Damion Shelton (Agility Robotics)

Overview

Damion Shelton is a prominent figure in the field of robotics, known for his role as the co-founder and President of Agility Robotics. With a strong academic background in robotics, Shelton has played a crucial role in advancing humanoid robotics technology. Agility Robotics, based in Corvallis, Oregon, is renowned for creating the bipedal robot, Digit, designed to enhance the productivity and safety of human workforces. Shelton's leadership has been pivotal in positioning Agility Robotics at the forefront of commercial humanoid robotics, particularly in logistics and warehouse applications.

Recent Developments

In recent years, Agility Robotics has achieved significant milestones under Damion Shelton's leadership. Some of the key developments are:

2023: Agility Robotics highlighted the capabilities of its humanoid robot, Digit, with live demonstrations at industry events like ProMat and TechCrunch Disrupt.
March 2023: Agility announced the launch of Agility Arc, a cloud platform for managing fleets of Digit robots, enhancing operational visibility for companies deploying these robots in logistics and warehouse sectors.
September 2023: Agility Robotics opened a new manufacturing facility called RoboFab in Salem, Oregon, capable of producing over 10,000 Digit robots annually.
April 2024: Agility underwent a company restructuring to focus on commercialization, involving some layoffs but also strategic hires aiming to scale production and meet increasing demand.
August 2024: Agility Robotics announced a collaboration with Ricoh USA to expand customer support for its humanoid robots across North America, highlighting the growing adoption of Digit in the logistics sector.

Personal Information

Attribute	Information
Full Name	Damion Shelton
Born	Not publicly available
Nationality	American
Occupation	President, Co-founder of Agility Robotics
Known For	Co-founding Agility Robotics and developing the Digit humanoid robot
Education	Ph.D. in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University; B.S. in Bioengineering

Early Life and Education

Damion Shelton's academic journey began with a passion for combining computer science, robotics, and bioengineering. Shelton's education was a foundational element of his career in robotics, earning a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering and a History and Philosophy of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He went on to pursue a Ph.D. in Robotics at Carnegie Mellon University, where he collaborated with other roboticists and biomechanics experts. These formative years shaped his vision of developing humanoid robots that could integrate seamlessly with human environments, eventually leading to co-founding Agility Robotics in 2015.

Career and Notable Achievements

Shelton's career is marked by numerous achievements that have significantly impacted robotics:

2009-2015: Served as CTO at threeRivers 3D, where he developed low-cost, high-volume laser scanners.
2015: Co-founded Agility Robotics with Jonathan Hurst, originating from research at Oregon State University.
2020: Digit, the humanoid robot, was officially launched and later deployed in pilot programs with Amazon and other clients.
2022: Agility Robotics secured a $150 million Series B funding round, with significant contributions from the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund.
2023: Launched the Agility Arc platform and opened RoboFab, leading to increased production capacity for Digit and furthering commercialization efforts.

Current Work and Impact

Currently, Damion Shelton is focused on expanding the commercialization of Agility Robotics' products, particularly the humanoid robot Digit. Under his guidance, Agility Robotics has formed strategic partnerships with major firms like Amazon and GXO Logistics to integrate Digit into their logistics operations. The company's innovations are setting new standards for robotic solutions in warehouses, addressing labor shortages and improving operational safety and efficiency. Shelton's work continues to influence the landscape of humanoid robotics, with a focus on developing robots as collaborative tools rather than replacements for human labor.

Agility Robotics Stock

Agility Robotics remains privately held, with no public stock available for trading. However, the company's financial growth and investor interest have been immense, with continued backing from major venture funds and industry giants like Amazon, indicating potential future public offerings or further rounds of substantial funding.

Agility Robotics Funding

Agility Robotics has seen robust financial support, securing $150 million in a Series B round in 2022, led by DCVC, Playground Global, and Amazon's Industrial Innovation Fund. This influx of capital has propelled the company's R&D and commercial scaling efforts, enabling them to build the RoboFab manufacturing facility and accelerate the deployment of Digit robots.

Agility Robotics Location

Agility Robotics is headquartered in Corvallis, Oregon, with additional offices in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Palo Alto, California. The company has strategically positioned itself in these tech-centric areas to leverage rich talent pools and foster innovation in humanoid robotics development.

Conclusion

Damion Shelton's visionary leadership at Agility Robotics underscores his commitment to advancing humanoid robotics that can coexist with and augment human labor. By overcoming technical and practical challenges in robotics manufacturing and deployment, Shelton and his team continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in robotic solutions for industries facing labor shortages. Agility Robotics' achievements under his guidance highlight the potential of humanoid robots like Digit to transform labor-intensive sectors and redefine the future of work. As technology evolves, Shelton's role in this revolution presents a lasting legacy that will influence robotics for years to come.