Agility, a leader in the humanoid robotics industry, has made a significant breakthrough by entering into a formal deal with logistics giant GXO. This development marks a departure from the usual promises and pilots that have characterized the industry thus far. Previous programs have involved only a small number of robots and have not progressed beyond the pilot stage.
The first task for Agility’s humanoid robot, Digit, will be moving plastic totes at a Georgia Spanx factory. While the exact number of robots involved in this deployment has not been disclosed, it is likely to be relatively small. If the numbers were significant, both Agility and GXO would likely be eager to share this information.
One interesting aspect of this deal is the robots-as-a-service (RaaS) model being used. Instead of purchasing the robots outright, GXO will lease them. This allows the company to defer the upfront costs while still enjoying access to support and software updates.
GXO has been piloting Digit robots since last year and has also recently announced a pilot deal with one of Agility’s competitors, Apptronik. The impact of these two deals on each other remains unclear.
Peggy Johnson, Agility’s CEO, has emphasized the company’s focus on return on investment (ROI). This sets Agility apart from its competitors, as many others in the industry are still operating on theoretical results.
Johnson expressed her pride in Agility being the first to deploy actual humanoid robots at a customer site, generating revenue and solving real-world business problems. This milestone deployment sets a higher standard for the entire industry.
Agility’s position as a market leader is not surprising, considering its advancements in development and deployment. However, it is important to note that the humanoid robotics industry is still in its early stages, and no clear market leader has emerged.
In October of last year, Amazon began piloting Agility systems in its own warehouses. However, neither company has made any formal announcements regarding their future plans.
Overall, this deal between Agility and GXO represents a significant step forward for the humanoid robotics industry. It demonstrates the potential for real-world applications and revenue generation. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how other companies respond and if a clear market leader emerges in the near future.