FCC blocks new foreign robot dogs and humanoids over national security

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Tuesday added foreign-produced power inverters and advanced robotic devices to its Covered List, generally making new models ineligible for FCC equipment authorization after U.S. national security agencies determined the products pose unacceptable risks to America’s critical infrastructure and supply chains.

The move comes as federal officials focus on securing the electric grid while electricity demand and reliance on inverter-based resources continue to grow.

The FCC said Tuesday’s action follows national security determinations by a White House-convened executive branch interagency body concluding foreign-produced power inverters and advanced robotic devices create unacceptable cybersecurity and supply chain risks.

Power inverters convert direct current electricity into alternating current and are critical components in solar power systems, battery storage facilities and other distributed energy resources. The national security determination warned that the devices’ remote connectivity could enable foreign firms to turn off inverters, collect and exfiltrate data, facilitate remote access and surveillance, or otherwise exploit the equipment through cyberattacks as inverter-based resources become more widespread across the U.S. grid.

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Electrical equipment is seen at a utility-scale solar farm. The FCC on Tuesday expanded its Covered List to include foreign-produced power inverters and advanced robotic devices. (Mauricio Palos/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

The FCC also added foreign-produced advanced robotic devices—including mobile robots such as humanoids and quadrupeds—to the Covered List after national security officials warned their networking capabilities and onboard sensors could expose critical infrastructure and sensitive data to foreign adversaries or allow the machines to be remotely commandeered.

Under the FCC’s rules, equipment placed on the Covered List generally cannot receive new equipment authorizations required for importation, marketing and sale in the United States. The restrictions apply only to new product models seeking FCC authorization and do not affect devices consumers already own or products previously approved by the commission, according to the FCC.

Manufacturers may seek exemptions through a new “Conditional Approval” process if the Department of War—or, in the case of power inverters, the Department of Homeland Security—determines a specific device or class of devices does not pose national security risks.

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Advanced humanoid robots are displayed at a robotics exhibition. The FCC on Tuesday added foreign-produced…