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Already in action in the United States, a robot worker is raising concerns about the future of warehouse jobs. Are humanoid robots the future?
A Agility Robotics Inc., one of the leaders in the development of humanoid robots, is about to transform the industrial landscape with the production of its latest creation: the Digit. Bloomberg took a tour of Agility's factory last month, known as RoboFab, revealed fascinating details about the future of this technology. Will this be the end of jobs?
Located in Salem, Oregon, the RoboFab is about to deliver its first fourth-generation humanoid robots, which promise to redefine automation in work environments designed for humans.
RoboFab's Innovative Structure and Digit Production
Agility’s 70.000-square-foot facility is designed to produce up to 21 robots per year. One of four production lines is currently operational, with the assembly of robot arms, legs, torsos and heads taking place at dedicated stations.
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Unlike other robot factories, RoboFab is described by Agility CEO Peggy Johnson as “capex light”, meaning it does not require the expensive machinery found in automotive factories. Agility’s robots can be assembled manually by workers using simple tools, such as screwdrivers.
Despite the manual process, the complexity of the assembly is evident. During the visit, a robot Digit was in the prototyping phase, with circuits, sensors and actuators exposed, creating an image that resembled a human nervous system.
This phase is essential to ensure the design is ready before workers install the complete hardware in the next generations of the robot.
Digit's application and growing demand
Agility already has robots in operation at a Spanx warehouse run by GXO Logistics and is running tests at Amazon fulfillment centers.
These robots are designed to operate in traditional human workspaces, using powerful batteries, motors and advanced sensors. Demand for these machines is growing rapidly, driven by the need for automation in logistics and industrial sectors.
Johnson said the company, which has already raised $180 million in funding, will need more capital to fund the transition from research and development to mass production. With demand growing, Agility is accelerating its manufacturing process to meet the demand. market.
Challenges in managing and integrating AI into Digit control
Initially, the management of the RoboFab would be overseen by Aindrea Campbell, a former Apple and Ford executive who, however, returned to Apple this year.
Agility co-founder and former CEO Damion Shelton has taken over the assembly operation. In addition, Agility has hired Daniel Diez, Johnson’s former colleague at Magic Leap, as chief strategy officer.
While the humanoid robot market was the subject of a frenzy of investment earlier this year, with promises of robots capable of “thinking” in their environments, Agility has been betting on a more practical approach.
Rather than creating robots that perform acrobatic stunts for the internet, as Johnson pointed out in comparison to competitors, the company's focus is on putting its robots to work shifts in real locations.
The control software of the Digit is also evolving. Agility is integrating AI language models similar to ChatGPT, enabling bots to make more autonomous decisions and improve their functions in complex environments.
The Future of Humanoid Robots
Agility Robotics is on its way to becoming one of the most relevant companies in the automation scenario with humanoid robots.
A RoboFab It’s not just a factory, but an example of how humanoid robot technology can be adapted to traditional work environments. With growing demand and investment, Agility’s robot production is likely to expand rapidly in the coming years.
The use of robots in warehouses and factories is set to become the norm, with machines like the Digit replacing repetitive and physically challenging human tasks. Agility’s success will be a reflection of its ability to deliver robots that not only perform specific tasks, but are able to adapt and evolve in the workplace, thanks to advanced artificial intelligence.
Humanoid robots, such as the Digit, may seem like a futuristic vision, but Agility Robotics is demonstrating that this future is closer than ever.
Good morning, for business owners it will be wonderful, but for the system it will be terrible, the government will not be able to collect taxes from thousands of unemployed people, once unemployed, they will support themselves with food, consumption, etc... I see this as a collapse.