Jonathan Hurst is the Chief Robot Officer and Co-Founder of Agility, as well as a Professor and co-founder of the Oregon State University Robotics Institute. His research aims to enable robots to physically interact with the world and people, focusing on compliance, dexterity, and mobility found in animals. Currently, he works on Physical AI to facilitate complex locomanipulation behaviors, exemplified by Digit, the first commercially deployed humanoid robot in logistics. This effort aims to enhance productivity and improve quality of life by integrating robots into everyday environments.
Robotics has evolved from a promising technology into a critical business tool across manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, agriculture, defense, and beyond. As RoboBusiness marks its 20th anniversary, industry leaders reflect on the breakthroughs that defined the past two decades and explore the technologies, markets, opportunities, and challenges that will shape the next twenty years.
