The Digit humanoid robot is already operational at multiple commercial client sites. Source: Agility Robotics
Agility Robotics Inc. announced today that it has finalized an agreement to merge with Churchill Capital Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). The firm stated it will become “the sole publicly traded U.S. company focused exclusively on humanoids with demonstrated, active commercial deployments.”
Agility created the bipedal research platform Cassie and the humanoid robot Digit, which is currently undergoing commercial trials. The Salem, Oregon-based firm anticipates that the SPAC deal will deliver over $620 million in gross proceeds, with a pre-money equity valuation of $2.5 billion.
“Humanoid robots are a vital engine of American technological leadership and the future of global industry,” remarked Peggy Johnson, CEO of Agility Robotics. “With category-defining, commercially deployed humanoids functioning in real customer settings today, Agility stands at the forefront of a new era where safety-first, AI-driven technology can reliably collaborate with people to address labor shortages, boost productivity, and fortify supply chain resilience.”
“We believe humanoids are reaching a significant turning point in commercial uptake, and we are focused on scaling to meet rising customer demand, broadening deployments, and advancing our roadmap across robotics, physical AI, safety systems, and enterprise software,” she continued. “As adoption speeds up, we believe Agility is positioned to capture a market opportunity across manufacturing, distribution, and logistics settings in the United States that management estimates at roughly $1 trillion.”
“Businesses don’t purchase technology; they purchase solutions,” Johnson noted during an investor briefing. “At Agility, that’s exactly what we’re delivering. That’s what’s absent from the AI headlines—companies still need to solve tangible, physical challenges.”
Submit your session idea for the 2026 RoboBusinessAgility engineers a ‘cooperatively safe’ humanoid robot
Dr. Jonathan Hurst, Dr. Damion Shelton, and Mikhail Jones spun Agility Robotics out of Oregon State University’s Dynamic Robotics Laboratory in 2015. Since its founding, the company has concentrated on moving humanoids beyond R&D into genuine real-world commercial use, building deep expertise across robotics, physical AI, safety systems, and enterprise automation.
“We set out to create robots capable of performing useful physical tasks in spaces designed for humans, and that mission has been at the core of Agility from the very beginning,” said Jonathan Hurst, co-founder and chief robot officer of Agility. “We believe cooperative safety is the key enabler for widespread humanoid adoption, and our next-generation Digit marks a significant step toward a future where robots become trusted partners in the workplace.”
“We examined hundreds of potential applications,” he recalled. “We recognized that handling bins and totes is an exceptionally strong entry point market.”
Agility noted that its executive leadership team brings more than 80 years of combined commercial experience and over 50 years of technical robotics knowledge. Chief Technology Officer Pras Velagapudi took part in a keynote panel discussion at the Robotics Summit & Expo last month on the current state of humanoid robot design.
Agility designed Digit v5 specifically for settings where humans and robots share workspace, broadening the scope of workflows that can be automated. It will be capable of lifting up to 40 lb. (18.1 kg), running for approximately 16 hours, and reaching heights of up to 5.5 ft. (1.6 m).
The robot’s physical AI platform allows it to perceive, interpret, and interact with the physical world while operating safely in complex, human-centered environments, according to Agility. The company, which rebranded from Agility Robotics to simply “Agility” in March, pointed out that data from expanding real-world deployments is continuously refining these capabilities as it develops new skills.
Agility highlighted technology partnerships with Google DeepMind and NVIDIA, which selected it as the launch partner for NVIDIA Halos, a comprehensive full-stack safety system for physical AI and humanoids. The company also leverages NVIDIA IGX Thor.
To support commercial-scale operations, Agility said it has built out the necessary manufacturing, hardware, supply chain, and deployment infrastructure. This includes RoboFab, its full-scale modular manufacturing plant in Salem, Ore., engineered to support production of up to 10,000 units per year.
Agility also maintains operations in Pittsburgh and Fremont, California. The firm stated that it owns many of Digit’s highest-value hardware systems and sources roughly 75% of the robot’s components domestically within the U.S.
