Locus Robotics Named Finalist for MHI Best New Innovation Award at MODEX 2026 for Locus Array — Physical AI That Brings Robots Directly to Goods
AI / Machine Learning | 4 min read
Locus Robotics (Wilmington, Massachusetts), the leader in Flexibility-First Warehouse Automation, has announced that Locus Array was named one of three finalists for the MHI Best New Innovation Award at MODEX 2026 — one of the industry's largest material handling and supply chain events, held in Atlanta, Georgia. Selected from more than 200 submissions and evaluated by an independent panel of eight industry judges, Locus Array was recognised as one of the most innovative products across all categories. The other two finalists in the Best New Innovation category were AutoStore (AutoCase) and Dexory (DexoryView Storage Health Feature). Award winners were announced by MHI CEO John Paxton during MHI Industry Night on 15 April 2026. Locus Array is already deployed in live warehouse environments with early access customers in North America, with scaling underway across Europe and APAC.
"We are honoured to be recognised by MHI as a finalist among such a strong field of innovation. Ten years ago, we bet that intelligence, throughput, and flexibility would define the future of warehouse automation, and everything we have built since then has been in service of that vision. Recognition like this reinforces the direction we — and the industry — are heading."
— Rick Faulk, Chief Executive Officer, Locus Robotics
Locus Array — Physical AI and the Robots-to-Goods Model
Locus Array is a fully autonomous warehouse robot purpose-built for end-to-end fulfilment workflows within the aisle — combining AI-powered vision, real-time decision-making, and robotic manipulation to perceive its environment and autonomously execute tasks including picking, putaway, induction, drop-off, and slotting without manual intervention. The system reduces reliance on manual labour by up to 90%, maintains consistent throughput under changing conditions, and enables operations to scale and adapt without redesigning infrastructure. Locus Array introduces a fundamentally new approach to warehouse automation: Robots-to-Goods (R2G) — in which autonomous robots go directly to inventory in the aisle, rather than moving goods through fixed infrastructure. This gives operators a more flexible path to fulfilment automation that adapts to constantly changing order profiles, SKU mixes, labour conditions, and demand patterns. Powered by the LocusONE platform, Locus Array operates as part of a unified fleet alongside Locus Origin and Locus Vector — with LocusONE dynamically assigning work based on real-time demand, coordinating robots, workflows, and inventory movement as a single system. The first enterprise-scale deployment was with DHL Supply Chain, whose Global CIO Sally Miller described Locus Array as "moving us beyond traditional assisted picking into a new era of high-density, autonomous fulfilment."
Locus Robotics — Platform, Ecosystem, and the RaaS Model
Locus Robotics is trusted by more than 150 retail, healthcare, 3PL, and industrial brands across 350+ sites worldwide. The company delivers warehouse automation through an industry-first Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) model — enabling performance to evolve as operational needs change without fixed infrastructure or disruptive facility redesigns. The LocusONE platform orchestrates fulfilment workflows across picking, replenishment, sorting, and pack-out through a unified system of robotics, orchestration, and applied AI — providing predictive visibility, adaptive decision-making, and elastic execution. To accelerate real-world deployment of Locus Array at scale, Locus Robotics has also launched its Locus Robotics Array System Integrator (SI) Programme, naming Hy-Tek Intralogistics, VARGO®, and Zion Solutions Group as its three Foundational Partners — selected for their deep experience in warehouse automation, focus on customer success, and proven ability to scale innovation in the market.
Key Takeaways
- • Locus Robotics (Wilmington, Massachusetts; CEO Rick Faulk; leader in Flexibility-First Warehouse Automation) has been named one of three finalists for the MHI Best New Innovation Award at MODEX 2026 (Atlanta, Georgia) for Locus Array. Selected from 200+ submissions by eight independent industry judges. Other finalists: AutoStore (AutoCase) and Dexory (DexoryView Storage Health Feature). Award announced by MHI CEO John Paxton at MHI Industry Night, 15 April 2026.
- • Locus Array — what it is: fully autonomous warehouse robot for end-to-end fulfilment workflows within the aisle. Combines AI-powered vision, real-time decision-making, and robotic manipulation. Autonomously executes picking, putaway, induction, drop-off, and slotting without manual intervention. Reduces manual labour reliance by up to 90%. Already deployed in live warehouse environments with early access customers in North America; scaling underway in Europe and APAC. First enterprise deployment: DHL Supply Chain (Global CIO Sally Miller).
- • Robots-to-Goods (R2G) — the new model: autonomous robots go directly to inventory in the aisle rather than moving goods through fixed infrastructure. Dynamically assigned to tasks in real time — minimising travel, maintaining continuous SKU availability, enabling higher storage density within existing layouts. Adapts to constantly changing order profiles, SKU mixes, labour conditions, and demand patterns without infrastructure redesign. Represents a shift from assisted picking to fully autonomous, aisle-embedded execution.
- • LocusONE platform and fleet: Locus Array operates within a unified fleet alongside Locus Origin and Locus Vector — all orchestrated by LocusONE, which dynamically assigns work based on real-time demand, coordinating robots, workflows, and inventory movement as a single system. LocusONE provides predictive visibility, adaptive decision-making, and elastic execution across picking, replenishment, sorting, and pack-out. 150+ retail/healthcare/3PL/industrial brands; 350+ sites worldwide; Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) model.
- • Array SI Programme: Locus Robotics has launched the Locus Robotics Array System Integrator Programme, naming Hy-Tek Intralogistics, VARGO®, and Zion Solutions Group as Foundational Partners — selected for warehouse automation depth, customer success focus, and proven ability to scale innovation. The SI programme is designed to accelerate real-world deployment of Locus Array at scale, with all three partners already active participants in first Locus Array deployments. MODEX 2026 features four innovation categories: Best New Innovation, Best IT Innovation, Best Robotics Innovation, and Best Sustainability Innovation.