Summer 2026
PhD Research Intern
AI & Computer Vision
Posted on 4/8/2026
Locus Robotics
201-500 employees
Autonomous mobile robots for warehouse automation
No salary listed
Remote in UK
Remote
PhD
 AI & Machine Learning (1) |
|---|
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- Currently enrolled in a PhD program in Computer Vision, Robotics, Machine Learning, or a closely related field.
- Strong foundation in AI, deep learning, and computer vision.
- Hands-on experience with PyTorch (preferred) or TensorFlow.
- Proficiency in Python; working knowledge of C++ is a plus.
- Experience with robot perception systems (e.g., RGB-D cameras, stereo vision, LiDAR).
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent English communication skills and ability to collaborate in a distributed, multidisciplinary team.
- Experience working with large-scale datasets or real-world robotics deployments.
- Prior publications in top-tier robotics, CV, or ML venues.
- Familiarity with SLAM, visual odometry, or 3D reconstruction pipelines.
- Develop advanced computer vision algorithms for object recognition, scene understanding, visual SLAM, and 3D perception in real-world robotic environments.
- Enhance robotic perception systems supporting navigation, localization, manipulation, and task execution using multimodal sensor data (RGB, depth, LiDAR).
- Research and prototype modern AI architectures, including: State of the Art Visual SLAM and Structure from Motion; Large Language Models for robotics; Generative AI and diffusion models; Neural rendering, radiance fields, and Gaussian splatting; Graph neural networks and self-supervised learning.
- Deploy and evaluate research at scale, transitioning ideas from prototype to production-ready systems.
- Collaborate closely with researchers and engineers across computer vision, robotics, machine learning, and software engineering.
- Document and communicate findings through technical reports, internal presentations, and (where appropriate) academic publications.
- Anomaly Detection
- Generative AI & Diffusion Models
- Neural Rendering, Radiance Fields, Gaussian Splatting
- Robot Localization & Cross-View Geo-Localization
- Visual SLAM, Visual Odometry, Structure from Motion
- Monocular Depth Estimation & Semantic Segmentation
- Birds-Eye View (BEV) Representations
- Self-Supervised & Representation Learning
- Reinforcement Learning for Robotics
- Language Models for Embodied AI
Locus Robotics provides warehouse automation using Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) to improve efficiency and lower labor costs. Their system works by deploying AMRs that handle tasks such as picking, putaway, transport, and mezzanine management, all coordinated through the LocusOne data science–driven platform. The robots operate on a Robots as a Service (RaaS) model, meaning customers pay a subscription for both the robots and the software, enabling rapid deployment and scalable growth without large up-front investments. What sets Locus Robotics apart is its combination of an enterprise-wide AMR deployment platform, strong data analytics and visibility tools, and a focus on security and data privacy, allowing businesses to monitor performance and continuously optimize workflows. The company’s goal is to help enterprises in logistics and e-commerce fulfill orders faster and more reliably while reducing operating costs through scalable, data-backed automation.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
Series F
Total Funding
$416M
Headquarters
Wilmington, Massachusetts
Founded
2014
Get referred to Locus Robotics
See people who can refer or advise you
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- HelloFresh expanded chilled SKU capacity 5x on June 23, 2026.
- Locus Array launched at MODEX 2026 and is already live with DHL.
- Locus opened a European headquarters expansion in Aalsmeer on June 3, 2026.
What critics are saying
- RaaS margins stay fragile if robot utilization drops or deployments stall in 2026.
- The 2023 Hargrave product-liability case keeps legal and insurance exposure alive into 2026.
- DHL and HelloFresh concentration creates existential risk if one anchor customer switches vendors.
What makes Locus Robotics unique
- LocusONE orchestration ties robots, software, and customer workflows into one RaaS platform.
- Locus Array adds mobile manipulation, and Nexera’s NeuraGrasp expands pickable SKU variety.
- Cold-storage engineering for HelloFresh shows Locus customizes robots for harsh, specialized environments.
