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Draft:Locus Robotics

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  • Comment: 1. Please read WP:SOLUTIONS and remove marketing fluff terms. 2. Please read WP:NPOV and rewrite article in neutral & encyclopedic for tone & content. CopyleftEverything (talk) 01:24, 19 July 2026 (UTC)


Locus Robotics
TypePrivate
IndustryWarehouse automation
Founded2014
FoundersMichael Johnson, Sean Johnson, Al Dekin, Bruce Welty
Key people
Rick Faulk (CEO)
ProductsLocus Origin, Locus Vector, Locus Array
Websitelocusrobotics.com

‘’’Locus Robotics’’’ is an American warehouse automation company headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts. The company develops autonomous mobile robots and software used in fulfillment and distribution centers.[1]

As of 2026, sources reported that Locus Robotics systems were deployed in warehouses in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.[2]

The company originated from an internal robotics initiative at Quiet Logistics and emerged during a period of change in the warehouse automation industry following Amazon's acquisition of Kiva Systems in 2012.[3][4]

Founding

[edit]

Locus Robotics was founded in 2014 by Michael Johnson, Bruce Welty, Sean Johnson, and Al Dekin, spinning off from Quiet Logistics, a third-party logistics company they co-founded. Harvard Business School reported that Quiet Logistics used Kiva Systems robots for e-commerce fulfillment before Amazon acquired Kiva Systems in 2012.[4][3] [5]

Following Amazon's acquisition of Kiva Systems in 2012, the technology was no longer made available to external warehouse operators. Johnson, Welty, and Dekin later developed a separate robotics system that became Locus Robotics. A Harvard Business School case study later examined the company's formation and the broader impact of Amazon's acquisition of Kiva Systems on the warehouse automation industry.[4] [6][3]

Growth and Expansion

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In 2016, Locus Robotics appointed technology executive Rick Faulk as chief executive officer, and raised $8 million in Series A funding to support product development and commercialization efforts.[7][6]

In 2017, the company raised $25 million in a funding round led by Scale Venture Partners and signed DHL Supply Chain as a customer following a pilot deployment. In 2019, the company raised $26 million in a Series C funding round.[8][9][10]

In 2020, the company announced its plans for European expansion [2] and raised $40 million in a Series D funding round.[11]

In 2021, Locus Robotics opened its European headquarters in Amsterdam,[2], and acquired Waypoint Robotics, a manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots for industrial material handling applications,[12] In 2021, the company also raised $150 million in a Series E funding round at a reported valuation of approximately $1 billion.[13]

In 2022, Locus Robotics introduced Locus Vector, an autonomous mobile robot designed for transport workflows within warehouse environments.[14] That same year the company raised $117 million in a Series F funding round led by Goldman Sachs Asset Management and G2 Venture Partners.[12]

In 2023, DHL Supply Chain announced an expansion of its partnership with Locus Robotics that included plans to deploy more than 5,000 robots across its global operations.[15]

In April 2026, the company introduced Locus Array, a warehouse automation system in which autonomous robots travel to inventory locations.[16] The following month, Locus Robotics acquired Vancouver-based Nexera Robotics, a robotics company with patented grasping and end-effector technologies.[17]

Technology and Business Model

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Locus Robotics develops autonomous mobile robots and related software for warehouse fulfillment and distribution operations.[1][6][18] [19] Its systems have been used for order picking, replenishment, putaway, and material transport.[15][20][21] The company’s products have included Locus Origin, Locus Vector, and Locus Array. Locus Origin and Locus Vector are autonomous mobile robots used in warehouse workflows, while Locus Array is a warehouse automation system that incorporates robotic grasping technology.[16] Locus Robotics has offered its systems through a Robots-as-a-Service subscription model, under which customers deploy robots and software without purchasing the equipment outright.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b Smith, Jennifer (August 3, 2017). "A Robot Can Be a Warehouse Worker's Best Friend". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c Francis, Sam (June 3, 2026). "Locus Robotics expands European headquarters with new automation demo and customer hub". Robotics & Automation News. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  3. ^ a b c Clark, Patrick; Bhasin, Kim (April 5, 2017). "Amazon's Robot War Is Spreading". Bloomberg. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  4. ^ a b c "Locus Robotics". Harvard Business School. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  5. ^ Steve Kroft (January 11, 2013). Will robots steal your job?. CBS News. Retrieved July 9, 2026 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ a b c Ackerman, Evan (August 10, 2016). "How Locus Robotics Plans to Build a Successor to Amazon's Kiva Robots". IEEE Spectrum. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  7. ^ Tobe, Frank (May 31, 2016). "May fundings, acquisitions and IPOs". The Robot Report. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  8. ^ Smith, Jennifer (November 20, 2017). "Locus Robotics Raises $25 Million in Round Led by Scale Venture Partners". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  9. ^ Heater, Brian (June 5, 2019). "Locus Robotics raises $26M Series C for warehouse robots". TechCrunch. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  10. ^ a b O'Shea, Dan (November 21, 2017). "Locus Robotics grabs $25M, signs on DHL". Retail Dive. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  11. ^ DC Velocity Staff (June 2, 2020). "Locus Robotics unveils $40 million venture investment for its AMRs". DC Velocity. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  12. ^ a b Heater, Brian (November 29, 2022). "Locus raises another $117M for its warehouse robots". TechCrunch. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  13. ^ Heater, Brian (February 17, 2021). "Locus Robotics has raised a $150M Series E". TechCrunch. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  14. ^ Wessling, Brianna (March 28, 2022). "Waypoint's robots officially join Locus with rebrand". The Robot Report. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  15. ^ a b Carranza, Alejandra (May 11, 2023). "DHL Supply Chain, Locus Robotics plan to deploy 5K robots worldwide in deal expansion". Supply Chain Dive. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  16. ^ a b Demaitre, Eugene (13 April 2026). "Locus Robotics launches Locus Array for fully autonomous fulfillment". The Robot Report. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  17. ^ "Locus Robotics acquires Nexera Robotics". DC Velocity. May 19, 2026. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  18. ^ Alba, Davey (November 30, 2015). "On Cyber Monday, Friendly Robots Are Helping Smaller Stores Chase Amazon". Wired. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  19. ^ Heater, Brian (March 12, 2024). "Locus Robotics' success is a tale of focusing on what works". TechCrunch. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  20. ^ Crowe, Steve (25 August 2022). "3PL GEODIS deploying 1,000 more Locus Robotics AMRs". The Robot Report. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  21. ^ Lavine, Robert (2 December 2022). "The Big Deal: Locus rides warehouse robotics wave". Global Venturing. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
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