The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced that (as of July 27) all new foreign mobile robot approvals have been banned.
The purpose behind this ruling is to force US-based manufacturers to use domestic autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and automated guided vehicles (AGVs).
FCC also cited security concerns that via foreign made technology could potentially be compromised by nations seeking to utilise US data as clarified by the agency and the US Department of War.
The FCC’s determination defines an advanced robotic device using four tests:
- The device has to be mobile and ground-based
- It has to operate away from a human operator, responding to commands or sensor data
- It has to weigh more than 4.4 lbs, including any dock or ground station
- It must combine an environmental sensor, network connectivity of at least 200 kbps, and control software that handles navigation, perception, data collection, or remote command
To this end, FCC names quadrupeds, humanoids, and wheeled or tracked ground vehicles as examples.
The agency also exempted fixed, stationary industrial robot arms, including articulating, parallel/delta, Cartesian/gantry, and SCARA robots built for industrial or medical use.
This is in addition to exemptions to connected vehicles, rail vehicles, drones (covered under a separate December 2025 action), unmanned underwater vehicles, and FDA-regulated medical and mobility devices.
FCC made it clear that devices already in operation but not on the exemption list are themselves exempt; the new ruling applies to new devices only.
The agency has established a Conditional Approval mechanism that may allow affected manufacturers to obtain the authorisations necessary to continue accessing the US market.
Applicants are expected to provide extensive information regarding corporate ownership, investors, supply chains, manufacturing arrangements, software and firmware architecture, cybersecurity controls, and other business-related information.