In the race to automate warehouses and supply chain operations, a new partnership between Agility Robotics and Zion Solutions Group aims to bring humanoid robots into the logistics workforce. The companies announced that Zion will be the first systems integrator to offer Agility's mobile manipulation robot called Digit to warehouse and distribution center clients.

As labor shortages persist and companies struggle with high employee turnover rates, injuries, and productivity gaps, robotics offers a compelling solution for handling repetitive, strenuous materials handling tasks. However, seamlessly integrating automated systems with residual manual processes remains a major challenge.

Agility Robotics has designed Digit, a two-legged robot, specifically to bridge those gaps by working alongside humans in warehouse environments. With artificial intelligence allowing it to adapt to changing workflows, Digit can take on difficult, dangerous jobs while complying with safety standards to operate in human spaces.

"Agility's Digit, which became the first humanoid robot operational in a live warehouse environment in 2023, is already transforming collaborative workflows," stated Jim Shaw, President of Zion Solutions Group. "Agility's practical and robust strategic approach resonates deeply with our mission to deliver memorable experiences and guide intelligent change. We're excited to bring this groundbreaking technology to our customers."

Based in Corvallis, Oregon with additional offices in Pittsburgh and Silicon Valley, Agility Robotics is on a mission "to build robot partners that augment the human workforce, ultimately enabling humans to be more human." The company recently integrated its robotic fleet management software called Agility Arc with warehouse management systems from Manhattan Associates.

Digit leverages advanced AI models to continually adjust to new tasks, a key capability for dynamic warehouse operations. It is designed to conform to OSHA requirements, allowing it to work safely in human spaces while taking over repetitive, injury-prone activities like picking, packing, and moving inventory.

On the supply chain integration side, Zion Solutions Group brings over 90 years of expertise in materials handling, advisory services, data analytics and more. The company prides itself on a client-centric, lifecycle management approach to deliver customized automation solutions driving sustainable growth.

"The visionary team at Zion understands how innovative robotics solutions like Digit and Agility Arc will transform the future of supply chain operations," said Peggy Johnson, CEO of Agility Robotics. "When it comes to designing and implementing safe, efficient workflows and productive facilities, Zion's deep industry experience and progressive approach to automation make it an ideal match for Agility."

By partnering with Zion, Agility Robotics can rapidly deploy its humanoid robots and fleet management software into real-world warehouse ecosystems. Zion's system design and integration capabilities will be critical for ensuring Digit operates seamlessly with existing workflows, infrastructure and technology stacks.

As autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) become ubiquitous across supply chain facilities for horizontal transportation tasks, Digit represents a move toward greater automation of vertical manipulation jobs as well. Few robotics companies have tackled the challenge of creating mobile, human-scale robotics capable of grasping, lifting and moving unwieldy inventory.

Winning the 2024 RBR50 Robot of the Year award and delivering a keynote at the Robotics Summit & Expo, Agility Robotics has generated significant momentum. This new partnership with an established systems integration leader like Zion Solutions could rapidly accelerate the adoption of humanoid robotics to solve long-standing supply chain labor issues.

As Johnson stated, both companies share "a commitment to customer success" in driving impactful technological change. Their collaboration has the potential to radically optimize warehouse operations by introducing a new class of automated workers to human-robot teams.