Following a successful year-long pilot, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada signed a Robots-as-a-Service agreement (Feb 19, 2026) to deploy Agility's Digit humanoid for logistics, supply chain, and manufacturing tasks at its Woodstock facility—unloading totes from automated systems to improve efficiency, safety, and reduce worker strain in RAV4 production.
Agility Robotics and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada have signed a Robots-as-a-Service agreement to deploy seven Digit humanoid robots at the Woodstock, Ontario RAV4 plant — the first commercial humanoid deployment in Canadian automotive manufacturing.
Agility Robotics and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC) have signed a commercial agreement to deploy seven Digit robots at the Woodstock, Ontario assembly plant — under a Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) model.
The agreement follows a year-long evaluation at the same facility, run across three phases: development, proof-of-technology, and a live onsite pilot — with three Digit units involved throughout. TMMC, Toyota's largest manufacturing operation outside Japan, assessed the robots against real-world production standards before converting the engagement into a full commercial contract.
The seven Digit robots will perform one task: loading and unloading totes from automated tuggers that feed the assembly line. The scope is deliberate — Agility targets roles that are highly repetitive, physically taxing, and difficult to keep staffed.
TMMC's Woodstock plant — roughly 80 km southwest of Toronto — ran the pilot in a controlled area of the production floor, where engineers and workers observed Digit navigating an active automotive environment: forklifts, foot traffic, shifting layouts, and the constant tempo of a live supply chain.
What makes this agreement different from the wave of humanoid announcements flooding the industry is the word "commercial." Not pilot. Not trial. Not proof-of-concept. Toyota — a company that spent decades perfecting a manufacturing philosophy built on zero waste and zero error — has looked at Digit and decided it belongs on the same floor as its people. That is a more rigorous endorsement than any press release.
Agility and TMMC have committed to assessing further use cases beyond tote handling — exploring how automating the most physically demanding production-line tasks could reduce strain on workers.
Looking ahead, Agility is developing a next-generation Digit with a payload capacity of up to 50 lb (22.6 kg) and improved battery life, alongside ISO functional safety certification that would make Digit the first humanoid cleared to work cooperatively alongside people with no physical barriers — targeted for mid-to-late 2026.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada operates plants in Cambridge and Woodstock, Ontario — Toyota's largest operation outside Japan. Over 8,500 employees. More than 535,000 vehicles in 2025, over 11 million since 1988.
Founded 2015, Salem, Oregon. Digit is the world's first commercially deployed humanoid. Customers include GXO Logistics, Schaeffler, Amazon, and Mercado Libre. Backed by Amazon, NVIDIA, Sony, and TDK.
As tariff pressure reshapes North American auto production, TMMC's investment in humanoid automation signals confidence in its long-term Ontario operations. Agility holds a growing lead in commercial traction: TMMC joins a roster of paying customers no competitor in the humanoid space has yet matched.
Post-CES Momentum: Production Ramps, Extreme-Environment Tests, and Multi-Robot AI Coordination
A journey through the most groundbreaking moments in humanoid robotics
When Honda pulled back the curtain on ASIMO at their Tokyo headquarters, the world witnessed something extraordinary. This wasn't just another robot—it was a 4-foot tall ambassador of the future, walking up stairs with an almost casual grace that made decades of robotics research suddenly feel worth it. Engineers had spent years perfecting the balance systems that let ASIMO navigate like we do, and watching it recognize faces and respond to voice commands felt like science fiction stepping into reality. The robot became Honda's technological pride, touring the world and inspiring a whole generation of researchers to push harder. What made ASIMO truly special wasn't just its technical specs, but how it made people believe that helpful humanoid robots in our homes and workplaces might actually happen someday.
Read more →Sony decided to tackle one of robotics' toughest challenges: making a humanoid robot actually run. QRIO was small, standing just two feet tall, but what it accomplished was huge. Running isn't like walking—both feet leave the ground, balance becomes critical, and one wrong calculation means a faceplant. Yet QRIO managed to hit speeds of 14 meters per minute, landing each step with precision that required incredibly sophisticated control algorithms. The robot could also recognize faces, respond to its name, and even dance, making it feel less like a machine and more like a companion. While Sony eventually discontinued the project, QRIO proved that dynamic movement was achievable and set the stage for the parkour-performing robots we'd see years later.
