The Trump administration's ban on importing "advanced robotic devices" dominated headlines for humanoid robots — but the FCC confirmed to The Verge it covers robot vacuums as well.
The rule targets any new software-controlled ground device over
4.4 lbs with environmental sensing and wireless connectivity. Existing robots are untouched; new models need a waiver tied to US manufacturing commitments.The problem: the market is almost entirely Chinese. The top five robovac brands —
Roborock, Ecovacs, Dreame, Xiaomi, Narwal — are all Chinese entities. The Roomba brand, post-iRobot bankruptcy, now belongs to Chinese manufacturer Picea. No company was asked a single question about security practices during the waiver process.