Agility Robotics, creator of the humanoid robot Digit, has officially uveiled several new capabilities that will expand the work Digit is able to perform for Agility’s growing customer base.
According to certain reports, the stated new capabilities arrive on the scene bearing an ability to support the rapid and scaled deployment of Digit fleets. This it will do using improved battery capabilities which run more efficiently and last up to four hours, while simultaneously facilitating autonomous docking onto charging station.
Beyond that, we have various safety features, such as a Category 1 (CAT1) stop, a Safety PLC, an on-robot E-stop, wireless teach pendant with integrated E-stop, and Functional Safety over EtherCAT (FSoE). Joining that would be new robust limbs and end effectors that give Digit a wider range of grasping angles, and at the same time, unlock new use cases with expanded possibilities for manipulation.
Taking an even deeper view of the given technology, we begin from its AMR integration. To understand the significance of this feature, we must take into account how both humanoids and AMRs have complementary strengths. You see, humanoids excel at complex manipulation, grasping, and navigating human-centric spaces, whereas AMRs are understood to have their forte revolving around efficient transportation over longer distances.
In that regard, digit can autonomously dispatch an AMR to deliver items to their next location, such as packout stations. Such a level of autonomy reduces the need for constant human intervention, and therefore, makes it possible for workers to focus on more complex tasks. It also maximizes the efficiency of people, existing automation, as well as the fleet of humanoids.
More on the same would reveal how Agility’s Arc cloud robotic platform can now deploy and talk with AMRs, along with their corresponding platforms by calling and dispatching AMRs to the task at hand. In fact, Digit has already been working alongside AMRs at the Digit deployment for GXO near Atlanta, Georgia.
Next up; we must expand upon the safety aspect. As safety standards for Dynamically Stable Industrial Mobile Robots like Digit that require stability and balancing are still in the development stage, Agility is bringing forth cooperative safety applications to meet the standards of OSHA-regulated environments that are necessary for humanoids to work alongside humans.
These safety features include a Category 1, or CAT1 stop, which ensures maintenance of power to the machine actuators during the deceleration process, thus enabling the machine to stop smoothly and safely, before removing power. Joining that would be Safety PLC, which is also known as a safety programmable logic controller. In case you weren’t aware, Safety PLC is used on robots to provide safety functions that meet performance level d (PLd).
Then, there is an E-stop (emergency stop) button on a robot, a safety feature designed to immediately halt all robot movements and operations during an emergency. The main objective behind introducing this button is to prevent accidents, achieve worker safety, comply with safety regulations, protect equipment, provide quick response control, and more.
Agility will also take this opportunity to conceive a FSoE (FailSafe over EtherCAT), a safety protocol used in robotics and industrial automation to ensure safe communication between devices over an EtherCAT network. In essence, the stated protocol facilitates the transmission of safety-critical data, such as emergency stop signals and sensor feedback.
Turning our attention towards the Agility Arc, it would be a cloud-based automation platform, well-equipped to deploy and integrate a wide range of automated workflows into logistics and manufacturing operations. Agility Arc is the first humanoid fleet management system to successfully integrate and deploy humanoid robots in a commercial environment.
An updated version of the platform also includes stuff like Digit support, charger support, Workcell EMS support, easy webhook integration, remote monitor, support, and maintenance of Digit, as well as continued and expanded Enterprise Systems Integration.
“These upgrades allow Agility to expand Digit’s capabilities to meet our expanding commercial and customer needs,” said Melonee Wise, Chief Product Officer at Agility Robotics. “Together, they reinforce our commitment to cooperative safety, and demonstrate a path for Digit and human colleagues to one day work side by side.”
