Risk too High US Government Bans Foreign Humanoid Robots

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The US government under Trump bans the import of new, foreign-made robots that can move. These would pose an "unacceptable risk" to national security. But this could have consequences.

Future models of bipedal and quadrupedal robots will only be approved with special authorization, such as from the Department of Defense, according to the telecommunications regulator FCC. This will primarily block Chinese manufacturers from entering the US market but will also shield American developers from their competition. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) justified the measure by pointing to the networking capabilities of the robots. These could be misused for espionage or surveillance of Americans—and for remotely controlling the robots. Existing models already approved by the FCC may continue to be imported and used.

The US government defines mobile robots as technical devices weighing more than two kilograms that can move independently, avoid obstacles, and are equipped with sensors, network connectivity, and software for autonomous navigation. This description could also apply to advanced models of vacuum robots—a market in which Chinese providers have surpassed the US leader iRobot. Stationary robots, such as those used for industrial production, are explicitly exempt from the ban.

Humanoid Robots as a Major Business of the Future

Bipedal humanoid robots and quadrupedal models resembling large dogs are considered a major future market. Many companies, particularly in the US and China, are working on them. For instance, some robots from the Silicon Valley company Figure AI are used for simple tasks on production lines. At the electric car manufacturer Tesla, CEO Elon Musk plans to start production of the Optimus robot this year, which he already touts as "by far the greatest product of all time."

In addition to robots, the FCC also banned the import of inverters, which are a central component for solar systems and are also used in data centers. Here too, Chinese suppliers, who are global market leaders, are expected to be particularly affected. The FCC also cited risks related to network connectivity, through which the technology could be shut down or misused for data collection.

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Announcement May Hit the Domestic Industry Even Harder

According to Rueben Scriven, Senior Research Manager at the market research company Interact Analysis, the short-term impact on Chinese companies is likely limited, as most Chinese manufacturers of humanoid robots are not even present in the US market. Many expansion efforts are focused on the Asia-Pacific region. If the ban persists, however, it could also hinder US manufacturers looking to produce their robots in China or other countries, Scriven estimates. US manufacturers would then need to quickly reduce their costs and ramp up production to avoid slowing down the commercialization of humanoid robots.

Scriven sees the announcement more as a hindrance for the US robotics industry, as cost-effective humanoid robots from China have contributed to educating the US market through applications in advertising and entertainment.

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