Toyota just made humanoid robots a factory floor reality. The automotive giant is deploying seven Agility Robotics humanoid robots at its Canadian manufacturing facility to handle parts logistics, marking one of the first large-scale deployments of bipedal robots in traditional automotive production. The robots will unload totes filled with auto parts from automated warehouse tuggers, a task that's been the domain of human workers since the assembly line was invented.
Toyota is bringing the future of manufacturing to life in Canada. The automaker's decision to deploy seven humanoid robots from Agility Robotics represents a watershed moment for an industry that's been watching humanoid robots from the sidelines while logistics giants like Amazon experimented with the technology.
The robots, Agility's Digit model, will handle a deceptively simple but physically demanding task: unloading totes full of auto parts from automated warehouse tuggers. It's the kind of repetitive work that causes injuries and turnover in human workers, but it's also been stubbornly resistant to traditional automation because it requires the flexibility to navigate human-designed spaces and handle unpredictable objects.
That's where humanoid robots shine. Unlike fixed robotic arms or specialized automated guided vehicles, Digit can walk, climb stairs, and manipulate objects in environments designed for people. The robot stands about five feet tall and can lift up to 35 pounds, making it well-suited for parts handling without requiring factories to redesign their layouts around the automation.
Agility Robotics has been building toward this moment for years. The Oregon-based company emerged from academic research at Oregon State University and has raised over $150 million to commercialize its humanoid platform. But landing Toyota as a production customer represents validation that humanoid robots are ready to move beyond pilot programs and warehouse trials.
The automotive industry has always been an automation leader, but it's also been cautious about deploying unproven technologies on production lines where downtime costs thousands of dollars per minute. Toyota's reputation for manufacturing excellence makes this deployment particularly significant. The company pioneered lean manufacturing and just-in-time production, so when Toyota bets on a technology, the rest of the industry pays attention.