Agility Arc is a cloud-based automation platform for embedding Digit into customer operations. It facilitates deployment, fleet coordination, and operational management across facilities. It provides robot status tracking and integrates with warehouse management systems (WMS), explained Hurst.
Digit is active in commercial deployments
Agility Robotics asserted that its flagship robot “is a general-purpose, human-centric robot Built for Work.” After more than a decade of development, Digit is currently functioning in manufacturing, distribution, and logistics environments to fill persistent physical labor gaps, the company reported.
In 2024, Digit earned Agility the inaugural RBR50 Robot of the Year award for being among the first humanoids to enter commercial trials with Amazon and GXO Logistics. Digit v4 features a carrying capacity of 35 lb. (15.8 kg) and a four-hour runtime on a standard charge.
Today, Digit is working at enterprises including Schaeffler, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, and Mercado Libre, where it automates repetitive physical tasks such as machine tending and sortation. Through commitments spanning nine customer facilities, Digit has accumulated over 65,000 hours of operation and demonstrated the ability to operate safely and reliably in live production settings.
These deployments have powered Agility’s “data flywheel,” generating an expanding repository of proprietary, real-world operational data to enhance its embodied AI systems, accelerate the development of new capabilities, and broaden the range of tasks Digit can perform.
Agility is gearing up for the commercial release of Digit v5. The company said it has already secured more than $300 million in multi-year orders for Digit v5, contingent upon the achievement of certain contractual milestones.
“We discovered through our commercial deployments that safety is
Hurst identified the primary obstacle to widespread adoption, stating, “Once we roll out Digit v5, that will be the breakthrough moment for humanoid robots. Our robot will be capable of leaving a confined workspace and moving directly into real-world warehouse and factory settings.”
Agility supports organizations preparing for large-scale humanoid integration through its Customer Acceleration Program, which guides them through every stage from initial pilot testing to full-scale deployment.
According to Jennifer Hunter, Agility’s chief financial and operating officer, customers can access Digit either through a robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) subscription or via outright purchase for a quick return on investment. She noted that the bill of materials for the current Digit v4 stands at $125,000, with costs expected to drop as manufacturing volumes grow.
The company reported a rapidly expanding sales pipeline of over 30 customers, signaling strong enterprise interest. Johnson also mentioned that Agility intends to explore technology licensing opportunities.
The SPAC transaction is designed to accelerate Agility’s manufacturing and deployment capabilities. Source: Agility Robotics
Major tech investors back Agility’s production growth plans
Agility counts a range of prominent strategic investors and partners from the AI, technology, venture capital, and industrial sectors, including DCVC, NVIDIA, Amazon, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Schaeffler, Foxconn, Abico, and Playground Global.
Churchill XI reported that the $620 million in gross proceeds from the deal will consist of $420 million in cash currently held in its trust account (assuming no shareholder redemptions), plus roughly $200 million in additional funding through a common stock PIPE (private investment in public equity) priced at $10 per share, with Foxconn leading the round alongside a mix of existing and new institutional investors.
Michael Klein, chairman and CEO of Churchill Capital Corp XI, remarked, “Churchill Capital takes pride in partnering with companies that are defining the future of technology and commerce. Agility is a pioneer in humanoid robotics, with proven technology, active real-world deployments, and the confidence of some of the world’s most exacting enterprises. We look forward to supporting Peggy, Jonathan, and the entire Agility team as they expand Digit’s deployment, strengthen their position in physical AI, and build lasting value for shareholders.”
The proposed business combination received unanimous approval from the boards of both Agility and Churchill XI, and all current Agility shareholders will convert their equity into shares of the combined company. These shareholders will be subject to a 180-day lock-up period following the transaction’s completion.
Assuming regulatory approvals and standard closing conditions are met, the deal is expected to close later this year, with the combined company operating under the Agility name and trading on a major North American stock exchange under the ticker symbol “AGLT.”
Agility stated that it plans to allocate the proceeds toward fulfilling current customer orders, broadening commercial deployments, ramping up production of Digit v5, and continuing investment in its integrated robotics platform.
