FCC adds foreign-made advanced robots, including robot vacuums, to restricted list
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has placed all mobile robots manufactured abroad on its Covered List, barring their import and sale, while allowing existing devices to remain in use.
The Federal Communications Commission announced on Tuesday that it has added "advanced robotic devices" produced outside the United States to its Covered List, a roster of communications equipment deemed to pose an "unacceptable risk" to national security. Items on the list are prohibited from receiving FCC equipment authorization, which is required for most electronic products sold or imported in the country.
The definition adopted by the FCC covers mechanical mobile devices that can navigate autonomously, weigh more than 4.4 lb, contain environmental sensors, provide network connectivity of at least 200 kbps, and run software that controls movement or data collection. The agency said the rule applies to a range of products, from humanoid and quadruped robots to consumer robot vacuums made by companies such as Roborock, Ecovacs, Dreame and Samsung.
"The networked capabilities of advanced robotic systems create extensive vulnerabilities and vectors for attacks that can manipulate the data and physical operation of the advanced robotic system," the National Security Determination states.
The FCC clarified that the ban does not affect devices already owned by U.S. consumers, nor does it revoke authorization for models already approved. However, any new robot vacuum that has not yet received FCC authorization is now barred from entering the U.S. market, limiting consumers to older models.
The agency noted that exemptions may be granted by the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security after a national-security assessment, though no exemptions have been listed to date.