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Benefits
Hybrid Work Options
Remote Work Options
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↓ -1%1 year growth
↓ -2%2 year growth
↓ -2%Locus Robotics wins 2026 AI Breakthrough award for Cognitive Robotics Innovation. 26 June 2026 Locus Robotics, the leader in Flexibility-First Warehouse Automation, today announced it has been named the winner of the 2026 Cognitive Robotics Innovation Award in the ninth annual AI Breakthrough Awards program. Locus Array was recognized for its combination of AI-based perception, mobile robotics, robotic manipulation, and autonomous execution to perform end-to-end fulfillment workflows directly within the warehouse aisle. Selected from more than 5,000 nominations across 20+ countries, Locus Robotics was named alongside leading AI and technology companies including NVIDIA, Snowflake, Dell Technologies, AMD, Qualcomm, and others. "The frontier of AI is moving beyond digital assistants into systems that perceive, reason, and act in the physical world," said Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics. "That shift from informing decisions to executing work autonomously is exactly what Locus Array brings into live warehouse operations. This recognition underscores the growing role of Physical AI in helping fulfillment operations adapt, execute, and scale in real time." Unlike traditional automation built for predictability, Locus Array is designed for environments defined by constant change. By operating within the aisle as an intelligent, autonomous system, it expands what is possible in warehouse automation. As part of this architecture, it introduces a Robots-to-Goods capability - extending automation directly to inventory - within a broader, adaptive fulfillment platform. "Locus Array represents a major advancement in applying AI to real-world operations," said Steve Johansson, Managing Director, AI Breakthrough. "Modern warehouses require systems that can continuously adapt to changing conditions. Locus Array delivers exactly that - giving operators not just efficiency, but confidence in execution within highly dynamic environments." This recognition builds on a strong wave of industry validation for Locus Array. Earlier this year, the system received the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Award from the Business Intelligence Group, was named a 2026 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award winner, and was selected as a top 3 finalist for MHI's Best New Innovation Award at MODEX 2026. About AI Breakthrough Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the AI Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in Artificial Intelligence technologies, services, companies and products. The AI Breakthrough Awards provide public recognition for the achievements of AI companies and products in categories including Agentic AI, Machine Learning, Generative AI, Robotics, AI Hardware, Computer Vision and more. For more information visit AIBreakthroughAwards.com. Tech Breakthrough LLC does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its recognition programs, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with award designations. Tech Breakthrough LLC recognition consists of the opinions of the Tech Breakthrough LLC organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Tech Breakthrough LLC disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this recognition program, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. About Locus Robotics Locus Robotics is the leader in Flexibility-First Warehouse Automation, delivering Operational Confidence to warehouse operators navigating an environment defined by constant uncertainty. Regarded as the largest privately held commercial robotics company in the United States by revenue, Locus Robotics enables organizations to plan, execute, and adapt across volume volatility, labor variability, and evolving order profiles. Powered by the LocusONE platform, Locus Robotics orchestrates fulfillment workflows across picking, replenishment, putaway, transport, sorting, and pack-out through a unified system of robotics, orchestration, and applied AI. The platform provides predictive visibility, adaptive decision-making, and elastic execution, giving operations leaders clear insight into capacity, throughput, and risk without fixed infrastructure or disruptive facility redesigns. Trusted by more than 150 retail, healthcare, 3PL, and industrial brands across 350+ sites worldwide, Locus Robotics supports operations at every stage of the automation journey. Delivered through an industry-first Robots-as-a-Service model, Locus Robotics enables performance to evolve as operational needs change. Contacts Media Daysi Robles Lopez PAN for Locus Robotics [email protected]
Locus Robotics has helped HelloFresh expand its temperature-controlled fulfilment capacity fivefold, from 100 SKUs to 500 SKUs, through a cold-storage hardware modification. The deployment enables greater meal variety across HelloFresh's brand portfolio. Factor, a HelloFresh brand, initially deployed 13 Locus Origin robots in July 2025, with the robots averaging just 3 minutes and 36 seconds per mission from order induction to drop-off. Following strong early performance, HelloFresh added 26 additional robots within three months, with plans to support EveryPlate fulfilment later this year. Locus developed a heated motor enhancement and charging modifications to ensure reliable operation in cold storage environments, where battery efficiency can decline. The system now supports approximately 12,000 square feet of HelloFresh's chilled fulfilment space, including two high-speed meal kit picking lines.
