Amazon starts testing humanoid robot in its warehouses: What features does Digit have?

Amazon has commenced testing humanoid robots in its warehouse complexes, introducing a robot named Digit, developed by Agility Robotics, designed to assist human personnel. Despite growing concerns about the potential replacement of humans with machines, fueled by a leaked 2021 memorandum projecting a labor shortage in the U.S. by 2024, Amazon maintains that Digit's primary function is to automate routine tasks.

The e-commerce giant, Amazon, known for its innovation, has initiated experiments with humanoid robots at its research facility located south of Seattle. Digit, crafted by experts at Agility Robotics, possesses the ability to pick up and transport items much like a human. "Digit can move, pick up, and process items in ways that have never been done before in spaces built for people. Its size and shape are optimized for working in buildings made for humans," stated Amazon.

The integration of such technology inevitably raises questions about the future of human labor, especially concerning Amazon, given the leak of the 2021 memorandum. It reported that with the current hiring pace, Amazon could deplete available labor resources in the U.S. by 2024, a concern notably pertinent to potential warehouse workers for Amazon in the U.S.

Amazon emphasizes that Digit will be an asset to the company's workforce. "At the outset, we will be using this technology to aid our employees in tasks like container unloading, which is a repetitive process of gathering and moving empty containers," the company clarified.

It's worth noting that within Amazon's ecosystem, more than 750,000 robots are already in operation. They handle routine tasks, freeing up human employees for more complex assignments.

Meanwhile, Agility Robotics, financially supported by Amazon, is set to open a new robot manufacturing facility in Salem, Oregon. The plant is expected to produce over 10,000 robots annually. Agility also announced plans to provide the Digit robot to its partners next year, with broader public availability slated for 2025.