# Inside Locus Robotics’ acquisition of Waypoint Robotics

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2021-09-20
- Length: 1h 02m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-09-20-inside-locus-robotics-acquisition-of-waypoint-robotics
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/inside-locus-robotics-acquisition-of-waypoint-robotics

## Summary

Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics, and Jason Walker, CEO of Waypoint Robotics, discuss the acquisition of Waypoint by Locus to expand Locus's payload capacity into heavy-duty AMRs like the Maverick 3K and Vector. The founders explain that the deal was driven by customer demand for moving bulkier e-commerce goods and the strategic need to enter the manufacturing floor market. They also detail the challenges of integrating a Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) model with a CapEx-based company and the broader 'land grab' in the AMR industry.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-09-20-inside-locus-robotics-acquisition-of-waypoint-robotics#t=8) Introduction and Deal Overview
- [4:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-09-20-inside-locus-robotics-acquisition-of-waypoint-robotics#t=263) Strategic Rationale: Payload and Market Expansion
- [12:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-09-20-inside-locus-robotics-acquisition-of-waypoint-robotics#t=735) Integration Strategy and M&A Lessons
- [15:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-09-20-inside-locus-robotics-acquisition-of-waypoint-robotics#t=930) RaaS vs. CapEx Business Models
- [19:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-09-20-inside-locus-robotics-acquisition-of-waypoint-robotics#t=1183) Industry Consolidation and Land Grab
- [34:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-09-20-inside-locus-robotics-acquisition-of-waypoint-robotics#t=2040) Locus History and Kiva Lessons
- [44:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-09-20-inside-locus-robotics-acquisition-of-waypoint-robotics#t=2644) Interoperability and ROS
- [49:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-09-20-inside-locus-robotics-acquisition-of-waypoint-robotics#t=2960) Acquisition Decision and Conclusion

## Topics

- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Locus Robotics (company)
- Waypoint Robotics (company)
- Maverick 3K (product)
- Vector (product)
- Kiva Systems (company)
- Quiet Logistics (company)
- Amazon (company)
- Fetch Robotics (company)
- Mobile Robots (company)
- Next Shift Robotics (company)
- Asti Mobile Robotics (company)
- ABB (company)
- Zebra Technologies (company)
- Teradine (company)
- ROS (tool)
- Mass Robotics (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [BONUS: Leaders in Robotics, AMRs, and Logistics, Pt. 2 of 2 (brought to you by A3)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-11-26-bonus-leaders-in-robotics-amrs-and-logistics-pt-2-of-2-brought-to-you-by-a3) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Sustainability in the Robotics-as-a-Service Industry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-10-26-sustainability-in-the-robotics-as-a-service-industry) (Over the Air)
- [Independent Investment Banking in Robotics, Automation, and AI with Cascadia Capital’s Firdaus Pohowalla](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-02-08-independent-investment-banking-in-robotics-automation-and-ai-with-cascadia-capit) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Ep 4- The Hardware Story of Ati Motors | Autonomous Robots for Material movement in Factories](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-story/2025-06-02-ep-4-the-hardware-story-of-ati-motors-autonomous-robots-for-material-movement-in) (The Hardware Story)
- [BONUS: Leaders in Machine Vision and Robotics: Live from Boston, Pt. 2 of 2 (brought to you by A3)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-12-23-bonus-leaders-in-machine-vision-and-robotics-live-from-boston-pt-2-of-2-brought) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-09-20-inside-locus-robotics-acquisition-of-waypoint-robotics. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Robot Report Podcast.