FCC bans future Roombas from being sold in the US

The US government’s new restrictions on advanced robotic devices entering the US will also apply to robot vacuum cleaners, expanding the policy well beyond the humanoid robots that dominated headlines following the announcement.

Current robot vacuums already approved for sale will not be affected, meaning existing Roombas and other models can continue to be imported and sold. However, future robot vacuums could face new requirements before entering the US market.

According to the FCC, the restrictions cover software-controlled robots that travel over the ground, weigh more than 4.4 pounds including any dock, can perceive their surroundings, and feature wireless connectivity.

That definition also includes robot lawnmowers, sidewalk delivery robots, and warehouse robots that move packages.

FCC confirms robot vacuums are included

FCC media relations director Katie Gorscak confirmed to The Verge that robot vacuums are included in the government’s Robot ban.

The government says the restrictions are intended to address national security concerns surrounding foreign-made robotic devices. Companies seeking approval for future products will reportedly need to demonstrate domestic manufacturing or commit to investing in US manufacturing in order to receive a waiver.

The policy could have a major impact on the robot vacuum market, where the overwhelming majority of manufacturers are based outside the US.

Unsplash: jankolar

According to IDC analyst Jitesh Ubrani, the five largest robot vacuum brands, including Roborock, Ecovacs, Dreame, Xiaomi, and Narwal, are all Chinese companies. Even Dyson relies on Chinese manufacturing, while Chinese company Picea now owns the Roomba brand following iRobot’s bankruptcy.

Even companies assembling products in the US may not automatically qualify. Matic, whose robot vacuums are assembled in California, told The Verge it may still need to apply for a waiver because it does not currently source at least 65% of its components from the US.

The government has pointed to security concerns involving connected household robots as part of its justification for the restrictions.

The determination references previous reporting on vulnerabilities that allowed thousands of internet-connected robot vacuums to be remotely accessed and controlled by a PlayStation 5 controller, arguing that devices capable of mapping homes and collecting environmental data could present national security risks.