Toyota Factory Hires Humanoid Robot Named Digit

Toyota's Canadian manufacturing plant is getting a new coworker, and it walks on two legs just like everyone else.

After a successful test run, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada signed a commercial agreement with Agility Robotics to deploy Digit, a humanoid robot designed to take on the repetitive, physically demanding tasks that wear down human workers. The robot will handle monotonous jobs in supply chain and logistics operations that companies are finding harder to fill.

What makes Digit different from traditional factory robots is its human shape. Because it's built to work in spaces designed for people, Toyota doesn't need to redesign its entire factory layout. The robot simply walks in and gets to work alongside the existing team.

"After evaluating a number of robots, we are excited to deploy Digit to improve the team member experience and further increase operational efficiency in our manufacturing facilities," said Tim Hollander, President of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada.

The partnership goes beyond just adding robots to assembly lines. Toyota and Agility are exploring how AI can help Digit learn new workflows quickly and adapt to different tasks. The focus is on removing the most taxing parts of production so human workers face less fatigue and fewer safety risks.

The Ripple Effect

This collaboration could reshape how factories think about worker wellbeing. Instead of pushing people through exhausting repetitive motions, companies can reserve human talent for complex problem solving and skilled work that robots simply can't handle yet.

Agility Robotics CEO Peggy Johnson emphasized that safety drives their next generation of design. "We will be the first company to deliver the first cooperatively safe humanoid robot to work alongside people, allowing companies like Toyota to scale their use of humanoids well beyond what is possible today," she explained.

The next version of Digit is being engineered specifically to work safely side by side with people, opening doors for wider adoption across manufacturing facilities. For workers tired of back breaking tasks, help is literally walking through the door.