AI robots with personal boundaries are coming, they will stop when humans come close
Humanoid robots are getting better at walking, lifting and working, but they still need to be safe enough to work alongside humans without causing any mishaps. After all, a machine can go wrong in so many different ways. To address that, Agility Robotics has unveiled Digit 5, its latest humanoid robot. It is designed to work alongside people in factories and warehouses without the physical safety barriers traditionally used to separate humans from industrial robots.
The US based robotics brand, describes Digit 5 as its first humanoid designed for βcooperatively safeβ work at scale. The robot uses AI algorithms and multiple sensors to continuously detect people around it and respond accordingly. If someone gets in its way or in its proximity, Digit 5 can autonomously avoid them or stop. If a person gets too close, the robot can even lower itself into a seated position as a protective measure. It also uses visual and audio cues to communicate what it is doing, while a separate safety controller is designed to trigger protective actions when necessary.
Why is this important? Well, most industrial robots traditionally work in controlled areas, with fences or other barriers keeping people away from moving machinery. Agility is trying to change that with Digit 5. Instead of asking factories to redesign their workplaces around robots, the company wants Digit 5 to safely work in spaces that are already designed for humans.
According to the company, Digit 5 is not just about safety. The humanoid has also received a series of hardware upgrades to make it more useful for heavy, repetitive work. Agility says it can repeatedly lift loads of up to 22.7kg, which is 40 per cent more than the previous generation. Its redesigned legs are said to be built for repetitive lifting, while its human-sized shape allows it to reach shelves, move through aisles and work in spaces designed for people.
Digit 5 also comes with interchangeable grippers, so different tools can be used for different jobs. Agility says the robot can be used for tasks such as moving materials and working with machines.
The battery has also been improved compared to the predecessors. Agility says Digit 5 can work for around 90 minutes and then recharge in about nine minutes. The robot is 1.81 metres tall, weighs 129kg and can reach up to 2.2 metres.
Agility says the design is based on more than 65,000 hours of Digit robots operating in real production environments. The company is now preparing Digit 5 for commercial deployment, with early access planned for the first half of 2027 and broader availability expected by the end of 2027.- EndsPublished By: Divya BhatiPublished On: Sep 16, 2026 16:36 ISTAlso Read | Anthropic is hiring a weapons expert to stop Claude from starting AI war, salary around Rs 2.7 croreAlso Read | Laid off after 12 years at Oracle, employee likes it because no more 13-hrs shift or micromanagementAlso Read | Last week he said AI will kill humans, this week Anthropic CEO is selling SaaS tools to Salesforce
