Toyota Expands Trial of Agility Robotics’ Humanoid Robots
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. (TMMC), the largest arm of Toyota Motor Corp. outside of Japan, recently inked a deal with Agility Robotics Inc. to utilize the latter’s advanced humanoid robot, Digit, in its facilities. This follows a successful year-long pilot program. The move exemplifies how leading corporations are increasingly embracing robotics and automation to enhance operational efficiency and worker experience.
Agility Robotics has been at the forefront of commercializing humanoid robots, with Digit being a prime example. The robot is designed to handle a variety of tasks in diverse environments, integrating seamlessly into existing workflows without the need for substantial alterations to the facility.
The Pilot Program and Beyond
The pilot program at TMMC involved three units of Digit. The successful run now paves the way for the deployment of seven more Digits. These humanoid robots will be tasked with loading and unloading totes from an automated tugger. As the robots prove their efficacy, TMMC plans to deploy even more units.
Beyond the immediate task of handling totes, TMMC and Agility are looking to identify additional use cases for these humanoid robots in manufacturing, supply chain, and logistics operations. The goal is to automate physically taxing and repetitive tasks, thereby reducing the strain on human workers and freeing them to focus on more value-added tasks.
Digit: A Gamechanger in the World of Robotics
Digit represents a major leap in the field of robotics. Its design allows for easy integration into existing facilities, and its use of artificial intelligence (AI) enables it to continually learn and adapt to new tasks and workflows. This ability to evolve and improve over time greatly enhances Digit’s commercial viability.
Agility Robotics is not only offering Digit as a solution to labor shortages and efficiency challenges but also provides Agility Arc, a cloud-based platform for managing fleets of these robots. This integrated approach provides businesses with a comprehensive solution for their automation needs.
Digit: A Growing Global Presence
Toyota is not the only major corporation to recognize the potential of Agility’s humanoid robots. Digit is also being deployed by companies like GXO Logistics, Schaeffler, and Amazon. GXO was the first to commercially deploy Digit at a facility in Georgia, under a robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) model. This significant milestone earned Agility Robotics a 2025 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award.
As companies around the world continue to grapple with labor shortages and increasing operational demands, it’s likely that the adoption of humanoid robots like Digit will continue to grow. This underlines the importance of continued investment and innovation in robotics and AI.
Editor’s Note: Pras Velagapudi, the Chief Technology Officer of Agility Robotics, is set to participate in a panel discussion titled “State of Humanoids” at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo, scheduled for May 27 and 28 in Boston.
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