Agility and FORT plan to connect Digit 5 to factory safety systems
Agility Robotics and FORT Robotics signed a memorandum to expand Digit 5’s planned safety architecture. An external bridge is intended to connect the humanoid robot’s onboard functions with facility safety systems. The arrangement builds on years of collaboration and combines manual intervention, robot communications and external interfaces. The companies also plan joint hardware development, compliance work and deployment support; Digit 5’s capabilities remain forward-looking statements.
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A new agreement connects robot and facility safety
Agility Robotics and FORT Robotics signed a memorandum on 1 October to expand Digit 5’s planned safety infrastructure. The companies intend to connect the humanoid robot’s onboard protections with warehouse and factory safety systems through an external interface.[1], [2]
Digit is Agility’s humanoid robot, while FORT supplies robotics safety technology. Their collaboration has lasted several years and began with a custom hardware component. The expanded framework covers joint hardware development, solutions engineering, regulatory compliance and deployment support. Warehouses, manufacturing facilities and logistics operations are among the intended environments.[1]
The architecture adds an external safety bridge
The planned architecture combines a manual safety pendant, communications on the robot and offboard interfaces. The jointly developed bridge is intended to extend Digit 5’s onboard functions into the surrounding facility. Planned onboard protections include human detection, safety cues and motion control. The memorandum formalizes the companies’ work on connecting those functions to signals and intervention outside the robot.[1]
Operators retain manual intervention
FORT’s tablet holder incorporates emergency-stop and enabling-device functions. The robot is expected to work autonomously during normal operations, while the pendant permits manual intervention during setup, maintenance or an unexpected situation. The companies describe it as an additional layer alongside human detection. Digit 5 capabilities remain forward-looking statements, and the memorandum does not replace future definitive agreements or establish completed independent safety certification.[1]