Read more →The Fukushima nuclear disaster had shown the world that some situations are just too dangerous for humans. DARPA and Boston Dynamics answered with ATLAS, a 6-foot, 330-pound humanoid built specifically for disaster response. This wasn't meant to be cute or friendly—ATLAS was designed to go where buildings have collapsed, where radiation levels are deadly, where rescue workers can't safely tread. With 28 hydraulically-actuated joints, it could navigate rubble, turn valves, use tools, and even drive vehicles. The robot's sensor suite gave it incredible situational awareness, letting it perceive its environment in 3D and make decisions on the fly. ATLAS represented a shift in thinking about humanoid robots—not as companions or entertainers, but as life-saving tools that could operate in our most catastrophic moments.
Read more →SoftBank took a completely different approach with Pepper, designing a robot specifically to understand and respond to human emotions. Standing 4 feet tall with large, expressive eyes and a tablet on its chest, Pepper was built to work alongside people in stores, banks, and hospitals. What made Pepper revolutionary was its emotional intelligence—sensors analyzed facial expressions, voice tone, and body language to gauge how someone was feeling and adjust its responses accordingly. Within months, Pepper was greeting customers in hundreds of locations across Japan, answering questions, providing directions, and even cracking jokes. Thousands were eventually deployed worldwide, proving that people were ready to interact with robots in everyday settings. Pepper showed that the future of humanoid robots wasn't just about physical capability, but about social and emotional connection.
Read more →The DARPA Robotics Challenge Finals in California brought together the world's best robotics teams for the ultimate test. Teams had to complete eight disaster-response tasks: driving a utility vehicle, getting out and walking across rubble, opening doors, using power tools, turning valves, and more. Team KAIST from South Korea took the top prize with their DRC-HUBO robot, which could switch between walking on two legs and rolling on wheels for efficiency. The competition wasn't just about winning—it was about proving what was possible. Robots fell over, got stuck, and struggled with tasks humans find trivial, but they also succeeded in ways that seemed impossible just years before. The challenge sparked innovations in autonomy, perception, and manipulation that continue to drive the field forward today.
Read more →Boston Dynamics dropped a video that made the world stop and stare. There was ATLAS, trudging through snow-covered woods, opening doors with handles, picking up boxes, and—in the moment that went viral—getting shoved by a researcher with a hockey stick and catching itself before falling. The internet collectively gasped. This wasn't a carefully choreographed demonstration on a clean lab floor; this was a robot operating in the messy, unpredictable real world. The door-opening sequence was particularly impressive, showing ATLAS turn a handle, pull the door, and hold it while walking through—a complex series of actions requiring precise force control and spatial awareness. The video racked up millions of views and sparked debates about robot rights (should we be pushing them?) and capabilities (what else can they do?). It was a watershed moment that showed humanoid robots were becoming genuinely capable machines.
Read more →Saudi Arabia made headlines worldwide by granting citizenship to Sophia, Hanson Robotics' humanoid AI robot. It was unprecedented—no country had ever given legal status to a non-human entity like this. Sophia, with her remarkably lifelike facial expressions and ability to hold conversations, had already become famous through TV appearances and conferences. But citizenship? That raised serious questions. What does it mean for a robot to be a citizen? Does Sophia have rights? Responsibilities? The decision was controversial, with critics calling it a publicity stunt and others seeing it as a forward-thinking recognition of AI's growing role in society. Regardless of where you stood, Sophia's citizenship forced the world to confront questions we'll increasingly face as AI and robotics advance. The stunt worked though—everyone was talking about robots, rights, and what personhood might mean in an age of intelligent machines.
Read more →Boston Dynamics released another jaw-dropping video, this time showing ATLAS doing parkour. Not walking. Not carefully stepping over obstacles. Parkour. The robot ran across platforms, jumped gaps, and landed backflips with a confidence that seemed almost showboating. Each movement required split-second decision-making, perfect balance, and incredible force control to stick the landings. The backflip alone was extraordinary—ATLAS had to generate enough rotational force, track its position mid-air, and time the landing perfectly. Engineers had developed new control algorithms that let the robot plan dynamic movements in real-time, adjusting on the fly to variations in the environment. Watching ATLAS move with such athletic ability was surreal; it was starting to move less like a machine and more like an athlete. The video went massively viral, showing that humanoid robots were rapidly approaching human-level agility in ways that seemed impossible just a few years earlier.
