10/26/2026
https://maquinac.com/english/agco-to-test-humanoid-robots-at-u-s-agricultural-machinery-factory/
AGCO has signed a commercial agreement with Agility Robotics to test humanoid robots at its agricultural machinery manufacturing facility in Hesston, Kansas (United States).
The pilot project is scheduled to begin in 2027 and will use Digit, a humanoid robot designed to perform industrial tasks using artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous navigation technologies.
The initiative aims to automate repetitive and physically demanding operations while improving workplace ergonomics and manufacturing efficiency.
During the initial phase, the robots will focus on sorting and stacking parts, as well as positioning containers used for material storage.
A New Generation of Industrial Robots
The project represents a step toward introducing a new generation of automation into agricultural machinery manufacturing.
Unlike conventional industrial robots, which typically operate in specially designed workstations, humanoid robots are intended to move and work in environments originally designed for people.
This capability could make it easier to integrate automation into certain manufacturing processes without completely redesigning existing facilities.
Digit uses sensors, perception systems and artificial intelligence to navigate its surroundings and perform material-handling tasks.
The robot can also be integrated with Agility Arc, a cloud-based platform developed to deploy, monitor and manage robot fleets.
Manufacturing Applications
According to Thomas Enghof, AGCO’s Director of Manufacturing Technology, combining humanoid robotics with artificial intelligence creates new opportunities to automate complex industrial processes.
The company aims to integrate robots alongside employees, with particular attention to operational safety.
One objective is to reduce workers’ exposure to repetitive movements and physically demanding activities.
At the same time, AGCO intends to allow employees to focus on higher-skilled tasks requiring greater technical expertise.
Pilot Deployment
The initial deployment will begin in 2027 at AGCO’s Hesston facility, one of the company’s major manufacturing operations in the United States.
AGCO has not disclosed how many Digit robots will participate, the investment involved or the expected duration of the pilot.
The company has also not announced applications involving the assembly of complex agricultural machinery components.
Initial testing will concentrate on internal logistics and material-handling operations.
The results will help determine whether humanoid robots could eventually be deployed across additional manufacturing processes.
AI Moves Into Machinery Manufacturing
The initiative reflects the expansion of artificial intelligence and autonomous robotics beyond agricultural machines themselves.
While equipment manufacturers are developing tractors and combines with increasingly advanced automation capabilities, they are also beginning to explore intelligent technologies for their own production operations.
Humanoid robots offer a potential alternative for automating selected tasks without relying exclusively on fixed robotic installations.
However, widespread industrial adoption will depend on productivity, reliability, safety and operating costs.
Through its Hesston pilot, AGCO will evaluate the potential of humanoid robots as a new industrial automation tool, marking another step in the expansion of artificial intelligence into agricultural machinery manufacturing.