Locus Robotics Begins First Deployment of New ‘Locus Array’ Autonomous Picking System at DHL Facility
Locus Robotics has begun deploying its newest warehouse automation system, Locus Array, with the first units arriving at a DHL Supply Chain facility in Columbus, Ohio. The deployment marks a major step in the company’s effort to expand beyond its existing person-to-goods (P2G) robot fleet and introduce a new automation category known as robots-to-goods (R2G), in which robots autonomously pick, move, and replenish inventory.
DHL has been one of Locus Robotics’ earliest and largest strategic partners, with thousands of Locus Origin 2 robots already operating across DHL facilities worldwide. Sally Miller, Global Chief Information Officer at DHL Supply Chain, said the company’s approach is not just to test emerging technologies but to scale those that create value. “We’re proud to be the first to deploy Locus Array. This marks the next chapter in autonomous picking and replenishment,” she said.
Locus Array is designed to reduce manual labor in warehouses by automating tasks that traditionally require multiple human touches. The system integrates what Locus describes as “Agentic AI” for planning and workflow optimization with “Physical AI” that enables robots to perceive and interact with their environments. Together, the system is intended to provide predictable throughput, continuous operation across all shifts, and the ability to scale across facilities of varying size and layout.
The company positions Locus Array as an alternative to large, fixed infrastructure systems such as automated storage and retrieval systems and traditional goods-to-person installations, which require significant upfront investment and can be inflexible when product mixes or volumes change. By contrast, Locus says Array can be deployed in both existing and new warehouses with limited reconfiguration.
Underlying the system is LocusONE, the company’s orchestration software that coordinates both the new Array robots and existing fleets of Locus Origin and Locus Vector robots. Locus says this integrated platform allows operations to cover the full SKU profile while continuing to adapt to changing demand.
The rollout at DHL follows several years of development and signals Locus Robotics’ intention to expand R2G deployments globally. The company expects additional sites to come online following certification processes in Europe and Asia-Pacific. Locus plans to showcase the system publicly at LogiMAT 2026 in Stuttgart and MODEX 2026 in Atlanta.
Locus leadership described the milestone as the result of a decade of development and close collaboration between engineers, customers, and warehouse operators. The company says the new system is designed not just to automate work, but to establish a path toward continuously learning, self-optimizing warehouse operations.
The introduction of Locus Array reflects a broader trend in logistics automation toward flexible robotic systems that layer into existing warehouse workflows—particularly as labor shortages, throughput pressures, and same-day fulfillment expectations reshape distribution networks worldwide.