Read more →In what became one of 2020's most-watched videos, Boston Dynamics showed ATLAS, Spot, and Handle dancing in perfect synchronization to "Do You Love Me" by The Contours. It was mesmerizing. The robots twisted, jumped, spun, and grooved with moves that were simultaneously precise and playful. ATLAS threw in spins and even did the running man, while the dog-like Spot bounced along and Handle glided around on wheels. The choreography required incredible control—each robot had to coordinate its movements with the others while executing complex, dynamic motions. More than just a technical demonstration, the video showed that robotics could be joyful, creative, even entertaining. It humanized these machines in a way that technical specs never could. The video earned tens of millions of views and became a cultural moment, reminding everyone that even as robots become more capable, there's still room for whimsy and fun in how we think about them.
Read more →Elon Musk took the stage at Tesla AI Day and unveiled something nobody saw coming: Tesla Bot, later renamed Optimus. A 5'8" humanoid robot weighing 125 pounds, designed to handle tasks that are dangerous, repetitive, or just boring. Musk's pitch was characteristically ambitious—Optimus would leverage Tesla's massive advantage in AI, computer vision, and manufacturing to build a general-purpose humanoid robot at scale. Unlike many robotics companies building small numbers of research platforms, Tesla aimed to mass-produce millions of units at accessible prices. The plan was to use the same neural networks that power Tesla's self-driving cars to give Optimus the ability to navigate and manipulate objects in the real world. Critics were skeptical—building humanoid robots is notoriously hard—but Musk had a track record of achieving seemingly impossible things. The announcement instantly made Tesla a major player in humanoid robotics and signaled that the technology was moving from research labs into serious commercial development.
Read more →Just over a year after the announcement, Tesla wheeled out an actual working Optimus prototype at AI Day 2022. Admittedly, it was early-stage—the robot walked slowly, waved to the crowd, and demonstrated basic tasks like watering plants and moving boxes in a video. But the fact that Tesla had built anything at all in twelve months was impressive. The prototype showed off custom actuators, battery packs integrated into the torso, and hands with 11 degrees of freedom capable of delicate manipulation. Musk acknowledged they had a long way to go but projected confidence that Optimus could eventually be produced for under twenty thousand dollars. The demo was polarizing—some saw a promising start, others saw an overhyped concept. Regardless, it proved Tesla was serious about humanoid robots and willing to pour resources into development. The bigger message was clear: the era of general-purpose humanoid robots was arriving faster than most people expected.
Read more →Figure AI burst onto the scene with Figure 01, a sleek humanoid robot designed explicitly for commercial work. Unlike research platforms, Figure 01 was built with real-world deployment in mind—warehouses, manufacturing facilities, retail environments where labor shortages were becoming critical. The robot featured impressive dexterity with articulated hands that could manipulate a wide variety of objects, from boxes to tools to fragile items. Figure AI attracted serious attention, securing partnerships with major companies and raising significant funding from investors betting that humanoid robots were about to become practical reality. The company's approach was pragmatic: start with structured environments where tasks are well-defined, prove the robots can be useful and reliable, then expand capabilities over time. Figure 01 represented a new wave of robotics startups focused on commercialization rather than pure research. With labor markets tight across industries and warehouse automation already proven by companies like Amazon, the timing seemed right for humanoid robots to finally move from labs into workplaces at scale.
Read more →A visual journey through 25 years of breakthroughs that transformed humanoid robots from laboratory dreams into tomorrow's workforce
Honda unveils ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility) in October 2000, demonstrating stable bipedal walking, stair climbing, and fluid turning motions. Standing 130cm tall, ASIMO captures global imagination and proves that machines can navigate human-designed spaces with precision.
Toyota demonstrates Partner Robots capable of playing trumpet and violin with remarkable precision, showcasing advances in fine motor control and actuator technology that prove robots can perform delicate artistic tasks.
The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology unveils HUBO, a modular humanoid research platform that becomes widely adopted in robotics laboratories worldwide for studying locomotion and human-robot interaction.
NASA's Robonaut 2 becomes the first humanoid robot in space, launching to the International Space Station. This milestone opens possibilities for robots assisting astronauts with maintenance tasks in microgravity environments.
Boston Dynamics introduces Atlas, a 6-foot-tall hydraulic humanoid designed for the DARPA Robotics Challenge. Built for disaster-response scenarios, Atlas demonstrates unprecedented capability in navigating rough terrain and manipulating objects.
