New Digit 5 Battery Delivers 10:1 Run-To-Charge Ratio

The fast-charging system allows the humanoid robot to operate for 90 minutes on a nine-minute charge starting in early 2027.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Robotics

New Digit 5 Battery Delivers 10:1 Run-To-Charge Ratio

Live Poll

Do you believe the adoption of autonomous robots will improve productivity in the workforce?

Agility Robotics has announced a partnership with battery developer Nyobolt to integrate a fast-recharging system into the Digit 5 humanoid robot. The technology aims to significantly improve operational uptime for commercial deployments.

Why it matters

Humanoid robot adoption depends on minimizing downtime during shifts, and this integration targets a core economic bottleneck by extending the duration a robot can stay in active service.

The system achieves a 90-minute runtime from a nine-minute charge, a 10:1 run-to-charge ratio that outperforms the 2:1 ratio of the Digit 4. This is enabled by proprietary anode materials, optimized cell design, and integrated power electronics.

The players

Agility Robotics

A developer of bipedal humanoid robots based in Salem, Oregon, with over 65,000 hours of real-world operational data.

Nyobolt

A Cambridge, U.K.-based developer of high-power battery technologies utilizing proprietary anode materials.

The details

The battery system leverages specialized anode materials designed to handle higher current loads without the thermal degradation typical of standard lithium-ion cells. By pairing these cells with custom power electronics, Agility Robotics can achieve high-speed charging that minimizes the duration the humanoid robot is stationary. This configuration is intended to support an intensive, 20-hour daily work cycle by enabling rapid recovery between operational windows.

May 2026: Nyobolt achieved a $1 billion valuation.
July 2026: Agility Robotics opened a software hub in Fremont, California.
October 2026: The partnership between Agility and Nyobolt was announced.
October 2026: The RoboBusiness 2026 event takes place.
First half of 2027: Early access to Digit 5 units is expected to begin.

The Tech Race

This development marks a shift in the robotics sector toward optimizing fleet-level economics rather than just mobility. It positions the Digit 5 to compete directly in high-uptime logistics environments by solving the charge-cycle bottleneck that has limited prior humanoid iterations.

Early access for the Digit 5 units is slated for the first half of 2027, with broader availability following six to nine months later. Logistics operators should expect significantly shorter charging breaks, allowing for a more consistent 20-hour daily work schedule per unit.

The takeaway

The move to a 10:1 run-to-charge ratio indicates that humanoid robotics is reaching the mechanical maturity required for sustained industrial labor. Monitor the first half of 2027 for the early-access rollout, which will provide the first real-world evidence of these battery claims in active fleets.