Locus acquires Nexera to expand autonomous warehouse picking

Locus Robotics acquired Nexera Robotics on May 19, adding the Vancouver company’s NeuraGrasp end-effector technology to the Locus Array roadmap. Nexera will become wholly owned by Locus, with its team and leadership joining the company to support integration.

Locus Array is the warehouse automation system Locus announced for autonomous picking. Nexera’s contribution is narrower and more specific. NeuraGrasp is designed to expand the range of items a robotic picking system can handle by combining grasping intelligence, onboard sensory inputs, computer vision and a soft membrane structure that adapts to item shape, surface texture, material, porosity and weight.

The acquisition is aimed at SKU coverage. Locus said NeuraGrasp should help Locus Array handle porous textiles, loosely bagged items, perforated polybags, irregular packages, delicate goods and thin packaging features. Those are the kinds of items that make autonomous picking harder than moving bins, cases or totes through a fulfillment site.

Financial terms were not disclosed. Locus said integration of NeuraGrasp into Locus Array will begin after the acquisition, with availability expected in the coming months. That keeps the event at acquisition and roadmap stage rather than a live customer deployment.

Other Recent robotics acquisition context

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