meet growing demands.
- In July, Agility Robotics was recognized in the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards 2024, celebrating its achievements in the industry with its humanoid robot Digit.
- Agility Robotics expanded its leadership team with Daniel Diez as Chief Strategy Officer and Melonee Wise as Chief Product Officer, roles focused on scaling the company’s commercial operations.
- The company has entered a strategic partnership with Ricoh USA to bolster their customer support infrastructure in North America, underlining their commitment to reliability and operational scalability.
- In April, while focusing on commercialization, Agility Robotics laid off a small number of employees to streamline their focus on product development and commercialization strategies.
-
2023: A year of significant milestones and partnerships.
- Agility Robotics announced a multi-year agreement with GXO Logistics to deploy Digit robots for logistics and warehousing solutions, marking the first robots-as-a-service deployment of humanoid robots.
- Digit was named "Robot of the Year" by an industry body due to its capabilities in logistics and warehouse automation.
- The company continued its partnership with Amazon, integrating Digit into its fulfillment centers, aiming to refine processes like tote recycling to enhance operational efficiency.
Company Information
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Founding Date | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Corvallis, Oregon, USA |
| Founders | Damion Shelton, Jonathan Hurst, Mikhail Jones |
| Revenue | N/A |
| Profits | N/A |
| Key Investors | DCVC, Playground Global, Amazon Innovation Fund |
| Industry | Robotics and Automation |
| Number of Employees | Approximately 225 |
Early History
Agility Robotics was established in 2015 as a commercial spin-off from Oregon State University, driven by Jonathan Hurst’s academic research into robotic locomotion. The company's initial product, Cassie, introduced in 2017, was a bipedal platform that emphasized dynamic walking and stability, primarily sold to research institutions. Cassie’s success set the foundation for the development of Digit, a full-fledged humanoid robot capable of practical applications beyond research labs. By 2019, Agility Robotics began attracting attention for its innovative approach to automating tasks traditionally performed by humans.
Company Profile and Achievements
Agility Robotics has pioneered the development of humanoid robots capable of performing complex tasks across various industries, particularly logistics and warehousing.
- 2019: Launched Digit, a humanoid robot designed to augment human labor by performing repetitive and physically demanding tasks safely in human environments.
- 2022: Secured $150 million funding in a Series B round, with contributions from Amazon's Industrial Innovation Fund, aimed at scaling operations and enhancing product capabilities.
- 2023-2024: Focused on establishing strategic partnerships and enhancing their manufacturing capacity with the setup of RoboFab, their dedicated robot manufacturing facility.
- Agility Robotics has demonstrated its robots at industry events like ProMat, showcasing its cutting-edge technology to a wide audience.
Current Operations and Market Position
Agility Robotics currently operates in the robotics and automation sector, focusing on deploying its humanoid robots for tasks typically requiring human dexterity and interaction. With their primary product, Digit, the company aims to address labor shortages in sectors such as logistics, warehousing, and manufacturing. Their market position is strengthened by collaborations with major industry players like GXO Logistics and Amazon, highlighting their robots' adaptability across different verticals. Agility Robotics differentiates itself by focusing on bipedal locomotion and human-like interaction in robots, a niche yet significant area in the robotics market.
Conclusion
Agility Robotics stands at the forefront of robotic innovation, particularly with its human-centric robots designed to improve efficiency and productivity across various industries. By focusing on both strategic partnerships and scalable manufacturing capabilities, the company is well-positioned to meet the growing demands for automation solutions. As industries continue to grapple with labor challenges, Agility Robotics' innovations are poised to play a crucial role in reshaping the future of work environments, offering potential solutions that could redefine human-robot collaboration in professional settings. With ongoing enhancements in technology and strategic expansions, Agility Robotics holds significant promise for the future trajectory of industrial automation.