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

Agility Robotics' Digit 5 humanoid Agility Robotics Business Insider got a first look at renderings of Digit 5, Agility Robotics' new humanoid robot.

Digit 5 is designed to work near people, stopping and powering down if someone gets too close.

Agility seeks a $2.5 billion public debut as it tries to prove humanoids can scale.

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.

Business Insider got an early look at renderings of Digit 5 ahead of its unveiling.

Agility cofounder and chief robot officer Jonathan Hurst said the redesign reflects lessons the company learned from deploying earlier versions with customers, including Amazon, Toyota, and logistics company GXO.

"Digit 5 is the first machine that is the full, formal product that has come from customer requirements and solves a couple of the major, absolute blockers that we didn't really know about until we actually engaged," Hurst told Business Insider.

Agility Robotics' Digit 5 humanoid.

Agility Robotics 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.