In a nondescript Amazon warehouse near Seattle, employees recently encountered the future of work: a 5-foot-9-inch robot named Digit. Designed by Agility Robotics Inc., Digit resembles a human but walks akin to a bird, with glowing white eyes. Its singular task? Plucking empty yellow bins off shelves and shuttling them to a conveyor, repeatedly.
While Digit is still in its testing phase and unlikely to revolutionize logistics overnight, it represents a significant leap in technology. Agility Robotics aims to produce 10,000 robots annually for deployment in warehouses worldwide, positioning itself at the forefront of a burgeoning industry.
Powered by increasingly affordable motors, batteries, and cutting-edge technologies like computer vision and artificial intelligence, humanoid robots have seen a surge in investment. Per Bloomberg, “Startups in the nascent field have hauled in some $1.6 billion in venture capital in the last five years, according to PitchBook data.” And Digit isn’t the only humanoid robot in development. Tesla Inc. and startups like Apptronik Inc. and 1X Technologies AS are also designing robots that aim to mimic people.
Retail fair learns that Agility’s pragmatic approach sets it apart from competitors. With executives boasting diverse industry experience, including stints at Microsoft and Qualcomm, the company focuses on practical applications rather than lofty ideals of abundance or space colonization.
Digit’s journey began with Cassie, a robot designed for agility with just hips and legs that bent backward. Evolving into Digit, the robot gained rudimentary arms and a torso, making it suitable for warehouse tasks. Retail fair learns that its current role involves handling empty bins, but Agility aims to expand its capabilities to tasks like unloading trucks and dismantling pallets.
Despite its potential, Digit faces limitations. Its battery life is restricted, and it operates at a slower pace than human workers. Additionally, replicating the dexterity of human hands remains a challenge, with Digit using clamplike paddles for grasping.
Nevertheless, companies like GXO Logistics see promise in Digit’s flexibility and envision it working alongside human employees. Agility plans to refine its technology further, with a focus on adaptability and user-friendly interfaces.
As the robotics industry evolves, Agility aims to extend its reach beyond logistics, envisioning applications in retail, healthcare, and more. While widespread adoption may still be years away, the journey has begun, with Digit leading the charge in transforming warehouses into hubs of human-robot collaboration.
Logistics, in particular, has seen a surge in the adoption of robots, driven by the booming e-commerce sector in the Asia-Pacific region. As companies strive to meet the demands of millennials and Generation Z, the market for logistics robots is expected to grow at a staggering rate of 26.2% CAGR over the next five years.
However, amidst these advancements, it is crucial to address the cybersecurity concerns that accompany the integration of robots into the workforce. With robots gradually replacing human workers, there is a looming threat of hackers targeting these machines to disrupt business operations or compromise sensitive data.
A study conducted by Kaspersky revealed that the majority of employees recognize the potential cybersecurity risks associated with robotics and are hesitant to grant robots complete autonomy. Concerns arise regarding the ability to swiftly recover production processes in the event of a cyberattack or malfunction. A staggering 78% of respondents believe that full recovery would take days or even weeks.
Retail fair learns that the lack of clarity surrounding responsibility in the event of robot malfunctions further exacerbates these concerns. According to the study, 60% of respondents express uncertainty regarding who holds ultimate accountability, highlighting the need for robust regulations and oversight.
Despite the apprehension surrounding the rise of robots in the workplace, there is also optimism regarding their potential to enhance industrial efficiency under human supervision. However, only a minority of workers are willing to relinquish complete control to AI robots.
Retail fair learns that automation and robotics continue to advance, there is a growing apprehension regarding job displacement. While robots offer unparalleled efficiency and consistency, they also pose a threat to certain job roles. However, historical precedent suggests that technological advancements inevitably lead to shifts in the workforce.
Source: Retail Wire