Agility Robotics’ Next-Generation Legged Robots with Arms and Sensors

Guiding The Robotics Hub in Pittsburgh as Managing Director, Chris Moehle leads a pioneering fund that seeks out growing companies focused on the area of emerging robotics. Among the companies funded by Chris Moehle’s firm is Agility Robotics, which builds on existing technologies that allow advanced humanoid robots to walk, climb, slog, and jump.

A major issue is that legged robots—even those developed by leading companies such as Boston Dynamics—are still unable to match the robustness and efficiency of animal and human movement. With this in mind, researchers at Dynamic Robotics Laboratory and Oregon State University focused on better understanding legged locomotion principles and applying the findings to robotics. As a result, the bipedal robot Cassie was launched in 2017 and sold to a number of research groups.

The forthcoming Digit robot builds on Cassie with a similar leg structure, but with the addition of arms and perception sensors that will initially be used to increase stability, and ultimately to enhance manipulation capacities. The result aims to be the first robot capable of thriving in real-world environments built for humans. Working collaboratively with humans, Digit promises to help reduce injury, damage, and accidents. Ultimately, this creates a better environment and economy for man and machine alike.