The independent safety controller is part of the "cooperatively safe" concept of the Agility Digit 5 humanoid (announced September 15, 2026). Per Agility, an independent safety controller oversees Digit's response to the detection of people within an unsafe distance. In hardware terms it is an onboard industrial PLC — a dedicated control computer — while safe human-detection functions run on a separate NVIDIA IGX Thor platform, isolated from the robot's main compute.
Digit 5 adds category 1 stop functionality (a controlled stop before power is cut, or if communication is lost) — earlier generations had only a remote emergency stop (E-stop). Human detection uses proprietary AI algorithms and multiple sensors to continuously monitor the surroundings with 360° coverage, complemented by visual and auditory cues conveying motion intent; when a person approaches, the robot can sit down and power off its motors. Standards are in development: ISO 25785-1 (the first international safety standard for the humanoid category) and ANSI/A3 TR R15.108; a CE mark (plus GB and Northern Ireland marks) is planned. Note: Agility does not publish SIL/PL levels, nor does it attribute ISO 10218 / ISO/TS 15066 to Digit 5. Some safety features are still in development; barrier-free deployment is targeted for 2027.
Safety controller · serves as: Safety, Control.
Which group Digit 5 independent safety controller belongs to and how it is built
Safety Components is a subcategory of hardware elements related to the functional and operational safety of robotic systems. It encompasses E-stop modules, safety relays, circuit breakers, protective circuits, interlocks, and other components that limit the risk of failure or accident. These elements are relevant across industrial, service, and mobile robotics.
A safety controller is a dedicated unit (often an industrial PLC) responsible solely for safety-related functions — such as safe stopping, overseeing human detection, or zone monitoring — operating independently of the robot's main compute. This separation ensures that the response to a hazardous event remains possible even if the rest of the system fails or loses communication.
Robots in which Digit 5 independent safety controller is or can be used
