FCC bans Chinese robots and power inverters to secure US AI infrastructure

The Federal Communications Commission has issued a sweeping ban on new Chinese-manufactured robots and power inverters, framed as essential to protecting US critical infrastructure during a period of rapid AI expansion. The ban, issued through a National Security Determination, targets two categories: ground-based robots weighing more than 2 kg with wireless connectivity, and internet-connected power inverters used to integrate renewable energy and batteries into the power grid.

The government's justification rests on two pillars: supply chain vulnerability and cybersecurity risk. The National Security Determination document argues that global manufacturing of advanced robots and their critical components—actuators, grippers, batteries, and sensors—is increasingly concentrated in a handful of countries that have repeatedly disrupted US supply chains during geopolitical tensions. On cybersecurity, the document describes robots as inherently networked systems with large attack surfaces, capable of collecting high-resolution sensor data (LiDAR, electro-optical, acoustic, and thermal) that foreign intelligence services could exploit for surveillance or remote commandeering. The government cites concrete incidents: in early 2026, a vulnerability in foreign robots allowed remote access to thousands of devices worldwide, exposing live camera feeds, microphone audio, and detailed floor plans; in April 2025, security researchers discovered a pre-installed backdoor in Chinese robot dogs granting full access to cameras and controls; and another flaw in certain humanoid robots could have enabled a self-spreading "humanoid botnet." The document also notes that some foreign jurisdictions prohibit companies from disclosing security flaws to customers, raising the risk that foreign governments could exploit those flaws undetected.

The breadth of the ban extends far beyond humanoid robots to cover robot vacuums, robotic lawn mowers, sidewalk delivery bots, and warehouse transport robots—essentially any software-controlled ground robot weighing over 2 kg that perceives its environment and communicates wirelessly. Exempt categories include self-driving cars, trains, drones, underwater vehicles, surgical robots, wheelchairs, and fixed robotic arms. Existing devices are not affected; the ban applies only to models not yet released. The power inverter ban targets devices that convert direct current to alternating current and connect renewable energy sources and batteries to the grid, seen as critical infrastructure increasingly important for the US AI buildout. Because these inverters can be controlled remotely, the government views them as potential entry points for sabotage, a concern reinforced by the 2023 Volt Typhoon hacking campaign, where attackers hijacked private routers to attack critical US infrastructure.

The practical effect of the ban falls heavily on Chinese manufacturers. Robot vacuum market leaders Roborock, Ecovacs, Dreame, Xiaomi, and Narwal are all Chinese-owned, as is Picea, which now owns the Roomba brand. In power inverters, China dominates through manufacturers like Sungrow and Huawei, which have grown Western market share through low prices. The company hit hardest on the robotics side is Unitree, which leads the global humanoid market with roughly a fifth of all sales according to Counterpoint Research; Unitree was recently added to the Pentagon's list of alleged Chinese military-linked companies and recently partnered with Nvidia. However, the FCC's exemption process does not evaluate security at all—it only asks where a robot was designed and built, plus whether the manufacturer commits to US production. As IDC analyst Jitesh Ubrani noted to The Verge, "There are very few non-Chinese brands these days and their share is so small that it's difficult to track," meaning the ban effectively targets origin rather than security posture. The Department of War will handle exemption decisions going forward. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said the agency would "continue to do our part to secure America's critical supply chains." Republican Congressman John Moolenaar, chair of the House China Committee, said the move "protects our country and strengthens our nation's robotics industry." This ban follows similar FCC import restrictions on foreign routers and drones imposed in recent months.

The FCC ban reflects a strategic pivot in how the US government views supply chain security in the context of AI expansion. Rather than targeting specific security flaws, the administration is treating robot manufacturing and power conversion as dual-use technologies that inherently carry geopolitical risk. The National Security Determination document frames two interconnected concerns: first, the concentration of advanced robot manufacturing in a handful of countries that have shown willingness to disrupt US supply chains during geopolitical tensions; second, the inherent networked nature of robots and grid-connected inverters, which makes them attractive targets for remote sabotage, data theft, or reconnaissance. The specific incidents cited—the 2026 vulnerability enabling remote camera access, the pre-installed backdoor in Chinese robot dogs, and the broader lesson of the 2023 Volt Typhoon campaign—provide concrete justification for treating these devices as security infrastructure rather than consumer products.

The ban's scope reveals that the government is prioritizing origin over actual security posture. Since virtually all robot vacuums and power inverters sold globally come from China, including market leaders like Roborock, Ecovacs, and Sungrow, the exemption process—which only asks about design and manufacturing location—essentially amounts to a de facto ban on Chinese brands. The fact that the FCC exemption process does not evaluate security questions highlights that this is a supply chain control measure disguised as a security restriction. For manufacturers and retailers, particularly those dependent on Chinese suppliers, the practical effect is significant: existing inventory remains available, but any new model introduction will require either Chinese companies to relocate manufacturing to the US or US companies to find alternative suppliers. The ban also signals that the Pentagon, Department of War, and FCC are coordinating on what constitutes critical infrastructure for the US AI buildout, treating power conversion and robotic mobility as foundational to future AI deployment at scale.

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