SoftBank Robotics releases Pepper, the first humanoid robot designed for recognizing human emotions and natural customer interaction. Deployed in retail stores, banks, and airports globally, Pepper makes human-robot interaction mainstream.
Team KAIST's HUBO robot wins the 2015 DARPA Robotics Challenge, completing disaster-response tasks faster than competitors. The victory validates years of humanoid research and demonstrates real-world emergency response capabilities.
Hanson Robotics unveils Sophia, a remarkably lifelike humanoid with expressive features. Sophia appears at the United Nations, receives Saudi citizenship, and sparks worldwide discussion about AI rights and the future of human-robot interaction.
Boston Dynamics releases viral footage of Atlas performing parkour moves and landing backflips. These demonstrations fundamentally redefine expectations about humanoid agility and dynamic balance capabilities.
Agility Robotics' Digit enters pilot programs in real warehouse environments. Ford invests in the company, exploring bipedal robots for logistics. This marks the first serious commercial deployment of humanoid form factors.
At Tesla AI Day, Elon Musk reveals plans for Tesla Bot (Optimus), a general-purpose humanoid robot. The announcement from a major tech company pushes humanoids into mainstream conversation and signals approaching commercial viability.
Companies including Figure AI, 1X Technologies, Sanctuary AI, and Unitree Robotics gain major funding and attention. Each pursues different approaches—general labor, teleoperation, cognitive robotics—signaling an intensely competitive new era.
Boston Dynamics unveils fully electric Atlas. Unitree releases the affordable G1. 1X presents NEO for home environments. Figure AI demonstrates complex factory manipulation. 2024 becomes the year humanoids move from demos to deployment.
Multiple companies scale manufacturing for humanoid robots. Early deployments expand into logistics facilities, manufacturing plants, and controlled environments. After 25 years of development, humanoids transition from research prototypes to practical workforce machines.
Select robots with checkboxes → Click "Compare Selected" for a clean side-by-side table below.
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| Select | Robot | Manufacturer | Height | Weight | Payload | Speed | Battery | Price (est.) | Status (Dec 2025) | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Optimus | Tesla | 173 cm | 57 kg | 20 kg | 13 km/h (target) | 8 hours | $20-30k (target) | Limited factory use; ramping 2026 | General/Home/Factory | |
| Figure 03 | Figure AI | 170 cm | 70 kg | 20 kg | 10 km/h | 5 hours | $50-100k (pilots) | Pilots/trials; home emerging | General/Home/Factory | |
| 1X NEO | 1X Technologies | 168 cm | 30 kg | 25 kg | 4.5-6 km/h | 4 hours | $20k or $499/mo | Preorders; shipments 2026 | Home Assistant | |
| Agility Digit | Agility Robotics | 175 cm | 65 kg | 16 kg | 5.5 km/h | 8+ hours | $200-250k or RaaS | Deployed warehouses | Logistics | |
| Boston Dynamics Atlas (Electric) | Boston Dynamics | 150 cm | 89 kg | 50 kg | 9 km/h | 6 hours | Partners only | Pilots/industry | Heavy/Dynamic | |
| Unitree H1 | Unitree | 180 cm | 47 kg | 30 kg | 12 km/h | 6 hours | $90k | Available | Research/Agile | |
| Unitree G1 | Unitree | 130 cm | 35 kg | 15 kg | 7 km/h | 2-4 hours | $13-16k | Available | Education/Research | |
| Unitree R1 | Unitree | 160 cm | 40 kg | 10 kg | 6 km/h | 4 hours | $5,900+ | Available | Budget/Dev | |
| Apptronik Apollo | Apptronik | 173 cm | 73 kg | 25 kg | 5 km/h | 4-8 hours | $50-100k (target) | Pilots | Industrial | |
| Sanctuary Phoenix | Sanctuary AI | 170 cm | 65 kg | 25 kg | 5 km/h | 5 hours | $150k+ (pilots) | Pilots | Dexterous Tasks | |
| UBTECH Walker S | UBTECH | 170 cm | 63 kg | 20 kg | 5 km/h | 24/7 swap | $45-65k | Available | Service | |
| Fourier GR-2 | Fourier Intelligence | 175 cm | 60 kg | 20 kg | 6 km/h | 5 hours | $150k est | Mass prod 2025 | Rehab/Industrial | |
| Engineered Arts Ameca | Engineered Arts | 170 cm | 80 kg | Low | Stationary | Plugged | $100k+ | Available | Social/Interaction |