Agile Robots and NVIDIA launch Agile ONE SN humanoid robot

A new research platform

Agile Robots and NVIDIA recently unveiled the Agile ONE SN at the NVIDIA GTC Berlin event. This humanoid serves as a research reference platform designed to give labs a complete system that is ready to use from the first day of operation.

The robot stands 1.4 meters tall and weighs 43 kilograms. It is equipped with 71 degrees of freedom, which refers to the number of independent joints or movements the robot can perform. It also features dual WUJI tactile five-finger hands to improve its ability to interact with objects.

The hardware is powered by NVIDIA Jetson Thor and ships with the GR00T 1.7 open VLA model. A VLA, or Vision-Language-Action model, allows the robot to understand visual inputs and language instructions to perform physical tasks. Skills developed on this specific research unit can eventually be moved to the larger, full-size industrial Agile ONE.

Industrial logistics pilot

Beyond the research lab, Agile Robots is partnering with Audi AG, Dassault Systèmes, and NVIDIA on a production pilot. The project takes place at the Audi Production Lab in Ingolstadt, where the company aims to use mobile humanoids for complex logistics.

In this specific workcell, the robots are tasked with picking parts from containers and sequencing them for final assembly. This is a high-volume operation that occurs many times a day. The goal is to automate a repetitive task that requires precision and mobility.

Before the robots enter the physical factory floor, the workcell is being tested in a virtual twin. This digital simulation uses DELMIA software and NVIDIA Omniverse libraries to accelerate the testing process. By perfecting the movements in a virtual environment first, the companies can ensure the robots perform reliably in the real world.

New generation robot arms

Alongside the humanoid launch, Agile Robots introduced two new generations of robotic arms: the Diana 7 and the Diana 3. Both of these arms are designed to support the Franka Control Interface, which is a standardized way to manage robot movements and forces.

The Diana 7 is designed for higher payloads and reach, offering a 7 kg payload capacity and a 923 mm reach. It is notably lighter than previous versions, weighing 2 kg less. This arm was recently showcased at the China International Industry Fair in Shanghai.

The Diana 3 serves as an entry-level research arm that maintains the same force-control platform as the larger models. It features seven degrees of freedom and joint torque sensing. These features allow it to perform precision manipulation, lab automation, and sample handling with high accuracy.

Precision and compatibility

Both the Diana 7 and Diana 3 arms offer high levels of precision for industrial and research applications. They provide a repeatability of ±0.05 mm and a relative force-control accuracy of 0.5 N. These specifications ensure that the robots can handle delicate tasks while maintaining consistent movements.

Because both arms support the Franka Control Interface, they offer high compatibility for developers. This means that code written for the Franka Research 3 can be moved directly to the new Diana arms without needing to be rewritten. This simplifies the transition from research to production.

The Diana 3 specifically focuses on compliant control, which is the robot's ability to yield to external forces. This is essential for safety and for handling objects that might move or shift during the manipulation process. It makes the arm suitable for a variety of laboratory and automation environments.

Investment and availability

The launch of the Agile ONE SN follows a significant investment announcement from NVIDIA. Just two days before the Berlin launch, NVIDIA announced plans to invest in Agile Robots during the Invest in Germany Summit. This partnership highlights the growing importance of humanoid robotics in the AI ecosystem.

Agile Robots was founded in 2018 by researchers from the German Aerospace Center. The company has grown to employ more than 3,500 people worldwide and operates several subsidiaries. These include BÄR Automation, Franka Robotics, idealworks, and Krause Automation.

While the research platform is now being showcased, the company has set a specific timeline for wider use. The Agile ONE SN is planned to be available for purchase and deployment in early 2027. This gives the industry a clear window for when these research capabilities will become commercially accessible.