Ford Partners With Robots Maker Agility Robotics In Mobility Service Push

1 min readUpdated May 26, 2025Jun 14, 201911:05 PM

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Ford Motor Co said on Wednesday it is partnering with walking robots maker Agility Robotics to assist self-driving delivery vans to drop packages at the doorsteps of people’s homes. Ford’s move into robotics comes as the No.2 U.S. automaker looks to expand into autonomous driving and mobility services. The company, which launched a self-driving pilot with delivery partners including Domino’s in Miami last year, said Agility Robotics’ two-legged robot, Digit, is capable of lifting packages that weigh up to 40 pounds.

The robot can walk up and down stairs and through uneven terrain, while maintaining its balance after being bumped, Ford said bit.ly/2Jy47T5.

“It’s not always convenient for people to leave their homes to retrieve deliveries,” Ken Washington, Ford’s chief technology officer, said.

“If we can free people up to focus less on the logistics of making deliveries, they can turn their time and effort to things that really need their attention.”

In 2017, Ford bought Argo AI, a Pittsburgh-based self-driving startup, but with spiraling development costs for autonomous cars in recent years, the company and other carmakers have sought alliances and outside investors.

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What this means

Ford's integration of Agility Robotics' Digit into its autonomous delivery strategy is a proactive move to tackle the costly 'last-mile' problem, a segment where rivals like Ocado and Aeon are already deploying robotic warehouses in Asia. This push for door-to-door robotic delivery, following its self-driving pilot with Domino's, positions Ford to pressure traditional logistics and delivery services that lack such automation. While the technology promises efficiency and customer convenience, the primary risk lies in public acceptance and the scalability of these complex robotic operations. The significant development costs for autonomous tech, already seen in Ford's acquisition of Argo AI, highlight the financial pressures in this space. We will be observing the commercial rollout of Digit to assess its impact on operational costs.

Wei Zhang

Questions & Answers

What is the primary purpose of Ford partnering with Agility Robotics?

Ford is partnering with Agility Robotics to help self-driving delivery vans drop packages directly at people's doorsteps. This collaboration supports Ford's expansion into autonomous driving and mobility services, aiming to improve the final stage of package delivery efficiency for consumers.

What specific capabilities does Agility Robotics' Digit robot possess for package delivery?

The Digit robot is capable of lifting packages weighing up to 40 pounds. It can also walk up and down stairs, navigate uneven terrain, and maintain its balance even after being bumped, making it suitable for varied delivery environments.

Why is Ford focusing on robotics and autonomous delivery services now?

Ford is looking to expand into autonomous driving and mobility services. The company sees value in freeing people from logistics, allowing them to focus on other priorities, as it's not always convenient for customers to leave their homes to collect deliveries.

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