6+ day, 22+ hour ago   (195+ words) A single regulatory update quietly closed the door on the next generation of foreign-made home robots. The FCC publicly emphasized humanoid and quadruped robots. The functional definition — mobile, foreign-made, over 4.4 pounds, 200 kbps-plus network connection, environmental sensors, AI/ML navigation software…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago   (850+ words) The federal government has discovered another menace to the republic: the vacuum cleaner. In July, the Federal Communications Commission added foreign-produced "advanced robotic devices" to its Covered List, generally preventing new models from receiving the authorization needed to be imported,…...

3+ week, 2+ day ago   (274+ words) Aug 21, 2026 — 12:45 PM ET Simply put, if a pool-cleaning robot works strictly underwater, it isn’t covered by the ban. If it works underwater and at the surface, then the ban kicks in. “Dual-use robots are not excluded. The specific exclusion of…...

3+ week, 5+ day ago   (400+ words) While most of the headlines focused on the kind of human-mimicking humanoid robots that are becoming more common, it was soon noted that the ban even covers your vacuum. These handy household appliances are good for keeping your floors sparkling…...

3+ week, 5+ day ago   (1164+ words) The FCC's ban on advanced robotic devices includes vacuums from most of our favorite brands. Here’s how it will affect you in the short and long term. The FCC banned foreign-made drones and Wi-Fi routers earlier this year, and recently…...

4+ week, 1+ day ago   (1149+ words) First drones, now vacuums: The FCC's Covered List keeps expanding. We explain the fine print, weight limits, and sensor rules behind the robot vacuum ban and how it will affect you. After banning foreign-made drones and Wi-Fi routers earlier this…...