Agility Robotics, a company backed by Amazon and others, has announced the opening of its manufacturing facility in Salem, Oregon. The facility, named “RoboFab,” is set to produce over 10,000 humanoid robots per year. This marks a significant moment in the history of robotics, as it is the first mass production of commercial humanoid robots. Damion Shelton, the co-founder and CEO of Agility Robotics, stated that the factory’s opening is a pivotal moment in robotics.
The factory will not only utilize the company’s robot, Digit, to move and handle materials, but it will also employ over 500 people at full capacity to manufacture the robots. Aindrea Campbell, the chief operating officer of Agility Robotics, expressed the significance of this achievement as the world’s first humanoid robot factory. She likened the opening of the factory to the creation of the first automobile factory over a century ago.
Agility Robotics has been in the robotics industry since 2015 and started shipping its Digit robot to customers in 2018. The company secured a deal with Ford in 2020. The Digit robot is capable of moving packages, unloading tractor trailers, and navigating various terrains. Earlier this year, Digit received an upgrade with a new head and hands.
The funding received by Agility Robotics, amounting to $150 million, was led by DCVC and Playground Global, with participation from Amazon’s Industrial Innovation Fund. The company’s new factory is located 30 miles from its engineering center in Corvalis, Oregon, allowing for close collaboration between the design team and the manufacturing process.
Agility Robotics aims to stay ahead of competitors, including Tesla and its Optimus robot, by establishing the world’s first humanoid robot factory. This significant step will pave the way for future advancements in robotics and the widespread adoption of humanoid robots worldwide.
Sources: CNBC