Agility's new humanoid is supposed to stop before it gets too close to humans

Until now, Agility Robotics' humanoid robots have largely worked behind safety barriers in warehouses and factories, an awkward limitation for machines designed to work in spaces built for people.

The company says Digit 5, its next-generation humanoid unveiled Tuesday, is designed to change that.

The teal-blue robot can detect people nearby and slow down or stop when they get too close. If a person keeps approaching, Digit 5 can lower itself to the ground and shut off its motors before they reach it. Few humanoid makers disclose pricing. Figure AI has not said what its robot will cost. Elon Musk has said Tesla's Optimus could eventually cost about $20,000 to $25,000 to produce, while China's Unitree Robotics, which went public last month, advertises its smaller G1 humanoid starting at $13,500.

Hurst said Agility does not plan to ramp up production simply to boost its robot count, contrasting its approach with that of "a lot of Chinese competitors."

Digit 5 is built to do heavier work than its predecessor.

Its signature backward-bending knees are gone, replaced with a more human-like design that Hurst said gives the robot more strength for lifting and squatting.

"We don't need to run a marathon with this robot," Hurst said. "We need to lift heavy things." Digit 5 arrives as Agility tries to prove that its early lead in humanoids can become a real business. The company says it has Digit robots deployed across nine customer facilities in North America. But better-funded rivals, including Figure AI and Tesla, are racing to put their own robots to work.

Agility says it has more than $300 million in multiyear orders for Digit 5, even as the business remains unprofitable. It generated $1.8 million in net sales in 2025 and reported a $140 million operating loss, according to a securities filing last week.