The "grasp" for margin: robotics breakthroughs and postal hikes define the new logistics standard. The global 3PL and merchant landscape is being redefined by the acquisition of Nexera Robotics by Locus Robotics and a series of transformative rate hikes from the USPS. As robots gain the ability to handle complex, high-variability inventory through NeuraGrasp technology, the USPS is countering rising costs with an 11.8% average price increase for lightweight commercial shipments. Together with surging ocean freight rates caused by maritime disruptions, these moves signal a new era of logistics where precision automation and data-driven shipping strategies are non-negotiable. Jacob pigon. 21 May 2026 6:36 AM The Grasping Breakthrough: Locus Robotics' acquisition of Nexera introduces NeuraGrasp technology, allowing warehouse robots to handle millions of SKU types with human-level precision and speed. Postage Realignment: The USPS is ending ounce-based discounts for parcels under one pound, creating an 11.8% rate shock for lightweight e-commerce merchants starting in July. Persistent Maritime Costs: Continued closures in the Strait of Hormuz are keeping trans-Pacific ocean rates elevated by $1,000 per container, necessitating a shift toward hyper-efficient local fulfillment. The second quarter of 2026 is delivering a double-edged transformation for the global 3PL sector: the arrival of "human-like" robotic picking and a sharp structural increase in the cost of moving the lightweight parcels that fuel e-commerce. As the divide between automated leaders and manual laggards widens, the price of shipping "convenience" is officially being recalculated. Physical AI meets the July rate shock. The logistics landscape is currently being reshaped by a move toward total automation on the warehouse floor and a more aggressive cost-recovery stance from national postal authorities. 1. The Grasping revolution: Locus Robotics acquires Nexera. In a move that signals the end of the "picking bottleneck," Locus Robotics has officially acquired Vancouver-based Nexera Robotics. By integrating Nexera's NeuraGrasp technology, Locus is bringing "Physical AI" to its fleet, enabling robots to autonomously grasp millions of SKU types - ranging from soft apparel to porous household goods - without the need for fixed infrastructure. For 3PLs, this means the ability to automate the most labor-intensive part of the warehouse: high-variability piece picking. 2. The USPS lightweight squeeze. While robotics may lower labor costs, the U.S. Postal Service is raising the floor on transportation expenses. The agency recently filed to eliminate ounce-based pricing for sub-pound parcels within its Ground Advantage Commercial service. Effective July 12, 2026, all parcels under 16 ounces will be billed at the same rate, leading to a staggering 11.8% average price hike for lightweight shippers. When combined with new hazardous material fees and stricter dimensional divisors, the USPS is effectively ending the "cheap shipping" era for small-scale merchants. 3. Maritime volatility and the trans-pacific surge. The pressure is being felt upstream as well. With the Strait of Hormuz closure persisting into mid-May, ocean freight rates are decoupling from historical seasonal norms. Freightos reports that benchmark trans-Pacific rates have jumped by approximately $1,000 per FEU since February. This maritime strain is forcing merchants to move inventory closer to the end consumer, making the efficiency of autonomous mobile manipulation a survival mechanism rather than a luxury. Summary. 3PL industry is caught in a "Tech-for-Cost" trade-off. While Locus Robotics is providing the tools to automate complex human picking tasks through its acquisition of Nexera, the USPS is restructuring rates to capture more revenue from the booming e-commerce sector. Merchants must now navigate a double-digit surge in lightweight shipping costs while leveraging Physical AI and autonomous freight networks to protect their bottom lines against a volatile maritime market. Bottom-Line. In mid-2026, "Business as Usual" is a path to insolvency. With USPS rates climbing and robotic picking technology reaching maturity, the only path to profitability is through aggressive automation and a carrier mix that can bypass the coming July price hikes.
Locus Robotics, the leader in Flexibility-First Warehouse Automation, today announced the acquisition of Nexera Robotics, a Vancouver-based robotics company ...
Locus Robotics has acquired Nexera Robotics, gaining access to its NeuraGrasp technology. The patented gripper system combines AI-driven grasping intelligence, computer vision and a soft membrane structure to handle varied warehouse items dynamically. NeuraGrasp adapts to differences in shape, texture, material, porosity and weight, enabling a single gripper to manage high-variability inventory. Developed over five years across six generations, the technology has been validated through thousands of operational hours and tens of millions of picks, including extensive SKU testing with commercial partners. The acquisition advances Locus Robotics' mobile manipulation capabilities for warehouse automation.