Experts react to FCC limits on U.S. imports of new humanoid and mobile robots

A Unitree humanoid robot at the China Humanoid Robot Conference in Seoul. Credit: Eugene Demaitre

As competition in next-generation robotics and AI intensifies, the U.S. government is restricting imports of certain robots and connected power inverters produced in foreign countries. The Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, yesterday said a White House-convened executive branch interagency body has determined that such products “pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States.”

The FCC said it has determined that foreign-made “advanced robotic devices,” including mobile robots such as humanoids and quadrupeds , could create supply chain vulnerabilities and pose a cybersecurity risk to American critical infrastructure.

At the same time, the commission provided an exemption for advanced robots and power inverters that receive conditional approval from the U.S. Department of War or Department of Homeland Security. The ruling does not affect sales, marketing, or use of devices already acquired or models that have already received FCC equipment authorization.

In addition, the ban on new devices does not apply to federal purchases. Software updates for foreign-supplied systems can get approval with a waiver .

The FCC cited similar actions it has already taken regarding uncrewed aircraft systems ( UAS ) and critical components for drones, where the U.S. has been rebuilding production capability after losing most of it to China about a decade ago.

“This is one of the strongest technology-security actions in modern U.S. history,” wrote Evan Beard , CEO of Standard Bots , on LinkedIn. “The message is unambiguous: Robotics is a technology America must lead and own — and foreign-subsidized robots will not be allowed to unfairly dominate U.S. robotics as they did solar .”

“As America’s largest AI-native industrial robot manufacturer by units shipped, Standard Bots strongly supports this move,” he stated. “We have advocated for exactly this kind of action in recent sessions with the White House and in Congressional testimony.”

Glen Cove, N.Y.-based Standard Bots last month raised $200 million in Series C funding to expand U.S. manufacturing. Salem, Ore.-based humanoid robot developer Agility also testified before Congress about the need for a unified U.S. robotics policy .

The prohibition on inverters would affect only mobile robot joints with wireless access, focusing on grid cybersecurity and not industrial robots, Beard told The Robot Report .